Stranger in Paradise

Look at the way
We gotta hide what we're doing
'Cause what would they say
If they ever knew - Tommy James and the Shondells

But this is not my paradise.

I'm surrounded by a ton of hungry, anxious, Cleveland Browns fans who are salivating over the expectations of a playoff run this NFL season that started today.

See, I've been a Pittsburgh Steelers' fan since childhood, a gift from my sainted father.

The Steelers open this season tonight against the hated, evil New England Patriots. Next Sunday is a game against the tough Seattle Seahawks.

Yet I will unfurl my Steelers' banner inside my residence to mark the new season.

This season will mark for the Steelers the departure of tiresome whiners A. Brown and L. Bell who will play elsewhere.

I suffered whiplash from last weekend's news that AB had feuded with the Raiders, was threatened with suspension, tearfully apologized and then released from the Raiders only to be signed with the, you guessed it, the despised Patriots.

So am I ready for this season?

You bet.