I know what you’re thinking based on the title of this article. You’re thinking, “He’s right. Why can’t we all just get along? We’re all one big family. We’re all Steeler Nation brothers and sisters. We all love the same team. It’s so sad when I see my Steelers brothers and sisters fighting.”

No, that’s not the definition of sad I’m going for.

I’m talking about acting sad in a “Man, this cat is giving off some serious ‘Mom’s basement’ vibes” kinda way.

“I am a Pickett cult leader, and I will straight up bleep you up, old man. Don’t write checks your bleep can’t cash.”

That was a tweet from an idiot challenging an even bigger idiot–one who said something so heinous that I won’t dare touch it–to a fistfight just the other day.

While the second person has gone into hiding, the first person is proud of himself for challenging someone to a fight over a football team. And it wasn’t even over the heinous thing–it was the result of a Kenny Pickett vs. Mitch Trubisky Twitter argument.

What is wrong with people? I ask that question sincerely, by the way. That wasn’t rhetorical. What makes fans identify with a sports team so strongly that they’d challenge someone to a fight over it? I’ll tell you, someone who probably smashes a flatscreen television over a loss.

Yes, flatscreen televisions are practically disposable, but so are reputations. You’re going to ruin your reputation by saying or doing horrible things because of the Steelers? Come on!

Now, to be clear, I’m not talking about fans who are critical of the Steelers and who debate other fans who may not be as critical. That’s perfectly fine. It’s cool to argue over sports. My cousin always says she likes it when she hears her brother, uncle and me arguing about the Steelers because it reminds her of her family arguing about sports when she was a kid.

Sports debates are healthy. Sports debates are fun. Heck, downright sports arguments can be cool and highly entertaining.

I don’t think any writer has been more critical of the Steelers than I have in 2023. Why? Because they stink. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, I believe three of my last five articles have included the word “stink” in the headline.

And you’re allowed to disagree with me and tell me my opinion is crap. Just please don’t ask me to meet you somewhere for a fight. That’s just not going to happen, not over my opinion on the Steelers’ punt coverage.

I realize fights between fans have been happening at sporting events for years, and it may not have gotten you fired in the past–arrested, maybe, but not fired. But smartphones are a thing now, and everyone is going to think you’re an idiot for pummeling some guy who “just wouldn’t shut up the whole damn game!” The judge who sentences you to something will also think you’re an idiot. Your boss will also think you’re an idiot.

You don’t even have to be fighting at a game to ruin your reputation. A stupid or horrific comment may be all it takes to tarnish your reputation in your community. And when I say community, I don’t just mean Steelers Twitter. I’m talking about your actual community, where you work, shop and do other things.

That’s assuming you work, shop and/or do other things besides obsess over the Steelers.

I have my doubts when it comes to a lot of Steelers fans.

Finally, this unhinged behavior over the Steelers reinforces a sentiment that I’ve believed for a long time: Being a die-hard sports fan involves years of angst and misery in between titles. Sure, the angst and misery may disappear for a while after a championship, but it eventually comes back and continues to intensify until the next parade.

How fans deal with the angst and misery varies from person to person. Some may be very opinionated and call talk shows all the time to complain. Some may choose to sell their tickets. Some may create blogs and/or podcasts to express their angst.

Others may choose to act like total losers who do things such as harass people on social media to the point that it becomes gross and unseemly.

If you’re an example of that last fan, not only are you sad, but you are not my Steelers brother or sister.