However, the 83 people who were arrested that night are an insult to their city and the team ("Penalty Flags May Be Ahead for Revelers in Oakland," Feb. 3). They deserve what they get, considering they obviously did not care a whit about what was really going on and were only acting out of juvenile delinquency and didn't care that someone else might get hurt.

It wasn't in the spirit of fun that they were acting, and I hope they more than just learned their lesson and decided to grow up. They could have ruined it for a lot of other people, and I'm disappointed I live in a city with such imbeciles!

KATHY MIKOLAY

O'Hara

Connect the dots

Two news items: The first item was the vandalism that occurred, mostly in Oakland, after the Steelers' Super Bowl victory. Most of the damage involved broken windows and other property damage. The next news item was the $1 million-winning Super Bowl commercial, which involved breaking the glass of a vending machine, property theft and hurling an object that hurt someone.

These two items are related. I'm appalled by the relationship and its significance for our society's values.

HELEN WILSON

Squirrel Hill

Not their 'zoo'

While a lot of the publicity about the vandalism in Oakland after the Super Bowl victory has focused on Forbes Avenue, the vandalism in the residential sections of Oakland has been ignored.

I live in the Oakland Square
In the euphoria of the Steelers' victory, this behavior cannot get swept under the rug. It has nothing to do with celebration and everything to do with bad behavior.

We live here in Oakland. We are raising our families here. Some Pitt students seem to see all of Oakland as the "Oakland Zoo," an area where anything goes. The city and the university need to step up and protect the residents of this community, the ones who will be here years from now when all of these students have moved on.

Where is the line between Pitt and the residential community? How big of a leap is it for the students to start breaking windows in our houses rather than on Forbes?

There is this disturbing sense of empowerment that I've seen before when confronting students. They see all of Oakland as theirs. The student section at the Pitt basketball games is full of "Oakland Zoo" T-shirts, and, unfortunately, that applies to how many students see the neighborhood.

JIM DANIELS

Oakland

Citizen Rooney

My letter is in response to Dan Francik ("Rooney Giveaways," Jan. 31 letters). Mr. Francik, obviously the reason John McCain didn't get a "personalized" Steelers jersey is because Dan Rooney is a strong supporter and friend of President Barack Obama.

It disturbs me how angry some Pittsburgh residents are with Mr. Rooney regarding his political preference. When one hears the name Dan Rooney, he/she immediately associates it with the Steelers. However, Mr. Rooney is a person first, and then owner of the Steelers -- the model franchise in all of American sports.

He, along with every other American, has the right to speak freely and joyfully about our commander in chief!

Maybe those who are disappointed with Mr. Rooney should cut him some slack? The Rooney family has given us something no other city has -- six Super Bowl titles! (Go, Steelers!)

So, I say to Mr. Rooney, keep up your kind, humble and gracious acts toward your friend, President Obama. Let those who are still bitter over the election wallow in their own self-pity.

DENISE D. DREON

Bridgeville

Foolish thanks

Dan Rooney, you should thank God and your players and the fans -- not President Barack Obama -- for winning the Super Bowl. Seems to me that you must not have been watching the game too closely as it was Ben throwing the ball, and Troy and James and Santonio and Ike and Heath and Jeff running around the field in Tampa -- not Mr. Obama.

Somewhere along the way, you have erred greatly, and on national television to boot, in thanking a president who had been in office for a grand total of only 13 days on the day of Super Bowl XLIII. Please tell me what he has done for the Steelers in all that time.

This letter is not to blast Mr. Obama; given time he may someday prove himself. However, I am absolutely appalled that Dan Rooney would make such a fool of himself. Maybe it's time he thinks about stepping away from the cameras.

ROSALIE VOJTAS

North Huntingdon

Why, Steelerstahl?

Hurry! Someone call security! There is an overzealous fan wearing a Steelers Super Bowl XLIII Championship hoodie wildly waving a videocam in Big Ben's parade car ("350,000 Pack Downtown to Cheer Their Champs," Feb. 4). Oh, wait! It is only Mayor I'm-going-to-pretend-to-be-a-Steeler-in-the-parade-today-because-I-am-soooo-i mmature-enstahl.

What an embarrassment!

JODY CHODER

Highland Park

Misplaced mayor

Note to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl: You are not part of the Steelers. Stop trying to steal their limelight by riding in their parade.

GERARD MARYAK

North Huntingdon

Next up: the Pens

Now that the Steelers have won the Super Bowl, let's put all the hype and overkill of the media coverage to rest and give our all-out support to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

They are fighting to reach the playoffs and need as much backing from Pittsburgh as the Steelers have received. Go, Pens!

KATHLEEN DOLON

Harrison