I still have my Kevin Greene jersey. Watching him and Greg Lloyd meet at the quarterback every week was just awesome. In those days, I never missed a snap. I had season tickets during his years and didn't give them up until they switched to Heinz Field. Nowadays I do not live and die by their victories or losses. I used to really get worked up over them. Not so much anymore. Heck, most times I fall asleep watching. LOL!
I was born and raised a Steeler fan by my dad and my older brothers. Kevin Greene takes me back to my mid twenties when my passion for Steelers football was at its height. Home games involved tailgating in the parking lot starting at 8 am for that 1pm game or being out late on a Monday night. Playoff football? My God, what an atmosphere.
When I heard of Kevin Greene passing it took me back to those times. Great memories.
I was fortunate to shake his hand in the locker room after they beat Jim Kelly and the Bills on a Monday night. A girl I graduated with is the niece of Dom Capers (orginally from the Cambridge, Ohio area). Capers was the D-Coordinator then and he got me back in the locker room after the game. Kevin Greene was the first guy I sought out. His locker was right by Greg Lloyd and Levon Kirkland. Talk about a kid in a candy store. I made my way around the locker room and shook hands and got autographs from guys like Rod Woodson, Carnell Lake, Darren Perry, Mike Tomczak, "Wee" Willie Williams, Mark Bruener, and Yancey Thigpen. Coach Capers then took me into Bill Cower's office and I sat across the desk from him and his wife right before his post game conference. It was nuts.
Anyhow, enough about memory lane.
RIP to Kevin Greene.