Pittsburgh Steelers

Conversations with Sports Fans – Matt Speck

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Artist Matt Speck with PIttsburgh Pirate Andrew McCutchen showcasing some of Speck’s handiwork. (Photo from Matt Speck’s Instagram)

I was visiting my father in Adams County, IN, late this summer and he had a copy of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette my sister and brought to share with him following a recent trip she’d made to western Pennsylvania.

One of the articles in that day’s Sports Section was about a Pittsburgh-area native who’s carved out quite a niche for himself in the art scene. The story featured Matt Speck, a muralist, who’s added customized footwear for NFL, MLB, and local college and high school athletes to his portfolio.

The article told the story of how Matt grew up going to Pittsburgh Steelers’ games every season with his grandfather and fell in love with all things Pittsburgh sports. It was, in fact, a lengthy conversation with his now deceased grandfather that convinced him to leave a position in marketing (his field of study at the University of Pittsburgh) to pursue his passion … art.

After reading this feature, it was apparent to me that Matt would make a terrific guest on Conversations. Needless to say, when we finally found a time that worked for both of us, I was ecstatic to have him join. This episode is the resulting Conversation where Matt shares his sports fan journey, how a not-so-small lie led to him breaking into the custom cleat field, and his desire to do something for his hometown NHL franchise as well.

You’re able to find Matt’s work at his website, speckcustoms.com, and his X/Twitter and Instagram pages.

The Fan Teaser: Week 68 Solution

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Figuring this one out should be elementary Mr. Watson.

Super Bowl XLIII pitted the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers against one another in Tampa Bay, FL.

The Steelers’ prevailed, 27-23, thanks in no small part to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger‘s 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left in the game. Holmes’s catch was sensational and has become known as the “Tampa Toe Tap.” Holmes finished with 131 yards receiving, the touchdown, and was named the game’s MVP.

As the NFL is wont to do, sharing video of on non-licenses sites is nearly impossible. If you’d like to check out Holmes’ heroics you’re able to view video of him discussing it here.

Santonio Holmes catches a game-winning TD pass in Super Bowl XLIII.
Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes’s leaping touchdown grab with 35 seconds remaining gave Pittsburgh a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. (Photo by Sports Illustrated’s Al Tielemans)

Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.

The Fan Teaser: Week 5 Solution

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Two part’er today: 1.) Whose arrow? 2.) Where was the
arrow supposed to be pointing?

Ernie Holmes was part of the vaunted Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Steel Curtain” defense along with L.C. Greenwood, “Mean Joe” Greene, and Dwight White.

As a member of the Steelers, Holmes was a 2-time Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowls IX and X. Holmes began wearing the arrowhead mohawk in 1974, the year Pittsburgh won the first of its consecutive Super Bowls.

There is some discrepancy over the arrow and its meaning: Some recall Holmes said it pointed the way toward the quarterback while others believe it pointed the way to the Super Bowl. Either way, Holmes was one of the NFL’s biggest characters of the mid-1970s as Sports Illustrated‘s famed NFL writer Paul Zimmerman recollects in this remembrance following Holmes’ death in 2008.

Ernie Holmes
Seven-year NFL player Ernie Holmes.

Why do I Root Against Rather Than For?

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With my hometown Detroit Tigers long ago on the outside of this year’s Major League Baseball post-season discussion, I found myself more rooting against teams rather than for teams these past 10 days of MLB playoff action.

For example, I’m more than happy that the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals will spend the remainder of the playoffs watching from their easy chairs just like me. And if the New York Yankees can join them … well, that wouldn’t stink.

Rest assured, I was also pulling hard for the Seattle Mariners in their 2-for-the-price-of-1, 18-inning, 6-hour, 22-minute marathon from the Emerald City Saturday night when they were ultimately eliminated. Nothing against Dusty Baker, but I’ll be rooting against Houston no matter who its opponent might be come Wednesday.

Dusty Baker Glenn Burke
Legend has it that Dusty Baker (right) and teammate Glenn Burke originated the high-five. Despite this,
the author will still root against his Astros the remainder of the playoffs.

Aside from not having an actual rooting interest, I guess I’m unsure why I’m behaving this way?

Is it a natural part of the aging process? I’ve heard tell of my father and others of his generation who behave similarly. Shoot, several of my buddies do the same thing!

And it’s not just limited to the baseball post-season.

On what was truly a pretty remarkable day for sports fans Saturday I also found myself pulling for the Tennessee Volunteers (and I’m ordinarily no fan of “Rocky Top”!) against the Alabama Crimson Tide because … it’s Alabama, duh! And Texas Christian beating Oklahoma State in double-overtime was just fine by me (see Coach Mike Gundy‘s mullet) as was Illinois and Coach Brett Bielema (gulp!) taking down Minnesota and it’s boat-rowing coach, P.J. Fleck.

This transferred to Sunday when, with no Detroit Lions’ action to torment my day, I had cart blanche to root for the New York Jets er, rather, against the Green Bay Packers (J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!) as well as the for the Tampa Bay Bucaneers to lose to the Ben Roethlisberger-less Pittsburgh Steelers (a year ago I would’ve rooted for a tie!).

Here’s hoping the hometown Detroit Red Wings keep up the hot start and their NBA-brethren Pistons get off to a quick start against Orlando on Wednesday. Perhaps then can find some joy in rooting for someone again.