The Real Enemy for Eagles and Patriots Fans

Ben Roethlisberger's pre-game ritual apparently starts on Monday...

Really, it seems all of the South Side knows where Ben Roethlisberger, the National Football League's hottest rookie, a star in the making and the center of the Steelers' Super Bowl hopes, goes after he leaves Jack's on Monday night.

"He goes to Casey's to see the midget," Coddington said brightly.

Casey's, a bar about six blocks down Carson Street from Jack's, hosts "Monday Midget Madness" featuring a midget who dances on the bar and pours shots into people's mouths.

Big Ben, the wholesome darling of Pittsburgh, watches a dancing midget on Monday night?

Yes. Because he has to.

Because to do otherwise would break the spell.

It would jinx him, jinx the Steelers, jinx you, the fans.

It's an athlete's superstition.

This is what we know so far, as told to us by some key players of the South Side bar scene:

On the Monday before Roethlisberger's first start, he went out on the town. On Sunday, he led the Steelers to a win.

He went out on the next Monday night and followed the same routine. On Sunday, he again led the Steelers to a win.

He hasn't missed a Monday night since. The Steelers haven't lost a game since.

Of course, the Steelers don't have any Monday Night Football games this year. But I'll also bet some Patriots fan is arranging for that midget to disappear on January 17th.