>> YOU CANNOT ATTEND A PITTSBURGH STEELERS GAME WITHOUT SEEING THEM. THEY ARE ALMOST AS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE CITY AS THE IMMACULATE RECEPTION AND SIDNEY CROSBY. >> IT IS GREAT. NO MATTER WHAT CITY YOU VISIT OR OUT-OF-STATE, THERE IS ALWAYS STEELER FANS EVERYWHERE. ASK THE ICONIC SYMBOL OF THE ICONIC SYMBOL OF THE STEELERS FAN BASE, SEEN TWIRLING ABOVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HEADS ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY. WHAT BEGAN AS A SIGN OF SUPPORT FOR THE DEFENDING SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS FROM WTAE LEGEND MYRON COPE HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE PIECES OF HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE IN ALL SPORTS. >> EVERY TIME YOU SEE THOSE WAVING, IT IS A FLURRY WHEREVER WE GO. ANDREW: FROM ITS INCEPTION INSIDE THE HALLS OF WTAE -- >> SAID, MYRON, WE NEED TO GET A PROMOTION GOING, COME UP WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT. MYRON AT THAT TIME SAID -- >> I’M NOT A GIMMICK GUY. I’VE NEVER BEEN A GIMMICK GUY. ANDREW: IT PROVIDED COMFORT FOR FAMILIES DURING HARD MOMENTS. >> TRADITIONAL FOR A FAMILY TO BRING THE TERRIBLE TOWEL TO PLACE IN THE CASKET WITH LOVED ONES. ANDREW: TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. >> I HAVE BEEN IN IRELAND AND SEEN THE TERRIBLE TOWEL. I HAVE BEEN IN THE BAHAMAS AND SEEN THE TERRIBLE TOWEL. ANDREW: TONIGHT ON CHRONICLE, THE TERRIBLE TOWEL. >> THE PLACE IS MIAMI. BIG GAME IN TOWN TOMORROW. HOTELS BOOKED SOLID. RESTAURANTS FILLED. EXTENDERS IN TOWN. -- BIG SPENDERS, RIFFRAFF, LADIES OF THE EVENING. THEY HAVE TALKED TO THE DALLAS COWBOYS, WHO DON’T SEEM TO RECOGNIZE THEY ARE GOING UP AGAINST PERHAPS THE GREATEST STEELER TEAM OF ALL. WHO DON’T SEEM TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE ALSO GOING UP AGAINST A FORCE AS MYSTERIOUS AND DEADLY AS THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE -- THE TERRIBLE TOWEL. IT’S POISED TO STRIKE. ANDREW: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHRONICLE, THE TERRIBLE TOWEL. I’M ANDREW STOCKEY. >> AND I’M JANELLE HALL. HEINZ FIELD UNTIL RECENTLY -- IT IS SUMMER ON THE NORTH SHORE. MUSIC IS IN THE AIR AND PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING THE RIVERWALK. ANDREW: IT IS FEELING LIKE FALL WITH THE NEW STEELER SEASON UNDERWAY. BEHIND US, THE FAITHFUL MAKE THEIR PILGRIMAGE, TELLS IN HAND, TO CHEER THEIR TEAM. JANELLE: THE STORY IS ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC PIECES OF CLOTH IN SPORTS HISTORY AND STARTS ABOUT 10 MILES DOWN THE RIVER, OVER THE BRIDGE, AND THROUGH A TUNNEL, AT THIS BUILDING ON GARDNER BOULEVARD -- OUR BUILDING, THAT HOUSES THE STUDIOS AND STAFF OF WTAE. ANDREW: IT ONCE WAS THE HOME OF WTAE RADIO, WHERE EVERY NIGHT, PITTSBURGHERS TURNED UP THEIR RADIOS TO HEAR ON SPORTS. JANELLE: THE RADIO STATION NO LONGER EXISTS, AND MYRON COPE HAS PASSED ON. ANDREW: IN HIS MIND, MYRON CREATED A SYMBOL THAT CONTINUES TO BE TWIRLED TODAY -- THE TERRIBLE TOWEL, THE SUBJECT OF OUR CHRONICLE PROGRAM TONIGHT. >> THE STATION GENERAL MANAGER OF WTAE RADIO WAS TIM ATKINS, WHO WAS A BRILLIANT RADIOMAN, A BRILLIANT PROMOTER. ANDREW: IN 1975, THE STEELERS WERE HEADED TO THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRS TIME AS DEFENDING CHAMPION’S. >> HE SAID WE NEED TO GET A PROMOTION. I WANT YOU TO COME UP WITH SOME GIMMICK. MYRON AT THAT TIME SAID, "I’M NOT A GIMMICK GUY." >> HE SAYS HE DID NOT WANT TO DO IT, BUT THEY SAID THAT WAS HIS ASSIGNMENT. HE HAD TO DO IT FOR THE TRACKING SHOT. HE SAID, YOU OUGHT TO DO IT. >> THIS IS THE VERY FIRST BOLD ONE. IT USED TO BE FRAMED ON OUR WALL WITH THE BLACK ONE. HERE IS ANOTHER LIMITED-EDITION, 1979. ANDREW: MYRON COPE’S DAUGHTER, ELIZABETH, HAS A COLLECTION TODAY, IN 1975, SHE WAS A CHILD WHEN MYRON BEGAN TO BRAINSTORM. ELIZABETH: SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT BE EXPENSIVE, IT WOULD NOT CAUSE A LAWSUIT IF YOU HIT SOMEBODY. NO ONE WOULD GET HURT. SOMETHING EASY TO CARRY. SOMETHING EVERYBODY HAD. HE TOYED AROUND WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS AT HOME WITH US. I REMEMBER SAYING -- I WOULD TELL HIM IDEAS WERE TERRIBLE. SO IN MY MIND I THINK THAT IS HOW HE CAME UP WITH THE TERRIBLE TOWEL, BECAUSE I KEPT SAYING "THAT’S TERRIBLE." ANDREW: YOU INSPIRED THE NAME? ELIZABETH: I THINK SO. I WENT TO TAKE CREDIT. ANDREW: HE TOOK TO THE AIRWAVES TO SELL IT TO A NATION -- STEELER NATION. MYRON: WOULD TELL PEOPLE ON TV TO BRING BATH TOWEL, A DISHRAG, ANYTHING, AND WAVE IT. ANDREW: COPE ALSO HAD TO CONVINCE GUYS WHO WORE BLACK AND GOLD, LIKE ROCKY. >> REALLY? >> HE WENT INTO THE DRESSING ROOM TO GET HOW THE PLAYERS FELT ABOUT IT. DAVE RUSSELL SAID TO HIM, WE ARE NOT A GIMMICK TEAM. ANDREW: ON DECEMBER 20 7, 1975, COPE WATCHED FROM THE BROADCAST BOOTH TO SEE IF HIS CREATION WOULD CATCH ON. ELIZABETH: HE WAS ON THE EDGE OF HIS SEAT. AND THEY GOT A TOUCHDOWN, HE SAID EVERYBODY STARTED WAVING THE TOWELS AND STOOD UP, AND HE SAID IT WAS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD. >> I THOUGHT