The Mojo Boogie - Week 6

Now that we've said bye-bye to the Steelers bye week, I was looking forward to some Pittsburgh football this weekend.  The Steelers were getting their perv QB Ben Roesthlisberger back after a 4-game suspension to open the season and it was to come against the hapless Cleveland Browns.  Alas, the game was opposite the Ratbirds/Patriots game and wouldn’t be on local TV, so I had to make plans to watch at my neighborhood sports bar, Jilly’s.

So, what to wear, what to wear?

After consulting my mojo spreadsheet, I see that the only time this year that I attempted to match prior history, we lost.  Last year, I faulted myself for trying to force patterns and not recognizing that it was randomness that was being rewarded.  So with that in mind, I decided to forgo matching what I wore the last time the Steelers won when I watched the game at Jilly’s, and go with something new.  I opted for my black Steelers polo with gold stitching, along with the hat I got from Honus Wagner’s in Pittsburgh and my customary Steelers socks.

As a bonus, my brother Ed wanted to come out and watch the game, so we had that rare Bluz Brothers mojo going.

I was initially alarmed when I saw the game starting because the Steelers were wearing their throwback uniforms.  (Black jerseys with gold numbers and white pants.)  If I’da know they were rocking the throwbacks today, I’d have worn my throwback jersey to the bar.  It left me a bit uneasy.  I really should have checked the Pittsburgh paper before I left.  They usually only wear their throwback jerseys twice a year and I have 2 of them.  That cost me a chance to wear one at a prime mojo opportunity.

But then again, they were playing the Cleveland Browns, who were starting a rookie quarterback.  We shouldn’t need much mojo.

And it turns out we didn’t.  The Steelers won fairly easily, 28-10.  Rookie quarterback actually did fairly well, considering the dudes on the other side trying to take his head off.  But not well enough.  Big Ben’s comeback, while not without hiccups, worked out OK.  Dude just needs some more reps to get back in synch.  The Brownies were a good way to ease back into the NFL.

So mojo-wise, it’s looking like it’s a lack of pattern that produces the wins.  We’ll see if that continues throughout the season.  At some point, I may have to repeat myself.  I don’t, after all, have an infinite supply of different Steelers gear.  (OK, so I can probably go a couple of seasons without repeating… that’s not infinite.)

As an added bonus on the day, my old friend and former Work Wife, Pam, called to see if I was at the bar… she wanted to come out and watch her Cowboys on the 4:00 game.  I say “former” Work Wife because she left me, I mean, left the company about 4 years ago.  Someday I’m going to have to do a whole post about Pam.  She’s such a trip.

Yes I know the Cowboys were on regular TV… girlfriend needed to get out of the house.  So that’s how I ended up at the bar from 12:30 this afternoon until about 8:30 tonight.  That is one solid day of boozing it up.

The other added bonus of the day was that the Ratbirds lost to the Patriots.  That’s a missed blessing at best, though, because I never want the evil Patriots to win, but better them than the Ratties.  I don’t have to deal with Pats fans at work. 

Last week, there was a Ratbird fan gloating to me about how the Rats were in first place.  They were 4-1.  The Steelers were 3-1 at the time, after their bye week.  That’s all it takes around here to gloat… a half game in the standings.  Idiots…

So it’s been a long, boozy day, and I hope you don’t hold it against me if I cut this off and go the hell to bed.

Mondays should be outlawed during football season.