Rocky Bleier Steelers continues to live his American dream

"There is no one like him," said Joe Greene, a member of the Bleier team at the famous Steelers teams in the 1970s. "He's special, he's always catching your eye. "

Barely a year ago, Bleier's story was different. He traveled to Vietnam with ESPN to celebrate his 50th birthday. He went to the place where he fired an enemy rifle shot on his left thigh and injured the grenade on his right leg and foot during a platoon ambush in 1969. He was not eating. not much the day of his return. Thus, hypoglycemia associated with the gross emotion of the site caused his blood pressure to drop and he fainted briefly. After being followed by ESPN producers, Bleier, as always, was quickly reinstated.

Bleier discovered a feeling of closure in Vietnam, even though he did not know that he needed it. Mainly because he was too busy living his best life to wallow there.

In addition, Bleier has never hidden the war from others, as one hears with so many other veterans. He decided decades ago to openly discuss his experiences as a therapy and turned this openness into a successful nationwide communications company. He helped veterans by promoting non-profit programs such as Veterans Guardian Angels Inc., designed to facilitate post-traumatic transition.

When he is neither talking nor running his Pittsburgh-based construction company, he may be playing in the game show called "The Play" by Rocky Bleier, which he calls an intimate portrait of his life as a Super Bowl champion, wounded warrior, family man and community activist. The next show will take place in his hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin, in September. Of course, Bleier is looking for a financial cushion, but there is also that feeling of gratitude that drives him.

"Opportunities exist in life," said Bleier. "They meet your way, you must at least explore them."

This approach has guided Bleier into a life that always seems to work. As a choice of the 5-foot-10, 16th round, Bleier was barely a lock to be a factor in the Pittsburgh offensive. His chances worsened after being injured in Vietnam, which necessitated diligent re-education of both legs. In fact, he now admits that the current game would probably eliminate it with a blocking less and less fast. However, Bleier's hardness and production earned him an honor for the Steelers Hall of Honor. Despite numerous free-field collisions, he claims to have never suffered a concussion during his eleven-year career.

Bleier recently launched a series of videos on Facebook to expand its social media platform. Last fall, he tore up the Steelers organization for losing too many close games. "I'm done, I mean, they've ripped my heart," Bleier said. "With the talent that they have, how can they lose three of their last four games, and how they did it?"

But he was not finished. He tells of his appearance at Heinz Field for pre-match autographs when the team's chairman, Art Rooney II, approached him. He said, "I think we need to get your own podcast," Bleier said with a smile.

Bleier has never had a greater passion than football. He did not want to run the family bar in Appleton. He was not going to be a doctor or a lawyer. He always liked how a cloakroom was united and has been trying to bring people together.

"I use what I do best – talk to people," Bleier said.

Greene sees the duality at Bleier, who was once so purple from head to toe after a match that his teammates swore he would not practice. When he did so without complaining, "that set the tone for our football team," Greene said.

There is Bleier's deep desire to contribute and his desire to laugh the way he did it. Bleier could take 30 minutes to recall a play that lasted 9 to 10 seconds, and his story could include a generous 36-inch jump on a reception (the vertical sounded more like 2 inches, says Greene, but it's not the same thing. is not the goal).