Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 48

THE ROAD TO CANTON A HALL OF FAME RIDE PAGE F-7 PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015 down the field on them in this The plan should have been to keep running, run down the clock, keep the ball away from John Elway, Bettis said. Instead, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey decided to put things in the hands of Kordell Stewart in his first season as their starting quarterback. run a one-route pass, big play-action fake, one-receiver pass, fake to me, throw it in the end Bettis recalls of that pass attempt to Yancey Thigpen. Denver cornerback Ray Crockett intercepted in the end zone. With the help of a long pass interference penalty, Broncos quarterback John Elway followed by guiding the Broncos to a touch- down and a 17-14 lead.

With 1:47 left in the half, Gailey had Stewart came out throwing again. They went three-and-out and turned it back to Elway with 43 seconds to go. It took him just 30 seconds to score another TD for a 24-14 Broncos halftime lead. Denver won the game, 27-24. got 14 points in that four-minute time frame they should have never, never Bettis said.

ranks among the most disappointing feelings because running Terrell Davis has my MVP trophy at Davis rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns as the Broncos beat Green Bay 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII. haunts me to this Bettis said, we were so much better of a football team and we let that one get away from us and that was probably one of our best teams The New England Patriots of the Spygate era then beat the Steelers at Heinz Field in the AFC title games of the 2001 and 2004 seasons and went on to win Super Bowls both times. Spygate thing, that was said Bettis, who believes the Patriots had the hand signals and were later disciplined severely by the league for illegally taping opposing signals on the sidelines. back, there were opportunities that were blown that was very Bettis said. you cry over spilled milk, and we lost those opportunities.

We should have played better and we and we do anything but blame TOP LEFT: Bettis rushed for 43 yards on 14 carries against Seattle. His final carry came with 2:18 left in the game a 4-yard run up the middle before being tackled by Leroy Hill. TOP RIGHT: The kiss of a lifetime: Bettis finally holds the Lombardi Trophy that special night in his hometown. he white stretch limousine pulled up to the hotel at a little past 2 a.m. yesterday, about the time the Super Bowl victory party was just heating up.

Unfortunately, a Michigan state police car blocked the path. The back right limo door opened and a big man stepped out, asking, we get by so I can get to my hotel, are you the state trooper asked, disinterestedly. Pittsburgh Steelers Jerome Yes, it really happened. Do you think I could make something up like that? Here was the one person in Detroit who know who Bettis was in the aftermath of Super Bowl XL and the 21-10 win against the Seattle Seahawks, and Bettis had found him. funny, Bettis had no problems being recognized at his previous stop.

He jumped out of that white limo about 12:30 a.m. and walked into the Rooster Tail, a downtown club, to the roar of a big crowd and the deejay screaming, King has just All heads turned, and they were rather famous heads at that. There was Mike Tyson, the most recognized tattooed face on the planet. You wanted to reach up and protect your ears, just in case. There was T.O.

What do you feel like doing when you see Terrell Owens? Taking a shower? And there, standing head and shoulders above everyone, was Magic Johnson. His smile, as always, was incandescent. He was savoring the moment, officially welcoming Bettis into that exclusive fraternity of athletes who have won a world championship. The two had been friends since their clubbing days in Los Angeles, back to 1993 when Bettis was the No. 1 pick of the Los Angeles Rams and Johnson was a sports icon known around the world.

wanted to host last Johnson said in a quiet moment. been such a great ambassador over the years, not just for the NFL but for black males everywhere. a Hall of Fame player and a Hall of Fame Bettis stayed only an hour at the party, posing for pictures the whole time. What a sight he made, dressed in his black suit with blue pinstripes and blue shoes. Bettis said, pointing at those shoes.

in Detroit, got to wear The party would last most of the night, but Bettis wanted to catch up with the people who matter most to him. He wait to join his teammates at their Pontiac, hotel. On this night, Bettis left behind much more than just the beautiful people at the club, if how you want to look at the frightening Tyson. definitely Bettis told a gaggle of media types who lucky enough to get inside the Rooster Tail and were huddled outside the front door. Bus is in the Actually, Bettis was back in that limo moments later for the 35-minute ride to Pontiac.

Along the way, he revealed that he met last week with Steelers owner Dan Rooney and his son, team president Art II, to tell them he was retiring after the Super Bowl win or lose. thanked them for being the type of people they Bettis said. believe in people, not just numbers and stats. There were times when they easily could have made the decision to let me go. But they stuck with me.

I just hope they think I repaid them with my effort on the Bettis said he thought he could play another year in his role as a short-yardage specialist rusty knees would be ready if they needed but made it clear he interested in doing the offseason and training-camp work to get ready for the long season. He also said he is thankful walking away from the game with his health. saving myself from me. I keep going down that path. not the easiest thing carrying people into the end zone.

sweet, but hard only thing really going to miss is pulling on that 36 and going to work with the The Steelers will miss Bettis, as well. The other players paid him a fabulous tribute before Super Bowl XL by sending him out alone when the team was introduced as a group to the Ford Field crowd and a worldwide television audience. you kidding me? be taking that moment to my Bettis said. told everyone in the locker room I should lead the team out because this is my hometown. But I thought be right behind me.

I got out there and there was no one there but me. Joey was holding them all back. that was truly Bettis a big star in the win, although he rushed for 43 yards on 14 carries and threw a big block on quarterback Ben 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Asked the one memory cherish most from this magical night, he hesitate. that trophy high and bringing it back to Pittsburgh just glad that a part of the great tradition now.

We had to walk by those four trophies from the every day and they created a heck of a shadow. get me wrong. It a burden by any means. But it does make it truly gratifying to be able to get that fifth This was about the time the limo pulled up to the hotel. a good thing that bemused state trooper pulled out of the way quickly.

Bettis had plenty to do. After the team party, there was an appearance yesterday with teammate and Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward on Morning Later in the morning, Bettis and Ward boarded private jet for a flight to Orlando, and a parade down Main Street at Disney Magic Kingdom. Last night, it was a flight to Pittsburgh to get ready for victory parade. Tonight, it will be another flight to Los Angeles where Bettis will do the Jay Leno show tomorrow night. course, taking my parents with Bettis said, as if it were foolish to even ask that question about his folks, Johnnie and Gladys.

my soldiers. They ride with me. been with me every step of the way so they might as well finish it That thought seemed to hit Bettis as he climbed out of the limo and was greeted by his adoring fans outside the hotel and by his even more adoring teammates inside. His fabulous ride in football really is over. story has been he said, shrugging.

a good thing. Otherwise, no one would believe the ending. A KING IS CROWNED There was no bigger man, no more favorite of sons, in Detroit in the days leading up to Super Bowl XL than Jerome Bettis. If possible, his stature grew in those hours after the Steelers beat the Seahawks and Bettis walked away a king. INSIDE THE NIGHT OF NIGHTS The opportunities lost proved SUPER, FROM PAGE F-6 Peter Diana Post-Gazette Peter Ron Cook Note: This column was first printed Feb.

7, 1996 two days after the Steelers won SB XL. A BUS FAST FACT Despite playing for the Los Louis Rams for only three seasons, Jerome Bettis still ranked 11th on the all-time rushing list as of the end of the 2015 season. Bettis had 3,091 yards on 796 carries (3.9 ypc) behind Cullen Bryant (3,119) and ahead of Willie Ellison.