When football and fashion meet

Steelers fever is in high gear this week as fans get psyched for Super Bowl XLIII.

Suddenly, football is in fashion, with every item of Steelers apparel you can imagine for sale. Jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies -- and yes, even Steelers purses.

I'm not sure how I feel about that. I can't call myself a diehard fan -- I've been known to miss a game now and then -- but I love the Steelers. Win or lose, they're my team. I'm the proud owner of a #95 Greg Lloyd jersey that I received for my 11th birthday, and I still wear it. (In the interest of keeping this a family friendly Web site, though, I won't invoke Lloyd's immortal words after the 1995 AFC championship game.)

But I only wear my jersey on game days, and then, only during the game. It kinda makes me feel like a half-hearted fan, but I just can't bring myself to wear pro sports garb outside of a sports bar (or the living room). I do have a pink Steelers hat that I've been known to wear outside of game days, but it's subtle. (And I'm going to come right out say that while pink Steelers hats are acceptable, those pink jerseys are sacrilegious.)

I don't have any Steelers decor in my house, either. It's just not my style.

If it is your style? That's great. Flaunt it. But I don't advertise. My black and gold is permanently wrapped around my heart.