Define character for me.

[HairOnFire]

Here's a Steeler related article that isn't a fake.

Does it fit into the debate about character? Does being named "the epicenter of steroid abuse" and the "place where steroid use began in the NFL" negate the championships the Steelers won? Should the Steelers be forced to give back their rings and trophies? Does steroid abuse trump the casual use of pot by professional athletes? And finally, if you answer that pot use is a far more serious crime because it's against the law while steroids weren't at the time, well how do you justify the fact that it was considered blatant cheating? And how about the seriousness of all of the steroid related deaths that many feel led to to heart, liver, and kidney damage....as well as cancer and clinical depression.

Triumph and Tragedy

The Steelers celebrated their first Super Bowl championship in 26 years last season. But off the field, there has been much heartbreak, as 18 former players have died since 2000.

By Sam Farmer, Times Staff Writer

July 18, 2006

One was lifting weights at home. Another was training for a triathlon. A third was watching a game at a friend's house.

Regular guys doing regular things.

Then there were the others.

One drank antifreeze. Another was in a high-speed chase.

Two things in common among all:

They were Pittsburgh Steelers; and they died in the last six years.

Fresh off their first Super Bowl victory in 26 years, the Steelers have experienced the emotional gamut. The franchise has lost 18 former players — age 35 to 58 — since 2000, including seven in the last 16 months.

"There is no explanation," said Joe Gordon, a Steelers executive from 1969 to 1998. "We just shake our heads and ask why."

The numbers are startling. Of the NFL players from the 1970s and '80s who have died since 2000, more than one in five — 16 of 77 — were Steelers.

"It's just an anomaly that we can't explain," said John Stallworth, who starred at receiver for Steelers teams from 1974 to 1987. "From an emotional standpoint it just makes you sad and makes you feel like the time we spent together was even more precious."

Accidents led to some of the deaths, and at least one was a suicide. Others share hauntingly familiar details.

Seven died of heart failure: Jim Clack, 58; Ray Oldham, 54; Dave Brown, 52; Mike Webster, 50; Steve Furness, 49; Joe Gilliam, 49; and Tyrone McGriff, 41. (In 1996, four years before the steady succession of Steelers deaths, longtime center Ray Mansfield died of a heart attack at 55.)

There is speculation that steroid abuse could have played a role in some of the deaths, but no hard evidence. It's just as plausible that weight issues were a factor. Counting Mansfield, five of the eight heart-attack victims played on the offensive or defensive line.

The circumstances surrounding some of the other deaths were unusual:

• Steve Courson, 50, was killed outside his Farmington, Pa., home in November while trying to remove a 44-foot tree from his property. The former guard was crushed while apparently trying to save his dog, after a gust of wind changed the direction of the falling tree. His black Labrador retriever was found alive, tangled in Courson's legs.

• In March 2005, David Little was bench-pressing weights alone at his Miami home when the coroner determined he suffered a heart arrhythmia, causing the 46-year-old former linebacker to drop a 250-pound barbell on his chest. The bar rolled across his neck and suffocated him.

• Terry Long, 45, an offensive guard whose eight-year career was derailed by a positive test for steroids, committed suicide in Pittsburgh in June 2005 by drinking antifreeze. Twice divorced, he had serious legal problems stemming from his failed food-processing business and had made two previous suicide attempts.

• The second-youngest of the Steelers to die was 36-year-old Justin Strzelczyk, a tackle who had a series of run-ins with the law after he retired. He died after a 40-mile, high-speed chase on the New York Thruway in September 2004. Driving his Ford F-250 pickup at speeds in excess of 100 mph, Strzelczyk made obscene gestures and tossed beer bottles at the police following him. The chase came to a fiery end when, while on the wrong side of the road, he slammed into a tanker truck.

The string of deaths — most recently that of receiver Theo Bell, who died June 21 of kidney disease and the skin disease scleroderma — have reverberated through the Steelers, the city of Pittsburgh and beyond.

"Just the fact that the Steelers are such an integral part of this community — probably more so than most NFL cities — it obviously hits home for a lot of people," Gordon said. "It's hard to accept."

Men who won a combined 20 Super Bowl rings, the deceased Steelers were part of one of the most hallowed organizations in sports.

