Get those column inches in, fellow writers.
New Seattle Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla clearly loves football. More specifically, he loves the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Aug. 27, Khosla admitted to becoming a football fan thanks to the famed 1970s Steelers teams who earned four Super Bowl championships and the title of team of the decade.
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Some were critical of Khosla’s admission, being that he now owns the Super Bowl 61-winning organization after a record $9.6 billion sale. He clapped back at the detractors on Aug. 28, making it clear that that his love of the Steelers won’t interfere with his Seahawks devotion in a lengthy post on X:
“Reporters will make every molehill into a mountain just to get column inches to write or video minutes. What’s wrong with admitting my 1976-78 period in Pittsburgh (CMU) got me excited about the NFL? I still watch their games doesn’t mean I won’t unconditionally ALWAYS as owner, want the @Seahawks to win and have every edge up, EVERY TIME over every other team!!!! Zero questions!!! At the other end is a set of teams I always want to lose every advantage. But happy to have the sports writer getting more column inches and fill their pages. You are welcome. Apologies in advance for my very transparent style,” Khosla wrote.
During a press conference following the approval of the sale, Khosla admitted to being a Steelers fan from the minute he emigrated to the United States in 1976.
“I also happened to come to this country in ’76 when the Steelers were winning Super Bowls,” Khosla said. “So actually, I was originally and still am a big Steelers fan, also. Little known fact, but I still watch all the Steelers games, too.”
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The Steelers, behind their “Steel Curtain” defense and arm of Terry Bradshaw, captured Super Bowls in 1975, 1976, 1979 and 1980.
On Aug. 26, Khosla’s bid to purchase the Seahawks was ratified by owners during league meetings. Neeru Kholsa, Vinod’s wife, is expected to be the team’s controlling owner.
He has some ways to go as Seahawks owner. In a small interaction with fans, Khosla lauded the team’s logo and the “12’s,” which was corrected as “12s,” the team’s raucous “12th Man” supporters.
“Learning!,” he said.
Who is Neeru Khosla?
Neeru Khosla is the wife of Vinod Khosla. They have been married since 1980. She is set to become the controlling owner of the Seahawks and is the co-founder and chair of the non-profit CK12 Foundation.
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According to the organization’s website, the goal of CK12 Foundation is, “advancing K-12 STEM education by leveraging the power of AI and open multi-modal content. CK-12 Foundation’s AI-powered Student Tutor, Teacher Assistant, and Open Content is removing the barrier of access and equity by providing the best content delivered by cutting-edge technology, free for all.”
Contributing: Nick Brinkerhoff
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla responds to critics of his Steelers fandom
