To the ESPN Announcers, 11/9/97

by Joseph McCombs

we the viewing public were asked: isn't it ironic
that dan rooney -- a man who has never demanded
a new stadium -- is not getting one now

and i respond: no -- what's ironic is that
women and men who are lucky if they're unionized
find themselves vilified for refusing to subsidize
those who can renegotiate their contracts
at will based on "market rate"

and it is certainly ironic that a poor man especially if he's black
cannot get justice in pittsburgh but injustice as a word isn't used
until someone thinks it's happened to a multimillionaire

and it is VERY ironic that a place like south allegheny
high school -- where we learned just what
"irony" means -- is benefited once a decade by a tax
and no national announcer has ever decried that fate

and i think the most ironic thing of all is that a few
people watching this game tonight are going to feel bad or
angry or maybe even guilty about pittsburgh sports teams
being the poor kids on the block... as if they get their
sideline gatorade from food stamps and free lunch
programs... but to answer your question

no it is not the least bit ironic that for maybe
the second time this year a man who has what he needs
did not get what he wants

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