One world, one team, one family!
As a “Boss,” and a “Made” member in The Steel City Mafia, I felt the strong bond to this organization and have selected it as my IMC 693G subject. I was “made” during the 2008 Sit-Down and was pinned by former Steeler great, Andy Russell. I have the necessary access to the inner workings of this organization, in fact our 4th annual Sit-Down is this weekend. Typically, we meet on the first week that Steelers training camp opens in Latrobe, Pa in July. This year is the 1st to be held in Pittsburgh, during the weekend of the first home game. I will be in attendance.
The Steel City Mafia was formed in 2005, somewhat by accident in a bar in East Tennessee by Shawn Kennedy and Jeff Hertzog. As die-hard relocated Pittsburgh Steelers fans, they met on Sunday’s to share their passion for the Steelers with like-minded fans. As they gradually took over this bar with Terrible Towel-waving and chanting Steelers fans, the original patrons began to compare the group to the mafia, since they had taken over their place. With some help from Jeremy Kinnard and Duane Smyth the group became The Steel City Mafia. They proudly displayed a banner reading: Welcome to the home of The Steel City Mafia.
Steeler Nation is a phenomenon which occurs in almost every city on Steelers game days. No matter who you are or where you live, you see them everywhere … Pittsburgh Steeler fans! We are the most passionate, dedicated, knowledgeable, vocal, and widely represented professional fan base on the planet. We live and breathe Steeler football. We believe in fundamental football, a smash mouth style of play, pounding the rock, and making you sore in the morning. We love cheering for a team that is Family owned, that prioritizes a hard work ethic, and that doesn’t overpay the flashy players. We take pride in our players who play as a team and don’t stoop to off-field antics. We fans are not content simply to watch a football game; we want to be involved. (Steel City Mafia, 2010)
Project number 1, Week 2: Character Analysis of The Steel City Mafia.
Client name: The Steel City Mafia
Established: 2005
Current Branding: The Premiere Fan Club of the Worldwide Steelers Family
Related Clients and or Associations: The Pittsburgh Steelers, Maxim Tours & Travel and a proud partner of AWS Sports. Charitable partners include: Mel Blount’s Youth Home, Jerome Bettis’ “Bus Stops Here Foundation” and the Andy Russell Charitable Foundation.
Position in society and location/reach: The Steel City Mafia is rapidly expanding, from less than a few hundred members in 2006, to over 6,000 strong with over 100 Official Steel City Mafia hangouts, located across the country and overseas. Geographical distance does not limit our level of commitment to our team. We take over every bar, restaurant, city, or stadium on Steeler game days like no other team can even hope to do. Steeler bars can be found in every major U.S. city, a claim that no other professional football team can make. We don’t die; we multiply! Fans in rival stadiums just scratch their heads, wondering where all those towels come from. One fact will always remain: all Steeler games are home games! (SCM, 2010)
Client’s service: Steel City Mafia is a worldwide fan “Family” committed to creating unique experiences for Steelers fans. Through the organization of fans via membership, game day venues, fan and charitable events we hope to further strengthen, network and expand the already tremendous Steeler fan base.(SCM, 2010)
Mission Statement: Uniting Steelers fans worldwide, in the common interest of developing fan recognition, fan benefits, and a positive fan presence in all communities.(SCM, 2010)
Stance on competition: There is no competition, any Steelers fan or fan club is welcome to join up with us or to cheer on the Steelers with us.
Ambitions or desires for the future: Steel City Mafia is a worldwide fan “Family” committed to creating unique experiences for Steelers fans. Through the organization of fans via membership, game-day venues, fan and charitable events we hope to further strengthen, network and expand the already tremendous Steeler fan base.(SCM, 2010)
Significant milestones: Founded in 2005 with a few hundred members, reached 7500 world-wide members in 2010. SCM members are currently establishing Steel City Mafia hangouts in Pakistan and Italy.
Public Presence: SCM organizes and presents itself as a fun, very close-knit family of like-minded Steelers fans. Many of the members don the traditional “mafia” attire including pinstripe suits and fedoras.
Do they utilize a recognizable spokesperson: yes, but only in an abstract way. The Godfather is the image used but in a hidden manner. Emails are sent from The Godfather, but it is not readily known by most members who he or she is.
Does the client have a masculine or feminine, quality of voice, mannerisms, manner of speech, personality, etc.? Absolutely, the presence of the powerful Godfather Don Corleone. The Godfather represents a very masculine presence with an aura about himself as well as a respectability.
As a character, The Steel City Mafia has two favorite colors: Black & Gold which represent the beloved Pittsburgh Steelers. Their favorite food would be Italian and tail-gating favorites such as brats, burgers and plenty of ice-cold Iron City Beer. The Steel City Mafia’s favorite artist has to be the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. If SCM were to have a favorite animal, it would have to represent power such as a lion or bear, however since the Steelers play the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, I doubt they would admit to having a favorite animal. While the SCM is perfectly happy indoors (domed stadiums) they prefer a cold snowy day outside (on the turf, in the open-air stadium.) The Pittsburgh Steelers represent the hard-working blue-collar steelworkers of western Pennsylvania, therefore, the Steel City Mafia mirrors the image of the team that they so avidly represent.
The Steel City Mafia admires loyalty, passion and strong familial ties that bind its members to each other and to the team they love: The Pittsburgh Steelers.
SCM does not operate solely for profit, the goal of the organization is to expand its member base in order to further offer the “Mafia” experience to Steelers fans. SCM works very closely with many charitable enterprises of current and former Steeler players.
Strengths of SCM include devotion, loyalty, a passionate pride and a strong familial bond. The Steel City Mafia loves to travel, especially during the eight weeks in which the Steelers play away from home, it is their passion to take over the opposing city’s stadiums. They love to mingle amongst the crowds and intimidate on a friendly basis. SCM is a leader, setting the trends for other fan-clubs to follow. They recognize the negative connotations associated with the word “mafia”. However, they see it as a metaphor that represents the strong following of the Steeler Nation and the close camaraderie that exists within their Family of fans. They love the competitive nature of the sport but understand the importance of respect and sportsmanship.
The Steel City Mafia relies on emotions and passions of Pittsburgh Steelers fans and with these ties that bind, they place their trust with no hesitation.
Transactional analysis says that We all have a right to be in the world and be accepted. As it would apply to The Steel City Mafia, we all have a right to be a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and to be accepted as a proud card-carrying member of The Steel City Mafia. The parent/child relationship would be seen as the Pittsburgh Steelers giving birth to The Steel City Mafia which has become the adult.
References:
Steel City Mafia, About the Family. (2010) Retrieved September 6, 2010 http://www.steelcitymafia.com/ssp/about_the_family
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