"When I was young … I convinced myself that I was going to do something with my life so that my death wouldn't be the end of me," Stallworth said. "In the lives of these men, they were a part of something special. People in Pittsburgh and around the country will remember them for that."

Some were as much pioneers as players. Gilliam was among the NFL's first black quarterbacks. He started for Pittsburgh in 1974 before Terry Bradshaw reclaimed the job.

When Gilliam's career ended, his life took a downward turn. He struggled with addictions to cocaine and heroin, and sometimes was homeless. In 1995, he was discovered sleeping in a cardboard box under a bridge in Nashville.

But his life was on an upswing just before his death. Saying he was drug-free, he lectured children on the perils of drug abuse. In 2000, on Christmas Day, he died while watching a football game at a friend's house.

Of the 22 players who were part of all four Pittsburgh Super Bowl teams of the 1970s, Webster was the last to retire and, after Furness, the second to die.

An All-Pro center who played in a franchise-record 220 games, "Iron Mike" was known for playing bare-armed no matter how cold the conditions, and for dominating larger defenders. He paid a price, however. Doctors said that the battering he had taken damaged the frontal lobe of his brain, affecting his attention span and concentration. That likely contributed to the many setbacks he endured after his career, among them a failed marriage, a string of bad investments, and occasional homelessness.

Also after his career, he admitted he tried anabolic steroids as a player but maintained they were not responsible for his condition. He died of heart failure in September 2002.

"Webby was my hero," longtime Steelers tackle Tunch Ilkin said. "That broke my heart. I'd seen what was going on with his life at the end."

For years, the Steelers have been dogged by rumors that several of them used performance-enhancing drugs in the 1970s. In an interview last year, Jim Haslett, then coach of the New Orleans Saints, admitted to experimenting with steroids as a Buffalo linebacker, and said the use of those drugs among NFL players started with the Steelers. The NFL didn't begin testing for steroids until 1987, becoming the first professional sports league to do so.

Although Haslett didn't deny making those comments, he later apologized to Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who called the accusation "totally false." Former Pittsburgh receiver Lynn Swann agreed with Rooney, saying he was "very surprised" by Haslett's claim.

"He's misinformed," Swann said. "He was not a part of that team. I was on that team, and I don't use steroids. And I couldn't tell you of who was on that team if anybody used steroids. Pittsburgh the epicenter of steroid use in the NFL? No. I find that very difficult to believe."

However, Peter Furness told the Providence (R.I.) Journal last year that he suspects his brother, Steve, who played defensive tackle for the Steelers from 1972 to 1980, used steroids. Steve Furness died in 2000.

In a 1985 interview with Sports Illustrated, Courson became the first NFL player to speak on the record about his steroid use. During his playing days, he had 20-inch biceps and could bench-press 600 pounds. He later said that contributed to a life-threatening condition that weakened his heart muscles — though he also pointed to his hard-living lifestyle as a factor.

For years, Courson was Mr. Steeler. He played in Pittsburgh from 1978 to 1983, when he was part of two championship teams. In the last few years of his life, however, he stopped wearing his Super Bowl rings and contemplated starting over in the mountains of Colorado. He felt betrayed, his girlfriend said, by his teammates' refusal to come clean about their steroid use.

"He wanted them to come out and be straight, seeing as it wasn't illegal back then," said Denise Masciola, who dated Courson the last few years of his life. "None of them would. They thought it would hamper their reputation. He felt like they left him just hanging."

Former Pittsburgh safety Donnie Shell, now director of player development for the Carolina Panthers, had hoped Courson would work with Carolina players last fall. A few months earlier, the former teammates had discussed getting together.

"Then I saw it come across the crawl that Steve Courson is dead," Shell said. "You don't know why until you hear the results of the news. Sometimes it's just shocking to hear."

Shell, like Gordon, sees neither rhyme nor reason to the deaths. Only a relentless drumbeat of tragedies — and a reminder that life can be too short.

"There's nothing you can do," he said, "except pray for the families, cherish the memories that you had with them — they're good memories — and move on."

[BengalChamps]

Although Haslett didn't deny making those comments, he later apologized to Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who called the accusation "totally false." Former Pittsburgh receiver Lynn Swann agreed with Rooney, saying he was "very surprised" by Haslett's claim.

