I was born in the city of Altoona in central Pennsylvania. They're serious about their football in PA, and that's why the new Steelers mascot is generating outrage.
Mascots are generally stupid. Yes, the San Diego Chicken was cool in his day, the Philly Phanatic is OK and the racing sausages in Milwaukee are good for a few laughs. Here in SoCal, we have Wild Wing at Ducks games, the Rally Monkey at Angels Stadium and Tommy Trojan. The best mascot of all might be the ape at Phoenix Suns games. He actually does something with a couple of thunderous dunks per game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are among the most storied franchises in all of sports, so I was skeptical when I heard that they were going to introduce a mascot this football season. The Rooney family announced that the new mascot would look like a steelworker, and they launched a contest to have Steelers fans name him. They got 70,000 suggestions, and they decided on "Steely McBeam."
Steeler fans are tough with their Terrible towels and their Permante Brothers sandwiches and their Iron City beer. They have been hardened by years of bitter cold and the deep snow. They have grit and determinaion and fight ane every Sunday they go to war where the Ohio, Allegheny and the Monongahela come together. The one thing that Steeler fans are definitely not is cute. Steely McBeam is a cute nickname, and if that stupid looking mascot shows up at a game, there are some real steelwokers who are going to kick its cute stuffed ass.
A guy named Ryan Valdiserri has started an online petition to rid the city of this stupid idea once and for all. Here's what the petition says....
We the members of Steeler Nation, are now embarrassed. The name Steely McBeam is a terrible choice for naming our new mascot. It does not represent the toughness of our city or of our team. Look in the stands during a game and you will see we are our own cheerleaders and some fans are our own mascot. If it were up to Steeler Nation we would remove the mascot altogether, especially since it looks like Bill Cowher.
Those who have signed the petition below, would like the name to be changed by a vote by the fans, or have the mascot removed for good.
Here's a link to a little petition promo that's running on You Tube, so you can see what "Steely McBeam" looks like. The mascot is basically a Bill Cowher look-a-like with that same goofy chin.
If the Rooneys are dead set on using this mascot, they've got to at least change the name. Here are some ideas.
Ironhead
Iron City Stan
Mayor McSteel
Freddie Forge
The Galvanizer
Any ideas? All these poor Pittsburghers have is Steelers football. Don't let Steely McBeam screw it up for them.
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