After the Tennessee Titans defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 21, 2008, players LenDale White and Keith Bulluck stomped on The Terrible Towel®. The Titans lost their next 8 games. Was it coincidence or the curse of The Terrible Towel®?
The Terrible Towel® was created by the late Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope in 1975, to inspire fan involvement in a playoff game against the then-Baltimore Colts. Thirty-four years later, The Terrible Towel® remains a Steelers fan essential. And since 1996, the sale of any The Terrible Towel® product benefits the children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are served by Allegheny Valley School (AVS).
On October 29, in a goodwill gesture arranged by Nashville’s WNSR-AM sports radio host Thom Abraham, White and Bulluck signed a Terrible Towel® that was shipped overnight to Allegheny Valley School.
Ricky, a resident of AVS for 31 years and a devoted Pittsburgh Steelers fan, received the towel on Friday, October 30. Indicating that he had the power to lift the curse, Ricky stated, “But I don’t think it’s going to happen this year.” Whether by coincidence or due to AVS’ receipt of the signed towel to “lift the curse,” just two days later, the Titan’s won their first game of the season, beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-13.
To raise funds for the Myron Cope Special Equipment Fund of its Capital Development Fund, AVS put up for auction on eBay the original signed towel that was received on October 30 – the towel that many believe helped to “lift the curse” for the Titans. The Myron Cope Special Equipment Fund was established in 2008 to raise funds to help purchase specialized equipment that aids in the clients’ therapies, enhances their independence, fosters their interaction with others and so much more.
Bidding began Thursday, November 5 and lasted until Sunday, November 15 at 1:52 p.m. EST. The towel received 35 bids and went to a Steelers season ticket holder from Greensburg, PA whose winning bid contributed $1,475 to the Myron Cope Special Equipment Fund. The winning bidder, who prefers to remain anonymous, indicated that he thought the towel would be neat to have and that he hopes to hang it in his office or in a favorite local Greensburg restaurant.
