By Ron Cook , Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com
DETROIT -- The white stretch limousine pulled up to the Steelers' hotel a little past 2 a.m. yesterday, about the time the team's Super Bowl victory party was just heating up.Unfortunately, a Michigan state police car blocked the path.
The back right limo door opened and a big man stepped out, asking, "Can we get by so I can get to my hotel, sir?"
"Who are you with?" the state trooper asked, disinterestedly.
"The Pittsburgh Steelers ... I'm Jerome Bettis."
Yes, it really happened.
Do you think I could make something up like that?
Here was the one person in Detroit who didn't know who Bettis was in the aftermath of Super Bowl XL and the Steelers' 21-10 win against the Seattle Seahawks, and Bettis had found him.
It's funny, Bettis had no problems being recognized at his previous stop. He jumped out of that white limo about 12:30 a.m. and walked into the Rooster Tail, a downtown club, to the roar of a big crowd and the deejay screaming, "The King has just arrived!"
All heads turned, and they were rather famous heads at that.
There was Mike Tyson, the most recognized tattooed face on the planet. You wanted to reach up and protect your ears, just in case.
There was T.O. What do you feel like doing when you see Terrell Owens?
Taking a shower?
And there, standing head and shoulders above everyone, was Magic Johnson. His smile, as always, was incandescent. He was savoring the moment, officially welcoming Bettis into that exclusive fraternity of athletes who have won a world championship. The two had been friends since their clubbing days in Los Angeles, back to 1993 when Bettis was the No. 1 pick of the Los Angeles Rams and Johnson was a sports icon known around the world.
"I wanted to host Jerome's last party," Johnson said in a quiet moment. "He's been such a great ambassador over the years, not just for the NFL but for black males everywhere. He's a Hall of Fame player and a Hall of Fame person."
Bettis stayed only an hour at the party, posing for pictures the whole time. What a sight he made, dressed in his black suit with blue pinstripes and blue shoes.
"Gators," Bettis said, pointing at those shoes. "When you're in Detroit, you've got to wear gators."
The party would last most of the night, but Bettis wanted to catch up with the people who matter most to him. He couldn't wait to join his teammates at their Pontiac, Mich., hotel.
On this night, Bettis left behind much more than just the beautiful people at the club, if that's how you want to look at the frightening Tyson.
"Yes, I'm definitely retired," Bettis told a gaggle of media types who weren't lucky enough to get inside the Rooster Tail and were huddled outside the front door.
"The Bus is in the garage."
Actually, Bettis was back in that limo moments later for the 35-minute ride to Pontiac. Along the way, he revealed that he met last week with Steelers owner Dan Rooney and his son, team president Art II, to tell them he was retiring after the Super Bowl -- win or lose.
"I thanked them for being the type of people they are," Bettis said. "They believe in people, not just numbers and stats. There were times when they easily could have made the decision to let me go. But they stuck with me. I just hope they think I repaid them with my effort on the field."
Bettis said he thought he could play another year in his role as a short-yardage specialist -- "Ol' rusty knees would be ready if they needed me" -- but made it clear he wasn't interested in doing the offseason and training-camp work to get ready for the long season. He also said he is thankful he's walking away from the game with his health.
"I'm saving myself from me. I can't keep going down that path. It's not the easiest thing carrying people into the end zone. It's sweet, but it's hard ...
"The only thing I'm really going to miss is pulling on that 36 [jersey] and going to work with the guys."
The Steelers will miss Bettis, as well.
The other players paid him a fabulous tribute before Super Bowl XL by sending him out alone when the team was introduced as a group to the Ford Field crowd and a worldwide television audience."Are you kidding me? I'll be taking that moment to my grave," Bettis said.
"Joey [Porter] told everyone in the locker room I should lead the team out because this is my hometown. But I thought they'd be right behind me. I got out there and there was no one there but me. Joey was holding them all back.
"Now that was truly amazing."
Bettis wasn't a big star in the win, although he rushed for 43 yards on 14 carries and threw a big block on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Asked the one memory he'll cherish most from this magical night, he didn't hesitate. "Holding that [Super Bowl] trophy high and bringing it back to Pittsburgh ...
"I'm just glad that we're a part of the Steelers' great tradition now. We had to walk by those four trophies from the '70s every day and they created a heck of a shadow. Don't get me wrong. It wasn't a burden by any means. But it does make it truly gratifying to be able to get that fifth one."
This was about the time the limo pulled up to the Steelers' hotel. It's a good thing that bemused state trooper pulled out of the way quickly. Bettis had plenty to do. After the team party, there was an appearance yesterday with teammate and Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward on "Good Morning America."
Later in the morning, Bettis and Ward boarded Disney's private jet for a flight to Orlando, Fla., and a parade down Main Street at Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Last night, it was a flight to Pittsburgh to get ready for today's victory parade. Tonight, it will be another flight to Los Angeles where Bettis will do the Jay Leno show tomorrow night.
"Of course, I'm taking my parents with me," Bettis said, as if it were foolish to even ask that question about his folks, Johnnie and Gladys. "They're my soldiers. They ride with me. They've been with me every step of the way so they might as well finish it off."
That thought seemed to hit Bettis as he climbed out of the limo and was greeted by his adoring fans outside the hotel and by his even more adoring teammates inside.
His fabulous ride in football really is over.
"The story has been written," he said, shrugging.
It's a good thing.
Otherwise, no one would believe the ending.
(Post-Gazette sports columnist Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1525.)
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