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.