Of all the NFL players from the 70's and 80's who have died since 2000, 20% have been former Steelers. Recently, Dwight White, another standout defensive player (only 58 years old) joined the ranks. Consider this: 9 died of heart failure (weight-related? who knows, 6 of the 9 were linemen); one was lifting weights at home; another was training for a triathlon; another was watching a game at a friend's house; one killed himself by drinking anti-freeze; another was a 36-year-old tackle who died in a high-speed car chase; still another, young receiver Theo Bell, died of a kidney disease/skin cancer combination. For years, the Steelers were hounded by rumors of rampant steroid abuse in the 70's but the NFL didn't begin testing for it until 1987. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe someone else has another explanation...is there something in the air in Pittsburgh that seeps out of the coal mines or out of the Allegheny River in the night air. My wife, an avid Steelers fan, sure would like an explanation.
Well maybe there's the solution to the pension problem. A lot of people place roids in the cigarette column: to each their own. But what are we supposed to do about the exorbidant health costs needed to undo what people decided to do on their own?
you know its really sad, even though you HATED!! THESE GUYS IN UNIFORM, WHEN THEY DIE YOUNG!!!! I REMEMBER ALL THESE GUYS!!!! MY TROUBLE AS A YOUNG FAN.. was i just couldnt sit back and watch the talent on the field, i was mad when the team i hated won!!!!! the teams i hated most!!! were the steelers??? wow terry bradshaw and the steel curtin!!!!!! hated the vikings??? why?? they weree good!!!! now as im older i think wow!!! did i miss out on some great football!!!!! you bring up lyle alzado?? we went went up seattle when he was playing with oakland, to see the seahawks play them, and i went downstairs at the hotel, and there standing with the other teammates was lyle!!! wow and he was big out of uniform!!!!! sad to see these guys die young!!!
Orange- I prefer to think that GOD needs great football in heaven, and is now filling his roster! How else do you explain the tragedies that have befallen the Steelers? I can see the heart attacks and such being steroid related, but Theo died from something totally unrelated. AND Theo weighed about a buck 98 and was a reciever. Not much of a candidate for steroid use. Drinking anti-freeeze might be considered "roid-rage" but car accidents, hiking accidents, and training accidents are clearly NOT steroid related, they are the opposite of purposses! ----Accidents?
Good comments all. I certainly wouldn't want to wish on anyone a steroid-related death and it goes without saying that many of the others were all what could be considered accidents. In the whole scheme of things, though, why so many from this one team? Is it all strictly coincidental or will we begin to see other NFL teams go through a similar historical "purging"?
The answer is there is no answer. It's just a very sad thing. One was a freak accident in the case of Steve Courson. Jusin Stralyzk obviously was sufferring from mental problems when he passed away. Ernie Holmes and Dwight White had heart issues. There is no answer throughout Steeler Nation, but all we can do in respect what those players did on the field for the Black and Gold, and send sympathies to the families.
Some of the former Black and Gold become very obese. A few had health problems that were genetic hand me downs. Mike Webster actually played with severe damage to his brain from concussions. His story is absolutely heartbreaking as he was one of the best centers to ever play the game.
Mike ended up divorced,broke and a shadow of his former self.
sixfigure...it just about broke my heart to see Mike Websters son talking about the disability issue after his dad had already died. Just sad to think that now you cannot play for weeks after a concussion unless cleared by a neurosurgeon. Had they done more in the 70's to protect players from their coaches and themselvs, and developed better helmets, and had the rule about the nose tackle being offset from the center, Mike might still be alive, and others might have played longetr, Ailkman for one.
Great points all!
Let us not forget the great Mike Webster who died several years back WAY TOO YOUNG. I used to love how he would run around in 10 degree weather w/out long sleeves under his jersey.
Roids were used...course all teams had them available...Kolb used them as did Courson...course Webby didn't die from roids, nor did White or Fats... Athletes tend to have enlarged hearts which will create problems in any case...more so afterretirement.
No surprise, but Terry Bradshaw admitted last week that he used steroids during his playing career.
Here's what Bradshaw said on Dan Patrick's radio show:
“We did steroids to get away the aches and the speed of healing. My use of steroids from a doctor was to speed up injury, and thought nothing of it. … It was to speed up the healing process, that was it. It wasn’t to get bigger and stronger and faster.”
And, apparently, Jim Haslett has stated that even thought that wasn't the intent, it was an obvious side effect.
Grew up in upstate NY rooting for the old NY baseball heroes; I appreciate true fans from anywhere who like reasonable discussion. Love the Buffalo Bills, the Syracuse Orange(men), and American Gladiators.
