Meeting People Steelers Gifts Is Easy...

Alright, now that I write that headline, it doesn't make a ton of sense. In fact, it may not be anything close to proper Enlgish. But frankly my dears, I don't give a damn...[you know how this ends].

Anyways, the idea is that I emailed out a bunch of names of Steelers players to the usual MPIE suspects and asked them what they would get each of those Steelers players for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa, whatever their little hearts desired.

So with that in mind, here is your panel...

1. John Woods
2. Ben
3. Marc
4. Don
5. Doug
6. Notgomu
7. Nate
8. The Chief
9. Shawn K
10. Sean
11. Me

You'll notice that I've got two sets of players here below. That's because, just in case, by some festivus miracle, I got an overwhelming response, I could do two grids. But, as you and I both might have expected, that didn't happen. So I just combined the answers into one grid. Hence, John Woods through Nate all answered the first list (Big Ben, Willie Parker, etc.) and The Chief through Me all answered the second list (Hines Ward, Santonio, etc.).

I trust y'all can follow all that...

Click below to enlarge...

And with that, I'd like to wish y'all a happy holiday, whichever one you celebrate! May you get everything you want this year. And I can only hope that visions of Sugar Plums dance in your head and not visions of Steely McDevil...

What? You think I'd let this opportunity pass without using that image? Come on. Be serious!

Happy Thanksgiving, You Turkeys!

Well, here we are - just a mere 10 hours away from the day of the year on which we're all to give thanks for the things we value the most. And since for many of us, one of those things is the Steelers, I thought it'd be fun to ask some of my Steelers-loving blogger brethren to give a little thanks of their own in advance. So I asked as many of these friends as I could if they'd be interested in expressing one thing they're happy for in relation to the Steelers this year. And luckily, many of them were gracious enough to do so. You'll find all their answers below.

Before we get to that, I'd just like to thank everyone for doing this. I know, as the editor of a blog I often struggle to keep up with, that blogging on your own site is enough without someone else asking for your help on their blog. So I'm very grateful that all of these OFTOT friends took the time out to give thanks in anticipation of tomorrow's graciousness.

Without further ado, I give you, the Steelers blogosphere's Thanksgiving thanks...feel free to give us your own in the comments!

DON, Mondesi's House ~ If this year has taught me to be thankful for anything, it's to be thankful for Daniel Sepulveda.

THE CHIEF, The Chief's Forum ~ I'm thankful for Mike Tomlin actually showing some emotion on the sidelines this year instead of "The World's Most Understanding Coach" which is what he resembled last season. I've no idea how much that plays into the performance of the team but after 15 years of Cowher, you can't quit cold turkey (get it!?!?!)

VERN, You Lay On The Ice Like A Broad ~ I'm Steelers-y thankful for a few things. First, I'm thankful that although he's absorbed a pounding that would make the chick from the Houston 500 Gangbang cringe, Benjamin H. Roethlisberger is still able to walk upright and throw footballs with enough velocity for the receivers to drop them. H. is probably not his middle initial.

I'm thankful that although they've played like absolute garbage offensively for long stretches of time, they are still 8-3 and reside in a division that contains the likes of the Bengals and Browns. I'm also thankful that James Harrison focuses his energy towards football and not systematic mass murders.

I'm thankful that Ray Lewis is in the division, but not on the team that I cheer for. Ray Lewis is such an easy target, just like the two people he stabbed to death a couple years ago. But having to root for Ray Lewis would be the equivalent of being forced to cheer for the Trail of Tears. We are all lucky that we don't have to wish for this douchebag to do good things for our team, which would probably kill all of the enjoyment we'd be getting from the game to begin with. And remember, Ray, just because you broke Rashard Mendenhall's shoulder with a good hit doesn't mean that your team won the game and you didn't kill two people and get away with it.

I'm thankful that as of right now, I do not fear the (almost) annual Bill Cowher playoff collapse.

I'm thankful that I never got stopped in a park by Kordell Stewart.

And last but not least, I'm thankful that the Steelers are going to be given the chance to go into Gillette and shave Bill Belichick's balls. I'm just assuming that's Gillette slang for blowing somebody out. It's gotta be. I'll take on any arguments to the contrary.

Happy Thanksgiving, all! Let's celebrate this day the way the Pilgrims did and not give the indians smallpox blankets for a day. And it's finally nice out in Florida, so enjoy your snow while I'm out poolside spitting weak game at chicks so out of my league that I feel like an Arena League team.

TECMO, Pittsburgh Sports and Mini Ponies ~ I'm thankful that Anthony Smith hasn't opened his mou...

...that Brett Keisel hasn't been injur...

...that Ben hasn't thrown a bunch of intercepti...

...that Rashard has contribut...

...that Dennis Dixon has been on the field to confus...

