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The Ones Who Hit the Hardest: The Steelers, the Cowboys, the '70s, and the Fight for America's Soul
A stirring portrait of the decade when the Steelers became the greatest team in NFL history, even as Pittsburgh was crumbling around them.
In the 1970s, the city of Pittsburgh was in need of heroes. In that decade the steel industry, long the lifeblood of the city, went into massive decline, putting 150,000 steelworkers out of work. And then the unthinkable The Pittsburgh Steelers, perennial also-rans in the NFL, rose up to become the most feared team in the league, dominating opponents with their famed "Steel Curtain" defense, winning four Super Bowls in six years, and lifting the spirits of a city on the brink.
In The Ones Who Hit the Hardest , Chad Millman and Shawn Coyne trace the rise of the Steelers amidst the backdrop of the fading city they fought for, bringing to life characters such Art Rooney, the owner of the team so beloved by Pittsburgh that he was known simply as "The Chief"; Chuck Noll, the headstrong coach who used the ethos of steelworkers to motivate his players; Terry Bradshaw, the strong-armed and underestimated QB; Joe Green, the defensive tackle whose fighting nature lifted the franchise; and Jack Lambert, the linebacker whose snarling, toothless grin embodied the Pittsburgh defense.
Every story needs a villain, and in this one it's played by the Dallas Cowboys. As Pittsburgh rusted, the new and glittering metropolis of Dallas, rich from the capital infusion of oil revenue, signaled the future of America. Indeed, the town brimmed with such confidence that the Cowboys felt comfortable nicknaming themselves "America's Team." Throughout the 1970s, the teams jostled for control of the NFL-the Cowboys doing it with finesse and the Steelers doing it with brawn-culminating in Super Bowl XIII in 1979, when the aging Steelers attempted to hold off the Cowboys one last time. Thoroughly researched and grippingly written, The Ones Who Hit the Hardest is a stirring tribute to a city, a team, and an era.
In the 1970s, the city of Pittsburgh was in need of heroes. In that decade the steel industry, long the lifeblood of the city, went into massive decline, putting 150,000 steelworkers out of work. And then the unthinkable The Pittsburgh Steelers, perennial also-rans in the NFL, rose up to become the most feared team in the league, dominating opponents with their famed "Steel Curtain" defense, winning four Super Bowls in six years, and lifting the spirits of a city on the brink.
In The Ones Who Hit the Hardest , Chad Millman and Shawn Coyne trace the rise of the Steelers amidst the backdrop of the fading city they fought for, bringing to life characters such Art Rooney, the owner of the team so beloved by Pittsburgh that he was known simply as "The Chief"; Chuck Noll, the headstrong coach who used the ethos of steelworkers to motivate his players; Terry Bradshaw, the strong-armed and underestimated QB; Joe Green, the defensive tackle whose fighting nature lifted the franchise; and Jack Lambert, the linebacker whose snarling, toothless grin embodied the Pittsburgh defense.
Every story needs a villain, and in this one it's played by the Dallas Cowboys. As Pittsburgh rusted, the new and glittering metropolis of Dallas, rich from the capital infusion of oil revenue, signaled the future of America. Indeed, the town brimmed with such confidence that the Cowboys felt comfortable nicknaming themselves "America's Team." Throughout the 1970s, the teams jostled for control of the NFL-the Cowboys doing it with finesse and the Steelers doing it with brawn-culminating in Super Bowl XIII in 1979, when the aging Steelers attempted to hold off the Cowboys one last time. Thoroughly researched and grippingly written, The Ones Who Hit the Hardest is a stirring tribute to a city, a team, and an era.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
February 12, 2011
This was a perfect book to read during Super Bowl week. As the title indicates, the book weaves in threads of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys and the history of the industrial labor movement to capture the NFL in the '70s.
For me the three threads varied in interest. Not surprisingly, I found the history of the Steelers absolutely fascinating. The authors do a great job revealing exactly how the Steelers ended up building the incredible dynasty of the 70's by following Chuck Noll's careful plan (build through the draft, mold new players to the system, etc.). They also offer insights into the lives and personalities of the players and their relationship with each other and coach Noll.
It was interesting to learn about the background and personalities of Hall of Fame players like Mean Joe Green, Jack Lambert, Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris. It was also interesting to read about how all these larger than life personalities came together - or didn't at times - to play as a team.
You learn how Noll basically let Greene do what he wanted since he inspired and motivated the entire defense (not to mention struck fear into opponents). But when it came to the offensive side of the ball Noll struggled to trust Bradshaw and frequently lost his temper with the young QB. It really wasn't until they won their first Super Bowl that Bradshaw had the confidence he needed.
While the labor history sections were interesting at times, and they provided a better understanding of the city of Pittsburgh and Steeler fans, it didn't always seem to be going anywhere. At the end you felt like you knew more but were less clear how it all related.
The Cowboys section was equally interesting in terms of owners, players and coaches - the personalities and histories - but it just wasn't as well developed and flushed out as the sections on the Steelers. The Cowboys were obviously a rival for the Steelers and they reflected a totally different mindset and culture so it makes sense to contrast the two teams and the authors succeed in highlighting the contrasting styles and teams. But it is clearly a Steeler focused book - which is fine with me but worth noting.
This is one of those books where the whole almost seems more than the parts. Not every section works, and all the threads are not neatly wrapped up by the end, but the stories along the way are so interesting that you don't mind.
In the end what you get is a snapshot history of the NFL in the 1970s through the lens of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys with the labor movement of the steel mills as a background. For Steeler fans I think this is a must read - although those with a strong knowledge of the team in the 70s might already be aware of much of the history.
Anyone interested in the NFL or sports history, however, would find this a fascinating read.
For me the three threads varied in interest. Not surprisingly, I found the history of the Steelers absolutely fascinating. The authors do a great job revealing exactly how the Steelers ended up building the incredible dynasty of the 70's by following Chuck Noll's careful plan (build through the draft, mold new players to the system, etc.). They also offer insights into the lives and personalities of the players and their relationship with each other and coach Noll.
It was interesting to learn about the background and personalities of Hall of Fame players like Mean Joe Green, Jack Lambert, Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris. It was also interesting to read about how all these larger than life personalities came together - or didn't at times - to play as a team.
You learn how Noll basically let Greene do what he wanted since he inspired and motivated the entire defense (not to mention struck fear into opponents). But when it came to the offensive side of the ball Noll struggled to trust Bradshaw and frequently lost his temper with the young QB. It really wasn't until they won their first Super Bowl that Bradshaw had the confidence he needed.
While the labor history sections were interesting at times, and they provided a better understanding of the city of Pittsburgh and Steeler fans, it didn't always seem to be going anywhere. At the end you felt like you knew more but were less clear how it all related.
