Tecmo's "Special" Day...

Good morning people of the internets.

Unbeknownst to you, today is a big day. Today is the day that this man pictured here turns another year older. That's right, today is Tecmo's Birthday.

In honor of this momentous occasion, I attempted to put together a friars-club style roast of Tec. But unfortunately, of the large chunk of friends/bloggers I emailed, only a few provided any kind of sign they were alive. Accordingly, you'll find these individuals birthday wishes/stories/roasting-ish, below.

I urge the rest of you to use the comments section of this post to send any further well wishes his way. After all, he needs all the props he can get.

Here goes...

From: Joey Porter's Pitbulls

"Pittsburgh Sports and Mini Ponies is an inspiration to Joey Porter's Pit Bulls. In fact, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls really, really like Mini Ponies, as you will ascertain in the story at the following link:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_471473.html"

From: Tobiathan

"Cotter, please forward my birthday congratulations to Tecmo -- Happy Birthday, Mr. Mini-pony!!!"

From: Domski

"Happy Birfday Tecmo, looking forward to beer bonging with you in NYC/Hoboken or at a Steelers game in the near future."

From: Tecmo's Sister, Sheena Beaston

"I like lists, so Happy Birthday dillweed. Here's the top 3 sporting moments in Tecmo and Sheena Beaston's brother-sister history. (these memories prove our wild ass childhood imaginations...hard.)

3. Remember that time we were playing "soccer" in the backyard. Like with a picnic table bench as the net, me in "goal" and you murdering a penalty shot with a 4-square ball all of maybe 7 feet away from me? Thanks for the broken fingers. And for the best "save" I ever made.

2. Playing football in the backyard and naming each of the trees after Steelers players of the time. Best roster member? Louis "the Pine Tree" Lipps. Or maybe Merrill "Hedge".

1. The Penguins had just won their first Stanley Cup. As a family on a relatively tight budget, pro hockey equipment we did not have. So 1 wooden hockey stick, a field hockey stick, a croquet mallet, and a whiffle ball served as our apparatii when me, you, and our other sister pretended to be the treacherous trio of Lemieux, Jagr, and Barrasso. Apparently, pops thought it was a good idea to video tape our shenanigans. And it proved worthy seeing as how youngest bro walked his face straight into a flying "puck" after a nasty slap shot by you. And that video is floating around somewhere.

Ultimately after all your antics, I still let you move into our apartment this year. And I wouldn't have it any other way. (Now help me finish typing this...my "once broken fingers" are cramping up on me.)

Happy Birthday!

And of course...

From: Cotter

"Dude, I swear - you say the word, "hard," more than anyone else in the history of the world. Also, you suck at Rock Band more than anyone else in the history of the world.

There is one thing you rule at though, besides saying "rule."

And that is...not drinking. I don't think I've ever seen anyone drink less than you. You're like a little girl. Grow a pair, Shirley Temple. This is the big leagues."

Seriously though. Tecmo's a real good dude and I'm privileged to make his acquaintance.

We've had some awesome times in the past, and I'm sure we'll have some awesome times tormenting Browns fans in the [near] future.

If you go out for your bday, buy yourself a Three Wise Men for me, man.

Cheers to many many more [birthdays AND $1.20 20 oz. drafts]!!!