Preparing for Baseball Season

I'm not one to be a fanatic about displaying my loyalties to my teams I'm cheering for, but my husband is.  That man has so many Pirate, Steeler and Pens gear, it puts some crazy Pittsburghers to shame.  And he wasn't even raised here!  Now of course, this has gotten worse since he moved up here over a year ago.  It's almost too easy to shop for him.  I just head to Dick's, ProImage, Sideline Store or kiosk wherever I am and I can find something he'll love.  Personally, it's been a challenge to find stuff for women that I would want to wear without looking extremely tacky.  Lots of women in this city love wearing jerseys, knee socks with logos all over them and black and yellow mardi gras beads while chugging a beer bong in the parking lot outside of the stadiums.  I understand, it's part of the tailgating experience.  Unfortunately for me, I work every home game for the Steelers so I can not partake in the tailgating festivities.  As much as I love my job, there are moments when walking to the stadium I hear music blasting from the RVs in the parking lots around me and become slightly jealous of the parties just beginning to rage at 8 am on Sunday mornings.  Then I realize its -2 degrees out and I am more than happy to sit behind my desk, behind glass in the control room with the best view in the house without a parka and gloves on.

Anyway, I have always loved the southern traditions of the girls getting dressed up for football games.  Not like some of the girls up here in tube tops and shredded jean skirts with stilettos and hopes that one of the players sees them out of the tens of thousands of people in the stands.  Well, I guess that's anywhere!  I was not used to the southern way of game day dress when I went to my first game at South Carolina and was quickly made aware that my jeans and tshirt were not acceptable.  At first I found it ridiculous, but then looking around at all the beautiful girls all dressed up in garnet and black from their adorable hair bows to their matching bracelets and necklaces, did I realize that I in fact LOVED this way of showing love for their team!  From then on, it's been tough to think anything less is acceptable.

Now, I am not opposed to jeans and shorts, etc.  Just that it looks classy, not trashy.  When I attended the College World Series in Omaha in 2011 to cheer on my husband (boyfriend then) and the Aggies, I wore shorts, but I tried my best to make them acceptable.  And that was baseball, I'm still unclear of the rules for baseball attire for women.  Which leads me to my point.  My husband is a die-hard Pirates fan, almost got traded to them at one point in his career, therefore, we attend many games.  Last year, I was pregnant and did not enjoy the sunshine and fair-weathered fans as much as I used to, but this year, I don't PLAN on being pregnant and want to enjoy our hometown team as much as Kyle does.  Without the tackiness, here are a few items I have found that I wouldn't mind wearing to PNC Park this season:

http://pin.fanatics.com/MLB_Pittsburgh_Pirates_Ladies/Nike_Pittsburgh_Pirates_Ladies_Cotton_Tank_Top_-_Black

http://pin.fanatics.com/MLB_Pittsburgh_Pirates_Ladies/Nike_Pittsburgh_Pirates_Ladies_Deep_V_Logo_Slim_Fit_T-Shirt_-_White

http://pinterest.com/pin/80079699596378579/

http://pinterest.com/pin/80079699596378585/

http://pinterest.com/pin/80079699596379243/

http://pinterest.com/pin/80079699596379264/

Unfortunately, in Pittsburgh, you never know what the weather will be, even in June.  So I think a couple of these outfits would work for me.  And if you prefer the bumble bee knee highs and tube tops, go right ahead, rock it girl.  At least the Pirates have fans!

Steelers Report To Camp - It Just Got Real

As I was perusing around on my Facebook page I saw this little post and I had to laugh because it's so true, not just about me, but literally all female Steeler fans:

I guess we could say the same about our male counterparts but they have been focused on the triumphant season our Pirates are having and some aren't ready (including my husband) to admit football season has begun.  I have even found myself watching old football games on TV because I missed football.  I get excited when I see commercials like Under Armour and PlayStation's NCAA '13 come on. 

Ladies and Gents, it's time to break out the Polamalu and Roethlisberger jerseys in black, white or pink... bedazzle it, tie it up, or put on a collard shirt under it to make it fancy.  It's football season in Pittsburgh.  It's time for us to brush up on our stats and learn about our new guys and fight about whether or not they will make it.  We will also declare our love for our team by facebooking pictures of our sweetest gear, Steeler tattoos and newest slogans for the season.  We will start trash talking on twitter to fans of other teams and try to get our tweets noticed by our favorite players.  Our jersey's will be worn on Fridays at the office and of course we will wear our white jerseys for special occasions where we need to dress up.  The tailgate gear will be brought out of the garage with the flags, car magnets and face paint.  Whispers of fantasy football team names flutter around groups of colleagues and friends.  It's a beautiful time of year. 