The Cowboys section was equally interesting in terms of owners, players and coaches - the personalities and histories - but it just wasn't as well developed and flushed out as the sections on the Steelers. The Cowboys were obviously a rival for the Steelers and they reflected a totally different mindset and culture so it makes sense to contrast the two teams and the authors succeed in highlighting the contrasting styles and teams. But it is clearly a Steeler focused book - which is fine with me but worth noting.
This is one of those books where the whole almost seems more than the parts. Not every section works, and all the threads are not neatly wrapped up by the end, but the stories along the way are so interesting that you don't mind.
In the end what you get is a snapshot history of the NFL in the 1970s through the lens of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys with the labor movement of the steel mills as a background. For Steeler fans I think this is a must read - although those with a strong knowledge of the team in the 70s might already be aware of much of the history.
Anyone interested in the NFL or sports history, however, would find this a fascinating read.
September 9, 2020
Not that anyone cares but I read this book immediately after finishing Albert Camus's The Rebel. Obviously, the juxtaposition was comical.
Based on this book's title I believed the authors' thesis was going to revolve around some general premise of how the Cowboys/Steelers rivalry of the 1970s mirrored larger cultural trends/transitions that our nation was experiencing during the same time. Possibly that might have been the way the authors or their editor originally pitched the book. However, the book fails miserably to achieve anything close to something to that hypothesis. Instead, it largely feels like any other sports book you've ever read and were disappointed by. The rivalry between the two franchises is rarely directly discussed. The history of the two cities is occasionally dealt with but rarely are the two ever compared, contrasted or set against one another for critical analysis. For the most part, this is merely a lifeless retelling of the rags-to-riches story of the 1970s Steelers. Contrary to the book's title, Millman treats the Cowboys as a merely afterthought. Insert sad face emoji.
Based on this book's title I believed the authors' thesis was going to revolve around some general premise of how the Cowboys/Steelers rivalry of the 1970s mirrored larger cultural trends/transitions that our nation was experiencing during the same time. Possibly that might have been the way the authors or their editor originally pitched the book. However, the book fails miserably to achieve anything close to something to that hypothesis. Instead, it largely feels like any other sports book you've ever read and were disappointed by. The rivalry between the two franchises is rarely directly discussed. The history of the two cities is occasionally dealt with but rarely are the two ever compared, contrasted or set against one another for critical analysis. For the most part, this is merely a lifeless retelling of the rags-to-riches story of the 1970s Steelers. Contrary to the book's title, Millman treats the Cowboys as a merely afterthought. Insert sad face emoji.
September 12, 2025
Fiiiiiiiinally finished this! Okay, so I read this just cuz I’m a 1975 Pittsburgh baby and the Steelers are in my blood. I read Their Life’s Work years ago and loved it, so I felt like it was time to read more about my team. But I’m not sure this is the book I should have read.
The history of the Steelers and Cowboys is interesting, and I always liked it when certain players were covered in depth. But then there’s also all the Steelers workers union stuff and I just couldn’t much see how it was super connected to the football. And then there’s also the ending… I dunno, I wanted more celebration, or follow-up, or something, not just the Steelers won the Super Bowl again, the end.
The Steelers/Cowboys rivalry seemed like an interesting premise that just didn’t really go much of anywhere. There’s very little actually compared or contrasted, and the union stuff ended up feeling like it was just kind of tacked on.
The history of the Steelers and Cowboys is interesting, and I always liked it when certain players were covered in depth. But then there’s also all the Steelers workers union stuff and I just couldn’t much see how it was super connected to the football. And then there’s also the ending… I dunno, I wanted more celebration, or follow-up, or something, not just the Steelers won the Super Bowl again, the end.
The Steelers/Cowboys rivalry seemed like an interesting premise that just didn’t really go much of anywhere. There’s very little actually compared or contrasted, and the union stuff ended up feeling like it was just kind of tacked on.
November 11, 2014
“The Ones Who Hit The Hardest” by Chad Millman and Shawn Coyne, published by Gotham Books.
Category – Sports/Football Publication Date – August 30, 2011
This book should be of interest to sports fans, football fans, and anyone who has a connection with the Pittsburgh Steelers or Pittsburgh in general. This is also a good book for those who want to know more about how football came to be as it is today. It is a short history of the NFL, the upstart AFL, their merger, the sudden rise in player’s salaries, and the influence TV had and has on the game. It is also a short history of the steel industry, its importance to the Pittsburgh area and the rise of the Union movement.
One of the more interesting aspects of the book is the owners of the Steelers. They are owned by the Rooney family who have been prominent in the Pittsburgh scene and have a strong sense of family and the people of Pittsburgh. They have never wavered as owners, even when the Steelers were the doormat of the league. They have stood by their players and coaches and continue to have one of the most stable franchises in the NFL.
The book traces the rise of the Steelers from rock bottom to the pinnacle of the league. It shows how they drafted the players they needed, many of them coming from small virtually unknown colleges, but these were players who were determined and played as rough as the rules would allow them. They forged a camaraderie that extended from the locker room to the football field, and to their private lives. A must read for those who saw the rise of the Steelers through the efforts of Chuck Knoll, Terry Bradshaw, Mean Joe Green, Jack
Lambert, Jack Ham, and the many other players who brought not
only the Steelers to the forefront but also the city of Pittsburgh.
Category – Sports/Football Publication Date – August 30, 2011
This book should be of interest to sports fans, football fans, and anyone who has a connection with the Pittsburgh Steelers or Pittsburgh in general. This is also a good book for those who want to know more about how football came to be as it is today. It is a short history of the NFL, the upstart AFL, their merger, the sudden rise in player’s salaries, and the influence TV had and has on the game. It is also a short history of the steel industry, its importance to the Pittsburgh area and the rise of the Union movement.
One of the more interesting aspects of the book is the owners of the Steelers. They are owned by the Rooney family who have been prominent in the Pittsburgh scene and have a strong sense of family and the people of Pittsburgh. They have never wavered as owners, even when the Steelers were the doormat of the league. They have stood by their players and coaches and continue to have one of the most stable franchises in the NFL.
The book traces the rise of the Steelers from rock bottom to the pinnacle of the league. It shows how they drafted the players they needed, many of them coming from small virtually unknown colleges, but these were players who were determined and played as rough as the rules would allow them. They forged a camaraderie that extended from the locker room to the football field, and to their private lives. A must read for those who saw the rise of the Steelers through the efforts of Chuck Knoll, Terry Bradshaw, Mean Joe Green, Jack
Lambert, Jack Ham, and the many other players who brought not
only the Steelers to the forefront but also the city of Pittsburgh.
January 6, 2023
A very good book by Chad Millman on the Pittsburgh Steelers, the best NFL team of the 1970's.
This book takes you on a journey from the very humble beginnings of the franchise, and through the 1970's when the Steel Curtain became one of the best defenses of all time. Included are great stories on individual players such as Terry Bradshaw, "Mean" Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth and Dwight White. There is also a lot on head coach Chuck Noll.
