Still MC - An Introduction

            As most of you have already seen, a thread was started on the forums asking for new writers. After a little debate, I decided to give it a shot. Hell, why not? The worst I could get was rejected. Well, to my complete surprise, Still Mill replied to my e-mail, complimenting the article I sent, and asking for another one. Which brings us to this moment. Before I go any further, I would like to thank Still Mill for this opportunity. The writing staff at Stillers.com is a talented bunch, and it would be an honor to join the ranks.

            But I'm getting ahead of myself. When it came time to sit down and right this article, I racked my brain trying to think of a subject. It's been an extremely quiet offseason, with the only real news being Ben's accidents and Holmes� mishaps...both of which have been discussed to death.

            So I decided to use my first article as a chance to introduce myself, some of my background, and how I became a full-blooded member of Stillers Nation.

            Very few of you probably have any idea who I am. After all, I'm not in the elite ranks of our message board. My name on the message boards is MalevolentCha0s. If that still gets a blank stare, I'm the guy with the Stillers basement. Yes, that's me. And I'll answer some questions before anyone even asks. Yes, it looks like a bomb shelter. Yes, it looks like a scene from Silence of the Lambs. No, no one has ever hung themselves from the rafters with a short piece of rope.

            Now, that's out of the way. So where did MC get tied up with the best team in pro football? Was I around for the dynasty of the 70's? Nope. Was I around for the lackluster 80's? Nope. Well then, I MUST have been a fan by the early Cowher era, heartbroken with the rest of you during Super Bowl XXX. Right?  Nope.

            The first Steelers game I ever watched was in the 2001 playoffs, against Baltimore.

            I know what you're thinking. I've only been a fan for five years, how could I even call myself a Stillers fan? I must be a bandwagoner, right?

            Well, I live about ten miles outside of Baltimore city...right in the heart of Ravens country. Therefore, my entire family...from my 70-year old grandfather to every aunt, uncle, cousin, mother, father...even my 6 year old little sister....all bled purple. At that time, I didn't watch much football, outside of the Super Bowl. But for some reason, when the Ravens went to Pittsburgh for the right to play in the AFCC, I couldn't help but watch. Now, normally I'd have wanted the Ravens to win....they were the hometown team, and it would keep my family happy � the drinking and partying after a playoff victory was always worth it. I tried to root for the Ravens, but some unseen force kept me from doing it. That team, in the black and gold...something about them just made me want to cheer for them.

            So there we were, father and son, rooting for different teams. Granted, I never watched football...I had no idea what 3^rd & 5 meant, or what a cornerback, safety, or fullback was. All I knew is that I wanted that Pittsburgh team to win, dammit. And they did, as we all know. The asspounding the Ravens received on that day will forever remain in my memory. It was that day that a football team became a life priority to me...just as they are to all of us.

            From then on out, the Pittsburgh Stillers become an obsession...a way of life, to quote the site. Although I was disappointed the following week against the Patriots, I spent the offseason purchasing hats, jerseys, shirts, etc. I closely followed any news I could find, and actually gave the preseason games as much attention as the regular season games. By September of 2002, it was evident to anyone who saw me that I was a full-blooded member of Stiller Nation. Every job I've had since then (which has only been a couple), I fought to have off every Sunday. I claimed religious reasons; that I would be attending church and using Sunday as a day of rest. Although I did use it as a day of rest, I rarely used the day off to attend church. After all, Stiller football is almost as important to me as any religion.

            So what will I bring to the table as far as content on Stillers.com? As much as I can. I'll be attending camp in Latrobe during August, so I'll save my preseason analysis until I see what we have. For the most part I'll provide Stiller game previews and weekly picks � not just for our team, but the entire league. I'll also look at each team before the season begins and pick every game of the season. I'll follow up every few weeks to see where I stand. I figure that this way, whether my picks are right or wrong, I have something to back them up with.

            Again, I thank Still Mill for the opportunity to write this, and thank anyone who spent/wasted the time to read it. It's shaping up to be another exciting season of Stiller football, and I'm pretty damn proud to root for the defending world champions.

StillMC