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At Irish Pub, It's Steelers' Eyes That Are Smiling Tonight

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 1, 2009

TAMPA - On a normal Steelers weekend at O'Brien's Irish Pub on North Dale Mabry Highway, black and gold reigns.

On this day, black-and-gold chaos rules.

Many of the hundreds of Steelers fans packed in the parking lot near tripped-out Hummers, rented RVs and jacked-up SUVs, drove through a blizzard in Pennsylvania to get here. O'Brien's has been home to the Bay Area Black and Gold Club since 1994.

"It's in the blood," said Mark Mahovlic, showing off an armful of Steelers pride in the colorful tattoo that runs from his shoulder to his wrist.

"It's my birthday," said his mom, Karen, sitting in front of a flat-screen TV set up in the back of her son's hatchback. "This is a great present."

She drove from Pittsburgh for the game; three of her sons live in Tampa.

Nearby, Sharon Higgins showed off a custom shirt made with two Steelers' terrible towels.

"They closed the schools because of the blizzard and I told the kids, 'Get in the car, we're going to Tampa,'" she said.

Her friend, Keri Gallion, quit her job as a bartender to ride along.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 657-4532 or yhammett@tampatrib.com.

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