In The Spotlight

Chad Ochocinco began blurring the line between sports and entertainment in 2001 when he performed his first of many over-the-top touchdown celebrations. His flamboyant routines have since gone on to generate millions of hits on YouTube and thousands of dollars in fines from the NFL. "(Commissioner Paul) Tagliabue and most of the suits in this league are all old-school, and I really don't think they're for the end-zone celebrations," Ochocinco admits. "But I know in the back of their minds they are laughing. They can't wait to see what No. 85 is going to do next. Even though it's something they don't like, I guarantee they think what I'm doing is entertaining.” Learn more about this primetime performer by clicking here.

In The Spotlight

Mark Sanchez is making millions of women suddenly care about football. This ruggedly handsome QB has been breaking hearts and records since 2009 when he led the New York Jets to the AFC Championship game during his rookie season. Learn more about “The Sanchise” by clicking here.

You've Got To Be Joking

Joe, Port Orange, FL
Subj: America's Team
Why were the Cowboys given the title of “America’s Team” the first place? When I think of America's Team, I think of the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have the best following of any team in sports. Steelers bars can be found in just about any major city. Therefore I think the Steelers should be referred to as “America's Team”.

Superb question, Joe! The term was coined by sportswriter Bob Ryan in 1979, although he didn’t have the Cowboys in mind when he created it. "After the '78 season, the Cowboys had just lost a crushing Super Bowl to the Steelers,” he recalls. “I wanted to come up with a different twist on a story I was doing. So, I asked the Rooney family if I could name the Pittsburgh Steelers, ‘America's Team’. But, I was surprised when the Rooney family said no. The next year I asked the Cowboys franchise and they said yes." Other media personalities soon adopted the colorful phrase and within a matter of weeks football fans from coast to coast were referring to Dallas as America’s Team. Surprisingly, Steelers owner Dan Rooney still has no regrets about declining the honorific title. 'We didn't want that,” he says. “We're a Pittsburgh team. We feel strongly about that."

Question of the Week

Michael, Flemington, NJ
Subj: Getting defensive
I’ve had plenty of arguments with friends, but I believe the 86 NY Giants had the best defense ever. Others tend to point to the 85 Bears and the 2000 Ravens. Who is your choice and why?

It’s hard to find fault with your selections, Michael, although my personal vote goes to the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers. The dreaded Steel Curtain was loaded with Hall of Fame talent like Mean Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham and Mel Blount as well as bruising hitters like J.T. Thomas, L.C. Greenwood, Glen Edwards and Mike Wagner, all of whom were selected to that year’s Pro Bowl team. Given their incredible personnel it’s easy to see how Pittsburgh ranked fourth or better in nine key defensive categories while also holding opponents to a paltry 28 points during their final nine regular season games. In fact, the Steelers’ defense was so dominant that Greene was famous for frequently telling the offense “You guys hold-'em, and we’ll score!" as they came off the field.