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The Terrible Towel is a rally towel associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers, an American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The Terrible Towel has spread in popularity; fans take their Towel to famous sites while on vacation. The Towel has been taken to the peak of Mount Everest, and even into space on the International Space Station. It is widely recognized as a symbol of the Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh.〔Cope 2002, p. 142.〕 Proceeds from sales of the Towel have raised over US$3 million for Allegheny Valley School, which cares for people with mental disabilities and physical disabilities. The Terrible Towel is credited with being the first "rally towel" and its success has given rise to similar products promoting other teams.〔 Numerous versions have been produced; almost all are black and gold in color with the words "Myron Cope's Official The Terrible Towel" printed on the front. In October 2009 a pink Terrible Towel was introduced to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. == Origin == In 1975 the Steelers won the AFC Central title and qualified for the playoffs. WTAE was the team's flagship radio station. Two weeks prior to the Steelers' first playoff game, WTAE's Vice President and General Manager, Ted J. Atkins, and President of Sales, Larry Garrett, said that they needed the assistance of Myron Cope, the Steelers radio broadcaster, in inventing a "gimmick" which would attract sponsors to his daily commentaries and talk show.〔 Initially, Cope did not want to participate, saying "I am not a gimmick guy, never ''have'' been a gimmick guy."〔Cope 2002, p. 143.〕 However, after Garrett's suggestion that a successful gimmick would be good leverage for a raise in Cope's upcoming contract renewal, Cope replied, "I'm a gimmick guy."〔 The three men, along with other radio station advertising personnel, began brainstorming ideas.〔 One idea, a black mask including coach Chuck Noll's motto "Whatever it takes", was deemed too expensive.〔 Cope said the gimmick should be something "lightweight and portable and already owned by just about every fan."〔 Garrett suggested using towels. Cope agreed, suggesting the words "The Terrible Towel" be printed on the front.〔 It was agreed that the towels would be gold or yellow, with the writing in black—the colors of the Steelers. Franklin C. Snyder, who was head of WTAE's radio and television stations, held the final approval of the idea. He approved the idea on the stipulation that black towels would also be allowed, in order to avoid accusations of racism from the FCC; Cope and Garrett agreed.〔Cope 2002, p. 144.〕 In the weeks leading up to the game, Cope advertised the idea of the towel to fans on the radio and evening television news, using the phrase "The Terrible Towel is poised to strike!"〔 However, Atkins grew nervous that fans would think the towel was a jinx if the Steelers lost the game.〔 Cope agreed to poll players on their view of the towel. Linebacker Jack Ham told Cope, "I think your idea stinks";〔 Ernie "Fats" Holmes was also against the idea.〔 Also against the idea of the Towel was Andy Russell, who mirrored Cope's original thoughts, "We're not a gimmick team. We've never been a gimmick team."〔 Cope simply replied, "Russell, you're sick."〔Cope 2002, p. 145.〕 Growing nervous about the negative feedback, Cope, who had already advertised the towel on the news multiple times, polled the rest of the players with a "banana-republic vote".〔 The Towel made its debut on December 27, 1975, in a playoff game against the Baltimore Colts. Prior to the game, Cope, whose idea had been mocked by the local ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', watched the gathering fans through his binoculars from the broadcast booth. He saw less than a dozen towels while players were going through pre-game warm-ups.〔Cope 2002, p. 145.〕 Cope recalls, "Nearing kickoff, the Steelers gathered in their tunnel for introductions, whereupon the crowd exploded—and suddenly, by my estimation, 30,000 Terrible Towels twirled from the fists of fans around the stadium!"〔 The Steelers went on to defeat the Colts 28–10. In the following weeks, the team defeated the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, to capture the franchise's second consecutive Super Bowl victory.〔Cope 2002, p.146.〕 Even while the Steelers struggled through the 1980s, the Towel remained a large part of the franchise.〔Cope 2002, p. 147.〕 During the Towel's debut game Andy Russell, who had opposed the idea of the Towel, returned a fumble 93‒yards for a touchdown. The play inspired local fan Lisa Benz to write about the Towel, which she later sent to Cope.〔Cope 2002, p. 146.〕 In part, her poem read:〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Terrible Towel」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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