...that Arians hasn't looked incompet...

...uh...that we're 8-3 through 2/3 of the "toughest schedule in 25 years."

Yeah...that one.

SEAN, Sean's Ramblings ~ I am thankful that no Steeler took naked photos of himself of this year (at least I think it wasn't this year). On a more serious note, I am thankful that the Steelers resigned James Farrior this year. While Harrison, Woodley, Aaron Smith and Troy get all the headlines, there is not a more solid and consistent person to lead the defense than Farrior.

NEAL COOLONG, Behind The Steel Curtain ~ I'm thankful for the fortune of being able to watch the NFL's best athlete, Troy Polamalu, each game. He does things on a game-per-game basis that makes me renew my loyalty to the NFL as my only source of pure entertainment. I'm thankful for the fact we get to see a once-in-a-generation player on our team.

SHEENA BEASTON, Sheena Beaston ~ I give thanks for Jimmy Harry's sweet behind and his incredible ability to leap, even when not necessary.

And me? I'm just thankful that Tommy Maddox is safe and sound, far far away from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, jagoffs! Have a beer and stuff yourself silly for me! I'll see y'all on Friday(?) And please, no one make the joke about sticking your dick in the mashed potatoes. This is NOT that kind of party...

Cheers!

Meeting People Is Easy...

Dude, power walking could easily be the most ridiculous concept in the history of physical activity. I mean, no offense to anyone who does this shit, but it looks positively silly. Swinging your arms like a velociraptor and what not. Not to mention the fact that if you're going to walk fast, why not just RUN! Or jog, even. I don't get it at all...

Anyways, it took me longer than expected. And when my alarm went off this morning at 6 AM it was real difficult to get up and drag my ass to this computer. But I did. Because Meeting People Is Easy is very important to me. So, here's your panel for this week...

1. Ladi Izz ~ Must've been a fun day for her on Tuesday considering her Mom's a 'Skins fan...

2. Vern ~ Keeping things in line down in FLA...

3. TSW ~ Recently attended a taping of the Jeff Reed Show...

4. Holly ~ Lone representative of the Colts fan contingent...

5. Silky Johnson ~ Lookup "M.I.A." in the dictionary and you'll probably find his face...

6. The Chief ~ Is quite enamored with Veronica Mars...the character, not the show (an interest not foreign to me)...

7. Notgomu ~ The only one in the pick 'em league who took the Minnesota Purple Jesus'

8. Nate ~ Yes, you are correct. I did mean to say division...

9. Marc ~ Dropkick Murphys should be no man's guilty pleasure...the only thing wrong with 'em is that they love Boston...

10. Matt ~ Hint: LJKC wants a Dick Lebeau style Steelers polo for Christmas...never too soon to start shopping I guess...

11. Me ~ Starting to forget what the insides of my eyelids look like...

So as usual, click to enlarge...


Oh sleep, how I miss thee...

Feel free to leave your answers to this week's questions in the comments. Done.

Meeting People Is Easy...

Well friends, it's Friday...and you know what that means? Yeah, yeah, the beer bong. But later. For now, you'll just have to settle for Meeting People Is Easy...again.

The good news, however, is we've got a top notch crew to handle the tough questions today. They've come from the farthest reaches of the internets just to give you all a glimpse into their massive banks of creativity. Or whether they'd prefer the Steelers O-Line over traffic cones. But I'm not going to split hairs.

And now for your starting lineup...

1. AJ Daulerio ~ I mean, I've never heard of this character, but people keep telling me about this "Deadspin" blog. Apparently it's some sort of big time sports blog where they talk about balls a lot...Yeah, no introduction needed, I assume.

2. Doug ~ If you've never hit on205th.com, I strongly urge you to add it to your daily "reading list." Ok, so I go for the pictures too. But you know what I mean.

3. The Starter Wife ~ I don't believe we've ever discussed it here at OFTOT, but in a last minute stroke of genius, TSW benched Michael Turner for Ricky Williams during Week 1 of the Steelers Blogger Thunderdome Fantasy League.

4. Holly ~ H to the izz O, you've all met Holly before. She thinks the Jeff Saturday injury is the most pressing of the currently relevant Colts matters, and I can't disagree with that.

5. Harvey Bars ~ I had to personally apologize to him for making a severely amateur comment on this post. What can I say, shit's rough nowadays.

6. The Chief ~ Recently ended his brief blogging moratorium, just in time for Big Ben to get sacked EIGHT TIMES (I don't know, have we talked about that yet this week?). By the way, Chief, someday you'll have to explain to me where you found a video of Celine Dion and Anastasia...and um, WHY you found it...

