Everyone loves a good barbeque! This week, family and friends around the country will gather together for Fourth of July celebrations that will include grilling, games, and summer fun. Football players have a break until training camp, and members of the Pittsburgh Steelers will no doubt join in on Independence Day festivities.
The food is always the staple of a great summer party. As we remember and celebrate our independence, many of us will be soaking up the sweet aroma of smoking meat in the July air that will have our mouths watering. In this gap without football, we thought we would try to combine Steelers and summer foods together for your enjoyment.
Using artificial intelligence, we asked ChatGPT to compare Steelers players to Fourth of July foods. This was no doubt the most bizarre and outrageous question we have asked AI to date, but we found the responses hilarious.
How does one even compare football players to picnic foods? I have no idea. But AI did it for us anyway... and we're glad they did.
Fourth of July food comparisons for Steelers players
Let's start with T.J. Watt. The team captain, multi-time Steelers MVP, and former Defensive Player of the Year is widely regarded as the best player on the roster and one of the most important pieces of this franchise. For that, Watt earned the prize of all Fourth of July foods: barbequed ribs. Here's what ChatCPT had to say.
"T.J. Watt, known for his incredible pass-rushing abilities, is like the mouthwatering, fall-off-the-bone barbecue ribs. Both are powerful, flavorful, and leave a lasting impression."ChatGPT on T.J. Watt
If you are a fan of ribs, this summer food comparison hits home. If not, insert your favorite Fourth of July dish here, and we'll call it good. Whatever that might be, that's T.J. Watt.
The next two responses had me laughing. ChatGPT compared the most tenured player on the team, Cameron Heyward, to potato salad (of all things). Here was the reasoning behind this response from artificial intelligence.
"Cameron Heyward, a defensive stalwart for the Steelers, is like the dependable and versatile potato salad. He consistently delivers and brings a comforting presence to the team, much like potato salad is a reliable side dish at Fourth of July picnics."ChatGPT on Cameron Heyward
I've got to be honest, I was picturing some sort of filling meat as the food comp for the 6'5'', 300-pound three-time All-Pro. But I guess potato salad will do just fine. For many of us, it's hard to show up at a summer picnic without somebody bringing the potato salad, and in that respect, it's like Heyward always being out there and ready to go. Cam has only missed significant time once in his NFL career, and it came all the way back in 2016.
This next response, I'm not so sure about. ChatGPT gave us Fourth of July comparisons for the Steelers 'big three', and that includes Minkah Fitzpatrick. But I was left scratching my head at the guacamole comp for the All-Pro safety. Here was ChatGPT's response.
"Minkah Fitzpatrick, known for his agility and ability to intercept passes, can be compared to the flavorful and versatile guacamole. Both bring a distinct taste and an added layer of excitement to the game or party."ChatGPT on Minkah Fitzpatrick
This certainly isn't one of the staple summer foods that come to my mind for a Fourth of July bash, but perhaps I'm in the minority here. It's true that Minkah is versatile, and I guess you can put guac on whatever you want if that's your flavor.
In addition to these three current Pittsburgh Steelers players, artificial intelligence compared former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger to the classic hamburger -- which has been the mainstay at summer picnics for many years. The ChatGPT software, which only has data up until 2021, compared former WR Chase Claypool to a firecracker popsicle. That's the best player-food crossover comp you could ask for.