Former Pittsburgh Steelers star running back, Jerome Bettis is participating in this week's American Century Golf Tournament in Lake Tahoe, California. The event is held on an annual basis, as several notable figures around sports play in the celebrity outing. This weekend, he's looking forward to facing a specific opponent: Larry Fitzgerald. That's a name that's quite familiar to Steelers fans for a few different reasons.
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Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald's 64-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIII almost ended the Steelers' chances of their sixth ring.
If you remember, his Arizona Cardinals faced the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII in 2009. Bettis was retired by then, but he was still cheering on the black and gold. Facing one of the best defenses of all-time, Fitzgerald had one of the most memorable touchdowns in Super Bowl history. It was a 64-yard catch and run, which looked to give the Cardinals their first Super Bowl win in team history.
Of course, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense rallied with a remarkable closing drive to come back and win. Fitzgerald nearly took that game away from the black and gold though, specifically the defense. Bettis was able to win a Super Bowl himself, as they defeated the Seattle Seahawks in his final career game. Ahead of the upcoming weekend of golf, Bettis addressed his fun golf rivalry with Fitzgerald via WPXI.
"My biggest rival is Larry Fitzgerald. He's always trying to figure out what my number is going to be. We always make a wager before we start. Last year, we tied. He's my nemesis, so I gotta make sure I play well against the old Pitt Panther," Bettis said via WPXI.
Gene J. Puskar / AP
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis poses during his induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in 2015.
Over his 10 years in Pittsburgh, Bettis became a fan favorite. His bruising, physical style of play from the running back position was something fans loved to see. He was selected to six total Pro Bowl squads, four of those with the Steelers, which led to his 2015 induction into the Hall of Fame. Since then, he's participated in several golf events, including the American Century Golf Tournament a few different times now.
Fitzgerald enjoyed a phenomenal career at the University of Pittsburgh. In two seasons, he racked up one of the best collegiate careers that we have ever seen from a wide receiver. Across 26 games, Fitzgerald had 161 catches for 2,677 yards and 34 touchdowns. As a result, the Arizona Cardinals scooped him up with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft.
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Since then, Calvin Johnson in the 2007 NFL Draft is the only wideout to be selected higher (second overall). The Steelers didn't have a chance to draft the electric playmaker from down the road, as they had the 11th overall pick. Instead, they settled for a guy by the name of Ben Roethlisberger. That seemed to work out for both sides. Fitzgerald's 127-yard, two-touchdown performance in that Super Bowl still haunts Steelers fans though. He joked about his "rivalry" with Bettis.
"I wouldn't say we're rivals. We both love the city of Pittsburgh, and all the organizations and people from inside. I'm not a rival of his. I just like beating him up on the golf course. I wouldn't call that a rivalry. I enjoy getting in his pockets. Especially now, he can't hit it as far, the putting has gotten a little shaky, the chipping is not as good. So, he's easy money. For anybody in Pittsburgh that wants to get in Jerome Bettis' pocket, there's no better time than now."
We don't get to hear much from Bettis anymore, so this weekend may be a good chance for fans to do just that. The Pittsburgh legend will not only look to win the event, but specifically defeat Fitzgerald.
What is your favorite memory from The Bus' legendary career in Pittsburgh? What was your immediate reaction to Fitzgerald's huge touchdown against the Steelers in SB XLIII? Who do you have winning between these two at this weekend's golf tournament? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
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