A side story throughout the book is how the people working in the coal mines of Pittsburgh really needed this team to do well, since basically nothing else was going right for them in their very difficult profession.
This book does not get five stars because I thought it ended like No Country for Old Men. The book takes its time on its first two Super Bowl seasons, but then rushes through it's last one as if it was the last hurrah. But it wasn't. The team won another Super Bowl in 1980, for the 1979 season, which was the very next year. Why not include it? The Steelers are known for having four Super Bowl seasons in one decade. Only one other team, the 49ers, has done that. It's rare, so why not include it? Then, you also need a where are they now chapter. What happened to all these characters? Did they finish up with Pittsburgh, or move on to another team? Those questions need to be answered.
Overall, a good read by Millman, and I do look forward to his next book. All Steeler fans and fans of the NFL will like this.
This book takes you on a journey from the very humble beginnings of the franchise, and through the 1970's when the Steel Curtain became one of the best defenses of all time. Included are great stories on individual players such as Terry Bradshaw, "Mean" Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth and Dwight White. There is also a lot on head coach Chuck Noll.
A side story throughout the book is how the people working in the coal mines of Pittsburgh really needed this team to do well, since basically nothing else was going right for them in their very difficult profession.
This book does not get five stars because I thought it ended like No Country for Old Men. The book takes its time on its first two Super Bowl seasons, but then rushes through it's last one as if it was the last hurrah. But it wasn't. The team won another Super Bowl in 1980, for the 1979 season, which was the very next year. Why not include it? The Steelers are known for having four Super Bowl seasons in one decade. Only one other team, the 49ers, has done that. It's rare, so why not include it? Then, you also need a where are they now chapter. What happened to all these characters? Did they finish up with Pittsburgh, or move on to another team? Those questions need to be answered.
Overall, a good read by Millman, and I do look forward to his next book. All Steeler fans and fans of the NFL will like this.
March 2, 2011
Your appreciation might be greater if you happen to root for the Pittsburgh Steelers--I do and have since the 1970s. I actually started rooting for them at a young age because they were beating the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl in that decade and that's pretty much what this book covers--the glory decade for the Steelers that saw them win four NFL titles. The book also is kind of love letter to the hard-working, blue-collar union, steel worker that populated Pittsburgh at the time. There's lots of union and steel mill given play in this book and I liked that too. There are a lesser amount of chapters that cover the Dallas Cowboys, "America's Team" and the different ways the teams were built and how their attitudes, style of play and home cities were completely opposites. I made the right decision as a child when I went with the "Black and Gold!" I wish it would have had more stories, more details and just more on these teams.
May 13, 2017
This is a great book for those who love the Steelers , and also gives a good historical understanding of
the evolution of the steel industry in Western PA . Great background info on many of the iconic players that made the Steelers dominate in the 1970s . For Cowboy fans , not so much ; however a very interesting background on Tony Dorsett , and a very unflattering profile of Tom Landry .
the evolution of the steel industry in Western PA . Great background info on many of the iconic players that made the Steelers dominate in the 1970s . For Cowboy fans , not so much ; however a very interesting background on Tony Dorsett , and a very unflattering profile of Tom Landry .
July 16, 2013
I loved everything about this book. Fantastic.
November 19, 2018
I was excited for the concept of blending sports and social history, but the authors had a hard time threading that needle to link the two narratives. Their heart was clearly with the Pittsburgh material, both with the development of the Steelers (with coach Chuck Noll and a few players emerging as the only fully realized character portraits) and a lot of fascinating but ultimately disjointed exploration of the labor movement within the steel industry. The chapters alternate between these two timelines without ever drawing a clear connection between them. The parallel story of the Cowboys and the Texas oil business seems almost like an afterthought, as if some chapters were deleted for length.
July 9, 2021
For a book that recounts the glory days of the Pittsburgh Steelers and 1970s NFL, this was rather dry and flavorless. I never read a sports book before so I have nothing to compare it to, but it never quite lived up to the promise of the title or the synopsis.
I love all things Pittsburgh, though. And I don't know much about football, but I like living in the age of youtube, where I can read about something called the Immaculate Reception, still not know what the hell it's about, but then watch a video online and think, oh I (kinda) see what's happening here.
I love all things Pittsburgh, though. And I don't know much about football, but I like living in the age of youtube, where I can read about something called the Immaculate Reception, still not know what the hell it's about, but then watch a video online and think, oh I (kinda) see what's happening here.
August 8, 2024
I was a Pittsburgh Steeler fan as a kid living in NY (because our teams were horrible!). I remember the Cowboys-Steeler rivalry fondly, and all of those larger than life football Hall of Famers. I never went to Pittsburgh until recently when my son started college there. I was in the college bookstore and saw this displayed. It reminded me of "The Bronx is Burning" - in reading about the sports team, I also gained such an appreciation for the history of Pittsburgh, the people, and the culture.
May 20, 2019
In this 376 page book it talks about the communities of Dallas and Pittsburgh and how steel workers were losing their jobs and how oil men in Dallas were getting rich. It talks about how the Steelers went from being a bum team to winning 4 super bowls in 10 years and how the Cowboys went from the team that couldn't win the big one to Americas Team.
January 31, 2023
Wanted to like this one more, as I think it has a good central idea that isn’t really fleshed out. The histories regarding the Steelers, Cowboys, and Pittsburgh working class are all good on their own, but they aren’t meshed together terribly well. Despite enjoying the testimonials from the Steelers locker room during this era, the main point of the book wasn’t clear to me until the final pages.
January 23, 2025
Excellent book about the rise of the Pittsburgh Steelers and their Super Bowl domination in the 1970s. Amid the rise of this team of now legends orchestrated by then coach Chuck Noll, the book intersperses chapters about the city's steel industry and the rivalry with the flashy Dallas Cowboys. Despite being a Bills fan, enjoyed this book about the Steelers and their storied players.
May 22, 2018
Book exceeded expectations
Its interrsting to see the varklus stories about Dallas and Pjttsburgh and their football teams. The narrative is intetesting, but their really isnt a conclusion. The stories of tha playeRs, the Unions, devlopment of oil industry but it just ends.
Its interrsting to see the varklus stories about Dallas and Pjttsburgh and their football teams. The narrative is intetesting, but their really isnt a conclusion. The stories of tha playeRs, the Unions, devlopment of oil industry but it just ends.
October 10, 2025
I would have given this book 5 stars if there was a chapter about Super Bowl 14. It just seemed like a disservice was done to the 70s Steelers by not concluding it with their final Super Bowl victory.
June 10, 2019
A must read for any member of the Steeler Nation!
December 10, 2022
You don't have to be a Steelers fan to love this book! You just have to love football! Great history of the NFL.
June 13, 2023
The football parts were excellent, but the attempt to tie in the steel industry/economy fell flat for me. I just couldn't find myself too interested in that (in such depth).
