Steelers Biggest Fan Contest

Forget Steelers shrines. Instead, try Steelers weddings. And cars. And houses. In what could be called the Craziest Steelers Fan Contest, VisitPittsburgh announced its top winner for the Biggest Steelers Fan Contest.

VisitPittsburgh received more than 300 photo submissions and stories for the Biggest Steelers Fan Contest. Entries came from across Steelers Nation, including the states of Virginia, Florida, New York, Texas, Maryland and California.

"This illustrates just how passionate Steelers fans are throughout the country. There are no more devoted fans in the world than Pittsburgh Steelers fans," said Craig Davis, vice president of sales and marketing for VisitPittsburgh. The stories and photos were so good that VisitPittsburgh selected two runners up for the contest.

First Place: Tina Kunst, Panama City Beach, FL

Tina wrote about her "Steelers Wedding" in May 2007. "We have a giant Steeler helmet which we used as the altar... I had a full Steelers yellow wedding gown and my husband wore a tux with a Steelers tie. All the bridesmaids wore black with Steelers yellow jewelry. The ESPN theme was the bridal party march and when I walked down the aisle, the FOX NFL Sunday theme played. Our reception was in a sports bar that had nine 60-inch wide screen TVs that played Super Bowl XL. We had a Steelers cake topper for our cake and I wore a Steelers garter as well."

In addition, Tina and her husband, Michael, have started a Steelers Fan Club that has grown from three people to nearly 50. Their black Rav 4 has a Steelers yellow pinstripe, Steelers tire cover, Steelers mats and Steelers dice hanging from the mirror. They also own a black and yellow scooter with a Steelers sticker on the front and Steelers license plate cover. Their living room and kitchen is Steelers themed. And, their black-haired poodle is named Bettis.

Tina will receive two tickets to a future Steelers home game, a Steelers jersey and a Super Bowl XL Game Football, complements of VisitPittsburgh.

Second Place Winner: Johnny Dabovich, CO

Johnny says he has "no roots to Pittsburgh" and grew up in northern New Mexico.

Growing up in cowboy and bronco country made it hard to collect any Steelers memorabilia as a kid. He says he started collecting hats and different items and now, with the internet, he's able to find things that he would never have been able to find in Colorado.

He has been restoring a 1987 Jeep that has murals of Pittsburgh Steelers players airbrushed on it. The driver's side is painted with new players, while the passenger side is "old school." "All our dogs' names have had something to do with Pittsburgh, and now our Akita is named Malu," wrote Johnny, who has collected hundreds of pieces of Steelers memorabilia which he displays in his home.

Third Place Winner: Michael Dojcak, Midwest City, OK

Kaylee wrote a three-page letter about her father, Michael Dojcak, who was raised in West Mifflin. "Every time he sees a person wearing something Steelers, no matter where we are, he makes sure he is talking to them about the team and inviting them to join the fan club," wrote Kaylee. The "Biggest Steelers Nation Fan Club in Oklahoma" has grown to more than 300 members. For this year's Super Bowl, her dad has ordered Iron City Beer, and will be having a tailgate party in an Oklahoma City parking lot where fans can eat "traditional Pittsburgh foods" while watching the game on two big screen TVs and a projection screen.