Because the NFL rules the sports landscape in North America, it shouldn't be a surprise that Bill Cowher, former head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers for 15 years, has worked his way into the storyline of the NHL's Eastern Conference final between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes. Prior to the start of the series, there was some debate as to Cowher's rooting interest for the series, seeing as how he not only coached in Pittsburgh for a decade-and-a-half, but because he was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and now currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Prior to Tuesday's Game 4, Cowher will be sounding the Hurricanes' pre-game warning siren, and, as far as many people in the steel city are concerned, turning his back on Pittsburgh.
As a resident of Pittsburgh, and a Steelers season ticket holder, this wouldn't really bother me if it weren't for the fact that Cowher is originally from Pittsburgh, and supposedly grew up cheering not only for the Penguins, but for the old AHL team, the Pittsburgh Hornets. And now, all of a sudden, you're a Hurricanes fan? As the Penguins, your hometown team, are just one win away from playing for the Stanley Cup? I don't expect Dan Bylsma, for example, to cheer for the Steelers three years after he's no longer the coach of the Penguins ... but, Bill, you're from Pittsburgh!
The Pens Blog, as only they can, sums it all up if you're a Pittsburgh sports fan:
Cowher, representing the Hurricanes, will fire up the crowd ringing some stupid thing. Some joke Steeler fan who doesn't pay attention to the Pens won't care. But for many Pittsburgh sports fans, this will be considered a slap in the face. Can't wait till he comes back to Pittsburgh, and admist all the cheers, there will be someone booing. And you'll know why. This game will be for that 3rd-and-1 against the Broncos in the 1997 AFC Championship. Bettis was running over the entire NFL that season. Kordell pick city in the end zone.According to the online poll at PittsburghChannel.com, a majority of the voters are going forward with the belief that Cowher, by showing his support for the Hurricanes, is turning his back on the black and gold.
I asked Don Spagnolo, lead-man at one of Pittsburgh's best sports blogs, Mondesi's House, for his take on Cowher-gate '09:
"I think there's no doubt that Bill Cowher sounding the Hurricanes' siren will tarnish his legacy in the eyes of some Pittsburghers," said Spagnolo. "That's not my opinion, that's just a fact. Pittsburgh, as a whole, is a city that's very sensitive to any perceived slights (see: bitterness over Marian Hossa signing with Detroit). And this will be perceived as a huge slight. It wouldn't be quite as big of a deal if not for the fact that Cowher was born and raised in Pittsburgh. Throw in the fact that he never made a big fuss about attending Pens games when he lived here (at least not the way that Mike Tomlin has, wearing Pens jerseys and such), and you get a lot of potential bitterness.
He continued: "Although Cowher won a Super Bowl and appeared in a handful of AFC Championships, Pittsburghers have long memories, even for winners. Jaromir Jagr still gets booed, and he won two Stanley Cups. Terry Bradshaw's always had an up-and-down relationship with the city. And Barry Bonds? Let's put it this way...to say his receptions have been icy since returning to the city would be a huge understatement. In the grand scheme of things, it's really silly and it's not a big deal. Bill Cowher sounding a siren will not alter the universe. But Pittsburgh takes their sports very seriously (perhaps too seriously), and I'm surprised that he wouldn't consider the poor reception this will surely generate in his hometown before agreeing to do this."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-26-2009 @ 5:28PM
coloradocolors said...
Bill who???????
He's dead to Pittsburgh!!!!!!
GO PENS!!!!!!!
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5-26-2009 @ 5:29PM
mark said...
another poorly researched pens/canes cowher article. no worries gretz, you aren't first or last.
before the chin delivered glory to the stillers, he was an MVP linebacker (and captain) at nc state in raleigh. he met his wife in raleigh too, as she was a star on the wolfpack women's basketball team.
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5-26-2009 @ 6:38PM
divac213 said...
he grew up in pgh numbnuts
5-26-2009 @ 6:14PM
ryan said...
mark,
Who's disputing that? And how does that change the fact that Cowher grew up in Western Pennsylvania?
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5-26-2009 @ 6:17PM
AdamGretz said...
Exactly, Ryan. And when Cowher was playing for NC State and meeting his wife, the Carolina Hurricanes were playing in Hartford.
5-26-2009 @ 6:15PM
up543 said...
As an avid Pittsburgh sports fan - the only thing he could do worse at this point ...Is to endorse Cleveland or Baltimore to win the Superbowl next year !
