Steelers Man Cave/Art Gallery

Monday, 05 July 2010 17:48

Written by Dan Gigler

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Welcome to the Steelers man cave-cum-art gallery of Preston Thomas, from Dayton, Ohio. Come on in, take off your shoes and have a look around. Thomas calls it his "Steelers Lounge" to be exact, and its the culmination of three years work, fifteen thousand dollars, and a lifetime of cherished Steelers memories.

"I had a room at an apartment that I lived in for ten years but it was more just hats, posters, football cards etc. I wanted something that no other Steelers fan had: a room with only original Steelers paintings. I just think it has a clean classy look. It's not just a bunch of posters and beer cans and banners in a room," he said, adding, "Not that there's anything wrong with that. I've seen some sweet looking Steeler rooms!"

He started collecting the paintings after the team won Super Bowl XL, and he's been addicted since. He intends to get as many of the pieces signed by the players, so as to appreciate their value.

"I've always wanted to have the coolest Steeler room but as you could imagine there are some sick Steeler fans out there and they have some pretty sick looking Steeler shrines, so I can't say I have the best one out here but I darn sure tried!"

Thomas even keeps a shrine of sorts to fellow Steelers fans' shrines on his Facebook page.

Despite being lodged in southwestern Ohio, Thomas said that Dayton is indeed Steelers country. He's followed the team since 1976, when he was nine-years-old and his favorite player was Lynn Swann.

"I think what attracted me to the Steelers was the toughness of the Steel Curtain and I loved the colors. A beautiful combination: Black and Gold."

Thomas may be a candidate for a Steelers episode of 'Hoarders' -- he said he still has two rooms packed with Steelers stuff put away in boxes.

"I wish I had more room, because I can't stop collecting the Black and Gold," he said.

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