European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 26, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Bleier saturday january 26, 1991 the stars and stripes a a Pago 25rob Staggenburg i it was 1969. A 23-year-old boy found himself carrying a Rifle in the Middle of a faraway land. Vietnam. The infantryman was by most measures the quintessential All american boy. He played football. A notre Dame boy in fact. He was drafted by the National football league. Yes in the 16th round by the Pittsburgh Steeles. But Rocky Bleier was drafted by a larger More powerful team. The . Army a draft notice landed in his Mailbox. He went. To Vietnam. A War is fought by the Young a Bleier said tuesday from his Pittsburgh marketing and consulting offices. A a there san interesting phenomenon that takes place in any conflict whether its a Battle or you re involved in a g ally Tuu Ulvi we Vivi  a uni us i jew a a tvs thu m u % car Accident or whatever the Case May be. A lot of peo pie find out what they Are made  Bleier found out about his composition when at the height of the conflict he was injured by gunshot and a grenade blast in August 1969 and required extensive leg and foot surgery. He was told head never play football again. A i remember the first time i was in an actual conflict. Bullets were flying All Over the place. I puckered up. I was afraid to move. I was afraid of doing anything. Ill never forget the Day i got hit. A if i May use this analogy it was kind of like a football game. You have All the hype before the game your nerves Are on Edge butterflies in your stomach you did no to know what was going to happen to you until that first Contact. It was like the first Kickoff. You be prepared a game plan you be been trained you re ready. Then it happens and you re in the game. There a a distinct peace and calmness in your concentration As you try to figure out what a going on at the  Bleier left the land of the Rice paddies and was shipped Back Home. He failed to realize that his worst Nightmare was coming True. No football. Yet he fought Back. After extensive rehabilitative surgery on his leg he returned in what was possibly the most remarkable comeback by any player. Bleier a fight Back into the pros by 1971 even prompted a made for to movie. More importantly he helped the Steeles to four super bowl victories. As operation desert storm Rains Down on the world you can count Bleier in on the surge of patriotism that has swept across America. To the men and women of the persian Gulf operas Tion which kicked off last week with the coalition taking it to the iraqis via air mail Bleier is one of your biggest  a Quot a a a a Twenty plus years can change a lot of things. The persian Gulf War is so far removed from Vietnam he said. A a from a fighters perspective a or a troopers View of Vietnam there was no Clear Cut reason Why we were there. A Why Are we fighting this War a i mean it was Nice to say the country called and i had to do it. This War is different. The Gulf crisis has a defined reason stated by the  the key to surviving wars atrocities Bleier said is Faith. A. A a a a a a a a a a a. A a -. A a. A a a you have to believe in the reason Why you re there a he said. A you have to believe in the cause More than the enemy. That individual trooper has to believe he a doing the right thing. Because in the face of Battle what you draw  that self Worth that will to  a Bleier has seen his share of enemies in the form of snarling would be tacklers. The dynamic Trio of Bleier at blocking Back Hall of Famor Franco Harris at halfback and Terry Bradshaw Barking out the signals led the Steeles to four nil titles. Those four rings landed a Host of players in the Hall of Fame and earned the Steeles the nickname a team of the �?T70s.�?� some have said that those four teams were the Best of All time. Bleier rushed for 1,036 Yards in 1976 and started on All four of Pittsburgh a super bowl winners before retiring after the 1980 season. Now he son the sideline a from football and War. A my reaction to the War breaking out was no different than everyone else so he said. A a it a a shame it had to come to this but still i feel we have made the right decision. You can to be an isolationist in today a world. Conflict affects us All of us. No one likes to see it a i remember watching some troops a the 82nd airborne a and watching them get All excited and anxious. They looked nervous but ready. The jitters. I have Confidence in our personnel that they will get us through. In a confident. I really am. I believe in our country i believe in our democracy and i believe in standing up for what we believe in. A your Job is to Stop aggression and come to a solution. We have to Stop a Man like Saddam Hussein from running Over the Middle East. If we done to do anything what is the world going to look like in 15 years a a a in a not a warmonger by any Means but if it comes to that situation you be got to go. A from a Home bound position i just want to wish All the troops Over there All the Best come Home safely and i want to thank them for being there. A War is fought by the  like in Vietnam. A i look Back on that time a said Bleier a and yeah i was scared just like hundreds of thousands of other Guys in my same position. A you will be  Quot the key to survival he said a is not a flanking movement or a Forward Man