As I write this, I am listening to the season's inaugural show from my dad and Tunch Ilkin broadcasting live from St. Vincent in Latrobe, PA as training camp opens.  They interviewed Max Starks and Brett Keisel today and apparently Keisel has a new t shirt campaign out and my dad already made Brett's fears come alive.  Last night, Brett was wearing his new shirt and my dad said how much he loved the shirt, "The Hunt For VII".  Unfortunately, what my dad said (and saw on the shirt) was "The Hunt For Eight".  Keisel said he knew then that no matter how many people said that nobody would screw it up, somebody would.  And that was Wolf.  So my dad came up with his own slogan, he's skipping the "The Hunt for VII" and "Going Straight For 8".  Keepin it simple.  Welcome to Steelers Season!!!

For the Girlie Girl in Sports!!! My New Etsy Shop!

Well, I have always been a fan of southern tradition when it comes to sports and I have always wanted to create my own line of accessories for the "better lookin' fan" at the tailgate!  So I created my own Etsy shop to get started!  I created my first tree skirt while in Texas over thanksgiving and I'm going to start creating other ones that are themed to college and football teams!  Then I bought some chalkboard paint and was messing around with some wine glasses that I thought I'd put up as my first listing!  They are so cute and no two are the same!  I'm also going to tailor those to teams and personalize those to customers!  What better way to fuse together my love of football and being a girlie girl?  I encourage feedback and any suggestions anybody has!  I'm so looking forward to creating more items for sports fans who want to show their girlie side!  I'll be posting all new items that I list on here and I also created a facebook page that they will be shown on as well!  Thank you for your support!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pearls-Heels-and-Cleats/120426141405849

www.etsy.com/shop/pearlsheelsandcleats

Steelers at Ravens: Unfortunate Recap

Here is my take on yesterday's... game?

http://aeryssports.com/steel-city-blitz/what-the-steelers-at-ravens/

Hopefully, this is a one-time deal that our boys will never let happen again.  They fell apart, figured out their weak spots and this week will be picking up the pieces.

I can't even talk about this game anymore...

Until Roger Goodell unleashes his wrath on fining our players

Megan & Murgia in the City | Pittsburgh Sports/Entertainment Podcast

Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Hosted, Posted & Produced by Megan Wolfley & Frank Murgia

Welcome to the first podcast episode of "Megan & Murgia in the City" featuring Megan Wolfley (pearls, heels), daughter of former Pittsburgh Steelers Lineman Craig Wolfley and Frank Murgia (cleats), podcast co-host and producer for talent network news, Craig Wolfley and Ultimate Challenge Radio as they launch their weekly podcast based in their home city of Pittsburgh.

The main focus of the podcast will be the Pittsburgh Steelers 2011-12 season with insider info and opinions form Megan who works for the Steelers in the booth on game days with a mix of news from city events, Steelers bars and tailgate party info from Frank.

Living by the Motto:
"The Only Thing To Do In This City Is Sports, And We Drink To It"

Follow Megan Wolfley on Twitter (@mewolfley)
Follow Frank Murgia on Twitter (@RealFrankMurgia)

Podcast Talking Points:

- First Podcast, Hello, About
- A little Wolfley Lineman in the Mix
- Pearls, Heels and Cleats
- Writing for Aerys Sports/Steel City Blitz
- Working for the Steelers, Power and 93.7 the Fan
- Pre-Season Dress Rehearsal
- Mike Vick Makin' Paper
- What can Brown do for You
- Dennis the Under Dressed Menace
- Left(arm)wich
- Frank's Madden 12 Review
- North Shore Tailgating Review
- Players Crash McFaddens (Don't Be That Guy)

Back To Work!!