THE TWIRLING LOOKED PRETTY COOL, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WHEN YOU SEE A STADIUM FULL OF PURLING GOLD TOWELS-- TWIRLING GOLD TOWELS, THAT LOOKED PRETTY AWESOME. ANDREW: AT THE SUPER BOWL, THE TERRIBLE TOWEL WOULD TAKE HOLD OF TWO MORE CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND BECOME A FLAG OF STEELER NATION. >> SURE, BUT THAT FIT MYRON. MYRON PROMOTED IT. HE TALKED ABOUT IT. OTHER PLAYERS WOULD COME RUNNING OUT. ANDREW: BUT HIS DAUGHTER SAYS IT WAS JUST PART OF THE FABRIC OF WHAT MADE MYRON COPE AS UNIQUE AS THE SYMBOL HE CREATED. ELIZABETH: HE WAS ABOUT A LOT MORE THAN JUST THE TERRIBLE TOWEL, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? ANDREW: BUT HE DID NOT MIND BEING KNOWN AS THE CREATOR OF IT. ELIZABETH: NO, HE DID NOT MIND. JANELLE: THE TELL HAS GONE FROM A CREATION IN THE WTAE STUDIOS TO A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON. YOU FIND TERRIBLE TOWEL’S ACROSS THE WORLD. ANDREW: BUT THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE STAYED HERE IN PITTSBURGH. IN PARTICULAR, ONE IMPORTANT PLACE IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA -- A PLACE NEAR WHERE MYRON COPE’S FAMILY CALLS HOME. ELIZABETH: THIS IS DAY, I BROTHER. HE IS A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS OLDER THAN ME. HE IS MY DAD’S SON AND HE REMINDS ME A LOT OF MY DAD, TO BE HONEST. HE HAS A LOT OF MANNERISMS. HE WAS BORN WITH THE UMBILICAL CORD WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK, BLUE. THEY TOLD MY PARENTS WHEN HE WAS BORN THEY DID NOT KNOW IF HE WOULD BE NORMAL, IF YOU WOULD NOT BE NORMAL. ANDREW: COPE LIVES WITH AUTISM, BUT HE FOUND A HOME HERE AT MERAKEY ALLEGHENY VALLEY SCHOOL. ELIZABETH: IT WAS A RELIEF FOR HIM TO KNOW THAT MY BROTHER WAS GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. THEY WORRIED ABOUT THAT. >> ALLEGHENY VALLEY SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1960 AS A RESULT OF THE CLOSING OF THE PITTSBURGH HOME FOR BABIES AND THE LAST TEN KIDS THAT WERE LEFT THERE THAT WERE UNABLE TO BE PLACED ALL HAD MENTAL RETARDATION AT THE TIME WAS THE TERMINOLOGY FOR INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. SO THE ALLEGHENY VALLEY SCHOOL GREW OUT OF THOSE 10 INDIVIDUALS. ANDREW: TODAY -- IT SERVES OVER 700 INDIVIDUALS STATEWIDE. >> THE MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM SOCIAL SECURITY SSI BENEFITS, BUT THAT IS BASIC SERVICES, ROOM AND BOARD, FOOD, BASIC CLOTHING ITEMS. IN ORDER TO REALLY BUILD BIG, BEAUTIFUL AREAS FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE AND GROW, THAT TAKES EXTRA MONEY AND EXTRA FUNDRAISING. ANDREW: AS MERAKEY ALLEGHENY VALLEY SCHOOL FACED FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, MYRON COPE FACED HIS GREATEST FEAR -- INVOLVING HIS OWN SON. ELIZABETH: HE WAS TERRIFIED THAT DANNY -- HE WOULD BE HOMELESS. OR GOD FORBID IF I PASSED AWAY BEFORE DANNY, THERE IS NO FAMILY TO TAKE CARE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HIM? ANDREW: THAT LED TO A VISIT MYRON MADE TO THEN ALLEGHENY VALLEY SCHOOL C-E-O REGIS CHAMP -- CEO REGIS CHAMP. >> OUR FORMER CEO HAD BEEN IN HIS OFFICE ONE DAY IN 1996 AND MYRON CAME INTO HIS OFFICE AND SAID REGE I WANT TO GIVE YOU THIS TOWEL AND HE SAID ITS OK MYRON I HAVE LOTS OF TOWELS IS HOW HE STATED IT. AND MYRON SAID NO I WANT TO GIVE THIS TO ALLEGHENY VALLEY SCHOOL -- AND HE DID. ANDREW: AND SINCE GIVING OWNERSHIP TO THE SCHOOL IN 1996 THE TERRIBLE TOWEL HAS BEEN THE GIFT THAT JUST KEEPS ON GIVING. >> THE SCHOOL HAS BENEFITED FROM 7.4 MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE FROM THE TERRIBLE TOWEL. ELIZABETH: I THINK THAT IS SURPRISING, BECAUSE I THINK BACK IN THE 1980’S, IT MADE A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND, YOU KNOW? I DON’T THINK MY DAD THOUGHT IT WOULD EVER MAKE AS MUCH AS IT DID. ANDREW: WHAT HAS THAT FUNDING ALLOWED YOU TO DO THAT YOU OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO? >> THINGS LIKE UPDATING OUR HOMES, PUTTING ROOFS ON BUILDINGS. WE ACTUALLY OPENED A HOME IN BEAVER COUNTY, THE COLEMAN GROUP HOME, WHICH IS A BEAUTFUL HOME FOR FOUR INDIVIDUALS WE JUST OPENED IN TH LAST YEAR AND ONE -- YEAR AND A HALF. ANDREW: THERE IS ALSO THE PERSONAL IMPACT THESE EXTRAS DOLLARS HAVE MADE. >> IF I WERE PUT IN ANY OTHER PLACE, I WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE AS HAPPY AS IN THIS PLACE. THIS PLACE HAS MADE ME THE PERSON I AM TODAY. THERE IS A LOT I CAN DO FOR MYSELF INDEPENDENT WISE BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR SO MANY YEARS. ANDREW: THESE INDIVIDUALS SHARE A SPECIAL BOND WITH THE TOWEL. AND WHILE THEY WAVE IT WITH PRIDE FOR THE BLACK AND GOLD -- THEY WANT YOU TO KNOW IT MEANS SO MUCH MORE. >> IT’S NOT JUST FOR THE STEELERS. THEY ARE WAVING IT FOR THE STEELERS PRIDE AND EVERYTHING BUT THEY ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES PEOPLE LIKE -- PEOPLE’S LIVES -- PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF. ANDREW: THE MISSION OF THE TERRIBLE TOWEL IS SOMETHING THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT