PITTSBURGH -- Some fans waited 26 years for this Super Bowl celebratory parade. Others were too young to remember the Pittsburgh Steelers' last championship. Some weren't even born.
It didn't matter Tuesday as fans of all ages jammed a mile-long parade route -- 10 or more people deep in many spots -- to thank the team for securing the long-sought fifth Super Bowl win.
Sixty-seven-year-old Evelyne Potts recalled being downtown for the last victory parade when her sons were both in elementary school. She said she wasn't going to miss this one.
"I wanted to be part of history," she said.
She was watching with her friend Joan Bartolacci. Both work at Duquesne University and were given several hours off to attend.
"We just love 'em, that's all," Potts said.
And the players loved the fans back. Troy Polamalu twice dove from atop a pickup truck into the cheering crowd.
"Thank you guys so much. This has been a dream come true for all of us," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said.
|
|
| Jerome Bettis shares the Lombardi Trophy with many of his best Pittsburgh friends. (AP) |
The Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Detroit on Sunday in the team's first Super Bowl win since 1980.
Ward introduced retiring running back Jerome Bettis, with whom he had tearfully pleaded to return for one more year after last season's conference championship loss to the New England Patriots.
"He's the greatest Steeler of all time, in my book," Ward said.
Bettis rode in a convertible with the top down and carried the Vince Lombardi trophy.