7. Notgomu ~ Has strong concerns about Mike Tomlin's ability to whup that ass.

8. Sheena Beaston ~ Seems to think that just because a couple of 20 something dudes choose to tape a pregame show for their respective Steelers blogs on a Saturday night that somehow makes them less dateable. Hey, listen up Sheena, chicks dig nerds, ok. That's a fact. You can't argue it.

9. Tobiathan ~ Sparked some major OFTOT controversy with the revelation that he doesn't like Mike Tomlin. Also, I finally discovered how Tobiathan knows so much about tactical folding knives and main battle tanks...but I'm going to have to cite attorney-client privilege on that one.

10. Lori ~ Gotta respect anyone who names their fantasy team, "The Mulleteers," right? Coincidentally, that picture reminded me that no one had a mullet like Jagr.

11. Me ~ Nothing to see here...

Aw hell, I done introduced 'em enough. Let's get this show on the road. As usual, click to enlarge...


Oh, and one more thing - fathers don't let your daughters sons grow up to be sluts Matt Millen. Write that down.

Meeting People Is Easy...

Well, either most of you took your vacations a week early, or I guess OFTOT just wasn't as entertaining as usual this week. Oh well, not the first time in my life that I was a disappointment. I mean, wait. What?

But seriously guys. Tame week. I hope you're all just saving your energy for the upcoming OFTOT Training Camp extravaganza. It's gonna be a bloodbath. T-minus three days until camp. Where's my IC Light?

As for Meeting People Is Easy, this week's esteemed panel is as follows...
1. The Chief ~ Loves Primanti's Corned Beef.
2. Silky Johnson ~ Brian Westbrook sitch has him taking xanax.
3. Marc ~ Avatar = Doogie Howser, MD.
4. Random Asshole ~ Has odd fascination with murderous rage.
5. Cotter ~ If you don't know me by now, you will never ever know me.

Hey, what do you get when you cross an Eagles fan, an Ohio resident, and a miscellaneous anus?

You're about to find out...click to enlarge...

Meeting People Is Easy...

Absolute insanity this week.

Since last week's questions were too good to pass up, and I was too drunk busy last Thursday night to put together an MPIE, this week's edition uses last week's questions. Wait, did that make any...uh...sense...carry the two...hmmm...

Anyways, your panel this week is:
Marc ~ Kip from Napoleon Dynamite (well, his avatar is)
Cotter's Dad ~ The original Dude (as in THE Dude)
The Immortal Silky Johnson ~ I think he was born with a full beard
Cotter ~ Does not like tourists.
The Chief ~ Does not believe in text messaging
Tecmo ~ Rock Band legend (seriously, this man is unmatched)

Click to enlarge...


Perhaps I'll add something witty when my eyelids are no longer descending on the rest of my face. 'Til then, I hope this suffices...

Ok, good talk, see you out there.

Meeting People Is Easy...

Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
Below are some nice people
I'd like to introduce to you.

Today's "expert" (and I use the term loosely) panel consists of:

• Marc
• Big Snack
• Cotter
• The Immortal Silky Johnson
• The Chief
• Diego
• Tecmo

Another late finish last night. So please forgive my failure to interject any kind of witty commentary. I hope you will enjoy today's edition nevertheless. Click to enlarge...

PS - Marc's avatar is Bear Grylls, Snack's is an Eat 'n Park Smiley Cookie and Diego's is a plate of Eat 'n Park Potato Pancakes. Yes, I'm running out of ideas. Sue me...

Also, for those of you who'd like to supporter a fellow 'Burgher - Big Snack is in the running to be ESPN's next radio personality. He recently recorded what he described as a "rant" for the station and you can hear it all here (Contestant 9 = Snack). I'm still not fully clear on how you vote. But sort that out and vote for Snack. Then explain it to me, because I must be missing something?

Now, if you need me, I'll be busy playing Rock Band. Do not disturb.

Meeting People Is Easy...

Hey, guess what guys? We finally got some serious participation here for Meeting People Is Easy! I'm so proud right now. Seriously. I don't mean to sound like a total puss or anything (read: Domski), but I kind of love you guys this week. I mean I love you all every week. Just a little more right now...

After sending out a mass email, I got a whole butt load of responses, and offers for even more (such as a Rusty Trombone...Tecmo...ahem). So instead of the standard panel of four, this week I've gotten real crafty and given you six. Don't ask how I did it. Just know that I am a Photoshop master...errr...at least somewhere North of novice.

Anyways, listen, I'd love to sit here and chat with you guys. But I just finished this damn thing and it's 1 AM. I'll be sleeping if you need me.

Enjoy...click to enlarge...


PS - If you haven't made your predictions for 2008 yet, speak now or forever hold your piece...get it, p-i-e-c-e. HA! I kill me.

PPS - Props to anyone who can name the TV show that last part came from...

PPPS - Big Snack's avatar is Princess Toadstool.