The blog of Bob ...

The PG's Bob Dvorchak checks in with some notes from Tampa ...

 

• Poetry and the Steelers? Don’t laugh.

Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau has brought his tough-as-steel charges to tears with his annual recital of Clement Clarke Moore’s "Twas The Night Before Christmas."And coach Mike Tomlin set the tone between the AFC championship and the Super Bowl by reminding his team that "We have miles to go before we sleep."

The line is taken from poet laureate Robert Frost’s "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening." It’s a poetic reminder of unfinished business. Did any other poets influence the coach?

"I’m a Frost guy," Tomlin said with a smile. "The guys kind of look at me sideways sometimes when I quote Robert Frost. But that’s part of it."

 

• Athletes are some of the most superstitious people on the planet, but apparently they don’t all suffer from triskaidekaphobia – the irrational fear of the number 13.

Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner has worn it since his days at Northern Iowa, when he was given the number. "The other numbers were taken," Warner said.

"But my belief in the Lord is a lot greater than numbers or superstitions. "The No. 13 is also worn by Steelers’ practice squad player Marvin Allen, who lost his No. 14 when Limas Sweed was drafted."I think they just gave me the next number," Allen said. "But I’m definitely not superstitious. There are a lot of Hall of Famers with that number."The most famous of them would be Dan Marino, whose No. 13 was retired by the Dolphins.

 

• Franco Harris is using Super Bowl week to introduce a new line of furniture, starting with the Immaculate Chair.

Honest.

The chair was conceived by Helen Hoey and designed by Barclay Butera. A limited edition number of 500 chairs have been made. It’s part of the new Immaculate Collection Line.

 

• Papa John’s is offering a pizza for 25 cents if the opening kickoff in the Super Bowl is returned for a touchdown. Sign up at www.thecountdowntokickoff.com.

Eight kickoffs have been returned for touchdowns, the most recent one by Chicago’s Devon Hester in 2007.
Papa John’s is also offering free pizza for a year to any of the 11 players on the receiving team if a touchdown is scored. They call it a special offer for special teams.