In most sporting events in which my home teams aren't playing, I usually don't care one way or the other which team wins. I just want well played, close games. In this year's NFL playoffs, I obviously had no home team for which to root. I still was pulling for one team in particular, the Pittsburgh Steelers, primarily because of one player, Jerome "The Bus" Bettis. It was therefore great to see the Steelers beat the Broncos today and set up Bettis's last career game here in his hometown of Detroit in Super Bowl XL.
My affinity for The Bus is twofold. First, he's a hometown guy who is proud of his roots and continues to give of himself here. For example, long before he knew he would be playing in this yer's Super Bowl, Bettis committed to headline the big game's accompanying charity event (it's usually a golf outing, but Detroit had to bring the event indoors and no game made more sense in this neck of the woods than bowling). Bettis founded and has long chaired the Bus Stops Here Foundation, which gives grants for various academic endeavors for inner-city kids.
Bettis has also been a great running back who always put his team first. Bettis has more rushing yards than all but four other men in NFL history. He will most certainly make the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. But when the Steelers signed Duce Staley before the 2004 season, Bettis agreed to cut his salary by $2.7 million to make room for the newcomer, who, by the way, was going to take Bettis's spot as the team's top back.
If all that wasn't enough to root for him, Bettis may be the only NFL player, active or not, to have bowled a perfect 300 game. In fact, that's reason enough for me to get on The Bus two weeks hence.
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I was at his final home game in Pittsburgh, despite hoping the Lions would beat the steelers and destroy their playoffs hopes, I had to stand and give him a standing "O" at the introduction, A class act, I hope he can retire with a ring
There is no one in the NFL more deserving of a Super Bowl ring than Jerome Bettis. Classy and the best version of a Detroit booster. If this truly will be his last game, it's set up to be one for the ages.
No one more deserving. Have you forgotten about one Joey Blue Eyes
I never forget about "Joey Ballgame." But he's at the beginning of his career, and about to experience a Phoenix-like rebirth under the Marinelli regime. Bettis is nearing the end of his career. Joey's the next Ben Rothlisberger.
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