The Steeler Face reminiscing at Lucky's in Athens, Ohio

Today, the Steeler Face returned to one of his old haunts --- a Steelers bar -- in Athens, Ohio -- Lucky's.  Throughout the 1998, 1999 and 2000 seasons I spent most of my Sunday afternoons at Lucky's (during the week, I was a mild mannered graduate student at Ohio University).  There were good times at Lucky's, like when the Steelers shut out the Cleveland Brownie Elves 22 to 0 on October 22, 2000, which led to a a large Steeler delegation standing on the bar and singing (actually. . . shouting out of tune): "Who shut the Browns out?!  Who, who?!  Who shut the Browns out?!"  That was a great day, and an even greater hang-over on Monday.

I.C. is proudly served at Lucky's

Lucky's is also where the Steeler Face learned discovered vodka-soaked-cherries, as the bartender gave a free one to anyone in the bar every time the Steelers scored.  Good times . . . good time.

There were also some really bad times at Lucky's, like a couple weeks after that joyous win over Cleveland when the Steelers lost 7-9 at Tennessee on November 5, 2000.  After being shutout for well over three quarters, Kordell Stewart finally lead the Steelers downfield and tossed a 30 yard touchdown pass to Mark Bruener to put Pittsburgh up 7-6 late in the game.  Lucky's was jumping with joy and the vodka-cherries flowed.  However, a field goal as time expired gave the Titans the win, dropping Pittsburgh to 5-4 and diminishing their playoff hopes.   The air had been sucked out of the bar except for a few Steeler fans who erupted into their own personal tirades of drunken frustration, which prompted Ms. Steeler Face to famously remark: "There is no sadder place on earth than a Steelers bar after a loss."  Damn right, honey.  A far worse hangover awaited on that Monday.

Addressed to Lucyk's and
autographed by Dick LeBeau

Come to think of it, the 1998, 1999 and 2000 seasons were the first three seasons in which a Bill Cowher coached Steelers team did not make the playoffs.  In fact, in 15 seasons, Cowher's Steelers only missed the playoffs four times (which makes these three years really bad).  Pittsburgh finished 7-9, 6-10 and 9-7 respectively in that span.  Despite the disappointment with our beloved Steelers during that time, at least Steeler Nation suffered together at Lucky's in Athens, Ohio.