Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 21, 1993 TAG: 9301210064
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
EX-STEELER PICKS NFC - AGAIN
To think, there are some guys who probably would give their right arms for one Super Bowl ring. This guy has four, one riding on each hand, and two more rattling around somewhere back home in his chest of drawers."These are my last two," said Rocky Bleier, extending his two ring fingers Wednesday afternoon at Roanoke Regional Airport. "They've got the most diamonds, so that's why I wear 'em."
Bleier, an integral part of the Pittsburgh Steelers' 1970s NFL domination act, was passing through Roanoke en route to a speaking engagement at Washington and Lee University on Wednesday night.
Bleier said his talk to the W&L students would be based on dealing with life's constant changes and separating perceptions from reality.
"Perceptions we formulate can really become barriers to our productivity," Bleier said. "What you perceive is what you're going to accomplish . . . no more will happen."
Bleier, however, sees no changes occurring in Super Bowl XXVII on Jan. 31. He said the Dallas Cowboys will beat the Buffalo Bills, thus extending the National Football Conference's hold on pro football's crown to nine years.
"I'd like to see Buffalo do it, but I think Dallas will win," he said. "I guess we can only hope it's the AFC's year again.
"Buffalo has a good defense, better than San Francisco's overall. But, offensively, Dallas has a lot of guns. They have a young team that's coming up with a lot of expectations, a team that's a little cocky. They really take chances, and that helps them, gives them confidence."
The 46-year-old ex-running back said one of the keys for the young Cowboys will be handling the media blitz that will intensify next week in Pasadena, Calif.
"I think that's the toughest part of Super Bowl week," Bleier said. "I think the biggest thing is that you can't take this game out of context. It's just another game. Everything you've done to get yourself there is the same thing that's going to help you win the game."
Bleier said Chuck Noll, who coached the Steelers to four Super Bowl wins from 1974-79, had the right attitude for combatting the pregame hoopla.
"When we went in '74, Chuck had already been to a Super Bowl with Baltimore and knew what it would be like. He said, `We'll try and control the media the best we can. But they're going to be there. They have a job to do just like you have a job to do. You're going to be asked the same questions three or four times, so make up different answers and have fun with it,' " he said.
Bleier, who overcame serious injuries in Vietnam in 1969 and returned to become the Steelers' fourth all-time leading rusher, said it would be very difficult for any team ever to match Pittsburgh's four titles in six years.
"I would hope it's difficult to do," he said. "There will be teams that might win more total Super Bowls, and there will be teams that win back-to-back. But four in six years? Hey, we've got to hang onto something to be proud of."
Were the 1970s' Steelers the best NFL team ever?
"We, the players, and the community of Pittsburgh like to point back to NFL Films and when they did the computerized thing," he said. "We came out on top, so I always say we beat the best of the best.
"I'm very fortunate to have four rings. Most guys will never have one. Hey, I've got two more sitting back in one of those boxes in the drawer where you keep your old cuff links and stuff.
"Like I said, I'm lucky."
Keywords:
FOOTBALL