LOST ON STEELER NATION. JANELLE: WHILE MILLIONS HAVE TWIRLED THE TOWEL IN SUPPORT OF THE BLACK AND GOLD FOR DECADES, THEY KNOW ABOUT THAT DEEPER MEANING. >> THE TERRIBLE TOWEL IS ABOUT TO PUT BAD LUCK ON YOU. JANELLE: FROM THEIR IMPRESSIONS OF MYRON COPE -- >> COMING TO TOWN THIS WEEK -- THE EH, MM, AH, DREADED CLEVELAND BROWNIES. MMM, HA. JANELLE: TO THE MOMENTS THEY SHARED WITH THE W-T-A-E SPORTS COMMENTATOR... STEELERS BROADCASTER... AND CREATOR OF THE TERRIBLE TOWEL. >> MYRON COPE IN THE FAMILY -- WE ALL BELONGED TO ROLLING HILLS COUNTRY CLUB AND HE WAS NOTORIOUSLY ONE OF THE WORST GOLFERS THAT HAS EVER GONE ON ANY GOLF COURSE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. AND WHEN YOU PLAY MYRON AND YOU START TO LOSE, HE’S HAPPY. WHEN YOU START TO WIN AND YOU WIN ALMOST EVERY TIME, HE BRINGS THE TOWEL OUT AND HE WAVES THE TOWEL AT YOU TO CURSE YOU SO YOU’LL SWING AND MISS THE GOLF BALL... WHICH YOU DON’T DO. BUT HE DOES -- AND IT DIDN’T WORK, BY THE WAY, BECAUSE HE WAS SO BAD. NOT EVEN THE TERRIBLE TOWEL COULD OVERCOME HIS INABILITY TO HIT A GOLF BALL. JANELLE: PITTSBURGHERS DON’T JUST REMEMBER THE LEGENDARY COPE FOR HIS TALENTS -- OR MAYBE LACK THERE OF ON THE GOLF COURSE -- BUT FOR WHAT HE GAVE TO THE STEEL CITY. HIS VOICE, HIS SAYINGS, HIS DEDICATION TO CHARITY. >> IT’S A SOUVENIR. IT IS NOSTALGIA. AND IT WAS DONE BY A GREAT GUY -- MYRON COPE. JANELLE: A PIECE OF YELLOW CLOTH -- INSPIRING GENERATIONS OF STEELERS FANS. >> THE FACT THAT IT GOES TO CHARITY IS A GREAT THING. THAT SHOWS IT IS ABOUT THE CITY, ABOUT THE TOWN. IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT MERCHANDISE, ABOUT REVENUE. IT IS ABOUT COMMUNITY. >> I LOVE THAT MYRON COPE TRADEMARKED THE TERRIBLE TOWEL SO HE COULD DONATE ALL THE MONEY TO CHARITY. 58:53 CHARITY IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART AND I AM PARTIALLY INSPIRED BY MYRON COPE. JANELLE: MYRON COPE’S CREATION -- SERVING AS AN ICONIC SYMBOL OF DEDICATION -- TO MORE THAN JUST THE PLAYERS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD. TERRIBLE TOWEL SALES HAVE BENEFITED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AT THE MERAKEY ALLEGHENY VALLEY SCHOOL SINCE 1996. >> THAT SHOWS THE SPIRIT NOT JUST OF THE TEAM, OF THE FANS, BUT THE GENEROSITY THAT WE HAVE FOR PEOPLE HERE. >> COMPANY TEAMS TRY TO COPY THIS? BUT THERE’S ONLY ONE TERRIBLE TOWEL. ANDREW: STILL AHEAD -- >> WE HAVE HAD FAMILIES WAIVE THE TERRIBLE TOWEL AS WE’VE PROCESSED INTO THE CEMETERY. AND THEN IF YOU TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL -- >> FOR THE CEREMONY, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE HAD A TOWEL IN HIS HAND IN THE CASKET. ANDREW: FLOWERS AND TERRIBLE TOWEL’S MAY SOUND LIKE AN UNUSUAL COMBINATION, IT’S NOT UNCOMMON. AND LATER -- >> DON’T TREAD ON THE TERRIBLE TOWEL. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THAT THINGS HAPPEN TO YOUR TEAM. JANELLE: NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES STEELER NATION HAS WARNED THE FOOTBALL WORLD, THE LIST OF THOSE WHO HAVE DARED CONTINUES TO GROW. JANELLE: IT’S A SIGHT A LOT OF PITTSBURGHERS ARE USED TO SEEING -- BABIES WRAPPED IN A TERRIBLE TOWEL. ANDREW: SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE IN ALMOST ANY MATERNITY WARD AT AREA HOSPITALS. STARTING THE LOVE FOR STEELERS AT THE BEGINNING STAGES OF LIFE. JANELLE: IT’S A FABRIC THAT BONDS SO MANY OF US HERE IN PITTSBURGH, AND THE TERRIBLE TOWEL IS ALSO SOMETHING SOME FAMILIES CHOOSE TO INCORPORATE INTO THEIR FINAL TRIBUTE AFTER LOSING A LOVED ONE. >> YOU START UNDERSTANDING FOOTBALL AND WHAT THE STEELERS MEAN TO THIS TOWN. JANELLE: FOR CORY O’CONNOR, STEELERS FOOTBALL MEANT FAMILY TIME AND GAME DAYS WITH HIS DAD. >> IT’S A WAY OF CONNECTING FAMILIES AND TRADITIONS. JANELLE: THE CURRENT ALLEGHENY COUNTY CONTROLLER REMEMBERS HIS FIRST HERBAL TOWEL TWIRL AT AGE 10, AN AFC TITLE GAME WITH HIS FATHER, THE LATE PITTSBURGH MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN BOB O’CONNOR. >> I REMEMBER I STOOD ON THE CHAIR HOLDING ONTO MY DAD AND WAVING THE TOWEL LIKE WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. JANELLE: FOR MONTHS AFTER PITTSBURGHERS ELECTED HIS FATHER AS MAYOR, THE STEELERS WON THE LOMBARDI TROPHY IN DETROIT, AND BOB O’CONNOR PROUDLY LED THE CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH WHILE WAVING THE TERRIBLE TOWEL AMONG A SEA OF STEELER FANS. >> HE WAS IN HIS PITTSBURGH GLORY. IF THERE’S A MOMENT WHERE YOU COULD CAPTURE HIM JUST TO A TEE WHAT HE’S ALL ABOUT -- IT’S HIM WAVING THE TOWEL IN THE PARADE WITH -- A MILLION PEOPLE CAME TO THAT PARADE. I JUST THINK THAT’S SOMETHING HE WILL NEVER FORGET. JANELLE: SADLY, SEVEN MONTHS INTO HIS TERM, MAYOR O’CONNOR DIED FROM COMPLICATIONS OF A RARE BRAIN CANCER AT THE AGE OF 61. >> FOR THE CEREMONY, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE HAD A TOWEL IN HIS HAND IN THE CASKET, WHICH I’M SURE THERE’S THOUSANDS OF STEELER PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, KIDS OVER THE YEARS WHO HAVE DONE THAT. BUT I THINK THAT’S REALLY SPECIAL BECAUSE THAT’S THE SYMBOL OF