Life Long Steeler Fan Mary Kay Kelly Mock is a proud member of Steel City Mafia. Check out how she has a special chair she watches every game in and how her car is completely decked in Steelers Memorabillia in her interview with The Steelers Blog.

HAVE YOU BEEN A STEELERS FAN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE, HOW DID YOU GET HOOKED?

I have been a Steeler fan all of my life!! My Daddy got me started early, as he is really into sports, and you watched what he wanted to. I grew up watching football, and just loved it…the games in the 70’s were awesome. I am a real diehard fan, and although I watch all football games, the Steelers are part of me. I eat, sleep & breathe Steeler football!!! I attend training camp, and am a very proud member of the SteelCity Mafia!!! I had been boycotting everything NFL since the Lockout started (including the NFL Network, which I am addicted to) but broke down from Steeler withdraw last week, when they were running Steeler specials. My family thinks I go overboard, as I read and watch everything I can on the Steelers, I get the Steelers Digest, so as not to miss anything, and I talk Steeler football all the time.

I cannot miss a game, so when I have traveled with my sister-in-laws and mother-in-law during the season a few years, to Tampa and to North Carolina, I went online to find a Steeler Bar close by so that we could go and watch. It is so much fun going to watch with everyone there being a Steeler fan! If I cannot find a Steeler Bar to watch at, I am staying home!

WHAT IS YOU BEST/FAVORITE MEMORY OF THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS?

My favorite memory of the Steelers would have to be attending the playoff game against the Chargers the last time we won the Superbowl. My friend’s boss has 8 season tickets, and a box…he gave us each one on the 40 yd. Line 26 rows back!!! You were close enough to see everything so good, and the game was terrific (although it was freezing cold – below zero) I wasn’t cold at all. Her boss’s wife got sick and they were going to leave the box, so they called down on the cell to see if we wanted to go up to the box, but there was no way I was leaving that seat, being so close and in the pumped up crowd to go up in a box, even if it did have food and drinks!

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER BOTH PAST AND PRESENT?

My favorite player would have to be Ben! I have loved him since his college days, and was so glad that the Steelers drafted him!!! However, I like so many of the players. Troy is such an awesome player, and such a spiritual person, that I admire him both on and off the field. I love the fact that he attends Mass everyday at training camp. I also love, Hines, Woodley, Harrison, Wallace…and on and on.

My favorite player from the past I think (although I like so many) would have to be Jerome Bettis! He was awesome the way he could plow through people, and carry them with him on his way to the end zone!

When you think of Steeler football, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

I just get excited, I think of good ole’ smash mouth football – they way it is supposed to be played. I think of Woodley & Harrison on the attack, and I love it!!! The Steelers are the greatest team in the NFL, with the greatest fan base – Steeler Nation is everywhere. We were in Mexico twice, and I even met Steeler fans there, and have several Facebook friends from Mexico that are Steeler fans!

Obviously, you have to LOVE the Steelers to do an interview with TheSteelersBlog.com – explain your passion?

My passion runs deep for the Steelers, and having started getting into it at such an early age with my Daddy, it’s a special time for us, as I still go and watch every game with him!

My husband does not like football (or hockey for that matter, which I also love, but not like football) and he told me I need to pick at sport – LOL!!!

I have made so many Steeler friends on Facebook, and in my favorite group Make the Steelers America’s Team, that it is amazing. I always love making new Steeler friends! One team, one family, one awesome Steeler Nation!

Win, lose or tie, I’m a Steeler fan until I die, and then my husband has to lay me out in my Ben jersey and all my Steeler gear, and God willing, I will  then be able to watch and cheer the Steelers on from heaven!

Who is the greatest Steeler of All-time and why?

That’s really a hard one…there are so many great Steelers, but I would have to say Jack Lambert! He was just so tough, and hard hitting!! Like he said, “I believe the game is designed to reward the ones that hit the hardest…if you can’t take it, you shouldn’t play.”   I think that’s still true today, and Harrison is a good example of football the way it’s supposed to be played.

What do the Steelers need to differently in 2011 to win their 7^th Super Bowl?

Well, I believe that the biggest thing is that our players need to stay healthy! I also like to see our offensive line protect Ben. The young receivers have really stepped up, which is very impressive! We do need help in the secondary, and I’m hopeful that the Steelers can re-sign Ike Taylor, as the draftees aren’t ready to step in and do the job yet. I truly believe that we can make it to, and win the Super Bowl this year!!!

Do you have a certain routine on game days for the Steelers?

Well, let me begin by saying I’m very superstitious when it comes to Steeler games. I drive down and watch all the games with my 84 yr old Daddy, and I have a lucky chair that no one else is allowed to sit in (I even kicked my sister who was in visiting from Jersey out of my lucky chair) because that could ruin everything; I also have my own parking space at my parents house, and no one is allowed to park there (or they have to move). I wear my authentic Ben jersey, my Steeler hair tie, ballcap, all my Steeler jewelry, same pants, underwear, socks, shoes or thongs when it’s warm (and I just got new Steeler thongs, which are awesome).

Last year when we lost a game, I changed to my authentic Wallace jersey and stuck with it and it brought luck…I also changed routes driving down to my parents after the loss, and drove the longer route. I always pray for the players before the game that they are safe and don’t get hurt, and I pray during the game; but I don’t attend Mass on Steeler Sunday’s because when I have it’s brought bad luck.

How many Steeler games have you been to in your life?

Luckily, I have been able to attend 6 Steeler games, but I hope to attend many more!!!

What NFL team do you dis-like the most and why?

Well, I think it’s a tie. I hate the Patriots and the Ravens!!! The Patriots are cheaters, and Tom Brady is a brat, and I saw him on TV one day saying that he hates Pittsburgh…feeling is mutual buddy! I also hate the Ravens, because their fans are so rude when it comes to the Steelers, and their players too…my niece who is originally from Pittsburgh, now lives in Maryland and her and her husband have season tickets for the Ravens. He is a huge Ravens fan, and she goes dressed in all Steelers gear and cheers for the Steelers when we play them there…she really takes a lot of abuse from Baltimore fans, but she loves it!!!

What is your proudest piece of Steelers Gear or Memorabilia?

Well, I have so much Steeler stuff it is hard to say. Even my car is known around town as I have Steeler seat covers and magnets and window clings all over it, but my favorite items would have to be my authentic Ben & Wallace jerseys, and most of all, I have Ben’s Rookie of the Year picture, double matted and ready to frame for my family room…I just need his autograph. I have tried several times at training camp to get it, but so far have not been able to. However, I am hopeful for this year. My brother-in-law knows what a diehard I am, so he knows a couple sportscasters, and is trying to get me tickets to be on the field with the players at training camp this year. You cannot get autographs then, but I figure if you have a chance to talk with them, maybe you can get them to sign for you after practice, as I want my jerseys signed too!

If you could go to lunch with any Steeler, who would it be and why?

Well, I would love to be able to go with the whole team, but I would have to pick 2 players…Troy, because he is such an amazing and spiritual person, I would love to have the opportunity to talk with him; and Woodley, because I think he’s funny and relates well with his fans.