The Steelers are one of the few teams in sports where the owners are actually a bigger deal than the coaches and the players. But if a Wall Street Journal story is true, that might change.The WSJ says that the Steelers have been secretly shopped around by the Rooneys, largely because some of original owner Art Rooney's grandkids want to see how much money they could make if the team was put on the open market.
We've seen Chuck Noll and Bil Cowher retire, but the thought of anyone but the Rooneys owning the Steelers is worse news than finding out that Terry Bradshaw was retiring and the Steelers' new quarterbacks were Cliff Stoudt and Mark Malone. Some Steelers fans may have been upset at the Rooney's supposed stinginess over the years, but the reality is that the Steelers have had as much stability and success as any team in football over the past 40 years, and the credit for that goes to the ownership.How many teams have two owners in the Hall of Fame? How many teams credit the owner for being the glue that held a Super Bowl team together? Take away the Rooneys, and for all we know the Steelers could turn into the Redskins--a storied franchise owned by a "new-era" owner who spends a lot of money without a lot of wins, while gouging fans for every dollar he can.
Thankfully, Dan Rooney, the oldest of Art Rooney's sons, says that he's trying to buy out his brothers who want to sell to keep the team in the family. Hopefully he'll succeed, because without the Rooneys, a lot of what has made the Steelers special becomes ancient history.
Update: The WSJ story has been updated to say that some of the other Rooney sons are balking at Dan's offer, and may listen to an outside buyer. The news is getting worse for Steelers fans.
H/T: Pro Football Talk
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-08-2008 @ 12:27AM
mw said...
Hmm imagine that a owner that spends money witout a lot of wins then gouging the fans for every dollar he or she can.
Lets take a look at this and see if this is true,PLS that could cost up to $150,000 then you have the privilege of forking out yet more money for the actual ticket or tickets.
If or when the Rooney's sell the team what's next, only NFL and owner approved terrible towels at $550.00
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7-08-2008 @ 5:42AM
G-man said...
Hey, it could happen. I wish it won't, but one never knows. I do agree with the writer. The success of the Steelers does have alot to do with the Rooneys as owners. This family made you believe in and be proud of these Steelers ! I say thank God for that !
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7-08-2008 @ 8:30AM
troglodyte said...
Look at what poor ownership did for the Pirates - do I need to say any more? Look at what happened to Mellon Bank after the Mellon family bailed out. The Steelers, along with every business that becomes iconic, need that strong guiding hand that comes from pride, not sheer greed. The Steelers without the Rooneys would probably loose a lot of their lustre. Say it ain't so!
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7-08-2008 @ 9:58AM
soozlu said...
All malarky, again poor poor and I will say again POOR writing with little to no fact checking.
It has to do with family ownership of some gambling and race tracks. Rooneys need to redistribute the ownership whithin the family to meet NFL guidelines.
JEESH slow news I know, but do want to look like a fool JJ?
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7-08-2008 @ 9:58AM
bigdog said...
i think you need to recheck your story before you open you mouth again it states that dan rooney and his son team president art want to buy dan rooney's brothers shares in the team because they own race tracks in new york and florida that have added forms of gaming that are inconsistent with nfl gambling policy. the nfl is working with the rooneys on an agreement on separation of gambling interest and on restructuring of ownership if part of team is sold.
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7-08-2008 @ 10:18AM
Gina said...
I don't know where this story came from but the articles I read said Dan wanted to buy out his family members but that they were looking for a better deal. So I wouldn't say JJ is "looking like a fool" or sensationalizing this or something. The last thing I want as a Steeler fan, or as a fan of any sports team, is owners who are more concerned with the bottom line than with the health of the franchise. And if the other Rooney's truly are more concerned with finding buyers who will give them the best deal then that might be what we end up with.
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