"He's misinformed," Swann said. "He was not a part of that team. I was on that team, and I don't use steroids. And I couldn't tell you of who was on that team if anybody used steroids. Pittsburgh the epicenter of steroid use in the NFL? No. I find that very difficult to believe."

Lynn Swannn is total liar for making these comments. He knows it too. Personally, I have no doubt that players gave up their health and died prematurely to win at all costs by using steriods.

As I have stated previously, I also have no doubt that this is the first Squealer Super Bowl win without the competitive advantage of using steroids. The earlier wins were not illegal since their was not a rule against steroids but certainly the game was not played on a level playing field.

[HairOnFire]

Thirteen of the nineteen Steeler deaths since 1996 were the result of cancer or heart, liver, and kidney failure. The argument offered that it's the result of lineman being too heavy holds no water since that type of risk would be shared by all teams equally. Instead, the deaths of Steeler players represent more than 1 out of every 5 in the entire NFL.

Not one in 28 or 32.

One in five.

And since character is the question that's on everyones lips, who thinks Steeler fans had a hard time rooting for a team that not only began the steroid era in the NFL, but whose success quickly forced players from other teams to take steroids in order to compete against a chemically engineered dynasty?

Who thinks that those same Steeler fans now feel those championships were tainted?

How many of them do you think will argue that the trophies and rings should be given back?

How many Steeler Hall of Famers owe their success to the needle?

Seriously, how far do you want to take this character issue?

[Dadraftnick]

On average, profootball players have a very short lifespan.

I cant remember the # but, I think it was something like 50 yrs or maybe less.

No one is sure exactly why.

In the old days, teams used to hand out steroids to players and not tell them what it was.

They would tell them not to ask questions and keep their mouth shut.

I am sure that this may have effected the numbers but, there is alot of other things that are bringing down the average lifespan of an NFL player.

The impact of every play is like being in a car wreck.

There is the weight that linemen must carry to play and find it hard to loose after playing his days are done.

NFL players tend to be risk takers.

They often take legal and not so legal things if they think that it will help them play.

They often find it hard to deal with when they are no longer able to play so, you may have a suicide or risky behavior which is a vailed attempt of suicide.

There is the "high life" life style that players tend to live that NFL money can buy in spades such as,drugs(after/or maybe during playing days),alcohol,rich foods,ect.

As far as the topic title -DEFINE CHARACTER

The best I have seen is.........

Character is what you do when you know that no one else is looking.

[ArmyBengal]

Character is what you do when you know that no one else is looking.

When no one else is looking, I'm on this website... Is that a bad thing ??

WHODEY !!!

[BengalByTheBay]

On average, profootball players have a very short lifespan.

I think the point was how disproportionately associated with those Steelers teams these deaths are -- especially as relates to kidney failure, etc. In other words, these are not just anomolies compared to the general public (your point), but they are fairly significant anomolies compared to ex-football players.

[Kazkal]

Wearn't the steelers founded on bad character guys that no one else wanted?

[bengalboomer7]

To me, character is made up simply of the choices you make.

Let me ask everyone this question. Go through this scenario then answer it as it pertains to steroids.

Let's say you have a very well paying job. You're successful, happy, and love your job. You're the boss's right hand man. Along comes some hard working college grad(he can even remind yourself of a younger you ) He begins working hard, making great decisions, and gaining the boss's trust. Now, the boss is starting to go to him for ideas, taking him on business luncheons, and promoting him fast through the ranks. You're job is next. You have to get your mojo back and you have to make a splash. Your job, you're livelhood, life as the family provider, it's all in serious jepoardy. Someone offers you a magic pill(we'll call him Jack ) that makes you a smarter, faster, more efficient worker. It'll make you feel like your 20 again and save your job. Do you take that pill.

BTW, I take the pill

[ArmyBengal]

It'll make you feel like your 20 again

I don't give a sh*t what else this pill might do, but if it makes me feel 20 again, I'm hitting the clubs "HARD" that night !!!

WHODEY !!!

[HairOnFire]

BTW, I take the pill

Lot's of people would. I've often said that draft prospects who have been busted for steroids don't fall very far in the draft, if at all, because the teams evaluating them see a player who is just trying to get better. Meanwhile, the pot smoker is just a guy who is likely to be driving 25 mph in a 35 mph zone...with his blinker on.