THE CITY, AND AS THE MAYOR YOU ARE THE SYMBOL OF THE CITY. >> IT’S JUST PART OF PITTSBURGH. JANELLE: AT THE BEINHAUER FUNERAL HOMES IN THE SOUTH HILLS, IT’S NO SURPRISE TO THEM WHEN A FAMILY WANTS TO HONOR A LOVED ONE WITH ANYTHING BLACK AND GOLD... >> VERY TRADITIONAL. WE HAVE HAD FAMILIES WAIVE THE TERRIBLE TOWEL -- WAVE THE TERRIBLE TOWEL AS WE’VE PROCESSED INTO THE CEMETERY -- AND THEN IF YOU TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, IF YOU BRING A TERRIBLE TOWEL AS A FINAL TRIBUTE, HAVING EVERYONE PLACE A TERRIBLE TOWEL ON TOP OF THE CASKET JUST PRIOR TO BURIAL . JANELLE: AT ONE FUNERAL SERVICE BACK IN 2005, 55-YEAR-OLD ARMY VETERAN JAMES HENRY SMITH DIDN’T WANT LOVED ONES TO SEE HIM IN A TRADITIONAL CASKET. HE WANTED HIS FAMILY TO REMEMBER HIM THE WAY THEY SAW HIM ON STEELER SUNDAYS, IN HIS RECLINER, WITH A REMOTE IN HIS HAND, UNDER A BLACK AND GOLD BLANKET, WHILE A CONTINUOUS STEELERS HIGHLIGHT LOOP PLAYED. >> YOU’RE LIVING IN PITTSBURGH, YOU’RE A NATIVE OF PITTSBURGH OR YOU’RE JUST A FAN IN GENERAL, THE TERRIBLE TOWEL IS THE COMMON THREAD. IT’S KIND OF BEEN THE LINK BETWEEN THE STEELERS, PITTSBURGH AND ITS FAN BASE. JANELLE: AND A LINK BETWEEN LOVED ONES, LIKE IT WAS FOR CORY O’CONNOR AND HIS FAMILY THE DAY THEY PAID THEIR FINAL RESPECTS TO HIS FATHER. >> THE DAY OF THE FUNERAL WAS THE STEELER HOME OPENER THAT YEAR. AND THE ROONEY’S WERE GRACIOUS ENOUGH -- THEY ALLOWED ME, RIGHT BEFORE KICKOFF, TO STAND ON THE FIELD AND WAVE THE TERRIBLE TOWEL. HERE I AM ON THE DAY OF HIS FUNERAL, STANDING THERE WITH AGAIN 70 PLUS THOUSAND PEOPLE WAVING THE TOWEL IN UNISON. I DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE THE MOMENT BUT IT’S SOMETHING LIKE -- YOU CANNOT BELIEVE YOU ARE IN THAT MOMENT. JANELLE: A CITY’S FINAL FAREWELL -- WHILE MOURNING THE LOSS OF ITS MAYOR IN 2006. AND A SON SALUTING HIS FATHER WITH THE TOWEL HIS DAD TAUGHT HIM HOW TO TWIRL. >> ANYONE COULD DO IT. HE WOULD ASK ME TO DO IT BECAUSE WE ATTENDED SO MANY STEELER GAMES. HE WILL BE WATCHING FROM HEAVEN, WAVING HIS. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE -- STEELWORKERS, MOMS, DADS, THAT ARE BURIED WITH THAT TOWEL, BECAUSE IT IS SPECIAL TO ALL OF US. AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD THING TO ADD TO HIS RESTING PLACE. HE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH THE TERRIBLE TOWEL BECAUSE HE SYMBOLIZED PITTSBURGH, AND SO DOES THAT TOWEL. ANDREW: STILL AHEAD, THE PREGAME TRADITION THAT GETS THE WHOLE STADIUM ROCKING. WHAT IT MEANS TO SOME OF PITTSBURGH’S MOST FAMOUS FACES TO LEAD THE "TERRIBLE TOWEL TWIRL." LATER -- MYRON: HE SAID THE TERRIBLE TOWEL WOULD JINX AS. I COULD SEE THIS. IT WOULD BE A CATASTROPHE. JANELLE: MESS WITH THE TOWEL AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE MYSTIQUE BEHIND THE TOWEL KNOWN AS THE CURSE. ANDREW: IF THERE’S ONE THING STEELERS FANS KNOW HOW TO DO, IT’S TWIRL THE TOWEL. AND ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, THE STEELERS STARTED A NEW TRADITION WITH THEIR ICONIC SYMBOL. JANELLE: BEFORE EVERY HOME GAME, SPECIAL GUESTS GET TO STAND ON THE FIELD AND LEAD THE ENTIRE STADIUM IN THE "TERRIBLE TOWEL TWIRL." SOMETHING SOME OF PITTSBURGH’S MOST WELL-KNOWN FACES SAY IS THE THRILL OF A LIFETIME. >> 14 TIMES. I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. I AM 13 AND ONE. ANDREW: BUT WHO’S COUNTING? COMEDIAN AND ACTOR BILLY GARDELL TAKES A LOT OF PRIDE NOT ONLY IN BEING FROM PITTSBURGH -- BUT IN HIS RECORD WHENEVER HE’S LED THE "TERRIBLE TOWEL TWIRL" BEFORE A STEELERS GAME. AND IN A WAY ONLY BILLY COULD PUT IT -- WITH HIS FAVORITE TOWEL DRAPED OVER HIS SHOULDER, WHILE WEARING HIS FAVORITE STEELERS SHIRT -- HE SAYS HIS FIRST TIME TAKING ON THAT ROLE WAS A LIFELONG DREAM FULFILLED. >> NOW YOU GOTTA REMEMBER, I’M A ROWHOUSE KID FROM SWISSVALE, OK? HARRISON AVENUE. YOU KNOW, WE WENT OUT AND PLAYED AS KIDS, GOING, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? LET’S GET A BALL AND GO TO 12 IN THE STREET. IT WAS ALWAYS, I’M BRADSHAW, YOU ARE SWAN. OR I’M MEAN JOE ON DEFENSE. THE STUFF YOU DO AS KIDS. TO GO FROM THAT TO 36 YEARS LATER STANDING ON THE SIDELINE OF THE PLACE THAT BROUGHT YOU JOY EVERY WEEK, THE PLACE THAT -- THE PLACE THAT BROUGHT YOUR FAMILY TOGETHER ON SUNDAYS -- SEE? I GET A LITTLE EMOTIONAL TALKING ABOUT IT. I WALKED OUT ON THAT FIELD AND I WAS SPEECHLESS, AND I’M A GUY WHO TALKS FOR A LIVING. 