The ‘Bus’ cruises into Canton
Jerome Bettis has always been one of my favorite Pittsburgh Steelers, so I jumped at the chance to see him speak for a charity event at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington several years ago.
However, my joy turned to disappointment when Bettis got up and spoke about how he’d been too busy to prepare for the speech. He said he was going to give a short, off-the-cuff talk.
I thought immediately that all the money I had paid to hear him speak was going to be wasted.
But then the “Bus” began talking about growing up in Detroit in a tough neighborhood and how he had to overcome a lot of challenges. Soon he was waxing eloquent, thanking all the people who had helped him during those formative years and how their assistance made him into the football player he became, and more importantly the person he became.
Full of insight and inspiration, Bettis talked about playing football at Notre Dame University, one of the most fabled college programs in the country, being drafted by the St. Louis Rams and then having the good fortune to get traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, which turned out to be a match made in heaven.
Not sure if there was any truth to his lack of planning for the speech (I suspect not) or if he was just trying to lower the bar some, but it turned out to be one of the best speeches I ever heard.
After hearing that speech, I wasn’t surprised in the least with the talk he gave during his induction at the Pro Football Hall of Fame recently in Canton, Ohio.
It was great to see Bettis rewarded for all his hard work over the years and finally be recognized as one of the all-time great running backs in the NFL.
His speech was very moving and touching as he once again thanked the innumerable people who helped him along the way, especially his parents. He also talked about how fortunate he was to be traded to the Steelers, where he fit in so well with Coach Cowher’s philosophy of running the football.
What he didn’t say, though, was how fortunate we were to watch him for the 10 years he played for the Steelers as he gave everything he had for the good of the team. During those years, the Steelers made the playoffs seven times and won one Super Bowl, with Bettis gaining over 1,000 yards in six of those seasons.
Overall, Bettis finished his 13 NFL seasons as the league’s 5th all-time leading rusher with 13,662 yards and 91 touchdowns. He was also a class act off the field, always being humble and giving credit for his success to his coaches and teammates.
Fortunately, I was in Canton to watch the induction ceremonies with my son, Bryan, who is also a die-hard Steelers fan. We enjoyed all the ceremonies and festivities associated with the induction, enjoying some precious father-son bonding time in the process. I’m sure it’s something we’ll both remember for the rest of our lives.
It was amazing to watch the scene both inside and outside the Hall of Fame as legions of Steelers fans poured into Canton, Ohio, to pay tribute to Bettis. It was almost like going to a Steelers game at Heinz Field as about 90 percent of those in attendance were wearing some version of black and gold with all the familiar names of Steelers we’ve come to know and love over the years.
And it all got me to start thinking of where Bettis ranked among the all-time Steelers greats over the years. Certainly we all have our favorite players, especially those who played back in the Super Bowl years, when the Steelers won four championships in six years.
True, Bettis only won one Super Bowl, but what a run it was for him as he led the Steelers to the championship that year, overcoming what could have been a disastrous fumble near the goal line in the playoffs against the Indianapolis Colts. Somehow even that mistake, and the way Bettis handled it, endeared him to Steelers fans even more.
All too many Steelers greats have gone out quietly over the years, with the Rooneys making it clear their services were no longer needed or wanted. But Bettis went out on his own terms, winning the Super Bowl in his hometown of Detroit. It was probably the best ending any Steelers player had to his career.
Bettis also embodied the great running game that Steelers fans love so much. He more than fit the bill with his rugged, never-say-die running style. His legs never quit churning as he kept moving forward, gaining the tough yards needed for a victory. You knew if the Steelers were ahead in the fourth quarter, all they had to do was give it to the “Bus” and a win was assured.
In the end, if there ever was a perfect fit between a city and an athlete, it was between Pittsburgh and the “Bus.”
Mark O’Keefe is the editorial page editor of the Herald-Standard. He can be reached by email at mokeefe@heraldstandard.com.