Adam Bottner

It was ridiculous, obviously. But you're a 10-year-old kid, and these things happen. You just get so focused on these things. It can only happen to a 10-year-old, you know? And I grow up, though, and I continue to be, you know, he continues to be my hero. It's just sort of ingrained in your brain. You can't help it. I loved Franco Harris so much that in 1975, I invited him to my bar mitzvah.

I just, I loved the man. And he was so cool that he actually sent me a telegram and said, I can't make it. I'm actually playing that Saturday night. I'll run up a few yards for you. And it just more etched in my mind how much I love Franco Harris. And so... I was just so lucky. And this friend of ours, this Max Gomberg from Pittsburgh, he actually took me to two Super Bowls in the 70s.

I just, I loved the man. And he was so cool that he actually sent me a telegram and said, I can't make it. I'm actually playing that Saturday night. I'll run up a few yards for you. And it just more etched in my mind how much I love Franco Harris. And so... I was just so lucky. And this friend of ours, this Max Gomberg from Pittsburgh, he actually took me to two Super Bowls in the 70s.

I just, I loved the man. And he was so cool that he actually sent me a telegram and said, I can't make it. I'm actually playing that Saturday night. I'll run up a few yards for you. And it just more etched in my mind how much I love Franco Harris. And so... I was just so lucky. And this friend of ours, this Max Gomberg from Pittsburgh, he actually took me to two Super Bowls in the 70s.

And that became my identity, was I was the guy from Pittsburgh. I lived in Chicago, but I was the guy from Pittsburgh. I had the only Pittsburgh Steelers jacket in the neighborhood. And I just loved the Steelers. So now flash forward 40 years. And Max Gomberg actually became sort of my hero, too, because he did all these things for me. I don't know why. He was just such a good guy.

And that became my identity, was I was the guy from Pittsburgh. I lived in Chicago, but I was the guy from Pittsburgh. I had the only Pittsburgh Steelers jacket in the neighborhood. And I just loved the Steelers. So now flash forward 40 years. And Max Gomberg actually became sort of my hero, too, because he did all these things for me. I don't know why. He was just such a good guy.

And that became my identity, was I was the guy from Pittsburgh. I lived in Chicago, but I was the guy from Pittsburgh. I had the only Pittsburgh Steelers jacket in the neighborhood. And I just loved the Steelers. So now flash forward 40 years. And Max Gomberg actually became sort of my hero, too, because he did all these things for me. I don't know why. He was just such a good guy.

I think he didn't have kids until later. And I was just this kid that he kind of took under his wing. And so... as happens to everybody, Max passes away. And he had a great life. And my family really didn't keep up with Max as much as I did. And so I flew out to Pittsburgh to go to his funeral. Because he was kind of my hero. And so I go to Pittsburgh.

I think he didn't have kids until later. And I was just this kid that he kind of took under his wing. And so... as happens to everybody, Max passes away. And he had a great life. And my family really didn't keep up with Max as much as I did. And so I flew out to Pittsburgh to go to his funeral. Because he was kind of my hero. And so I go to Pittsburgh.

I think he didn't have kids until later. And I was just this kid that he kind of took under his wing. And so... as happens to everybody, Max passes away. And he had a great life. And my family really didn't keep up with Max as much as I did. And so I flew out to Pittsburgh to go to his funeral. Because he was kind of my hero. And so I go to Pittsburgh.

And in the back of my mind, I am kind of hoping that Franco Harris might be at the funeral. I can't say that was my motivation, but I'm thinking, that would be pretty cool if he was actually there. So I go to the funeral home, and I say hi to Max's family, and I'm looking around. And there's no Franco. And I'm like, you know what? Grow up. You're 50 some odd years old.

And in the back of my mind, I am kind of hoping that Franco Harris might be at the funeral. I can't say that was my motivation, but I'm thinking, that would be pretty cool if he was actually there. So I go to the funeral home, and I say hi to Max's family, and I'm looking around. And there's no Franco. And I'm like, you know what? Grow up. You're 50 some odd years old.

And in the back of my mind, I am kind of hoping that Franco Harris might be at the funeral. I can't say that was my motivation, but I'm thinking, that would be pretty cool if he was actually there. So I go to the funeral home, and I say hi to Max's family, and I'm looking around. And there's no Franco. And I'm like, you know what? Grow up. You're 50 some odd years old.

This isn't why you were supposed to be here. This wasn't supposed to happen necessarily. Just be a man. So I start walking out of the funeral home. And all of a sudden, Franco Harris, the Franco Harris, walks in. And I was about to go to my car to go to the funeral procession to the cemetery. The Franco Harris walks in and my jaw drops like a 10-year-old kid.

This isn't why you were supposed to be here. This wasn't supposed to happen necessarily. Just be a man. So I start walking out of the funeral home. And all of a sudden, Franco Harris, the Franco Harris, walks in. And I was about to go to my car to go to the funeral procession to the cemetery. The Franco Harris walks in and my jaw drops like a 10-year-old kid.

This isn't why you were supposed to be here. This wasn't supposed to happen necessarily. Just be a man. So I start walking out of the funeral home. And all of a sudden, Franco Harris, the Franco Harris, walks in. And I was about to go to my car to go to the funeral procession to the cemetery. The Franco Harris walks in and my jaw drops like a 10-year-old kid.

I'm catapulted backwards in time to when I was 10. I was like, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. And I couldn't contain myself. And fortunately, fortunately, I didn't say anything. Because if I would have, it would have been really ridiculous. I would have been like making an absolute fool of myself at a funeral of all places, right? You just don't do that.

I'm catapulted backwards in time to when I was 10. I was like, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. And I couldn't contain myself. And fortunately, fortunately, I didn't say anything. Because if I would have, it would have been really ridiculous. I would have been like making an absolute fool of myself at a funeral of all places, right? You just don't do that.

I'm catapulted backwards in time to when I was 10. I was like, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. And I couldn't contain myself. And fortunately, fortunately, I didn't say anything. Because if I would have, it would have been really ridiculous. I would have been like making an absolute fool of myself at a funeral of all places, right? You just don't do that.

So it was amazing that I had this wave of common sense that came over me and allowed me to not do this really stupid thing that I was contemplating. And so I get in my car, and I'm about to start driving. All of a sudden, I look. A Silver Honda Pilot right in front of me. Franco Harris is getting into his car. So I thought maybe he was just paying respects. He's going to go home. He's a busy man.