19:04 -- TALKS FOR A LIVING, AND I HAD NO WORDS. IT TOOK EVERYTHING LIKE RIGHT NOW TO HOLD BACK THE TEARS FROM BEING IN THAT PLACE. ANDREW: THAT’S HOW MUCH THIS TOWEL MEANS TO PEOPLE. MANY WHO LEAD THE TWIRL -- LIKE BILLY -- ARE CELEBRITIES WITH TIES TO PITTSBURGH. MICHAEL KEATON, MANGANIELLO, WIZ KHALIFA. AND ANOTHER MAN WHO KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT BEING IN FRONT OF BIG CROWDS -- CLARION NATIVE AND FORMER NSYNC MEMBER CHRIS KIRKPATRICK. >> THE TOWEL TWIRL IS THE THING WHERE YOU START THAT UP AND ITS LIKE ITS A RELEASE OF ENERGY. EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE STANDS -- AND I KNOW. I’VE PLAYED BIG CROWDS LIKE THAT MANY TIMES. THE ENERGY THAT HAPPENS AND THAT TOWEL TWIRL THAT BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER IS LIKE UNBELIEVABLE. LIKE IT REALLY FEELS LIKE AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE OR LIKE YOU JUST BECAME A PART OF THIS MASS AND IT KIND OF BRINGS ALL THE FANS TOGETHER. ANDREW: IT’S NOT JUST CELEBRITIES WHO LEAD THE TWIRL. STEELERS LEGENDS GET THEIR TURN -- LIKE MEAN JOE GREENE AND BRETT KEISEL, OR ROCKY BLEIR. THE STEELERS ALSO INVITE MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY, PEOPLE MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, AND SO MANY OTHERS -- TO GET THE RUSH OF A LIFE-TIME. >> IT’S PALPABLE. IT’S PALPABLE. THE NOISE AND THE ENERGY, THEY RAIN DOWN ON YOU. YOU FEEL IT. YOU GET CONSUMED IN IT. THEN YOU JUST COMPLETELY FORGET YOU’RE DOING ANYTHING FOR THE CAMERA. YOU’RE JUST LOST IN THE CROWD, WITH THE CROWD, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? ANDREW: AND WHETHER YOU’RE LEADING THE TERRIBLE TOWEL TWIRL ON THE FIELD... OR FOLLOWING ALONG IN THE STANDS -- YOU CAN’T FORGET ABOUT THE TECHNIQUE. >> WHEN WE WENT TO THE 2005 SUPER BOWL AGAINST SEATTLE, THEY BROUGHT IN THESE WHITE TOWELS, BECAUSE THEY KNEW WE HAD THE TERRIBLE TOWEL -- SO THEY BROUGHT IN THESE WHITE TOWELS. MY UNCLE AND I WERE IN OUR SEATS AS SOON AS THEY OPENED THE DOORS. WE SAT THERE FOR PROBABLY 6 HOURS WATCHING THE COUNTDOWN, WAITING TO SEE THE STEELERS IN THE SUPER BOWL. AND I SAW ALL THESE SEATTLE FANS AND THEY WERE JUST ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH THEIR TOWELS AND THEN YOU SEE THE STEELER FANS AND IT’S LIKE NO, NO, NO THERE’S A TECHNIQUE, BABY. ANDREW: A TECHNIQUE STEELERS FANS WILL NEVER FORGET. JUST LIKE IT’S HARD TO FORGET YOUR FIRST MOMENTS WITH THE TOWEL OR THE TWIRL. >> THIS WAS MY FIRST TERRIBLE TOWEL TWIRL, AND IT WAS AGAINST THE JETS. AND IT WAS ON BETTIS’ LAST YEAR, WHEN HE MADE THE RUN TO THE SUPER BOWL. BUT THIS TOWEL, I DON’T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER TOWELS IN THE CITY, IS THE REASON THE JETS FIELD GOAL WAS SPOILED, RIGHT HERE, THIS IS THE ONE. I WILL GIVE YOU A CLOSER LOOK. IT’S PRETTY PRISTINE BECAUSE I KEEP IT -- BUT THAT ONE RIGHT THERE. THAT’S THE REASON WE MOVED ON TO THE PLAYOFFS RIGHT THERE. YOU KNOW WHAT THE FUNNY PART IS? I REALLY BELIEVE THAT, AND I KNOW THERE’S PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF PITTSBURGHERS GOING, ’YUP, THAT MAKES SENSE’ HAHA. JANELLE: COMING UP ON "CHRONICLE" -- EVEN THOSE CELEBRITIES KNOW NOT TO MESS WITH THE TOWEL. >> I DON’T KNOW IF IT IS MYRON JUST COMING BACK AND EMPOWERING THIS, BUT YOU DON’T TREAD ON THE TERRIBLE TOWEL. JANELLE: WE EXPLORE ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN PARTS OF THE TERRIBLE TOWEL... "THE CURSE." >> WE HAVE TOWELS WE ARE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO TOUCH. ANDREW: FANS KNOW BETTER THAN TO MESS WITH THE MOJO, TOO. THE SUPERSTITIONS FOR STEELER NATION. >> I REMEMBER, I THINK IT WAS TJ HOUSHMANZADAH FROM CINCINNATI CAME IN, WIPED HIS FEET WITH IT. SUDDENLY, HE WAS GONE THE NEXT YEAR. IMAGINE HOW THAT HAPPENED. SO I WOULDN’T MESS WITH THE TERRIBLE TOWEL. ANDREW: THE TERRIBLE TOWEL, IN REALITY, IS JUST A PIECE OF CLOTH WITH NO SPECIAL POWERS. BUT MYRON COPE SAW IT DIFFERENTLY. JANELLE: HE SURE DID. WITH HIS CREATION, COPE EXPLAINED WHAT THE TERRIBLE CAN -- AND CANNOT DO. ANDREW: CALL IT COPE’S CREED -- IT’S WRITTEN ON THIS TERRIBLE TOWEL AND HERE IS WHAT IT SAYS --- JANELLE: IT IS NOT AN INSTRUMENT OF WITCHCRAFT. IT IS NOT A HEX UPON THE ENEMY. THE TOWEL IS A POSITIVE FORCE THAT LIFTS THE STEELERS TO MAGNIFICENT HEIGHTS -- AND POSES MYSTERIOUS DIFFICULTIES FOR THE STEELERS OPPONENTS ONLY IF NEED BE." ANDREW: BUT WHILE THE TOWEL SAYS IT’S *NOT A HEX -- THOSE MYSTERIOUS DIFFICULTIES HAVE BEFALLEN THE ENEMIES WHO DARE DESECRATE THE TOWEL. JANELLE: HERE’S RYAN RECKER WITH THOSE WHO DARED TEMPT FATE -- AND THE PRICE THEY PAID. RYAN 400 ARDMORE BOULEVARD. :THE HOME OF WTAE-TV, AND AT ONE TIME, WTAE RADIO. HERE IN DECEMBER OF 1975, A PAIR OF RADIO EXECUTIVES AND STEELERS COMMENTATOR AND RADIO HOST MYRON COPE ENTERED A MEETING. SOON AFTER, THE CREATION OF THE TERRIBLE TOWEL WAS IN MOTION-- MYRON: IN 1975, THE LAST TIM THE STEELERS HAD TWO PLAYOFF GAMES AT HOME, JUST PRIOR TO THE FIRST PLAYOFF GAME, A COUPLE OF VICE PRESIDENT’S OF OUR RADIO STATION CALLED ME IN AND THEY SAID, MYRON, WE ARE THE STATION THAT BROADCASTS THE STEELERS GAMES. WE THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA IF YOU WOULD COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF GIMMICK FOR THE FANS FOR THE PLAYOFFS. WE THINK BY SO DOING, IF THIS IS VERY SUCCESSFUL, YOU COULD DEMONSTRATE TO THE PEOPLE AND TO THE ADVERTISERS YOUR INFLUENCE WITH THE PUBLIC. I SAID, I’M NOT A GIMMICK GUY. I’VE NEVER BEEN A GIMMICK GUY. THEY SAID, YOUR CONTRACT COMES UP FOR RENEWAL IN A FEW MONTHS. I SAID, LET ME SEE IF I CAN THINK OF A GIMMICK. I SAID, WHAT DOES EVERYBODY HAVE THAT COULD BE EASILY CARRIED TO THE STATION -- TO THE STADIUM? EVERYBODY HAS TOWELS. YOU COULD WIPE YOUR SEAT, WRAP IT AROUND YOUR NECK FOR A MUFFLER, DROP IT OVER YOUR HEAD IF IT RAINS. I PROPOSED THAT WE URGE PEOPLE TO BRING A YELLOW OR GOLD OR BLACK TOWEL, STEELER COLORS, TO THE STADIUM. THE VICE PRESIDENT SENT OUT FOR CHAMPAGNE AND WE DRANK TO THE TERRIBLE TOWEL. