Ol’ Art got a lot more beloved in the 1970s when he gave up running the team and the team got real good. For the 30 years before that he was just a old gambler who’s team stunk out old Pitt Stadium and/or Forbes Field every other week during the fall. (On the other weeks they were welcome visitors at other team’s parks, where they took their beating and then went home.)
Family team ownerships have lifespans and the Rooney family’s time is running out. The Rooney’s management has been remarkable for the last 40 or so years, but Dan Rooney is no spring chicken himself.
I think you are incorrect about this one. He’s already ceded over control of running the franchise to Art Rooney II (his son) as of a couple years ago. With the recent buyout of the other Rooney brothers, this franchise has another 30 years minimum of steady Rooney leadership.
Also, to Guin and catsix, it seems like everyone has these types of stories about the Rooney family. Perhaps you’ve seen this article and, in particular, the story at the beginning. As of late there have been countless stories of players detailing how they have Mr. Rooney’s cell phone number in case they ever need it, how they’re thrilled to win one more for him, etc.
I have my own Rooney family story. At training camp when I was around 12-15, they used to have an autograph day when the players would go stand on various yardlines–running backs on the 20, wide receivers on the 30, etc. As the excitement was dying down, I was standing on a sideline when I noticed a few feet away an old man was sitting on a bench just taking it in. Yep, it was Dan Rooney, nobody around him, no entourage or anything. I asked him for his autograph and he signed my little autograph book and happily chatted with me for a couple of minutes before I had to go. He really is a good man.
In short, I could maybe get behind this argument if we’re talking about some faceless corporate drone owner for some cookie cutter franchise. We’re not. We’re talking about the premier franchise in the NFL who are owned by a family that shaped the modern NFL. We’re talking about a salt of the earth type owner who is beloved by the city, fans, and, most importantly, the players. You DO know that after every game, Mr. Rooney goes to the locker room, win or lose, to personally thank each player for playing.