January 18, 2024
Great stuff if you like the topic. Good stories
December 23, 2011
The Dallas Cowboys symbolize rich, snobbish entitlement. Need evidence? I give you the nickname "America's Team". No one I know voted on that. They were everything that was wrong in the 1970s and everything that is wrong with the NFL and the society in general now. Tom Landry, who blamed Duane Thomas for a Super Bowl loss after he got them there, was a prime example of the bull-shit, no emotion, corporate football that epitomized these assholes year after year. Tex Schramm, who regularly gets his ass kissed by everyone involved with the NFL, was even worse. "The whole system is based on insecurity" according to Renfield Wright. (113) One needs only look at the Republican Presidential hopefuls and President Obama to know who actually came out on top in this fight.
As I grew up, I idolized the Steelers because of their working class vibe, their anger and their absolute visceral hatred of losing. I idolize them for the same qualities now. In the 1970s, the Steel Curtain was dominant because of athletic talent to be sure. But, they were also dominant because they were highly talented men doing the best job they could do. Millman and Coyne paint a picture of a city in the 1970s on the decline, with small whiffs of the perpetual bull shit money machine that would typify the US in the 1980s and 1990s. The Burgh lived for the Steelers. One nice counterpoint in this book is the Steelers moving into Three Rivers Stadium and the creation of Franco's Italian Army. The Cowboys move to Irving, Texas (find that fucking place on a map) and then jack ticket prices up so the fans who had supported them from the beginning cannot afford a seat.
At least Clint Murchison, owner of the team, was honest. "If we discriminated against them (people making 12-20,000), we discriminated against them, but no more than all America discriminates against people who don't have enough money to buy everything they want." (98). Want some standing room only tickets at the new stadium that Texas taxpayers put $350 million towards building, not including tax hikes of .5% to their sales taxes? Cheap ones are $38. Of course, you can't see 1/3 of the field. But, you'll be in the same building as your roided up heroes! Good for you! I have been to one pro football game in my life, and that was enough.
In other words, the Cowboys are for the rich assholes and the Steelers play the role of working class hero in this text. And I say, right on! The book is a painstaking look at the value of a sports team to a city in counterpoint to the value of a city to a sports team. Many people hate the Steelers and their fans, partly because we have been so good for so long, but partly because they don't like the blue collar violence. I can't stand 49er fans because they tend to be chardonnay drinking pussies. Yes, Raider fans may knife you in an alley, but they command respect. Even the 49er fans are better than those miserable bastards who root for who wins. Ask a Patriot fan sporting a Tom Brady jersey outside of the North East who Steve Grogan or Mosi Tatupu was and you get blank stares. Ask a Raider fan who Jon Matuszek was and you may get the saying "The Tuz is Big News". That is the difference in real fans and jack offs. Real fans know history and revel in it.
This book starts off with Joe Namath snubbing Pete Rozelle after the Jets won Super Bowl III. I found that interesting because the NFL does not give a fuck about its fans unless they buy the latest jersey or the "Official NFL Draft Hat". During the 1970s, the trope of one blue collar team against a bunch of wealthy fucknuts would work. Now, it's all wealthy fucknuts. The NFL is a corporate hive of scum and villainy, but it was not always that way.
As I grew up, I idolized the Steelers because of their working class vibe, their anger and their absolute visceral hatred of losing. I idolize them for the same qualities now. In the 1970s, the Steel Curtain was dominant because of athletic talent to be sure. But, they were also dominant because they were highly talented men doing the best job they could do. Millman and Coyne paint a picture of a city in the 1970s on the decline, with small whiffs of the perpetual bull shit money machine that would typify the US in the 1980s and 1990s. The Burgh lived for the Steelers. One nice counterpoint in this book is the Steelers moving into Three Rivers Stadium and the creation of Franco's Italian Army. The Cowboys move to Irving, Texas (find that fucking place on a map) and then jack ticket prices up so the fans who had supported them from the beginning cannot afford a seat.
At least Clint Murchison, owner of the team, was honest. "If we discriminated against them (people making 12-20,000), we discriminated against them, but no more than all America discriminates against people who don't have enough money to buy everything they want." (98). Want some standing room only tickets at the new stadium that Texas taxpayers put $350 million towards building, not including tax hikes of .5% to their sales taxes? Cheap ones are $38. Of course, you can't see 1/3 of the field. But, you'll be in the same building as your roided up heroes! Good for you! I have been to one pro football game in my life, and that was enough.
In other words, the Cowboys are for the rich assholes and the Steelers play the role of working class hero in this text. And I say, right on! The book is a painstaking look at the value of a sports team to a city in counterpoint to the value of a city to a sports team. Many people hate the Steelers and their fans, partly because we have been so good for so long, but partly because they don't like the blue collar violence. I can't stand 49er fans because they tend to be chardonnay drinking pussies. Yes, Raider fans may knife you in an alley, but they command respect. Even the 49er fans are better than those miserable bastards who root for who wins. Ask a Patriot fan sporting a Tom Brady jersey outside of the North East who Steve Grogan or Mosi Tatupu was and you get blank stares. Ask a Raider fan who Jon Matuszek was and you may get the saying "The Tuz is Big News". That is the difference in real fans and jack offs. Real fans know history and revel in it.
This book starts off with Joe Namath snubbing Pete Rozelle after the Jets won Super Bowl III. I found that interesting because the NFL does not give a fuck about its fans unless they buy the latest jersey or the "Official NFL Draft Hat". During the 1970s, the trope of one blue collar team against a bunch of wealthy fucknuts would work. Now, it's all wealthy fucknuts. The NFL is a corporate hive of scum and villainy, but it was not always that way.
January 4, 2016
What a dud! What a waste of time and money. What a bitter disappointment. And how about that subtitle -- "The Steelers, The Cowboys, The '70s, and the Fight for America's Soul?" What a load of crap! What horseshit is that?
I'm a lifelong Steelers fan with a healthy memory and respect for the Pittsburgh/Dallas rivalry and that's what I expected this book to be about. It wasn't. It was a book about the Steelers, yes. It was mostly about the Rooney family, about Chuck Noll, Mean Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert, Andy Russell, Jack Ham, with mentions of Mel Bl0unt, Mike Webster, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Rocky Blier, Terry Hanratty, LC Greenwood, Dwight White, Fats Holmes, etc. Some decent stuff on the players and team. Almost all of it well known already. Virtually nothing new. How about the Cowboys? Equal treatment? Hardly! You get Tom Landry, Duane Thomas for a couple of years, for some unknown reason -- literally makes no sense -- and then, Tony Dorsett, who's from Pittsburgh and who's portrayed as a mega-asshole. That's it. Okay, I guess we don't need to know anything else about the Cowboys.
