Super Bowl Memories: Tripping on Benny Barnes…really?
WJBF-TV Sports
Published: January 31, 2009
Updated: February 1, 2009
I’m struggling to get a feel for Super Bowl XXLIII. I thought of flipping a coin, but what fun is that? I’m going with Pittsburgh 21 Arizona 17. Here in Augusta, this means Arnold Harrison (Josey HS) will beat Ken Whisenhunt (Richmond Academy HS) by 4 points! This coming from a guy who grew up idolizing the Dallas Cowboys! Yep, Pittsburgh born and I was the only one in my family who not only rooted against the Steelers, but actually rooted for their number-one enemy. Let me explain. My hero as a kid was Tony Dorsett. He had a great career at the University of Pittsburgh and too me, he’s the greatest football player….ever….case closed! Once Dorsett became a Cowboy, I became an instant Dallas fan. When I was 9 years old, my Dad came home with a Tony Dorsett autograph. I have no idea how he got it. To this day, that autograph sits proudly in my house and is one of my most treasured possessions.
Unfortunately, one of the most painful memories of my childhood involves Dorsett’s Cowboys. The year was 1979 and Super Bowl XIII featured Dallas and Pittsburgh. At the time, the Kane family was living in Ridgway, Pennsylvania and my parents threw the best Super Bowl party ever. More than 50 people showed up decked out in black and gold, except for me. The youngest kid in attendance was wearing nothing but Cowboy blue. I had on my Dorsett #33 jersey and Cowboys tube socks. In the end, Dallas lost 35-31. Two plays from that game continue to haunt me. The first took place in the 3rd quarter when Cowboys Tight End Jackie Smith dropped a sure touchdown pass from Roger Staubach. It would have tied the game at 21. Instead, the Cowboys had to settle for a field goal. After the drop, announcer Verne Lundquist uttered “Aw, bless his heart, he has to be the sickest man in America.” No Verne, at that moment, I was the sickest man (kid) in America!!!! The second play that sticks out took place only moments after the Smith drop. On the Steelers next possession, Cowboys DB Benny Barnes was called for tripping Pittsburgh Hall of Fame WR Lynn Swann. There was no tripping. If anything, Swann tripped Barnes. It was incidental contact and by far one of the worst calls in Super Bowl history. A few plays later, Franco Harris scored and the rest as they say is history. The Steelers would hang on to win their 3rd of 5 Super Bowl titles. The Kane house was going bonkers with Steelers fans jumping up and down. Only one person was in tears and it was the kid wearing the Dorsett jersey with Cowboys tube socks hiked up to his knees. Up to that point in my life, nothing hurt more.
It took 17 years, but I finally got revenge on my “Steelers family” when Dallas beat Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX (Thank you, Neil O’Donnell!). Today, I’m no longer the Cowboys fanatic that I used to be and I really can’t explain why. For some reason, the star on the helmet just doesn’t have the same meaning to me as it did when I was 9 years-old. Let me know when Tony Dorsett comes out of retirement!
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Oh please,88spiders, don’t tell me about sour grapes. As if many (not all) Steeler fans don’t whine & snivel about O’Donnell’s picks in Super Bowl XXX. I’ve heard so much crying & excuse-making about that game its unreal.At no point in that game did Pittsburgh even tie the score or have the lead.The better football team(Dallas) won that game.Turnovers in the form of INT’s were the difference, which in retrospect is little different then the deciding plays in XIII.Dorsett was embarassing the Steel Curtain on the intial drive of the game & the Cowboys turned the ball over on an unforced error, ...bottom line is turnovers have come up big in many Super Bowls, & if Steeler fans are left to rip their old QB for their defeat at the Cowboys hands in XXX, then so be it.We had no turnovers in that game & it was your QB(O’Donnell)who made the critical mistakes, not ours.
Cry me a river . . . I’m pretty certain that no team’s Super Bowl victories have come with as many sour grapes as the Steelers. A few years back it was Holmgren and the Seahawks doing the whining over SB XL, this year everyone has something to say about the officiating in SB XLIII and now you want to re-live SB XIII.
Are you serious? Bradshaw threw for 4 TDs in an amazing, dominating performance in SB XIII, made more amazing by the fact that Stallworth sat out the second half with a muscle cramps.
Sure, you can whimper about a pass interference call, but while you’re at it be sure to also cry about Pearson’s fumble on a botched double reverse on the opening drive. And don’t forget Randy White’s fumble/idiotic lateral on the kickoff following Franco’s touchdown that gave the ball BACK to the Steelers deep in Dallas territory. (Why White was front and center on the kick team anyway was curious at best. He was playing with a cast on his arm.) That miscue led to Swann’s TD, just 19 seconds later.
So, while you want to focus on ONE questionable call, I’ll be here to point out the multitude of bad coaching decisions, dropped balls and turnovers by the Cowboys that REALLY decided the outcome of this game.
And for anyone who wants to cry about the failure to review the supposed fumble on the last Cardinals’ play in SB XLIII, I’ll gladly remind them that the Steelers had a TD and a sure fumble recovery reversed by less than conclusive video replay and then suffered a holding call in end zone when the alleged victim had about as much of a chance of getting to Roethlisberger as I did from my living room.
Fact is Chris, good teams overcome while posers and also-rans whine about the officials.
Thankfully you are not regaling us with the even more painful memory of one Dwight Clark. Were you wearing your Danny White jersey for that game? At least you had the good sense to pick the “Stillers” this time. Tremendous catch and drive led by MAC trained Big Ben. When is your next Bobcat update due…Rock Chalk.
Chris…we welcome you to Steeler Nation, any time you are ready! Step into the (Gold) light…c’mon…you can do it!
AR
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