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY ACCEPTED ENTHUSIASTICALLY BY THE PUBLIC. ANDY RUSSELL, THE STEELER CAPTAIN, SAID TO ME, WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE ABOUT A TERRIBLE TOWEL? THAT IS A GIMMICK AND WE ARE NOT A GIMMICK TEAM. THAT HAD A FAMILIAR RING TO IT. HE SAID, THAT TERRIBLE TOWEL WILL JINX US. RIGHT THEN AND THERE, I COULD SEE RUSSELL, IF THE STEELERS LOST A GAME, COULD BLAME IT ON THE TERRIBLE TOWEL, AND THAT COULD BE A CATASTROPHE. I DECIDED TO OVERCOME HIS OBJECTION BY TAKING A DEMOCRATIC PULL OF THE STEELER SQUAD. I GOT A MAJORITY BY GOING TO BACKUP PLAYERS WHO THOUGHT IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO GET PUBLICITY FOR A CHANGE. THE TERRIBLE TOWEL CARRIED THE VOTE IN THE STEELERS WENT ON TO GO ALL THE WAY. MIRACULOUS THINGS HAPPEN, LIKE ANDY RUSSELL WINNING 93 YARDS. IT HAS CONTINUED TO WORK ITS MIRACLES WHEN BROUGHT BACK THIS SEASON. RYAN: THAT WAS IN JANUARY OF 1979, LEADING UP TO SUPER BOWL 13 IN MIAMI, AND A STEELERS REMATCH WITH THE DALLAS COWBOYS. >> I’M A STEELERS FAN. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A STEELERS FAN. RYAN: THE COWBOYS FEATURED A FAMILIAR FACE TO PITTSBURGHERS -- WHO DURING THE BUILD UP, PLAYFULLY DOWNPLAYED THE TERRIBLE TOWEL’S EXISTENCE. >> HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE TERRIBLE TOWEL? >> I HAVE NOT. WHAT IS IT? THE TERRIBLE TOWEL? THAT IS A NEW ONE. I’M SORRY. I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS. RYAN: THAT IS GORGONZOLA. DORSET WAS IN PITTSBURGH IN 1975 WHEN THE TOWEL PERFORMED ITS MIRACLES, AND HE ASKED ME ABOUT THE TOLL A WEEK AGO. MAYBE HE IS PRETENDING IT DOES NOT EXIST, TAKING THAT IF HE PRETENDS, THE TOWEL WILL GO AWAY AND NOT AFFECT HIS PERFORMANCE. SPEAKING OF BRAVADO. RYAN: THE STEELERS WENT ON TO BEAT THE COWBOYS AND CLAIM THEIR THIRD SUPER BOWL TITLE. TONY DORSETT’S DISMISSAL WAS AN EARLY EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAS BECOME KNOWN AS THE "CURSE OF THE TERRIBLE TOWEL." OVER THE YEARS, OPPONENTS HAVE DISRESPECTED THE TOWEL -- ONLY TO HAVE IT BACKFIRE. LIKE IN 2005, WHEN THE BANGLES -- BENGALS’ TJ HOUSHMANZADEH WIPED HIS FEET WITH THE TOWEL. AND LATER THAT SEASON, THE STEELERS BEAT THE BENGALS IN THE PLAYOFFS ON THEIR WAY TO WINNING THE SUPER BOWL. IN 2008, SOME MEMBERS OF THE TITANS STOMPED AND SPIT ON THE TOWEL. THE TOP-SEEDED TITANS WERE PROMPTLY UPSET IN THEIR FIRST PLAYOFF GAME. THE STEELERS WENT ON TO WIN THEIR SIXTH SUPER BOWL. AND A SEASON LATER, DURING AN 0-AND-6 START, TITANS HEAD COACH JEFF FISHER WAS LEFT BEGGING FOR FORGIVENESS. >> THE TERRIBLE TOWEL -- LAST DECEMBER, A COUPLE OF MY KNUCKLEHEADS STOMPED ON IT, AND WE HAVE NOT WON A GAME SINCE. WOULD YOU TELL THE RUDY’S THAT I HAVE ONE ENSHRINED IN MY OFFICE? I HAVE ONE HANGING IN MY HOUSE. I WILL DO ANYTHING I NEED TO DO WITH THE TOWEL. RYAN: AS A GESTURE, AND AS A WAY TO TRY TO REVERSE THE CURSE, THE TITANS SENT AUTOGRAPHED TOWELS TO THE ALLEGHENY VALLEY SCHOOL, WHICH BENEFITS FROM SALES OF THE TERRIBLE TOWEL. FOR NEARLY FIVE DECADES, IT HAS HAUNTED OPPONENTS, AND SERVED AS THE SYMBOL OF THE STEELERS. MYRON: THE STEELERS HAD THEIR 12TH MAN IN THE WTAE RADIO BOOTH. RYAN: AND WHILE MANY TIMES IMITATED, THE TERRIBLE TOWEL, JUST LIKE ITS CREATOR, IS ONE OF A KIND. MYRON: THIS IS MYRON COPE ON SPORTS. ANDREW: EVEN THE INVENTOR ACKNOWLEDGED ITS POWER. THOUGH HE SWORE IT WASN’T SOME KIND OF BLACK MAGIC -- THE LEGACY OF "THE CURSE" IS HARD TO ARGUE WITH. JANELLE: REAL OR NOT, STEELERS FANS BELIEVE AND THEY TAKE THEIR , TOWELS SERIOUSLY. STEELER FANS ARE FUNNY. >> THIS HAS ALL THE SIGNATURES ON IT, SO I BRING IT WHEN I GO TO TAMES. -- GAMES. THIS IS MY LUCKY TOWEL AND I HAVE NOT BEEN TO A GAME WITH THIS WHERE WE LOST. JANELLE: DOESN’T MATTER WHO YOU ASK. >> WE HAVE TOWELS THAT NOBODY CAN TOUCH. WE WAVE THEM AT HOME. THERE ARE SOME THAT CAN GO TO THE GAMES. SOME THAT CANNOT GO TO GAMES. JANELLE: EVERYONE THINK THEY HAVE A MAGICAL POWER LIKE THEY CONTROL THE OUTCOME. SAT IN THE WRONG SPOT ON THE COUCH? WELL THAT EXPLAINS THE INTERCEPTION. GOT UP FOR A SNACK? TOUCHDOWN BAD GUYS. AND WHILE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE TRUE ONE EXTRAORDINARY PIECE OF , MEMORABILIA HAS A POWER BEYOND COMPREHENSION. >> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THE ORIGINAL MYRON COPE TOWELS. THEY STAY AT HOME. THEY NEVER GO OUT. ARE LAID ON TOP OF THE TV. JANELLE: FANS ARE SUPERSTITIOUS. BILLY NOW LIVES IN L.A., BUT INSIDE THE WALLS OF HIS HOME ARE PITTSBURGH VALUES AND STEELER SUPERSTITIONS. >> MY GRANDMOTHER, SHE WAS NOT WAVING THE TOWEL ON EVERY PLAY. SHE WAS NOT ABOUT THAT. SHE WOULD ALWAYS SAY -- LISTEN, LET THE BOYS PLAY. WE ONLY WAIVE THIS WHEN WE NEED TO HELP THEM. SHE GOES, PLUS -- THIS IS A WOMAN TALKING TO ME WITH CONVICTION. SHE WOULD SAY, SHE GOES, "YOU DON’T WANT TO USE IT TOO