Well, if we don't learn anything new about the Steelers and if we don't learn much at all about the Cowboys, what is in the book at all? Um, the steel industry and labor unions. Literally. At least one third of the book, perhaps a great deal more, is a history of the steel industry and labor unions dating from the late nineteenth century centering in the greater Pittsburgh area. If you're into Pittsburgh manufacturing history or even US manufacturing history, I guess that's pretty damn great for you. Since it's virtually not even remotely tied into the the alleged "true" topic of the book -- the Steelers and the Cowboys -- I don't really give a flying fuck about it. That's not why I bought the book. There's more info in this book on labor union bosses, even on people who ran for labor union president and FAILED -- like that fucking matters about anything!!! -- than there is about fucking football in this stupid fucking book!
Oh, and the rivalry? There's infinitely more spent on the "true" rivalry between the Steelers and the Raiders than there is on the Steelers and the Cowboys.That's obviously the true rivalry. There's a little bit about the first Super Bowl the Steelers win and then the book ends abruptly with the second Steeler Super Bowl win over the Cowboys. That's it. There's been this huge steel industry self destruction buildup and the battle of labor union bosses and the war of words between the two teams and then the game is over and there's a paragraph or two following the game and that's fucking it. No conclusions, no epilogue, nothing. It's a stupid waste of a book, a stupid waste of time and money. I can't believe these idiots wrote something like this. I hope they took a huge loss on this. I hope they didn't make a dime on this. I hope I make something decent when I sell it to the used bookstore. This is easily the worst Steelers book I've ever read. The worst. Even though there's interesting stuff about the history of the city and the ethnicities making up the city, that's not why I bought the book. If you're a Steelers fan and want to learn about the team and its rivalries, just skip this book, because you won't learn a damn thing and you'll feel screwed after reading it. Most definitely NOT recommended. Poor excuse to talk about steel labor unions using the Pittsburgh Steelers as cover. Bullshit. Biggest piece of shit ever!
I'm a lifelong Steelers fan with a healthy memory and respect for the Pittsburgh/Dallas rivalry and that's what I expected this book to be about. It wasn't. It was a book about the Steelers, yes. It was mostly about the Rooney family, about Chuck Noll, Mean Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert, Andy Russell, Jack Ham, with mentions of Mel Bl0unt, Mike Webster, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Rocky Blier, Terry Hanratty, LC Greenwood, Dwight White, Fats Holmes, etc. Some decent stuff on the players and team. Almost all of it well known already. Virtually nothing new. How about the Cowboys? Equal treatment? Hardly! You get Tom Landry, Duane Thomas for a couple of years, for some unknown reason -- literally makes no sense -- and then, Tony Dorsett, who's from Pittsburgh and who's portrayed as a mega-asshole. That's it. Okay, I guess we don't need to know anything else about the Cowboys.
Well, if we don't learn anything new about the Steelers and if we don't learn much at all about the Cowboys, what is in the book at all? Um, the steel industry and labor unions. Literally. At least one third of the book, perhaps a great deal more, is a history of the steel industry and labor unions dating from the late nineteenth century centering in the greater Pittsburgh area. If you're into Pittsburgh manufacturing history or even US manufacturing history, I guess that's pretty damn great for you. Since it's virtually not even remotely tied into the the alleged "true" topic of the book -- the Steelers and the Cowboys -- I don't really give a flying fuck about it. That's not why I bought the book. There's more info in this book on labor union bosses, even on people who ran for labor union president and FAILED -- like that fucking matters about anything!!! -- than there is about fucking football in this stupid fucking book!
Oh, and the rivalry? There's infinitely more spent on the "true" rivalry between the Steelers and the Raiders than there is on the Steelers and the Cowboys.That's obviously the true rivalry. There's a little bit about the first Super Bowl the Steelers win and then the book ends abruptly with the second Steeler Super Bowl win over the Cowboys. That's it. There's been this huge steel industry self destruction buildup and the battle of labor union bosses and the war of words between the two teams and then the game is over and there's a paragraph or two following the game and that's fucking it. No conclusions, no epilogue, nothing. It's a stupid waste of a book, a stupid waste of time and money. I can't believe these idiots wrote something like this. I hope they took a huge loss on this. I hope they didn't make a dime on this. I hope I make something decent when I sell it to the used bookstore. This is easily the worst Steelers book I've ever read. The worst. Even though there's interesting stuff about the history of the city and the ethnicities making up the city, that's not why I bought the book. If you're a Steelers fan and want to learn about the team and its rivalries, just skip this book, because you won't learn a damn thing and you'll feel screwed after reading it. Most definitely NOT recommended. Poor excuse to talk about steel labor unions using the Pittsburgh Steelers as cover. Bullshit. Biggest piece of shit ever!
March 17, 2017
The sociology and politics of this book make it an amazing read for even a non sports fan. This is as much or even more a book about class warfare in American popular culture as it is about football. It is a super-easy read for an academic piece (I am pretty sure it began as a sociology dissertation), and the readers will find themselves rooting for the heroes, sneering at the villains and firmly embedded in that time and place. Spoiler alert: 'America's Team' are not the heroes.
June 4, 2015
Review title: Beginner's guide to Black and Gold mythology
If you came of age in the 1970s and lived within three hours of Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania, Maryland, or West Virginia (and even a slice of eastern Ohio, if you weren't a Brownier or Bungles fan) you already know what it means to bleed Black and Gold. If not, Millman and Coyne give a brief but somewhat cursory introduction.
If you are a Cowboys fan, you may not want to be reminded that during the 70s your team of precision was dominated on the field by the passion of the Steelers. Of course, the self-declared "America's Team" did all right against everybody else with your arrogance of style, so maybe you just don't care. And quite frankly, as a fan who falls in that first category above, I always kind of pitied the Cowboys, an emotion that fuels more anger than hatred in football rivalries, so too bad for you! And even though the Cowboys figure in the subtitle of this book, their presence is clearly secondary to the Steelers who were indeed the "ones who hit the hardest"--a quote from Jack Lambert that opens the book and clearly isn't in the style of today's concussion-crazed NFL rule book.
Millman also weaves the story of steel--the technology, the companies, and the unions--throughout the book, to provide the background for the passion, power, and pain that Steeler fans still (even though the steel and its consequences good and bad are all but gone from the town) honor and respect. The idea is a good one, but the multiple threads of the opposing teams and the history of Pittsburgh's passion crammed within a bare 300 pages leaves time for only cursory depth on any one topic. If you fit the description, you know most of this already; if not, this is a good starting point to talk to a Steeler fan and ask them questions about their own history with the team and how it intertwines with their family history, because every fan has and is glad to share such stories.
Just a couple of small reminders of those days will help modern readers to understand the greatness of the team:
*The 1974 draft included Lynn Swann (first round), Jack Lambert (second round), John Stallworth (fourth round), Mike Webster (fifth round)--all Hall of Famers.
*The genius of Chuck Noll, who despite four Super Bowls, never won a Coach of the Year award: not that he cared, but Steeler fans remember! While his rare "motivational" speeches (like the hilarious story of the two squirrels) left his team bewildered, but his intelligence and teaching made an indelible mark on the team of the decade.
