Changing of The Guard
If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time you should know that I am a die hard Steelers fan. I grew up in Pittsburgh during the years of the Steel Curtain, Lambert’s Lunatics, Franco’s Army, and four Super Bowl Championships in the 70’s. You can take the boy out of the city, but you could never take the Steelers out of the boy.
My only memories of the Steelers, even as a small boy are three Coach’s, (Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin) two stadiums, (Three Rivers and Heinz Field), and one ownership, the Rooney’s. In 1933, Art Rooney Sr. (“The Chief”) purchased this NFL franchise for $2,500. The other four current NFL teams in existence at that time were the Chicago (Arizona) Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and New York Giants.
To state that this Franchise is riddled with history is an understatement at best.
You may also know if you’ve been with YTB for any length of time that Coach is also a Steelers fan. He grew up just outside of Pittsburgh, and even after moving away many decades ago, he like me, still bleeds Black and Gold.
I’ll never forget the first night my wife and I saw this business. It was during one of the Founders Tours back in 2005 and Coach was there and when he got up to speak, he said something, and honestly I don’t remember what the exact word was, but it was a very distinct Pittsburghese, and I turned to my wife and told her right then that Coach was from Pittsburgh.
She looked at me like I was nuts, (Wasn’t the first time, and wasn’t the last. ;-P) but when I was introduced to Coach after the presentation, I asked him if he spent any time in Pittsburgh. He was shocked that I picked up on his dialect, but we Pittsburgher’s N-at always know!
While I am aware of some cities who have attempted to have Coach change his loyalty to other teams, Coach knows who the REAL American Team is! (Isn’t that right Charlie?!)
That being said, it has come to my attention that for the first time in over 75 years, the ownership of the Pittsburgh Steelers may be jeopardy of changing hands. Four of the Rooney brothers plan to get out of the NFL and focus their business efforts on their racetracks and other interests. (Ownership in gambling, such as racetracks, is against NFL policy and regulations.)
According the Official Steelers site Dan Rooney, and his son, Steelers President Art Rooney II, are arranging a financing plan to buy Dan’s brothers' shares in the team in order to continue substantial ownership of the franchise by the Rooneys.
However, word has surfaced that the Steelers may have been secretly shopped around and an outside buyer has come into the mix, who may take control of the team.
Oh the HUMANITY!
So that got me thinkin’. (Dangerous, I know.) IF the Steelers are being shopped around, who better to take over than our very own Coach Tomer! He has the money, he has the loyalty, and I can’t think of a better Coach in the world! What I like most about this idea is that he surrounds himself with quality people and delegates jobs and tasks to people who excel in those areas.
Can you imagine…Coach Tomer, part owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers? Okay, hard to wrap, even for me after all these years of stability in this franchise, but like Cowher in 1992 and now Tomlin who’s now in his sophomore year, I can adapt.
What I like most about this idea is that for as long as I’ve known Coach, he’s always done what was best for people. The man has a heart of Gold. It’s not just us either. You may know about the cruises he gave away for Military and their families this spring. While I can’t document what I’ve heard about what this meant to every single family, and I’ve heard some very sincere and touching stories. Apparently it got back to the Top Brass and to have a Naval Commander take the time to write and thank our company for its service and aid in these families quality of life is truly astounding.
Like the Rooney Family, I feel the same way about the Tomer family and that’s why it’s such a perfect fit in my view. The Rooneys and the Tomers have always done what’s best for the team, and its fans.
“The Chief” was the laughing stock of the NFL for many years, and had only a handful of winning seasons before he hired Chuck Noll back in 1969 as their head Coach. Art Jr., one of two Rooney brothers who worked full time for the team, was so skilled as a scouting director that his drafts in the late 1960s and early 1970s were largely responsible for the Steelers winning four Super Bowls in six years.
His 1974 draft alone produced Hall of Famers Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth and Mike Webster and led to Art Jr. being nominated for the Hall of Fame. No argument from me that this “recruiting” was the best in NFL history.
“The Coach” doing what he has done in the Travel Industry, taking a bunch of nobodies, and producing a top Travel Agency in only his 8th year in business, seems to me at least, to be a top pick in working WITH the Rooneys in keeping the legacy and the tradition alive and well in this blue color town who’s foundation was built in a melting pot of all walks of life.
It could prove to be a lot of fun, and isn’t that what life should be all about?!
