The 25th of November, 2009
Source Credits - talent network, inc., David Sedelmeier, Loretta Lasher, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Topic Tags -Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Steelers Bars, Italy Steeler Bar
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Local Comic a hit in Steelers Bar in Rome, Italy
From talent network, inc.
By David Sedelmeier
The Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Coliseum are the sights to see when traveling Italy. But when you’re from Pittsburgh one of the must see sights is La Botticella Bar in Rome. La Botticella is Rome’s official Pittsburgh Steelers Bar. Ms Loretta Yasher and her two granddaughters were in Rome last month. They are all big football fans so they decided to pay homage to the Steelers bar. While there the bar owner –Giovanni insisted they listen to this song he found on Internet about Pittsburgh called “
DahnTahn” a song by Comic/Musician Mark Eddie. Loretta & her granddaughters started laughing and told bar owner – “you’re not going to believe this” but Mark Eddie is her son in law... bar owner was speechless. Small world and smaller if you from Pittsburgh...
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Steelers faithful find a shrine of their own in Rome
Pittsburgh tourists have made La Botticella their cantina of choice
From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
By Dan Gigler
ROME, Italy -- They come here, like so many do, as pilgrims and as scholars.
Their travel slate may include a papal Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, or a study of the ruins of classical antiquity. But as itinerant subjects of the Steelers Nation, they also flock to La Botticella, a cozy pub just off of the Piazza Navona, which in recent years -- mostly by happenstance -- has become the cantina of choice for Steelers fans in the Eternal City.
The reigning Emperor of the Roman Steeler Republic, Giovanni Poggi, is the owner and proprietor. Travelers from around the globe have stopped to leave an official "Asciugamano Terribile" as tribute.
"I must have 30 Terrible Towels," Mr. Poggi said, laughing and pointing to close to a dozen bags stuffed with, among other things, Terrible Towels, Steelers T-shirts, signs, magnets, hats -- even a pair of slippers and a long-haired Troy Polamalu wig.
Housed in a century-old former wine merchant's shop in a narrow cobblestone alley, La Botticella was opened 18 years ago by Mr. Poggi to capitalize on hordes of tourists looking to quench their thirsts with a cocktail between sightseeing stops.
Along the way, the haunt developed a loyal clientele, first among U.S.-based flight crews stopping over in Rome and later college students studying abroad. About four to five years ago, Mr. Poggi said groups of Penn State and Duquesne University students spending semesters in Rome -- most of them from Pittsburgh -- adopted La Botticella as their hangout.
The advent of satellite TV made it easy to catch American sports, and homesick students wanted to see their beloved Steelers and Penguins play. A match was made, and La Botticella became a regular Sunday gathering spot to see the Black & Gold.
"The fans that came in here, their passion for the Steelers was infectious," Mr. Poggi said. "They go as nuts for them as the [soccer] fans here do for Roma or Lazio," he said, alluding to Rome's stalwart futbol franchises.
He tacked a small Steelers pennant onto La Botticella's sidewalk sandwich board to beckon to Pittsburghers and Steelers fans who passed by. Soon after, Pittsburgh paraphernalia -- Terrible Towels, Sidney Crosby and Troy Polamalu jerseys, even a sticker from Fat Head's Saloon on the South Side -- were affixed behind its bar.
A "You're in Steelers Country" banner now hangs on the back wall, and Mr. Poggi once unfurled it out at the Coliseum prior to Super Bowl XLIII. Conspicuously absent however: any "Franco's Italian Army" bric-a-brac.
Mr. Poggi, right, owner of La Botticella, and Luca Valente in front of St. Peter's Square.
Photo Credit: Dan Gigler/Post-Gazette
Story Continued, Read More..
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Fans take 'Steelers Nation' battle cry literally.
From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Producers: Marilyn Caldrone, Melissa Tkach
Videographer: Bob Dvorchak
Part of the mystique of the Steelers is that the fan base openly unfurls its towels and battle flags in stadiums across the country. They were out in force in Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium for Sunday's Steelers-Chiefs game.
MORE INFO:
Rock/Comic Mark Eddie
Mark Eddie's "DahnTahn" song/video
La Botticella Facebook
La Botticella Web Site
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