Rocky Bleier, a true American hero. Beloved by Pittsburgh Steelers fans, nfl fans that know the history of the game. But above all....beloved by the country he so valiantly served with steadfast dedication and great courage. Thank You sir. God bless you and God bless this great nation!
I am a Browns fan who has the utmost respect for Rocky Bleier for what he did in going to fight for his country and coming back from war wounds.He is a True American hero.He is far above those in the Hall Of Fame.He is a True American success story.
A true warrior and class act. My grandmother asked me if I wanted a Pittsburgh Steeler statue and what number. I told her: "Yes, and #20." I still have that statue and it reminds me to have the guts and courage to fight for what is right, regardless of any obstacle.
Rocky,had more drive and heart than any player I have ever seen,it was an honor in high school football to wear his number 20. All these hall gamers on the 70's Steelers ,greatest team off all time,The man who had his foot blown apart in vietnam,was the foundation and heart of this great team .An example for everyone of his teamates.
If it weren't for guys like Rocky Bleier and Mike Webster (and even Jerry Kramer from the Packers) I wouldn't have been mentally and morally prepared to turn my back on the life of a university professor and serve through so many combat tours as an Army Ranger. I'm happy with my PBK key but it's even better to think of the men with whom I served to earn my Bronze Stars.
I haven't seen the movie, but since I played center at my little high school in Nebraska from 1978-1982, I idolized "Iron Mike." I made it my own goal never to miss a game. Years later, I heard he had family troubles, then that he was living out of his car. There was little mention of concussions until about four years after he passed away. I'll have to look up the movie, though; thanks for the tip.
So many guys have the game just handed to them. This is a man who worked for it. A 4.5 40 lol 195lbs who blocked for franko almost every play. Still got 1000 yards at 31
I knew about his Vietnam service but never knew the real story of his return to football. There are players and legends and then theres Rocky Bleier. Respect and honor to this man.
No other team in any team sport has ever had as many great players on their team at the same time. The STEELERS of the 70s were the greatest DYNASTY of all time
Those Steelers were truly loaded with talent. But I’d put the 1980s Edmonton Oilers as the greatest collection of talent in sports history. Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, Grant Fuhr, and more hall of famers. They had so much talent that they traded Coffey - the best offensive defenseman in history - to save money, and still won their 4th Stanley Cup in 5-seasons without him. Then they traded Gretzky, the greatest hockey player in history, after that 1988 Cup and in 1990 they STILL won a 5th Stanley Cup in 7-years, led by Messier, Kurri, Fuhr, and more. Can you imagine if the Steelers had to trade Mean Joe after their 1978 win, then won again in ‘79 anyway, then traded Bradshaw after the 79 win and won another Super Bowl in ‘81 anyway?
If it weren't for those kind of guys I wouldn't have developed the confidence in my abilities because of my epilepsy. My own parents were my biggest doubters.
Has ESPN done a 30 for 30 special on this true American Hero? I’m a lifelong Oakland Raiders fan and i’d give this gentleman a standing ovation every time he’d step onto the field or walk into a room.
Notice he didn't blame others or fall into victimhood. He didn't balk at doing his duty. Kept his mouth shut, did it and when it ended badly for him, no complaints. He just got to work. Wish we had more men like this these days.
That was pretty good of the Roonies to put him on the injured reserve list and let him see another doctor, who found even more shrapnel in his foot that they were able to remove.
Rocky Bleier should be in the H.O.F., his circumstances are unique beyond compare. He was already playing for the Steelers at the time when he got drafted, goes to Viet Nam, gets severely wounded. He returns back home, and he's in bad, bad shape. But against all odds, and facing doubters left and right, he chooses to take the rough road back, and earns four Super Bowl Rings! Art Rooney stood by Rocky all the way and gave him the time he needed to accomplish his goals! Being in the H.O.F. is about achievements of the highest level. And what higher level can there be than a human being physically beaten down and mentally battered, beyond comprehension, then somehow rising again?
A lot of football players today like to refer to themselves as warriors. Men like Rocky Bleier, Pat Tillman and Chuck Bednarik thinks those young men are pretty sweet. Come talk about being a warrior when you get wounded in Nam or surviving air raids over Germany in WWII.
i actually like the version narrated by Jeff Kaye better. Same story, different narrator. Jeff Kaye had a smooth, full, deep voice without trying hard.
The only problem with the footage is that the grenade they showed was an American grenade, not the Chi-com potato-masher grenade with the wood handle that blew off half his foot. I have his book, and he showed a photograph of it.
I'm jealous of the commenter here who met Rocky. To the person comparing him against "Rudy"- are you kidding? Saying Rocky is like Rudy is like saying a thermonuclear bomb is like a firecracker. Nothing against Rudy. His IS a great story. But his achievements over adversity pale in comparison to what Rocky did. Read the book, FIGHTING BACK, if it doesn't make your eyes well up, you have no soul.
Rocky is a genuine inspiration. What he accomplished defies all odds and logic. But for a tough little guy, forget Rudy. Pat Fischer played 13 years in the NFL. He was a holy terror on the football field. He was the one guy everyone on the other side needed to know where he was at all times. There are videos of him taking down Larry Csonka, John Riggins and Jim Brown supposedly said the hardest hit he ever took on a football field came from Pat Fischer. Pat Fischer stood 5'8 and weighed 165. And he looked like a meek little bank teller. taylorblitztimes.com/2013/07/03/the-soul-of-the-game-pat-fisher/