This should be one of the easiest parts to write. The heavy lifting is finished and now it’s a just a matter of thanking people. What makes it difficult is making sure I don’t forget anyone who helped me during the reporting and writing of this book because there were so many.
First and foremost, I couldn’t have done this without the support of my immediate family on many levels. One of the biggest thrills in doing this book was my dad accompanying me when I interviewed Al Vento, one of the founders of Franco’s Italian Army, at his restaurant. My dad was as engrossed as I was listening to Al talk about “the Army,” as he called it. An added bonus: my cousin Tom, who set up the interview, joined us and laughed along with us at the stories that truly came from a bygone era. Thanks to Al and his lunch group for welcoming us interlopers for a Saturday afternoon that we won’t soon forget.
A special thanks to Dermontti Dawson for writing the foreword to the book and also conducting a lengthy interview for it. There isn’t a nicer or classier guy than Dermontti.
A number of other Steelers, past and present, provided invaluable help. Some were more than generous with their time in giving insightful interviews. Others helped set up those interviews or provided background information. They include Charlie Batch, Jerome Bettis, Alan Faneca, Frenchy Fuqua, Jason Gildon, Joe Gordon, Dick Hoak, Michael Hustava, Tunch Ilkin, Brett Keisel, Burt Lauten, Bill Priatko, Tony Quatrini, Art Rooney Jr., Andy Russell, and John Simpson.
Buffalo Bills general manager and former Steelers director of pro personnel Doug Whaley was a great help, as was Steelers scout Mark Gorscak. I ran into “Gors” before the Steelers’ 2015 regular-season finale and when I told him I was looking for a good tailgate he took me to the quintessential one. There I met people who have become friends through their love of the Steelers. They welcomed me as if I was one of their own and provided great color to the first chapter of the book. Those I interviewed include Bee Huss, Bob and Dow Malnati, and Jennifer Piper. The group’s only mistake: inviting me back, which it may come to regret.
Garrett Webster, the son of the late, great Mike Webster, was again more than gracious with his time and talking about a difficult subject. Father Paul Taylor and Oland “Dodo” Canterna and his wife, Shirley, were among those from St. Vincent College who sat down with me for the book. You can’t talk about the Steelers without their connection to St. Vincent through training camp and Taylor and the Canternas were extremely helpful.
I did not want this book to simply be a recitation of the Steelers’ history, as glorious as it is, or just from the perspective of former players, coaches, and others in the organization. To that end, I talked with fans, bar owners, and managers, heck even a former Cleveland Browns great. Thanks to Doug Dieken for giving me an interview, even after I told him I was calling about a Steelers book. Others I want to thank include Marty “Mop” Angiulli, Mark Beauregard, Dave Bryan (who owns the Steelers Depot website), Skip Brown, longtime Pittsburgh Post-Gazette beat writer Ed Bouchette, Mike Burrell, Tom Chaffee, Tom Diecks, Erin Fey, Jen Detore, Mary Jo Hartman, Jeremy Hill, Jason Hupp, Nikki Kemerer, Greg Morris, Tom Okon, Mark Schiller, Jeff Trebac, Hans “Walle” Walsten, Anne Williams, Tim Welty, and Don Zadach, who also answers to “Pope Yinzer.”
I conducted almost 50 interviews for this book and would have loved to talk to 50 more people for it. But the deadline wasn’t open-ended as much as I kept pushing for more time. I also drew on anecdotes and interviews from when I covered the team as well as interviews posted on the Steelers’ website and nuggets gleaned from various news organizations, which I credited in the book. I am pleased with the end result and think there is something for every Steelers fan in this book since there are no shortage of bucket-list items when it comes to one of the greatest organizations in all of sports.
Thanks to Tom Bast of Triumph Books for the opportunity to execute the unique concept for this book and to editor Jesse Jordan for his skill and patience in guiding this project. If I left anyone out, I truly apologize.