RIP Franco Harris

[rwsaunders]

[vertical_doug]

He kept crushing my Vikings in all those Superbowls in the 70's. I even added Iron City Steelers Superbowl champs to the beer can collection.

That's greatness. Getting a Vikings kid to display these cans...
But I guess I was happy they pounded the Cowboys too

[Saab2000]

Fifteen years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Franco Harris and his teammate and buddy, Rocky Bleier. Mr. Bleier was of greater interest to me because he is from my hometown of Appleton, WI and something of a local legend there because of his story, which is worth examining.

This picture was taken December 3, 2007 at New York's LaGuardia Airport after the quick flight over from Pittsburgh. They were working together as motivational speakers and were heading to an engagement. Mr. Bleier was more engaging to me because of our shared background from Appleton. Mr. Harris wanted this to be over as fast as possible! We all looked a little younger then! Wishing his family peace and wishing him many more immaculate receptions.

[htwoopup]

His greatness was so far beyond the field. A true class act.

This article brought a tear to my eyes.

https://theathletic.com/4002307/2022...er/?source=nyt

And the last quote shows the difference between class and style…

“I know how special that ball was for Jimmy and his son,” Harris said. “Jimmy is the right person to have that ball.”

[rwsaunders]

Thanks for posting Jon. I'd see Franco a couple of times a year either at the airport, somewhere at an event or just walking down the sidewalk, as he was extremely involved in the Pittsburgh community and revered as much for his post football accomplishments, as he was for his football career. Our daughter often jokes that when you exit the Pittsburgh airport's main terminal, all one needs to know about Pittsburgh history can be visualized by looking at the two statues near the escalator bank...George Washington and Franco Harris. They just announced last week that his number is going to be retired during the Raiders game this Saturday, only the third Steelers number in history to be retired, which interestingly enough, #32 hasn't been worn by a Steeler since Franco's last game here in 1982. Cherish life.

[ElvisMerckx]

Franco has a cycling connection too. He was a team owner in the short-lived National Cycling League back in the early 90s.

[rwsaunders]

I had a sobering moment about an hour ago. My boyhood hero Roberto Clemente played his last baseball game 50 years ago on 11 October 1972 and Franco Harris made the Immaculate Reception on 23 December 1972...50 years ago.

[rwsaunders]

Newton’s Law of the Immaculate Reception…

https://www.steelers.com/video/a-foo...ption-18314416

[Dave Thompson]

By all accounts Franco was a better person than he was a player…and a hell of a great player.

[rwsaunders]

One of my riding buds is recovering from rotator cuff surgery and he stated that he’s “bored out of his gourd”. He’s been sending me all types of sports memorabilia from the numerous Pittsburgh sporting events that he’s attended over the years and these images arrived this morning. In rough terms, that’s about $78 in today’s money for the ticket…equivalent to two Iron City Lights and two Primanti Bros. sandwiches at tonight’s game.

[bigbill]

My wife was a Franco fan. She wore 32 for her entire college volleyball career.