Jerome Bettis talks early Steelers hatred, golf game ahead of Huntsville visit

Jerome Bettis of the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XL between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on February 5, 2006. (Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images)

Growing up, Jerome Bettis wasn't exactly a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Hall of Fame running back rooted for the Dallas Cowboys during his childhood in Detroit. He was nearly 7 years old when the Steelers beat the Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII.

"So you can imagine what I felt about John Stallworth," Bettis, 46, said with a laugh during a recent media conference call in advance of his participation in the John Stallworth Celebrity Golf Tournament on June 8 in Huntsville. "He was the bane of my existence. He killed us year in and year out; him, Franco (Harris), Lynn Swann and (Terry) Bradshaw, all those those guys, I hated all of them."

Bettis 1 of 5 HOF members in this year's tournament

After spending the first three years of his career with the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, Bettis signed with Pittsburgh in 1996.

"The first person I met was Franco and he softened me on those guys," said Bettis, who is the NFL's No. 7 all-time rusher with 13,662 yards. "When I met John, he's just so great. I got to spend some time with him and his wife and they're just incredible people. Now, obviously, having played 10 years in Pittsburgh, I'm becoming a true black and gold supporter through and through. All the guys who I despised growing up, it's been a true pleasure to call them friends."

Bettis and Stallworth were among 18 Hall of Fame players who joined New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft on a trip to Israel last summer.

"We interacted and talked about different things," Stallworth said. "Jerome and his wife said, 'We want to come to Huntsville.'"

In addition to Stallworth and Bettis, 12 other former Steelers will take part in Stallworth's tournament at Hampton Cove: Mel Blount, Hines Ward, John Banasak, Randy Fuller, Reginald Garret Sr., Louis Lipps, Greg Lloyd, Michael Merriweather, Donnie Shell, Cliff Stoudt, Yancey Thigpen and Mike Wagner.

"It's a brotherhood; we want to support each other," Stallworth said. "I think Jerome has causes that he's involved with in Pittsburgh and Atlanta. A lot of the guys who come here have causes that they support and we want to support each other. You know the person, you know the integrity that goes along with that person, so it's easy to go and support the things that are near and dear to their hearts."

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Bettis, an avid bowler, said he was introduced to the "competitive side of golf" by former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart during their playing days. Bettis began golfing more actively after retiring following Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XL win in 2006. He's improved over the years and finished 51st in a field of 89 at the American Century Championship celebrity tournament last summer.

"The game has gotten pretty good; I've got (my handicap) down to single digits," Bettis said. "It's in good shape."

While the Stallworth tournament is for charity - Stallworth's foundation provides scholarships for students at Alabama A&M, his alma mater, and other colleges - the event can bring out competitive spirits.

"Jerome has a really good game," Stallworth said. "Guys want to be competitive a little bit when they come. Even though they might not be playing together, they know what the other guy is doing; they can look across the fairway and see his tee shot or hear his putt."

Added Bettis: "No smack talk. You're not going to get a good opportunity to play against the guys. If we were all in a foursome, it'd be a lot different. This is for charity, so you always kind of temper that. But you're always paying attention to how guys are playing and what guy's games look like, just in case at a later date they get a little bit slippery and make a bet or something."

Daniel Boyette covers Huntsville sports for AL.com.

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