Super Bowl XLV - Green Bay, 31 -- Pittsburgh, 25
Yes, it's sort of like the fabled poem about a super baseball player named Casey -- all the fans were certain he would hit the home run and win the game -- but the poem ends on a very sad note -- mighty Casey had struck out!
In western and central Pennsylvania for days after Pittsburgh clinched the AFC championship, the excitement grew with lots of publicity and pep rallies held all over the place. Black and gold were the prominent combination of colors in our region. And finally the evening of February 6th arrived with high pitched frenzy as the spectators gathered in the stadium while millions were glued to their TV's with snacks and beverages in hand.
After the highly respected national anthem was violently assaulted -- I didn't get the word, did it eventually die in the ER -- the game got underway. It was not a rout, but certainly at times it looked like Green Bay was going to rack up a score that would say so!
And so as excited fans in Green Bay eat tons of cheese in celebration and fans of the Steelers grieve a bit, why not look at this in larger perspective from a historical point of view.
There have been 45 Super Bowl events starting in January of 1967. Green Bay won the first two, back to back. Green Bay's grand total of participation in Super Bowls over the years has been five -- they won four and lost one.
Pittsburgh has participated in eight Super Bowls over the years. They have won six and lost two.
It was said of Pittsburgh from the mid 70's into 1980 that they had a "dynasty" and those were the years of the famed "Steel Curtain." They won Super Bowls in '75, '76, '79 and '80.
Now, grieving Steeler fans, think on this past record a bit -- Green Bay cannot match that -- there was never a time they had what was referred to as a "dynasty" nor successive Super Bowl wins such as accomplished by the Steelers.
And remember, there is a difference between 4 and 6 is there not? So Green Bay, as do other Super Bowl winners, has some catching up to do, right? Now then, if you get into intense discussion with a Green Bay Packer fan, just encourage that person to look at the whole record over the years -- which team has the most impressive record overall? I rest my case. BTW this is not written by a "dyed in the wool" Pittsburgh Steeler fan. Sometimes in my work as a pastor, I try to comfort those who are in grief, which is what I have attempted to do with these remarks :-)
Oh, just one more thing, as Detective Columbo was often heard to say -- less than 100 years from now Super Bowl XLV won't amount to the proverbial "hill of beans" -- there will be other matters of greater significance over which to be greatly concerned!
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. --- 1 John 2:15-17
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