PS - If you’d like to keep up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB feel free to sign up for my FREE Newsletter. Just like here, it’s loaded with food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Learn How To Become A Travel Agent
Book Your Travel & Vacations With
Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635
My only memories of the Steelers, even as a small boy are three Coach’s, (Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin) two stadiums, (Three Rivers and Heinz Field), and one ownership, the Rooney’s. In 1933, Art Rooney Sr. (“The Chief”) purchased this NFL franchise for $2,500. The other four current NFL teams in existence at that time were the Chicago (Arizona) Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and New York Giants.
To state that this Franchise is riddled with history is an understatement at best.
You may also know if you’ve been with YTB for any length of time that Coach is also a Steelers fan. He grew up just outside of Pittsburgh, and even after moving away many decades ago, he like me, still bleeds Black and Gold.I’ll never forget the first night my wife and I saw this business. It was during one of the Founders Tours back in 2005 and Coach was there and when he got up to speak, he said something, and honestly I don’t remember what the exact word was, but it was a very distinct Pittsburghese, and I turned to my wife and told her right then that Coach was from Pittsburgh.
She looked at me like I was nuts, (Wasn’t the first time, and wasn’t the last. ;-P) but when I was introduced to Coach after the presentation, I asked him if he spent any time in Pittsburgh. He was shocked that I picked up on his dialect, but we Pittsburgher’s N-at always know!
While I am aware of some cities who have attempted to have Coach change his loyalty to other teams, Coach knows who the REAL American Team is! (Isn’t that right Charlie?!)
That being said, it has come to my attention that for the first time in over 75 years, the ownership of the Pittsburgh Steelers may be jeopardy of changing hands. Four of the Rooney brothers plan to get out of the NFL and focus their business efforts on their racetracks and other interests. (Ownership in gambling, such as racetracks, is against NFL policy and regulations.)
According the Official Steelers site Dan Rooney, and his son, Steelers President Art Rooney II, are arranging a financing plan to buy Dan’s brothers' shares in the team in order to continue substantial ownership of the franchise by the Rooneys.
However, word has surfaced that the Steelers may have been secretly shopped around and an outside buyer has come into the mix, who may take control of the team.
Oh the HUMANITY!
So that got me thinkin’. (Dangerous, I know.) IF the Steelers are being shopped around, who better to take over than our very own Coach Tomer! He has the money, he has the loyalty, and I can’t think of a better Coach in the world! What I like most about this idea is that he surrounds himself with quality people and delegates jobs and tasks to people who excel in those areas.
Can you imagine…Coach Tomer, part owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers? Okay, hard to wrap, even for me after all these years of stability in this franchise, but like Cowher in 1992 and now Tomlin who’s now in his sophomore year, I can adapt.
What I like most about this idea is that for as long as I’ve known Coach, he’s always done what was best for people. The man has a heart of Gold. It’s not just us either. You may know about the cruises he gave away for Military and their families this spring. While I can’t document what I’ve heard about what this meant to every single family, and I’ve heard some very sincere and touching stories. Apparently it got back to the Top Brass and to have a Naval Commander take the time to write and thank our company for its service and aid in these families quality of life is truly astounding.
Like the Rooney Family, I feel the same way about the Tomer family and that’s why it’s such a perfect fit in my view. The Rooneys and the Tomers have always done what’s best for the team, and its fans.
“The Chief” was the laughing stock of the NFL for many years, and had only a handful of winning seasons before he hired Chuck Noll back in 1969 as their head Coach. Art Jr., one of two Rooney brothers who worked full time for the team, was so skilled as a scouting director that his drafts in the late 1960s and early 1970s were largely responsible for the Steelers winning four Super Bowls in six years.
His 1974 draft alone produced Hall of Famers Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth and Mike Webster and led to Art Jr. being nominated for the Hall of Fame. No argument from me that this “recruiting” was the best in NFL history.
“The Coach” doing what he has done in the Travel Industry, taking a bunch of nobodies, and producing a top Travel Agency in only his 8th year in business, seems to me at least, to be a top pick in working WITH the Rooneys in keeping the legacy and the tradition alive and well in this blue color town who’s foundation was built in a melting pot of all walks of life.
It could prove to be a lot of fun, and isn’t that what life should be all about?!
PS - If you’d like to keep up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB feel free to sign up for my FREE Newsletter. Just like here, it’s loaded with food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Learn How To Become A Travel Agent
Book Your Travel & Vacations With
Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635
Labels: Coach, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Power List, YTB Travel Network
