Pittsburgh Mayor Ravenstahl Changing Name to ... Wait for It ... SteelerStahl -- NFL FanHouse

Pittsburgh Mayor Ravenstahl Changing Name to ... Wait for It ... SteelerStahl

When the playoffs start and Super Bowl season starts heating up, all sorts of crazy bets happen, including many odd wagers by politicians. Some politicos, such as Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, like to gamble on feeding the homeless and the elderly.

And then there's Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who has absurdly decided to change his name. That's right. His beloved Steelers are playing the Ravens, and to make sure everyone doesn't think he's a traitor, he's swapping his surname to "Steelerstahl".

This isn't some joke either; he actually filed the papers to process the permanent shift with the local civil court, although rumor has it he might not go all the way.

Civil court staff gave the petition a docket number but said they did not expect to file it, in part because they did not receive the required check for $108 to process the change, the newspaper reported.

Ravenstahl said he did not come up with the idea for the name change, according to the report. That honor, he said, belonged to callers to a local radio station's morning show, who "called in and thought it would be a good idea to change from Ravenstahl, given we are playing the hated Baltimore Ravens this weekend, to Steelerstahl.

"As soon as I heard it, I thought it was a great idea."

Apparently, in Pittsburgh, "great idea" means "silly publicity stunt". It's fantastic that he's gung-ho about getting behind the Steelers, but he also forgot what the second part of his last name means.

See, "stahl" is "steel" in German. So he just technically became "Luke Steelersteel". Which would be totally awesome if he was fighting crime or actually playing in the game. But as a politician, yeah, not so much.

Did You See That?

The field clears a fence during the New Season Handicap Steeplechase during the at Ludlow Racecourse on September 16, 2008 in Ludlow, England.

Emanuele Canonica of Italy helps his caddie in the rescue of a pigeon from the water around the 18th green during the first round of the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 16, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.

A multiexposure image showing Britain's Andy Murray returning to Croatian Marin Cilic during a last sixteen tennis match at the Madrid Masters in Madrid on October 16, 2008. Andy Murray won 7-5, 7-6.

English football fans dressed in armours and tunics play in a friendly match against Belarus fans in Minsk on October 15, 2008 before the start of the Belarus vs. England 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier of European group 6 match.

Travis Brigley (R) of Hamburg fights with Matt Keith (L) of Ingolstadt during the DEL match between Hamburg Freezers and ERC Ingolstadt at the Color Line Arena on October 14, 2008 in Hamburg, Germany.

Russian Nikolay Davydenko returns a ball to US Robby Ginepri during a second round tennis match at the Masters in Madrid on October 15, 2008.

A golf ball which has been enveloped by the tree over many years is pictured during the pro-am for the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 15, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.

Andy Murray of Great Britain plays football during his training session prior to his thrid round match tomorrow at the Madrid Masters tennis tournament at the Madrid Arena on October 15, 2008 in Madrid, Spain.

Samuel Peter from Nigeria gets a punch from Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine during their WBC heavyweight boxing world championship fight in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. Klitschko won the fight after round nine due to technical knock out.

Herbert Knosowski, AP

Japan's Kyoko Hamaguchi (lower) fights with China's Hong Yan (red) during the semi-final of the 72kg class of the Women's Wrestling World Championships in Tokyo on October 13, 2008. Hong defeated Hamaguchi and will face Bulgaria's Stanka Zlateva in the final.

Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP/Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-15-2009 @ 12:39PM

Love Pontiacs said...

I think that is what I'd do too. (Don't take it too seriously Raven fans---it's just a joke I'm sure)

1-15-2009 @ 1:06PM

psu74dl said...

Stunt or not I like the thought. This guy seems to live life to his own special rules. The Honorable Mayor Steelerstahl. Awesome!!!!!!

1-15-2009 @ 1:21PM

Dan said...

I like it a lot. In Chicago, he would have just sold his naming rights to the highest bidder (along with anything else).

1-15-2009 @ 1:35PM

sohiocool said...

if he wants to truly represent the city, he should change it to Fatnuglystahl...

1-16-2009 @ 12:06AM

Princess said...

You're just jealous because Pittsburgh and everything about it is so freakin' awesome. LMAO Go STEELERS!

1-15-2009 @ 2:08PM

cmhstring said...

Maybe Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon should change her name to Steela Dixon since she was just indicted on theft charges.

1-15-2009 @ 4:33PM

redz1965 said...

Mayor Shelia Dixon will be changing her name soon to Inmate #435673

1-15-2009 @ 2:53PM

Thursday Night! said...

I love it. Critics should stop crying over this. It's just fun and in the spirit of things. Playoffs get nutty, and I like the nut.

1-15-2009 @ 3:17PM

sydndana said...

I think his name is perfect already...Hoping for Sundays headline to read:

"Ravens-Stall" in Pittsburgh

Go Steelers!

-from an Eagles fan

1-15-2009 @ 6:46PM

Good one Dan!

1-16-2009 @ 9:28AM

Cary said...

Oh boy, that is witty.

1-15-2009 @ 3:38PM

dvstckwll said...

I can't believe he got elected in the first place with that name in Pittsburgh!!!

1-15-2009 @ 3:54PM

Kevin Grau said...

this guy is a tool. The last part of his name STAHL is german for Steel. so his "new" name is Steelerssteel? Go Eagles!!!!

1-15-2009 @ 6:55PM

Joe said...

Why are they playing in Arizona in the afternoon, where the weather would be okay anytime, and in Pittsburg in the evening, where the weather will be extremely cold? It should gave been the other way around

1-16-2009 @ 12:22AM

DMGspoon said...

I like it, maybe the weather will give the Steelers the breaks they typically don't get from the refs! I lived in the Burgh for 7 years and now live in Owings Mills, the same part of Baltimore where the Ravens have their offices. I'd love to see them Stillers beat the jaggoff Ravens. This game is just for them to go and red up for them Eagles an'at.

1-15-2009 @ 8:40PM

lori said...

go steelers and eagles
all pa superbowl

1-15-2009 @ 9:53PM

Nancy said...

I think it is funny! Why are you such a crank?

1-16-2009 @ 11:25AM

Paul said...

DMGspoon, are you kidding?!?! Not getting breaks from the refs? Apparently you did not watch Superbowl 40! GO RAVENS

1-16-2009 @ 1:07PM

mastervoz said...

"sohiocool said...
if he wants to truly represent the city, he should change it to Fatnuglystahl..."

LOL! This coming from a guy that lives in OHIO. Gimmie a break. You backward people from ohio could learn a thing or two from pittsburgh. Such as, how to have a GREAT football team and how to view life as it is today(2009) and not the 50's.

Don't you have a prayer meeting or some Buckeyes to roast???