MUCH, BECAUSE YOU WILL WHERE THE ENERGY OUT OF IT, AND IT’S A LONG DAY." SHE HAD A TOWEL FOR THE REGULAR SEASON, AND SHE HAD A TOWEL FOR THE PLAYOFFS. AND THEN I KIND OF PICKED UP THOSE HABITS OVER THE YEARS. >> WE WILL BE WALKING THROUGH GIANT EAGLE AND WALMART, AND WE ARE LIKE, I PROBABLY MADE THAT. ANDREW: TERRIBLE TOWEL PRODUCTION -- BACK IN THE ' ’BURGH. IT STARTED IN WISCONSIN -- BUT AHEAD ON CHRONICLE -- WE’RE TAKING YOU TO THE SOUTH SIDE, TO THE NEW HOME OF TOWEL CREATION. JANELLE: AND LATER, THE TEARS, FAMILY, AND TRADITION SURROUNDING THAT YELLOW PIECE OF CLOTH. >> IT IS A SIGN OF A WINNER. >> YOU WILL NEVER SEE THIS ANYWHERE ELSE, HOW THEY DO IT IN PITTSBURGH. JANELLE: MYRON COPE’S ORIGINAL PLEA TO THE FOOTBALL FANS OF PITTSBURGH -- BRING ANY TOWEL OR DISH-RAG LYING AROUND THE HOUSE TO THE STADIUM ANDREW: THE FLAG OF STEELERS NATION HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE 1975. IT COMES IN ALL STYLES, SIZES, AND COLORS, BUT IT IS ONLY MADE IN ONE PLACE -- APPROPRIATELY, A PLACE HERE IN PITTSBURGH. THE BIGGEST SYMBOL OF STEELER NATION, PRODUCED IN THE SMALLEST OF PLACES, LITTLE EARTH PRODUCTIONS, ON THE SOUTH SIDE SLOPES. BUT THIS IS A RELATIVELY RECENT DEVELOPMEMT. >> THE TERRIBLE TOWEL USED TO BE MADE OUT OF WISCONSIN, HOME OF THE PACKERS, AND NOBODY WAS EVER THRILLED ABOUT THAT 11:35:35 -- THRILLED ABOUT THAT. THEY GOT SOLD TO A DIFFERENT COMPANY, AND AT THAT POINT, THE STEELERS SAID, LITTLE EARTH PRODUCTIONS IS IN NFL LICENSING, SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THE TERRIBLE TOWEL BACK TO PITTSBURGH. ANDREW: LITTLE EARTH HAS BEEN MAKING NFL ACCESSORIES SINCE 2008. BUT SINCE TO ANY 14, -- SINCE 2014, IT’S BEEN THE EXCLUSIVE HOME TO MYRON COPE’S TERRIBLE TOWEL. >> THIS IS THE HEADQUARTERS, AND WE ARE IN THE TERRIBLE TOWEL PRODUCTION AREA. WE GET IN BLANK GOLD TOWELS AND WE DESIGN AND HAVE MANUFACTURED SPECIAL HEAT TRANSFERS. THESE ARE THE RINGS. OUR PRODUCTION PEOPLE LIKE JAMES USE A SPECIAL MACHINE THE EXACT SIZE FOR THE TOWEL. WE HEAT THEM ON. YOU HAVE TO QUICKLY PULL THE TRANSFER OFF. AND THAT IS IT. IT WILL LAST. YOU CAN THROW IT IN THE WASH ALTHOUGH MOST PEOPLE DO NOT WASH THEIR TOWELS. >> WHEN AUGUST ROLLS AROUND, IT IS PRETTY BUSY. WE PROBABLY DO 15,000 A WEEK AT SOME POINTS. ANDREW: PRODUCTION MANAGER TRACY SHAEFFER SAYS THAT ADDS UP TO A QUARTER MILLION TOWELS IN A NORMAL YEAR. ARE YOU BUSY OR WHEN THE TEAM IS DOING BETTER? >> MUCH. ANDREW: DURING A PLAYOFF RUN, THEY COULD PRODUCE A HALF-MILLION. DURING A SUPER BOWL RUN, PERHAPS AS MANY AS ONE MILLION. AND WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT YOUR BASIC TERRIBLE TOWEL HERE. >> HALLOWEEN IS COMING UP. THIS IS A SPECIAL TOWEL THAT GLOWS IN THE DARK. ANDREW: WHAT? >> WE DEVELOPED THIS SPECIALTY TRANSFER, AND WHEN YOU PUT IT IN A DARK AREA, IT WILL GLOW FOR A WHILE. ANDREW: DONALD BUNNEY IS A PART OF THE GRAPHICS DESIGN TEAM, TAKING MYRON COPE’S CREATION INTO DIRECTIONS THE LATE STEELER BROADCASTER COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED. >> I’M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER MYRON COPE ON THE RADIO -- SO LISTENING TO HIM AND HAVING ONE OF THE MORE ORIGINAL TOWELS. IT’S NICE TO SEE THE PROGRESSION AND TO PLAY AROUND WITH IT AND PUT A NICE CREATIVE SPIN ON IT -- ON IT. ANDREW: AND WORKING WITH THE STEELERS, NEW TOWELS OR ON THE WAY, LIKE THIS ONE, CREATED TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE IMMACULATE RECEPTION. WHILE THE PHYSICAL LOOK OF THE TERRIBLE TOWEL HAS NOT CHANGED -- NOW THAT IT’S MADE IN PITTSBURGH, THERE IS A NEW PRIDE THAT EVERYONE IN THE SHOP SHARES. >> A COUPLE OF MY KIDS ARE 16 AND 17 NOW, AND THEY COME IN AND WORK FOR ME DURING THE SUMMER AND WE WILL BE WALKING THROUGH GIANT EAGLE AND WALMART AND SAY I PROBABLY MADE THAT 10:56:19 -- PROBABLY MADE THAT. >> MYRON COPE IS SUCH A LEGEND AND I GREW UP A STEELERS FAN AND HAVE BEEN TO LOTS OF GAMES AND FOLLOWED THEM FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. SO BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE CITY AND THE TEAM THERE IS DEFINITLELY A LOT OF PRIDE WITH IT. >> IT IS AMAZING IT’S MADE RIGHT HERE IN THIS BUILDING IN PITTSBURGH. I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THAT. JANELLE: STILL AHEAD -- >> I THINK IT IS GREAT. NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, WHAT CITY YOU VISIT, THERE IS STEELER FANS EVERYWHERE. IT’S GREAT. >> YOU PUT YOUR MAGICAL STEELER THINGS ON THAT SHELF. THIS TOWEL IS UP THERE. I HAVE MY LITTLE BUBBLES. -- BOBBLES. JANELLE: DEDICATION IN ALL ITS GLORY. HOW THE TERRIBLE TOWEL EMBODIES EVERYTHING STEELERS FANS LOVE . JANELLE: THE FANS WHO PACK THIS STADIUM EVERY TIME THE STEELERS PLAY SHARE SOMETHING IN COMMON -- MORE THAN MOST OTHER PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS. EDUCATION. ANDREW: IT’S A DEDICATION TO THE TEAM, THE CITY, AND THE PITTSBURGH WAY OF LIFE. AS RYAN EXPLAINS, IT IS SOMETHING THIS CLOTH EMBODIES TO ALL WHO HOLD IT. RYAN: HE WAS TOLD TO CREATE A GIMMICK, SOMETHING TO EXCITE THE FANS. 47 YEARS LATER -- IT’S BRINGING FANS TO TEARS, UNITING