Can You Really Play Ps2 Games on the Ps3?

I have the old 80 gig ps3. I tried to play ps2 games on it but it didn't work. It said unsupported data when I inserted the disc. Please help or explain!

Suggestion:

If you have the old 80GB PS3 then some PS2 games will work but not all of them, I think most of them will. But any newer PS3s released after the old 80GB version will not play PS2 games. If your PS3 has 4 U.S.B ports then your PS3 should in fact play PS2 games.