I wouldn't expect anyone in Ravens-land to be very sympathetic regarding much having to do with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But I know that Baltimore fans, along with NFL followers everywhere, were saddened by the news yesterday of the passing of former Steelers announcer Myron Cope. Cope, 79, was truly an NFL treasure. Extremely partisan to be sure, he was also the father of a football icon, the Terrible Towel.

If you used to bristle at the way Cope - whose voice I can best describe as a polka accordion being run over on the Pennsylvania Turnpike - occasionally called the Ravens the Bal-ti-more Black Birdies, take consolation in that he gave a pretty good razzing to the "Cleve Brownies" and the "Cincy Bungles," too.

And if for no other reason, I will always hold Mr. Cope in the highest regard for having the kind of chutzpah to good-naturedly nickname the aloof Chuck Noll - "Emperor Chaz." That he could get away with it spoke volumes about the man's stature.