Today is technically my first day back to work for the Steelers!  I am so excited to get back into the grind!  I've missed this feeling since the Super Bowl!  Even though it's still summer, its really cool here this morning and the crisp air reminds me of football season.  Today I am heading down to Heinz Field to hold auditions for 14 kids who have been called back to be our new "kid" hosts for the McDonald's KidZONE Show we film in the Coca-cola Great Hall at Heinz Field!  This is my 6th year working for the show and I am the Floor Director.  I absolutely love working behind the camera and working with these kids (if they are good, haha).  It can get a little crazy because we film in front of a live audience of other kids (local football teams and cheerleaders) but the excitement they have to see our Steelers right in front of them and the chance to meet them is so fun for them!  So now I'm off  to the North Shore and praying we find a new group of great hosts to kick off this season!

KidZONE Taping Dates

Let The Games Begin...

 
For the most part, the NFL Lockout 2011 is over!!  Hallelujah, thank the good Lord that we can get back to work!  I am so happy that everyone came to an agreement now before it got worse.  Training camp opens Thursday up at St. Vincent! I know the players are ready to kick down the doors at training camp and get this started!  I know people want to celebrate and I'm hoping that nothing bad happens between now and training camp!  I'm sure that Mike Tomlin will do damage control immediately with some unfortunate events with our beloved Steelers and keep all other negative publicity at bay.

Everyone needs to focus on moving forward and not backtrack at all.  I'm hoping that this season will be the best season to date because of the fear that was looming over not having a season at all.  I think fans will be bursting through the gates come gameday and will probably be tailgating the night before out of excitement.  After all, people were trying to tailgate for Roethlisberger's wedding this past weekend! 

I've read that some people are concerned with his new marriage status and that it could affect his job.  Maybe it will make him better since he won't have to focus on an extra curricular activities and keep him on track and out of trouble.  But he does seem to do better when the cards are stacked against him.  We shall see....

I wonder if Harrison will be fined or suspended at all in Goodell's first week out of the lockout?  I'm sure there will be some repercussion for what he said in his Men's Health article.  Will Hines Ward have any impending fines or suspensions for his DUI?  Or maybe Goodell will just let Tomlin handle it internally and let the past be the past and move forward...

I'm so happy to ask... ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL??????

The NFL Boredom Epidemic

NFL players got no jobs, getting arrested, James Harrison is bashing the commissioner and teammates, our PETS HEADS ARE FALLING OFF!!!

The common denominator, in my opinion, is simple: these guys are bored and frustrated.

It's completely understandable.  Think about it.  For most of these guys lives, they have been compeltely structured around football.  Eat, breath, sleep football.  They have a routine, coaches, trainers, teammates that all are focused on the same thing, day in and day out.  It's kind of like messing up the schedule of a child.  And NO I'm not calling grown men children, I'm just using a reference.

When a child's life is upset by their family moving, career change, divorce, or any major life changing event, they tend to act out.  They cause drama, get in trouble, whatever it takes to get your attention.  I think, again in my opinion, that the guys are going through the same thing.  They don't have their coaches or normal trainers to go to.  They can't even go "home" (field, practice facilities).  So they have to try to come up with their own routine.  It's not the same as they knew life to be for all the previous years before.  So they are going to mess up when they are frustrated and act out.  After all, who isn't frustrated with the way things are going.  Mommy and Daddy can't come to an agreement and all we want to do is get back to our normal lives!

So we've had our problems with a few players recently...

Big Ben's Savin' the Date

TMZ apparently got hold of Ben Roethlisberger and Ashely Harlan's Save The Date.

So this is it.  Now I have not had to plan my own wedding (yet!) but I would have to say for a couple who is about my age, I really don't see this being the save the date our generation would use.  All the save the dates I have received have not looked anything like this.  Usually there is a picture, or its a postcard, or magnet.  And the floral design is not exactly my taste.

On that note, I wonder who on their guest list sold them out?  And to TMZ?  Really?  I hope they got enough money to give them a really good wedding present.  IF it is really the save the date, I couldn't imagine that the happy couple would be having such a large wedding that you couldn't trust the people you were inviting to not sell your invitations to Internet tabloids!

My first thought on this was maybe it was the company who they were thinking about using, who had made up several different ones to show them and they leaked it?

If I were them, I would never have my wedding here.  If it really meant a lot to them to be married to each other and avoid all the media spectacles, wouldn't you just want to do this privately?  Get away and take people with you that you could trust and it would really mean something for them to be there?  But if they want to have all this attention, then they are on the right track.  Many other celebrities get married in front of a hundred close family and friends and their save the dates never get out...so why did theirs?  I'm interested to see how this all unfolds....