# Fishy things about the Pittsburgh Steelers **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 12, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fishy-things-about-the-pittsburgh-steelers/742945 "2016-01-12T18:39:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fishy-things-about-the-pittsburgh-steelers/742945/41 "2016-01-15T17:10:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > “Starting to say heads” is not saying heads. Starting to say heads is, literally, nothing but breathing. You might as well say that he started to say tails even before that, because before he breathed, he opened his mouth, and that’s the start of “tails”. From the link above: > [@](#): > > Additionally, a sideline microphone heard Bettis telling coach Bill Cowher that he said “hea-tails.” By rule, Luckett was supposed to take Bettis’ first choice, thus he followed proper procedure. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fishy-things-about-the-pittsburgh-steelers/742945/42 "2016-01-15T17:23:17Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > “Starting to say heads” is not saying heads. I’m not sure why you keep saying this. It’s true, but irrelevant. It’s not saying “heads”, but it’s enough to indicate you mean “heads” under the NFL rules at the time. Just like how making the first sounds of an action word in poker commits you to that action. > [@](#): > > Starting to say heads is, literally, nothing but breathing. You might as well say that he started to say tails even before that, because before he breathed, he opened his mouth, and that’s the start of “tails”. If he had made a “T” sound, you might have a point. But he didn’t, so you don’t. Are you getting confused because the “H” sound is aspirated? Because it’s more than that - it’s voiced, too. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fishy-things-about-the-pittsburgh-steelers/742945/43 "2016-01-15T20:06:01Z")
…He did make a T sound. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fishy-things-about-the-pittsburgh-steelers/742945/44 "2016-01-15T20:24:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > …He did make a T sound. I don’t know anything about that, but if he made a sound that started “tay” to be completely analogous to this situation, where he says “heh,” then, yes, he first said “tails.” ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fishy-things-about-the-pittsburgh-steelers/742945/45 "2016-01-15T23:39:53Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I don’t know anything about that, but if he made a sound that started “tay” to be completely analogous to this situation, where he says “heh,” then, yes, he first said “tails.” Chronos is just saying that after saying “Hea”, he said “Tails,” which obviously does have a “T” sound. He doesn’t have an actual point, so he’s nitpicking. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fishy-things-about-the-pittsburgh-steelers/742945/46 "2016-01-16T04:58:01Z")
He completely unambiguously said one word. He also produced a sound which is part of the other word, but which is such an ubiquitous sound that it can’t possibly be considered evidence that he was attempting to say that other word. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fishy-things-about-the-pittsburgh-steelers/742945.md?page=2)