Sunday, June 26, 2005Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The e-mails came by the dozens, not just from Pittsburgh and Washington County, but from New York, Texas, California, Maryland and Michigan.
"Is there anything I can do to help Mel Blount?" asks Mike from Virginia. "It would be great if a large group of old Steeler fans banded together to help him fight the racists who are causing problems."
"It would be helpful to list how donations can be made to such a worthy cause and a great man who gave us so much pride as fans and deserves so much respect for what he is doing with his life," Mark writes from Florida.
"With all of the bad press about sports and athletes today, it's a blessing to hear a story about the positive things that have come from a truly good individual," writes Brian from Florida.
"Any chance the NFL would give Mel's mission a long spotlight during one Sunday?" asks Tim in Maryland. "The only reason I bring it up is so that people can see that not everyone is Terrell Owens and Randy Moss."
"Has anyone ever considered contacting Oprah?" asks Jim from Pittsburgh.
Blount, a Hall of Fame cornerback with the Steelers during their Super Bowl years of the 1970s, has received similar feedback at his home for troubled boys in Buffalo Township, Washington County, since a Post-Gazette story last Sunday detailed how he has been the target of racially motivated hate crimes. Philip Breese, 18, of Claysville was arrested Thursday and charged with spray-painting racist graffiti on a sign at the Blount youth home earlier this month.
"There are so many good people around here," Blount said. "I tell everyone all the time that, if not for all of the good people, we wouldn't be here at all. A couple of bad families aren't going to spoil that."
Blount said he is "overwhelmed" by the outpouring of support since the Post-Gazette article. More than a dozen readers contacted the paper to inquire how they could make financial contributions to his youth home.
"People know we have some serious issues with our young people these days," Blount said. "My hat's off to anyone who tries to help. It's tough raising your own kids. But when someone is willing to step out and help others, people see that and appreciate it."
It doesn't hurt that Blount played during the Super Steelers days. What has it been since the franchise won its last Super Bowl? A quarter-century? The fans clearly haven't forgotten the players. Those players are set for life around here.
"A phenomenon," Blount called it.
"I can't even begin to explain it. I've been out of the game since 1984 and the way people treat me, you'd think I was still playing.
"I think that says something about the impact we had on the city. Pittsburgh was looking for a change back then. The city was known for its steel mills and being a dirty old town. The Steelers were known as bar-hopping brawlers who happened to play football. We brought something different. We changed the image."
The City of Champions.
"People still cherish that," Blount said. "It's sacred to them."
Blount laughed.
"To tell you the truth, I think that's why Lynn Swann has a great chance to be our next governor."
Blount's aspirations are far less glamorous but every bit as significant. They are the same as when he opened the youth home in 1990.
"I want to make men out of 'em," he said of his boys.
The final words here are left for e-mailer Tom from Allison Park. Somehow, they seem most appropriate this morning.
"Small boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about small boys."
(Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1525.)
No comments:
Post a Comment