Euver but a belief. You have to believe in what you re  it has been More than 10 years since Bleier carried a Rocky Bleier rushed from Vietnam to the Steeles. Football but still he bleeds St Clur Black. When the Steeles choked a crucial season ending game to the Houston oilers thus knocking them from the division Lead to out of the playoffs Bleier grimaced like any other Pitt Burgher. A there were several games that were crucial this sea son a he said. A the two games against Cincinnati they lost. They needed those  How does Bleier compare his old Steeles with the 49crs�?T dynasty a we won four super bowls in six years that a definitely an accomplishment a he said. A a it a a very difficult thing to have done. The 49crs have established themselves As the team of the �?T80s. They be been in the playoff Hunt every year. The 49crs won four super bowls with three different types of teams. I think there a Only five people who have All four super bowl rings. With the Steeles there arc 22 players with four rings. So what you Sec is they did it with essentially three different  from a Man who knows his super bowls a four rings in four tries a Bleier goes with the flow on the 25th instalment of the game. A a Jeff Hostetler has been a Good quarterback in that he has not Hurt the giants. But Jim Kelly has a better Arsenal. Id have to pick  the Start and strip Dierdorf should Trade Mike for muzzle 1l by Phil Jackman the Baltimore evening Sun most Pray for Good weather a fast track Ana a decent game. Some want to see exciting plays and  care less which team wins others bet which to commentary. Darius answer he talks All the time. A the super bowl Kickoff is slated for6 18 . Est sunday. The network goes on line at 4 of clock with Brent Musburger Means what happens on the Field does no to hosting the Marathon pregame show t which arts wont feed matter just so Long As they collect is there any inherent enjoyment in cheering for a $10 Bill  each year when late january and the super bowl Roll around i Pray for laryngitis. Not. An epidemic understand just a Case or two. Strategically placed. Like in the announcing Booth where once again we have the pleasure of abcs three Man  in some circles As a the perfect complement to play by play Man a1 Michaels and lovable old Frank Gifford Dan Dierdorf is this years nominee to temporarily lose use of his vocal chords 4 to be sure a lot of what do says is -5 into resting although not always too close to the Mark. After All he was a lineman. 1 hut the Hall of Fame tackle is making a serious run at Joe Theismann for most words expended during a broadcast. A a of the Crews rumoured Success Dier i Dorf says a a we be Learned How not to step i on each  to troops around the world. Y House party hosts Are advised to Lay in to sets in lieu of snack food. While Abc is hammering us with another a skins games this one for caddies at 1 30 ., lbs has College hoops a Georgetown is. Pitt and Georgia tech is. North Carolina a followed by pea Golf Abc will counter with the lakers and celtics in pro hoops noon then something for the ladies figure skating. A Nice smorgasbord. A All the and time has been sold for the Biggie meaning Abc recoup about $45/ Moltion a Hajle we socialize Over the commercials. A unnerving thought a consumer test commissioned by prime network divulged fans would be willing to pay up to $18 per came for nil action hello pay per View. A. I a lbs has been giving exceptional play to the All Madden team show to include placing it in prime time 9 . Is t sat urday. Yet the hour Long special a another that arts says it wont pick up a was turned out by sports producer Extraordinaire twi a fact not even mentioned in network releases. Twi produced the nets super bowl preview at 3 . Saturday too. What a this say about lbs sports How big is All Madden a collectible card set is being prepared this very moment covering big Johns picks with a six package going for $2,50 and the Complete set going for $30. A Espnes 16-hour super sunday starts at 1 a.m., with half hour shows of All previous super bowl games a 90-minute a game Day at noon the computerized dream bowl ii Steeles is. 4$ers and various other Bric a Brac until 5 . A Good move the Mcaa football rules committee moving to halt the showboating and taunting prevalent in a games. Its first move should be to go to the networks and Tell them not to popularize and Foster the self aggrandizing behaviour by showing it. A Call off the search Diogenes we be found a Guy who will answer the throwaway question which team would you rather play blah blah blah Bruce Smith of Buffalo says a i would rather have Kickoff 12 18 am. Monday an to Midnight sunday an radio 11 45 . Sunday Tele 5 11 40 . Sunday j played the 49ers. Everybody a a 49er fan and they were going for their third straight championship and it would have been great to oct  a Stop the presses everyone wants to top know whom miss America picks in the super bowl right a Buffalo 31-10,�?� says Marjorie Vincent confidently despite being 0 for 3 in playoff picks. A a a american most wanted conies to the squared Circle. Boxer Quick Lillis was arrested after Oklahoma authorities became aware he was in Atlantic City appearing on a pay per View fight card two weeks ago. Till so purse for getting knocked out in one round by Jemmy Morrison should cover his  child support Bill nicely