The Real Steelers Santa

A fake Santa Claus showed up at Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin’s press conference earlier this week.

Reports indicate that this local out-of-uniform, but not out-of-character sports reporter wasn’t entertaining for his entire 5-minute schlep, especially not to the coach.

The real Steelers' Santas showed up at Heinz Field yesterday, the day after Christmas 2008. Most had learned of #91 Aaron Smith’s personal plea for blood donations. Aaron recently learned his 5-year-old son has leukemia. Elijah needs blood for his treatments and the Smith family learned firsthand about what the blood bank calls “the gift of life.” All parents know the anguish of having a sick child, especially when the illness goes beyond sniffles and sneezes. The donors lined-up!

Pittsburghers have a level of friendliness and compassion that has become the stuff of folklore. And the Steelers Nation has a level of devotion that is clearly witnessed every other Sunday, as they takeover an opponent’s stadium. So it just goes to figure, when you add together a personal appeal for a Steelers' sick son, Heinz Field, Pittsburgh and the Steeler Nation, you end up with 900 blood donors in an 8-hour period.

. . . EVEN IF they fear needles.

Whatever it takes!

Bob

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