AN ENTIRE CITY, AND REACHING FAR BEYOND STEELER NATION. >> WE WENT TO A CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND IT WAS A BIG GAME. AND THERE WAS A TERRIBLE TOWEL ON THE ALTAR. >> STEELER FANS ARE EVERYWHERE. I’M A WALKING, BREATHING EXAMPLE. BEING FROM FLORIDA, COMING UP HERE, COMING TO THE SHOP. SEEING A TERRIBLE TOWEL IN THE STADIUMS IS JUST ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS IN THE WORLD TO ME. >> THE FIRST TIME I CAME TO PITTSBURGH, THE FIRST TIME I’VE EVER SEEN THE WAVE, IT BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES. IT WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL. RYAN: MYRON COPE’S IDEA OF THE TERRIBLE TOWEL STARTED AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WAVING OLD DISH TOWELS. TODAY -- THEY’RE WAVING THEM WITH A CERTAIN TECHNIQUE, MANAGING TO CURSE OPPONENTS, AND GIVING OTHER PROFESSIONAL TEAMS SOMETHING THEY WISH THEY HAD. >> IF YOU ARE A STEELER FAN, YOU’VE HAD THAT MOMENT. YOU’VE HAD THAT MOMENT WHERE, IT’S THE OTHER TEAM’S GOT THE BALL AND IT’S 3RD & 2 AND YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO STOP THEM OR THEY’RE GONNA BE IN FIELD GOAL RANGE, OR THEY’RE GONNA GET INTO THE -- AND YOU START WAVING THE TOWEL, AND SOMETHING MAGICALLY HAPPENS ON DEFENSE. TO NORMAL OUTSIDERS, THEY GO, THEY JUST STOPPED THEM. BUT WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. WE UNDERSTAND, AS A CITY, AS A FAMILY, AS A TRIBE, WE KNOW IT WAS THE POWER OF THE TOWEL." ANDREW: WHETHER PITTSBURGHERS ARE AT CHURCH OR GRANDMA’S HOUSE , FLOATING AROUND SPACE, OR GOING TO THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, THE LOYALTY TO THE TOWEL AND THE TEAM NEVER SEEMS TO FAIL. EVEN WHEN PITTSBURGH NATIVES CALL A NEW CITY HOME, LIKE NASHVILLE. >> WE HAVE SUCH A LOVE FOR THE CITY, AND FOR THE CITY TEAMS. WE MOVED HERE, AND THE PENGUINS WERE PLAYING THE PREDATORS IN THE STANLEY CUP. AND WHEN THE STEELERS PLAYED THE TITANS, IT’S THE SAME THINGS. IT’S ALWAYS, I HAVE GNE ALL YEAR AND WATCHED THE PREDATORS PLAY. I LOVE THE PREDATORS. I HAVE GONE ALL YEAR AND WATCHED THE TITANS PLAY, AND I LOVE THE TITANS. THE STEELERS COME IN, AND IT BECOMES HOME VERSUS HEART, AND THE HEART ALWAYS WINS OUT. RYAN: THE TERRIBLE TOWEL IS PART OF STEELER HISTORY. >> I THINK OF WINNING SUPER BOWLS. I REALLY DO. THAT IS WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT OUT, BACK AND YOU HAD THIS GUY BRADSHAW, BACK WHEN YOU HAD FRANCO AND SWAN AND STALLWORTH. THEY CAME OUT ON THE FIELD DOING THIS. IT IS A SIGN OF A WINNER. RYAN: IT’S WHAT MAKES PITTSBURGH UNIQUE. >> THAT IS WHY THE OTHER PLAYERS ARE MAD AND TRY TO DISRESPECT THE TOWEL. THEY ARE MAD THEY DON’T HAVE WHAT WE HAVE. THEY WANT TERRIBLE TOWEL’S ON THEIR TV’S AND HOMETOWNS, AND THEY DON’T HAVE THAT. RYAN: A SEA OF BLACK AND GOLD -- AND THOSE YELLOW TOWELS -- WHEREVER YOU GO. >> THIS IS WHERE IT STARTED, IN PITTSBURGH. YOU WILL NEVER SEE THIS ANYWHERE ELSE, HOW THEY DO IT IN PITTSBURGH. >> WHEN YOU ARE IN PITTSBURGH, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY OR AROUND THE CITY, IT JUST ENGULFS YOU. >> WHEN YOU ARE OUT AROUND THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW -- YOU LEAVE PITTSBURGH, BUT PITTSBURGH DOES NOT LEAVE YOU. JANELLE: NO BETTER WAY TO SUM IT UP THAN THAT -- YOU MAY LEAVE PITTSBURGH, BUT PITTSBURGH NEVER LEAVES YOU. ANDREW: WE WILL LEAVE YOU THE SAME WAY WE STARTED TONIGHT -- WITH MYRON COPE TALKING ABOUT THE TOWEL. ANDREW: WELCOME BACK TO CHRONICLE. FOR THE LAST HOUR... WE’VE TOLD YOU SOME OF THE BEST STORIES ABOUT THE TERRIBLE TOWEL, FROM ITS CREATION AT WTAE TO ITS PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF STEELERS FANS AND PITTSBURGH. JANELLE: BUT WE ARE WELL AWARE THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF TIME IN AN EPISODE OF CHRONICLE TO FULLY CONVEY WHAT THIS PIECE OF CLOTH MEANS TO FANS AND THE CITY. WE INVITE YOU TO KEEP SHARING YOUR STORIES WITH US, AND PICTURES OF HOW YOU SHOW DEDICATION WITH YOUR TOWELS. ANDREW: AND WE BELIEVE YOU WITH ANOTHER GEM OF A STORY FROM THE TOWEL’S CREATOR HIMSELF -- MYRON COPE, ABOUT HOW HE HELPED CEMENT THE TOWEL INTO STEELERS LORE. JANELLE: THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. RYAN: ANDY RUSSELL WAS THE STEELER CAPTAIN. HE SAID TO ME WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE ABOUT A TERRIBLE TOWEL THAT IS A GIMMICK AND WE ARE NOT A GIMMICK TEAM. THAT HAD A FAMILAIR RING THOSE WORDS DID. AND HE SAID THAT TERRIBLE TOWEL WILL JINX US RIGHT THEN AND THERE I COULD SEE IF THE STEELERS LOST A GAME BLAMIG IT ON THE TERRIBLE TOWEL JINXING THE STEELERS AND THAT WOULD BE A CATASTROHE FOR OUR STATION SO I DECIDED TO OVERCOME HIS OBJECTION BY TAKING A DEMOCRATIC POLL OF THE STEELERS SQUAD AND I MANAGED TO GET THE MAJORITY FO THE TERRIBLE TOWEL DEPENDING ON -- BY BEARING DOWN PARTICULARLY HARD ON BACK AND LITTLE-KNOWN PLAYERS WHO THOUGHT IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO GET A LITTLE PUBLICITY FOR A CHANGE. ANYWAY, THE TERRIBLE TOWEL CARRIED THE VOTE AND THE STEELERS WENT ONTO GO ALL THE WAY. THAT IS HOW IT BEGAN.