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What you're looking at in front of Heinz Field is LST 325, a Navy transport that saw action at Normandy in 1944, according to the great Torsten Ove. The thing was massive. I can't recall ever seeing a vessel so big on one of Pittsburgh's three rivers. The boat will remain there from through Tuesday for tours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Steeler Navy meets the real Navy.

Another view of the ship.

On the right is Charly Blanco, the president of the Boix Noix Acereros Steelers club in Mexico City. This guy gets around. He's on part one of his annual Pittsburgh pilgrimage (he'll return in November for the Patriots game). Last year when he visited, he got a tour of the Steelers facilities and met virtually the entire team. He did that again yesterday, as he's now old pals with a number of players, having caught up with them during their visit to Mexico for a youth football clinic earlier this year.

On the left is his Pittsburgh host, David Montanez, proprietor of Las Velas Mexican restaurant in Market Square and husband to Pittsburgh blogger nonpariel and nemesis of Golden Triangle pigeons and mayors, Virginia Montanez (a.k.a. PittGirl).

David Montanez, a native of Cancun, and Blanco are working together to create travel packages and market Pittsburgh as a tourist destination for Mexican Steelers fans, of which there are legions. The Steelers are wildly popular in Mexico, and the team counts the First Lady of Mexico, Margarita Zavala as a fan.

A pair of crafty hard hats. The guy on the left has a split Penguins/Steelers helmet, with faux ice and astro turf on each respective side, and the LED screen in the middle reads "On Ice or Grass, we'll Kick Your A--!"

Some visible anti-Roethlisberger sentiment. Also spotted a handful of the Tiger Woods/Big Ben 'Dumb & Dumber' t-shirts.

Arguably the most polarizing figure at Heinz Field not named Roethlisberger, Ryan Lucas directs foot traffic in the lines outside of Gate A over the P.A. system with a dry, mildly sarcastic, slightly passive-aggressive tone. Personally, I think he's hilarious. Other people want to wring his neck. But rest assured, he will direct you to the western end of Gate A, where there ... is ... no ... line.

 

Random ex-Steeler's jersey.

Random-er ex-Steeler's jersey.

Really random ex-Steeler's jersey.

Fantastically random ex-Steeler's jersey. Topping this would be difficult. Maybe a 'Zo Jackson jersey? Scott Shields, anyone? Rhino Reinstra?

Worst Jerseys Ever, couples edition. Those pastel yellow jerseys might be worse than the pinks, and clearly the gentleman's raiment was designed with the notion that a deer or turkey might appear at any given moment at Heinz Field and he'd need to conceal himself.

A Defcon 5-level, NORAD alert jersey foul.

Why is this interesting? Because its the construction of the new StageAE amphitheater on the North Shore, and its eliminating a ton of parking spaces in the main Heinz Field lot. This lot in particular was home to some of the most reliably rowdy tailgaters around the stadium (its the only place I've ever seen an eight-tubed beer bong. The thing was amazing). On the whole, the development will be probably be good for the North Shore, and Pittsburgh, but unfortunately tailgating space is rapidly vanishing.

Nice touch making the band out of hypocycloids. A true Pittsburgh tribal tattoo.

Another Steelers tat. Looks like it could use a touchup.

If you're going to accessorize your Steelers gear, this is the way to do it. Classic original Jordans in black & gold. Nice.

Just a cool shot on a nice night. Next visit to the North Shore will be for real football. Nine more days ...

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