Carolina ties or not - Pittsburgh fans will remember this.
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5-26-2009 @ 6:19PM
Johnny said...
Everyone knows he went to NC State Mark. He can root for the Wolfpack over the Pitt Panthers all he wants. That's his alma matre, and that's fine.
Four years away at college aren't quite the same as growing up, and then returning to spend the vast majority of your professional life, in a town.
I live in another city now, and I even went to college in my new city, but if the Pens play the home team here and I show up for a game, you can bet I'll be wearing a black and gold jersey (and I don't live in Boston).
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5-26-2009 @ 6:23PM
shawncsh said...
I thought he was a Pittsburgher at heart?! I guess that shows how fake people can actually be. He won't be the 1st or last and it's a shame. Just another sellout.
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5-26-2009 @ 6:51PM
ynots66 said...
I think it's bad form on Bill's part. He can blow that Hurricane warning all he wants against ANY other team in the NHL. But against the Penguins? I think he should have respectfully declined. He was born and raised here; he understands the Yinzer mentality. In the big scheme of things, it really isn't that big of a deal. In the realm of Pittsburgh sports, and loyalty thereof, it's a big no-no.
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5-26-2009 @ 7:01PM
earsstinks said...
F#ck Cowher,I hope he gets a chin ache !
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5-26-2009 @ 7:10PM
Steve said...
Pittsburgh fans are ungrateful, now that Mike Tomlin won them a Super Bowl all of a sudden it doesn't matter that Bill Cowher won them their first title in 25 years. Who cares what hockey team he roots for? He's a football coach, not a hockey coach. I'd be willing to bet there are Steelers fans who aren't necessarily big hockey fans that aren't attached to the Penguins and could root for another team if they left town. Not to mention that the Pens are up 3-0 and this series is virtually over, I don't think Bill Cowher's bell-ringing is going to be the impetus for a four game win streak for the Canes. I'm an Eagles fan who has yet to see the Eagles win a championship, if Andy Reid wins a title, retires, and then years later takes part in a stupid pregame ceremony against the Flyers in a conference final where the Flyers are up 3-0, I'm not going to get too riled up about it. Get a grip guys and just enjoy your run to the finals.
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5-26-2009 @ 8:14PM
Bill Cowher said...
I'm a native of Pittsburgh now living outside of Philly. I attended a playoff game in Pittsburgh and one here this postseason. While at the Pittsburgh game I saw several Flyers fan wearing their colors - none were harassed. On the other hand I saw a beer poured on a Pens fan, two women wearing Pens jersey's given the bird, and one small child called an, "f'n faggot", because he had a Crosby jersey on while I was at the game here in Philly.
In my humble opinion nobody from Philadelphia has any right to tell anybody to "get a grip".
Bill was wrong. Go Pens!!
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5-26-2009 @ 9:09PM
griffith69 said...
Cowher who? What do you expect from someone who played for the Browns. When the Pens go to the cup we have no room for Cowher on our wagon.
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5-26-2009 @ 9:17PM
Jason K said...
The fact that he starred for NCSU doesn't change the fact that he's from Pittsburgh, the reason Mark said your story was poorly researched is because you didn't mention his ties to Raleigh whatsoever, it's misleading your readers that don't know about his Raleigh ties.
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5-26-2009 @ 9:26PM
griffith69 said...
Hey Cowher nice new teeth. Blinding
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5-26-2009 @ 9:32PM
James said...
He won y'all a Super Bowl. He lives in Raleigh.
Grow the f*** up.
After the Pens dispatch us here in game 4, he'll root for the Pens again.
- James
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5-27-2009 @ 7:54PM
coloradocolors said...
He's also only Steelers coach to lose a Super Bowl !!!!!
5-26-2009 @ 10:33PM
shummey327 said...
He won the superbowl.then the next season he gave up and then retired. So i guess we are use to him fucking us up
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5-26-2009 @ 10:36PM
shummey327 said...
excuse my language
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5-26-2009 @ 11:44PM
#1 Steeler Fan! said...
Shummey, you are excused this time buddy. So glad Pens swept Carolina, I guess Cowher will be rooting for us now, what a traitor. I live in Seattle but I am from Pittsburgh and will always root for them no matter where I live. My husbands family is from Ohio, right across from Pittsburgh and he rooted for them also, God rest his soul. I know in heaven he is rooting them on. Go Pens, Lord Stanley is yours this year.
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