XL back becomes Super Bowl XL story

DETROIT — Seattle Seahawks defensive end Bryce Fisher apparently hasn't watched a single second of Super Bowl coverage on TV. Read a single word of Super Bowl coverage in print.

Asked on Sunday about Pittsburgh running back Jerome Bettis, Fisher said that "the thing about him is he's a train."

No, Bryce, he's a bus — or, rather, The Bus — as has been virtually impossible for anyone who has come within earshot or eyeball of anything concerning Super Bowl XL to have missed.

The Bus has been barreling through Super Bowl XL pre-game hype with more reckless abandon than Sandra Bullock in Speed.

Matt Hasselbeck? Shaun Alexander? Joey Porter? Troy Polamalu?

Mere subplots to the fact that Bettis has returned to play the biggest game of his life in his native Detroit, where The Bus first began revving his engines on Feb. 16, 1972.

Everywhere you turn, there's The Bus — the nickname Bettis picked up years ago for his unique build and running style.

It's on T-shirts, in overheard conversations, in headlines.

One Detroit newspaper devoted a story to Bettis' every move on Tuesday's Media Day, when he was also presented with a key to the city and competed with Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb in a charity event.

Wednesday, what one newspaper called "Bettis Fever" — maybe they should check to make sure The Bus isn't overheating — reached new heights when his No. 36 was retired at Mackenzie High School, the school Bettis attended about 15 minutes from downtown. The school is just a few blocks from the house where he grew up — a now abandoned building that has become something of a landmark this week.

"This is a big thing for the (school) community, the town — everybody," said Bob Dozier, who was Bettis' coach at Mackenzie before retiring and moving to El Paso. Bettis flew Dozier back to town for the ceremony and the game.

It seems like a lot of fuss for a guy who won't even start the game and rushed for just 368 yards this season. But it's a testament to the kind of impact Bettis has had in Detroit and Pittsburgh.

"He's that rock, that guy in the locker room you are always looking for," said guard Alan Faneca. "He's that guy that is cracking jokes and keeping practice lively."

And as annoying as it may be to Seattle fans, as overplayed Super Bowl stories go — and there's one in every Super Bowl — this one's a lot better than Terrell Owens (Super Bowl XXXIX) or Ray Lewis (Super Bowl XXXV).

This one, at least, is a story with a good moral.

One about a hard-working, fun-loving, coach-respecting player finally getting his chance to go out on top after 13 years as one of the best running backs in the history of the National Football League — he's fifth on the all-time yardage list with 13,622 — and do it in his hometown. One about a man who talks often of using his riches to give a boost to his struggling hometown.

"When there was that situation with that fumble (late in the playoff win over Indianapolis) that was rectified by that tackle, that proved that it his destiny to win this game," said Dozier.

And Bettis is soaking up every minute, not appearing the least bit weary of being the center of attention.

"First of all, to be in the Super Bowl, I am living the dream," Bettis said Wednesday. "Then to be at home, it's an unbelievable dream."

One that Bettis almost missed.

A mandatory chapter in the Bettis canon this week is how he almost retired after last season ended in a heartbreaking home loss to New England in the AFC title game. But encouraged by teammates and the knowledge that this Super Bowl was in his hometown, Bettis decided to give it one more shot — which seems to add just that much more to the "destiny" talk.

But then, The Bus had almost been detoured a few times before getting this far.

He never played organized football until he was a sophomore in high school, preferring instead to bowl — he's rolled a perfect game and had a lifetime average better than 200.

Dozier recalled Wednesday how he had his back turned to his desk one day to hear a voice behind him saying, "'Coach, can I play football for you?' I turn around and see this young man, 5-11, 195 pounds and said, 'Hell yes, you can play for me.'"

With uncommonly nimble feet for a man his size — he now weighs 255 pounds — as well as 4.5 speed in the 40, he quickly became a star, then landed a scholarship to Notre Dame, where he teamed with Rick Mirer in a potent Irish backfield.

He was drafted by the then-Los Angeles Rams and coach Chuck Knox, but even two 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career couldn't save Knox, who was fired after the 1994 season when the Rams moved to St. Louis.

There, Bettis proved a bad fit with new coach Rich Brooks' pass-first offense, and Bettis spent an unhappy season riding a lot of pine. He was tagged unfairly by Brooks, he says, as a malcontent, though the record shows that he also showed up late to training camp in a contract dispute.

About the only negative thing to come out of Bettis' mouth this week relates to that time.

"It hurt me that they would say that to try to create the environment that it was my fault," Bettis said.

After the 1995 season, he was traded to Pittsburgh for two draft picks. And finally, The Bus was in full gear, ripping off six straight 1,000-yard seasons until age started to slow him down.

He said he's never talked with Brooks after being traded, but says, "If I saw him, I would tell him thank you because he sent me to the Steelers, and there could have been no better place anywhere for me and my running style. ...

"I don't regret what happened early in my career in terms of St. Louis, being booed. That made me appreciate the cheers a lot more, made me understand that things can change in a heartbeat."

By this time next week, in fact, The Bus could be parked for good as this is likely Bettis' last game — he joked Wednesday that trying to become a professional bowler might even be too much for his body given the wear and tear it's taken.

Until then, The Bus is forging full speed ahead, the Super Bowl's spotlight leading the way.

"I relish every moment of it," he said. "Even answering every question, and taking every picture is a blessing."