So really, the only reason I down-rated this book is that there wasn't enough of it. Rookies, this is your OTA assignment before the veterans report.
If you came of age in the 1970s and lived within three hours of Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania, Maryland, or West Virginia (and even a slice of eastern Ohio, if you weren't a Brownier or Bungles fan) you already know what it means to bleed Black and Gold. If not, Millman and Coyne give a brief but somewhat cursory introduction.
If you are a Cowboys fan, you may not want to be reminded that during the 70s your team of precision was dominated on the field by the passion of the Steelers. Of course, the self-declared "America's Team" did all right against everybody else with your arrogance of style, so maybe you just don't care. And quite frankly, as a fan who falls in that first category above, I always kind of pitied the Cowboys, an emotion that fuels more anger than hatred in football rivalries, so too bad for you! And even though the Cowboys figure in the subtitle of this book, their presence is clearly secondary to the Steelers who were indeed the "ones who hit the hardest"--a quote from Jack Lambert that opens the book and clearly isn't in the style of today's concussion-crazed NFL rule book.
Millman also weaves the story of steel--the technology, the companies, and the unions--throughout the book, to provide the background for the passion, power, and pain that Steeler fans still (even though the steel and its consequences good and bad are all but gone from the town) honor and respect. The idea is a good one, but the multiple threads of the opposing teams and the history of Pittsburgh's passion crammed within a bare 300 pages leaves time for only cursory depth on any one topic. If you fit the description, you know most of this already; if not, this is a good starting point to talk to a Steeler fan and ask them questions about their own history with the team and how it intertwines with their family history, because every fan has and is glad to share such stories.
Just a couple of small reminders of those days will help modern readers to understand the greatness of the team:
*The 1974 draft included Lynn Swann (first round), Jack Lambert (second round), John Stallworth (fourth round), Mike Webster (fifth round)--all Hall of Famers.
*The genius of Chuck Noll, who despite four Super Bowls, never won a Coach of the Year award: not that he cared, but Steeler fans remember! While his rare "motivational" speeches (like the hilarious story of the two squirrels) left his team bewildered, but his intelligence and teaching made an indelible mark on the team of the decade.
So really, the only reason I down-rated this book is that there wasn't enough of it. Rookies, this is your OTA assignment before the veterans report.
May 8, 2012
A fun read that ultimately falls short of its promise.
The book sets itself up as the story of the rise and fall of the steel industry and the battle between the Steelers and Cowboys that marked the last stand of American industry, but falls a bit short on all fronts.
Because it tackles (no pun intended) three different stories, almost everyone will feel like one or more stories were given short shrift. It seems all but certain that most of the audience for the book will be Steelers fans, and the Steelers of the 1970s get the most coverage. But many hardcore fans who read this book will already be familiar with many of the stories about the team and the details of all the games, so it's not going to add much from a fan's perspective.
The story of the rise and fall of the steel industry is fascinating, and this book is the perfect place to tell that story in a way that will be interesting to people who are only casually interested in a history of labor and industry (which I assume is most people). I would probably not read a 300 page book about this subject by itself. But in the end, this story just kind of peters out without a real conclusion or point. Nor is it really very connected to the Steelers beyond stories of unemployed steel workers watching games or encountering kindly Art Rooney. It was not a story of the cultural connection between steel workers and their blue-collar team.
The story of the rise of the Cowboys is similarly more interesting than I would have expected, and again, just enough substance about a subject about which I would not have read a full-length book. The latter parts of this story, too, are undeveloped. It's not explained how the Cowboys got the players who formed their formidable team, and the book spends more of the 1970s portions talking about the Steelers' rivalry with the Raiders. There is no explanation as to the Cowboys becoming "America's Team," and the contrast of styles between the Steelers and Cowboys is mentioned, but not fully-formed.
The book also ends rather abruptly, right after Super Bowl XIII. A postscript would have seemed to be in order, particularly about the steel industry, but also about the Cowboys and the Steelers players and coaches and franchises and fans.
Still, this book was a very easy, enjoyable and interesting read. Anyone who is interested in football and history will love the first 200 pages, and hardcore Steelers fans will not learn anything new about the 1970s teams, but we can never get enough tales of the glory days. A more casual fan will probably like the second half of the book even more.
The book sets itself up as the story of the rise and fall of the steel industry and the battle between the Steelers and Cowboys that marked the last stand of American industry, but falls a bit short on all fronts.
Because it tackles (no pun intended) three different stories, almost everyone will feel like one or more stories were given short shrift. It seems all but certain that most of the audience for the book will be Steelers fans, and the Steelers of the 1970s get the most coverage. But many hardcore fans who read this book will already be familiar with many of the stories about the team and the details of all the games, so it's not going to add much from a fan's perspective.
The story of the rise and fall of the steel industry is fascinating, and this book is the perfect place to tell that story in a way that will be interesting to people who are only casually interested in a history of labor and industry (which I assume is most people). I would probably not read a 300 page book about this subject by itself. But in the end, this story just kind of peters out without a real conclusion or point. Nor is it really very connected to the Steelers beyond stories of unemployed steel workers watching games or encountering kindly Art Rooney. It was not a story of the cultural connection between steel workers and their blue-collar team.
The story of the rise of the Cowboys is similarly more interesting than I would have expected, and again, just enough substance about a subject about which I would not have read a full-length book. The latter parts of this story, too, are undeveloped. It's not explained how the Cowboys got the players who formed their formidable team, and the book spends more of the 1970s portions talking about the Steelers' rivalry with the Raiders. There is no explanation as to the Cowboys becoming "America's Team," and the contrast of styles between the Steelers and Cowboys is mentioned, but not fully-formed.
The book also ends rather abruptly, right after Super Bowl XIII. A postscript would have seemed to be in order, particularly about the steel industry, but also about the Cowboys and the Steelers players and coaches and franchises and fans.
Still, this book was a very easy, enjoyable and interesting read. Anyone who is interested in football and history will love the first 200 pages, and hardcore Steelers fans will not learn anything new about the 1970s teams, but we can never get enough tales of the glory days. A more casual fan will probably like the second half of the book even more.
June 24, 2011
This is the first sports related book I’ve ever read, so I can’t compare this to others, but I loved The Ones Who Hit the Hardest. I grew up in the Midwest, but my family’s all from Pittsburgh and I don’t remember a time when I didn’t root for all things Pittsburgh, especially the Steelers. Unfortunately, since I was just a kid in the 70s, I don’t remember much of going to Latrobe for training camp or of the Steelers and the games played during that era, and I knew next to nothing about the history of the NFL. This book was great at filling in a lot of blanks.