Both players carry the exact same risk of suspension, but only one type of character risk is likely to fall hard on draft day. And oddly enough it's not the guy that society correctly brands as a cheater.

Apparently guys like Ahmad Brooks like the demon weed. Well, say whatever you want about that choice, but his transgression doesn't give him a competitive advantage over another player or another team to such a degree that it eventually transforms the entire sport. If it alters his personality in any way...and that's exactly what his drug is taken for...it's fair to say that the change from pot smoking doesn't result in uncontrollable rage or clinical depression. And it doesn't result in a shocking number of early deaths due to various cancers and internal organ failures.

Moving past the issue of steroids, there is a long history of bad character guys playing important roles on championship teams. In fact, they populate every team in the NFL. Go read the recap of any days events on KFFL if you don't believe me. But just as with the Steeler example, nobody demands that history be rewritten. The end result is the only thing that matters. Those chemically altered Steeler teams consistently beat very good Bengal teams on their road to becoming one of the most celebrated franchises in the NFL.

And they did it by cheating.

What's more, if they weren't dropping dead at the drop of a hat nobody would care to this very day.

Just like nobody is outraged by the old Raider teams.

Or the Dallas Crimeboys.

Or the Ravens.

History describes them as champions.

[BengalBillyBob]

Funny how steroids cause car wrecks and for trees to fall on people. Must have been side affects I've never heard of. It should be noted that heart disease is the number 1 killer of men in their 50's in America. Offensive lineman who were 300 lbs are especially likely to have a coronary in their 50's.

[HairOnFire]

Funny how steroids cause car wrecks and for trees to fall on people. Must have been side affects I've never heard of. It should be noted that heart disease is the number 1 killer of men in their 50's in America. Offensive lineman who were 300 lbs are especially likely to have a coronary in their 50's.

B3, you're just being a hopeless dink, and I think it's deliberate. So why would you want to do that?

Nobody, including me and the guy who wrote the article, claimed that all of the deaths were related to steroid use. But the numbers don't lie.

"Thirteen of the nineteen Steeler deaths since 1996 were the result of cancer or heart, liver, and kidney failure. The argument offered that it's the result of lineman being too heavy holds no water since that type of risk would be shared by all teams equally. Instead, the deaths of Steeler players represent more than 1 out of every 5 in the entire NFL."

So whenever you're done being a dink try explaining why the lineman on all of the other teams in the NFL aren't dropping dead at the same staggering rate as those who played for a team that was described as the birthplace of steroid use in the NFL?

[andybren]

And since character is the question that's on everyones lips, who thinks Steeler fans had a hard time rooting for a team that not only began the steroid era in the NFL, but whose success quickly forced players from other teams to take steroids in order to compete against a chemically engineered dynasty?

Who thinks that those same Steeler fans now feel those championships were tainted?

How many of them do you think will argue that the trophies and rings should be given back?

How many Steeler Hall of Famers owe their success to the needle?

Seriously, how far do you want to take this character issue?

Very good questions. But knowing the 'character' of most Steeler fans, I doubt you'd get much of a dialogue. Even in the most open-minded, non-confrontational settings.

I'm not much of a NFL historian (plus I was born in '73, so my firsthand memory is limited) but the image I have in my mind of the Steelers teams of the 70's was that they were a group of underdogs and misfits that came together to dominate the league with a tough-nosed style that mirrored the working class spirit of their hometown.

So, with that in mind, don't these "character questions" go beyond mere rings and trophies and extend to the essense of the organization and why the fans started following the team in the first place? Lacking a perfect analogy, I'd say it's like finding out your wife is really a man. What does that say for your 20 year marriage? Doesn't it take more than getting a divorce and getting back in the dating scene?

Not that I think the Steelers and their mystique is beyond redemption. Assuming they came clean and face their past. After all, don't we still have to teach our children the entire American history, including those embarassing chapters about slavery, Indian genocide, etc.?

Towards a workable definition of character, I would suggest that character is also about how you deal with your flaws, admit your mistakes, and accept the consequences.

P.S. Isn't Lynn Swann running for office right now? I'd hardly call that a credible source. Even if he's being perfectly honest and forthcoming, it's not like the lockerroom rogues are going to be hanging out with the future politians. You wouldn't expect Carson or Madieu to know who Odell's dealer is, would you?