The Pittsburgh Steelers have fans everywhere. There aren’t many other teams, in any sport, that travel quite as well as the Steelers fans travel. That is even true in Hollywood, with the Steelers boasting a large number of celebrity fans.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers superfan, actor Billy Gardell, with Pirates' Andrew McCutcheon before a game.
Recently, one of those celebrity fans spoke up about what it means to be a part of Steeler Nation and shared his favorite memory, which also happened to land him in some hot water.
The Steelers Got Billy Gardell In Trouble At Work
Actor and comedian Billy Gardell, who is best known for playing “Mike” on the TV show, Mike and Molly, is a Pittsburgh native, having grown up in Swissvale. Recently, he joined Steelers defensive tackle, Cam Heyward on his podcast, Not Just Football With Cam Heyward.
Gardell was asked by Heyward to share one of his favorite Steelers-related memories. He told Heyward that he has been to lots of games, including Super Bowls as an adult, but his favorite memory of the first time he was asked to wave the Terrible Towel prior to the start of a game. Gardell, who says he grew up poor, said this was the ultimate experience for a fan like him.
“To be a kid who couldn’t even afford tickets when we were kids. We would go to one game a year. My dad would go to Rudy Marinos and get a hoagie and he’d cut it into four sections and wrap it in foil. He’d tell you, ‘Put that in your pocket. Eat that in the third quarter. Don’t ask for nothing.’”
Trae Patton | Credit: CBS
Steelers fan Billy Gardell starred in the show "Mike and Molly" with Melissa McCarthy.
He got the first call to come to wave the towel near the end of a season about 20 years ago. The Steelers made the playoffs and were hosting the New York Jets at home on a typically freezing January day in Pittsburgh. He notes that this was extra special for him because it was nearing “Bettis’ last run.” By which he means it was getting close to the end of running back, Jerome Bettis’ career in football. Because of that, he couldn’t turn down the offer to come, despite during filming for the show.
“It was during the week of filming, so I was out of my mind to be on the sideline with my heroes, I equate everything to you guys and to be down there getting ready to do that, it just blew me away.”
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Billy Gardell leads the Terrible Towel twirl before the start of a Steelers game.
Gardell said he let his pride get in the way of his good sense and he made a huge mistake that he would later regret.
“I did do something really stupid. You know they give you a jersey, they made me a jersey that said Gardell on it. I’ve got a trench coat on, it’s freezing out there. Then I see all the guys on the line and nobody’s got sleeves on. I said you know what man, I’m gonna take off this jacket for the Terrible Towel wave. I’m gonna be in unison with my offensive line.”
Gardell said it was so cold, like 25 degrees outside, but he couldn’t stand the thought of looking weak in front of these men he idolizes, so he shrugged off the coat and went for the towel wave in just his jersey.
“I start twirling the towel and I start screaming. I mean out of my mind screaming. I’m like I can out scream the 80,000 fans that are there, I was in unison with them and that wall of sound hits you and you know it’s time.”
He said he pretty quickly realized the screaming, coupled with the cold air was a mistake and it turned out it would be one that impacted his job.
“I burnt my voice up. I got a terrible flu and flew home with a 103-degree fever. Then I went to the table rehearsal the next day for Mike and Molly, trying to fake my way through it. We got about 10 minutes into the read and they said, ‘Ok, we need to send Billy home, he’s sick.’ Chuck Laurie walked over to me and he goes, ‘No more playoff games, okay?’”
Do you like celebrity fan stories? Does it make you like someone a little more when you know they are a Steelers fan? Which celebrity fan surprised you the most when you found out? Click to comment below.
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