It begins with the flashy new era being ushered in by Joe Namath and moves to a brief history of football and of the fledgling attempts to start a national football league. This includes the bad old days when the only thing consistent about the Steelers was that they were consistently at the bottom of the barrel. We learn about those who tried, and failed, to acquire teams, leading to the upstart AFL and the resulting merger of the two leagues into the NFL we know today.
There are chapters devoted to the Cowboys, their players, style of play and leadership (Yes, it made me hate them even more.). However, most of the book is about the Steelers, from the Rooney family to Chuck Noll and the players; where they came from, why they were the type of players they were and how they went from a team no one expected anything from to Super Bowl champions. Interspersed with the chapters about football are ones about Pittsburgh and how steel shaped the city and the blue collar ethic of the people that rooted for the Steelers.
While I agree with another reviewer that some of the in depth coverage of the steel workers’ union races wasn’t really necessary, I still found the history interesting; a number of NFL players came from steel mill families and not ending up in them was part of their motivation to excel in football. I also agree with others that no mention of the fourth Super Bowl win was a little disappointing and a “Where are they now?” chapter would’ve been icing on the cake. The topic of the chapters did jump around a bit, but that didn’t really bother me, and I really liked the authors’ writing style.
While there were things could have been better, overall, this was an entertaining read that will appeal most to Steeler fans. It was great to learn about the history of the NFL and Pittsburgh, but especially about the guys whose names are in my autograph book from so many years ago.
It begins with the flashy new era being ushered in by Joe Namath and moves to a brief history of football and of the fledgling attempts to start a national football league. This includes the bad old days when the only thing consistent about the Steelers was that they were consistently at the bottom of the barrel. We learn about those who tried, and failed, to acquire teams, leading to the upstart AFL and the resulting merger of the two leagues into the NFL we know today.
There are chapters devoted to the Cowboys, their players, style of play and leadership (Yes, it made me hate them even more.). However, most of the book is about the Steelers, from the Rooney family to Chuck Noll and the players; where they came from, why they were the type of players they were and how they went from a team no one expected anything from to Super Bowl champions. Interspersed with the chapters about football are ones about Pittsburgh and how steel shaped the city and the blue collar ethic of the people that rooted for the Steelers.
While I agree with another reviewer that some of the in depth coverage of the steel workers’ union races wasn’t really necessary, I still found the history interesting; a number of NFL players came from steel mill families and not ending up in them was part of their motivation to excel in football. I also agree with others that no mention of the fourth Super Bowl win was a little disappointing and a “Where are they now?” chapter would’ve been icing on the cake. The topic of the chapters did jump around a bit, but that didn’t really bother me, and I really liked the authors’ writing style.
While there were things could have been better, overall, this was an entertaining read that will appeal most to Steeler fans. It was great to learn about the history of the NFL and Pittsburgh, but especially about the guys whose names are in my autograph book from so many years ago.
January 13, 2012
"Over an entire decade they played the way the city worked and lived..." Admittedly I am a huge Steelers fan, but this book encapsulates why I love them so much.
1. The Rooney's are without a doubt the greatest owners of any sports team ever. This is not hyperbole, they really are that amazing. I don't use the word great lightly. Art Rooney never was much a philanthropist in the classic sense, he never went out of his way to give tons of money to charitable donations (He did, but subversively), what he did was invigorate the souls of the hard working american class. You've heard, I'm sure, of the midwest work ethic? Well that started with Pittsburgh. When the country was trying to move on from the industrial revolution (but still needed resources prior to the mechanization of mill jobs) Pittsburgh made the country work. Something like 80% of the entire country's steel production came from the poor, nearly indentured work force of Pittsburgh. This went all the way into the eighties, I know because my father was a steel worker. During that time Art Rooney would go out every week and buy out bars for the men who worked those mills who couldn't afford a drink or a meal. he would buy our hotels so those workers could watch their beloved Steelers who were their only release. If there were more people like Art Rooney in the world there would be a lot more friendship and love. It was a sad day when the Chief died.
2. The Steelers became great through work. They came together, a group of men with something to prove, a group of men who people thought would amount to nothing, and through their hard work and perseverance they became the winning-est team in football history. They beat down teams like the Cowboys who were generic teams put together by a computer, by combining the players skills in complex algorithms and paying salaries which no other team could afford. They are a hollywoodized version of football and anyone who calls them "America's team" should be ashamed.
3. They encapsulate the American Dream. Hard work and perseverance combined to create success. I love them because that is my dream. I want to work hard and create success, not have it because someone gave it to me, or because someone, somewhere created an algorithm to have a short cut. I want to make it and them look back and say, "That was me. I made it."
1. The Rooney's are without a doubt the greatest owners of any sports team ever. This is not hyperbole, they really are that amazing. I don't use the word great lightly. Art Rooney never was much a philanthropist in the classic sense, he never went out of his way to give tons of money to charitable donations (He did, but subversively), what he did was invigorate the souls of the hard working american class. You've heard, I'm sure, of the midwest work ethic? Well that started with Pittsburgh. When the country was trying to move on from the industrial revolution (but still needed resources prior to the mechanization of mill jobs) Pittsburgh made the country work. Something like 80% of the entire country's steel production came from the poor, nearly indentured work force of Pittsburgh. This went all the way into the eighties, I know because my father was a steel worker. During that time Art Rooney would go out every week and buy out bars for the men who worked those mills who couldn't afford a drink or a meal. he would buy our hotels so those workers could watch their beloved Steelers who were their only release. If there were more people like Art Rooney in the world there would be a lot more friendship and love. It was a sad day when the Chief died.
2. The Steelers became great through work. They came together, a group of men with something to prove, a group of men who people thought would amount to nothing, and through their hard work and perseverance they became the winning-est team in football history. They beat down teams like the Cowboys who were generic teams put together by a computer, by combining the players skills in complex algorithms and paying salaries which no other team could afford. They are a hollywoodized version of football and anyone who calls them "America's team" should be ashamed.
3. They encapsulate the American Dream. Hard work and perseverance combined to create success. I love them because that is my dream. I want to work hard and create success, not have it because someone gave it to me, or because someone, somewhere created an algorithm to have a short cut. I want to make it and them look back and say, "That was me. I made it."
