Lobbying For the Black and Gold

Hotel lobbies are great places to people watch, especially during a Super Bowl. Kelly Brocato and her family were doing just that in my hotel lobby. Unfortunately, the only people they saw were the bar tender and a cartoonist. I was having lunch at the bar. Kelly hails from Monroeville. She and her kids Nick, Lauren and Alex were all decked out in Steelers shirts. Her husband Michael, a die-hard Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, was wearing neutral colors. “On Sunday Michael and the boys watch the Bucs and Lauren and I sneak off to Beef O’Grady’s to watch the Steelers,” she says with a tinge of guilt in her voice. Lauren likes Willie Parker.

Kelly, who also has roots in Greensburg and Wilmerding, would never be converted Tampa Bay colors. “No Winky’s in Wilmerding,” she said proudly, recalling an ad for Pittsburgh’s late fast food chain, Winky’s. Speaking of restaurants, Michael owns Brocato’s Sandwich Shop, where his family has served Cuban sandwiches for 60 years. Maybe Kelly can convince him to put fries and coleslaw on them!

Despite her allegiance to the Black and Gold, Kelly has no ill will toward the Buccaneers. “I always want the Bucs to win because then our week at home goes a little smoother.”