Black and gold - the Story of the Terrible Towel

Hat, Hair and Terrible Towel
Originally uploaded by cjrodkey

Considering it is almost midnight (hours after the game has ended) and I just now bothered to look to see who won the Super Bowl this year, you can probably tell pretty easily how wildly non-sports enthused I am.

BUT! having said that, I am very happy that the Steelers won. My parents were born there, an aunt, uncle and all of my cousins still live there and my aunt in Houston proudly displays her black and gold pride painted on her curbside. It's in the blood, if not on the television screen.

What's always been interesting to me about the Steelers is the appearance and feverish waving of the Terrible Towels. Besides the silly big cheesehead hats for Green Bay Packers, I don't know that any other sports-related paraphernalia that sticks out in my mind so much - great branding :)

What's even more interesting than the fact that these utilitarian pieces of fanboy/girl cloth are so darn popular, is how they now contribute to so many peoples' lives - specifically by sending all proceeds to the Allegheny Valley School to help the mentally handicapped residents there.

After Myron Cope came up with the Terrible Towel idea in 1975 to help rally Pittsburgh fans in a playoff game against the Colts, he later transferred all profits to AVS in 1996 to thank the non profit for having helped his son (who lived there at the time) lead such a good life. The money is specifically to go to individuals at the school, equipping them with communication devices, wheelchairs and other equipment that is simply life changing.

A NY Times article says:

“He came into my office, and he had a pile of papers,” Champ said. “He threw them down on my desk and said, ‘Regis, I’m giving you the Terrible Towel.’ I said, ‘Myron, I have about 10 of them. I’ll take another one, but ...

“He said, ‘No, I’m giving you the rights, and you’ll be able to get all the proceeds from the Terrible Towels.’ I was speechless. I knew that this would be the legacy that outlived Myron.”

So from team spirit to a dramatic change in the direction of a non profit school and their residents - as football fanatics went ballistic today in Florida, it warms the cockles of my heart to know that because of one man Doing Good and saying thank you - countless will be touched for decades to come.