Read
September 29, 2016I’m not a big fan of sports books. That might sound strange if you know me, as I love sports. But it just rarely works for me to read about sports in book form for whatever reason. Yet, my brother bought me The Ones Who Hit the Hardest after I gave in to my Steelers envy a while back, There were some decent behind-the-scenes stories about the Steelers and football from the 1970s. Ironically, the most interesting part of the book was about Tony Dorsett, who grew up in Pittsburgh, but became a great player for the Dallas Cowboys—a big rival of the Steelers years ago. I was also interested to read that Steelers Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw really wasn’t that highly regarded early on in the “Steel City.” And it was good to get some in-depth knowledge of the Steelers history. But the book just never quite grabbed me. I actually did something I never tried before—switching back-and-forth between two books—just to get through it. (The second book was the Bill O’Reilly book that I reviewed in my previous Goodreads.com review, which I read much more quickly.) The Ones Who Hit the Hardest was just very dry, and never lived up to its subtitle, The Steelers, the Cowboys, the ‘70s, and the Fight for America’s Heart. Now, I put the book down for a year or two after reading about 50-75 pages, so I may not recall some stuff. But I don’t remember much at all in the book on the Steelers-Cowboys rivalry outside of their Super Bowl battles. There wasn’t any in-depth look at why Dallas was dubbed “America’s Team” and not Pittsburgh. Plus, the look at the steel industry in Pittsburgh, complete with details about the steelworkers union, was unexpected and very difficult to get through. I read the book because I thought it was about football; I just didn’t care about the steel industry. Except for a few references to steelworkers rooting for the Steelers, the two subjects were never brought together. I felt like I was reading two different books, and I can’t recommend either one.
No starred review here because it just wasn’t my type of book, so I don’t think it would be fair to rank it. Pittsburgh natives may love it.
No starred review here because it just wasn’t my type of book, so I don’t think it would be fair to rank it. Pittsburgh natives may love it.
September 22, 2012
Having grown up with my Dad, an avid, die-hard Steelers fan, who kept the love and the faith alive even after nearly 30 years living outside of his hometown of Pittsburgh, I loved reading this book. My parents were married in 1972, so just as the Steelers came into their own. They carried their love for the team and Pittsburgh from Pittsburgh to Tennessee, to Minnesota, to Illinois, and finally back to Pittsburgh. So when my brother sent me this book for my birthday, I could hardly wait to get into it.
I loved the parallel stories concerning the Steelers, the steel industry, and the Cowboys. The behind the scenes looks, especially at the Steelers, were fascinating and I learned so much about how the team came grew up, so to speak. The only thing that disappointed me was that the coverage of the city of Pittsburgh and the steel industry slacked off in the end. The book ends with Super Bowl XIV, but I would have liked to see a final chapter or two about what was going on in the steel industry, and a final evaluation of how the team came to mean so much to Pittsburgh. This is hinted at throughout, but never really fully explored.
I know what the team means to my family, and I know what it meant to my father, who passed away in the hospital during Super Bowl 43. The book never really quite captures the full extent of how the crisis in the steel industry worked together with the Steelers' sudden and long-awaited success to create the kind of love, passion, and loyalty I see in my family and the Steelers fans of even today. I really would have liked to have that rounded out a bit more.
Other than that, it was an enlightening and fascinating read. I am not a football fan, just a Steeler fan. So this would not be my typical reading material, yet I really enjoyed it. You don't have to be a football fanatic to enjoy this book. But maybe you do have to be a Steeler fanatic. ;-) Plus, my 4 year old son LOVES to look at the pictures. I am keeping this one for when he's ready to read it someday. :-)
I loved the parallel stories concerning the Steelers, the steel industry, and the Cowboys. The behind the scenes looks, especially at the Steelers, were fascinating and I learned so much about how the team came grew up, so to speak. The only thing that disappointed me was that the coverage of the city of Pittsburgh and the steel industry slacked off in the end. The book ends with Super Bowl XIV, but I would have liked to see a final chapter or two about what was going on in the steel industry, and a final evaluation of how the team came to mean so much to Pittsburgh. This is hinted at throughout, but never really fully explored.
I know what the team means to my family, and I know what it meant to my father, who passed away in the hospital during Super Bowl 43. The book never really quite captures the full extent of how the crisis in the steel industry worked together with the Steelers' sudden and long-awaited success to create the kind of love, passion, and loyalty I see in my family and the Steelers fans of even today. I really would have liked to have that rounded out a bit more.
Other than that, it was an enlightening and fascinating read. I am not a football fan, just a Steeler fan. So this would not be my typical reading material, yet I really enjoyed it. You don't have to be a football fanatic to enjoy this book. But maybe you do have to be a Steeler fanatic. ;-) Plus, my 4 year old son LOVES to look at the pictures. I am keeping this one for when he's ready to read it someday. :-)
November 30, 2012
Full Disclosure: I was born into Steeler Nation. I bleed black and gold. My fandom has been described as passionate, irrational, and somewhat extreme. I was not an objective reader of this book.
I loved this book. It grabbed me by the collar and didn’t let me go until the end. When telling people about it, I always gave a dramatic interpretation of the title – especially the "The Fight for America’s Soul" part. I repeat, I was not an objective reader.
What had my heart, of course, was the familiar story of building the Pittsburgh Steelers from total crappitude into the dynasty of the 1970s. But it juxtaposed that story with the simultaneous boom and bust of the steel industry, which I found surprisingly interesting. It sort of gave the historical basis for arguing that Steeler Nation is an actual cultural diaspora (I totally stole that from “Whatever It Takes,” the art exhibit at CMU a few years back.) And then there was one more layer, even more unfamiliar to me, the story of the Cowboys – from coming-into-being to their philosophy and approach to their team. From my perspective, I thought it was fairly decent to the Cowboys. (But I still wouldn’t recommend it to a Dallas fan.) But, despite the title, they actually kind of abandoned the Cowboys thread in the latter half of the book. I didn’t mind.
Anyway, it was a good read for a Steelers fan. Hey, it even kept up my street cred at a dive bar this week when I knew the story of Ernie Holmes shooting at the helicopter. And reading this book at the start of a new football season, it struck a chord as I worried even further about what the Reign of Goodell was doing to the sport I was born watching. The best writing of all time? No. The most objective account? No, but what history book is? A soul-stirring read? For this girl, absolutely.
I loved this book. It grabbed me by the collar and didn’t let me go until the end. When telling people about it, I always gave a dramatic interpretation of the title – especially the "The Fight for America’s Soul" part. I repeat, I was not an objective reader.
What had my heart, of course, was the familiar story of building the Pittsburgh Steelers from total crappitude into the dynasty of the 1970s. But it juxtaposed that story with the simultaneous boom and bust of the steel industry, which I found surprisingly interesting. It sort of gave the historical basis for arguing that Steeler Nation is an actual cultural diaspora (I totally stole that from “Whatever It Takes,” the art exhibit at CMU a few years back.) And then there was one more layer, even more unfamiliar to me, the story of the Cowboys – from coming-into-being to their philosophy and approach to their team. From my perspective, I thought it was fairly decent to the Cowboys. (But I still wouldn’t recommend it to a Dallas fan.) But, despite the title, they actually kind of abandoned the Cowboys thread in the latter half of the book. I didn’t mind.
Anyway, it was a good read for a Steelers fan. Hey, it even kept up my street cred at a dive bar this week when I knew the story of Ernie Holmes shooting at the helicopter. And reading this book at the start of a new football season, it struck a chord as I worried even further about what the Reign of Goodell was doing to the sport I was born watching. The best writing of all time? No. The most objective account? No, but what history book is? A soul-stirring read? For this girl, absolutely.
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