By Dave Parsons
In 1969, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted a guy named Joe Greene in the first round. Two rounds later they drafter an offensive lineman named Jon Kolb. Kolb started 177 games at left tackle over the course of his 13 years, including four Super Bowls. Not one defensive player lined up against Kolb got a sack in any of those Super Bowls.
After his playing career ended, he became a strength and conditioning coach with the Steelers. He also founded a nonprofit organization called Adventures in Training with A Purpose (ATP) where he works with his family. ATP is a nonprofit 501c(3) organization with the stated mission of working towards a world where no one is held prisoner by his/her health-related limitations.
On the 50 Anniversary of the Steelers winning Super Bowl 9, Kolb enlisted some of his teammates and produced a fund raiser for ATP called Curtain Call. Held at Stage AE in Pittsburgh, literally on the same ground that Three Rivers Stadium once stood, Kolb welcomed Mean Joe Greene, Rocky Bleier, Larry Brown, Donnie Shell, Randy Grossman, and more alumni to take part in watching the highlight film of Super Bowl 9 and then comment on it in real time.
Before the main event there was a special VIP session where attendees could visit with those players in a very relaxed atmosphere. Held in the lounge above the main floor of Stage AE, the players mingled, told stories and posed for photographs in what could have been an oversized living room. For anyone who grew up a fan of the 1974 Steelers Super Bowl team, it was like being in a time machine.
There were some really great items on display that would be auctioned off later like a helmet signed by that 1974 team, several autographed team poster, signed jerseys and a one of a kind autographed painting.
Moving downstairs, the players were introduced by former Steeler player and more recently their color analyst for game broadcasts, Craig Wolfley. Taking their seats on the stage, the players shared memories of the game and the team. A particularly moving moment came when Mean Joe Greene, called the team the greatest of all time. He made the statement with a lump in his throat and a tear of pride in his eye. There was dead silence in the room. Some 50 years later, his pride and honor of what they accomplished still lives on, and was so incredible to see by the fans in attendance.
On more lighthearted fare, Rocky Bleier made several long explanations as to why HE was the one who won the game for them. To which several other players, also made the same claim resulting in some hilarious banter between them. The widow and son of Franco Harris, the MVP of that game, were in attendance and were enjoying the back-and-forth conversation around their father and husband.
At the end of the screening, the auction took place with several of the autographed jerseys going for well over $1,000, and the painting for over $12,000. When the bills were paid, I’m sure there was a nice amount remaining to go towards helping the folks that ATP works with.
