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- A Patriots Crowd?
- Winter Wonderland
- Pre-game Entertainment Less Than Super
- Brooks Pushing Tampa As Host
- What A Heartbreaker
- WQYK's SportsChix Draw Attention On Radio Row
- Dunn Has Message For Vick
- Strahan Retires Speculation
- 'Junior' Reporter Putting In The Work
- Feels Like Old Times
- Media Day Cast Of Characters
- Burress Predicts 23-17 Win
- They Said It
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Super Bowl XLII: |
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 Photo Gallery: Glendale Sights
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PHOENIX, Ariz. - The roof is closed here at University of Phoenix Stadium. Good thing. The National Weather Service just issued a winter storm warning for the greater Phoenix area.
Overall it’s been a great week weatherwise. Temperatures were generally in the upper 50’s during the day and in the 40’s at night with mostly clear skies.
Many believe the decision to close the roof here at the stadium favors the Patriots but I’ve got to think it helps the Giants more.
Playing in the Super Bowl is nothing new for Tom Brady and he figures to make plays no matter the circumstances. For Eli Manning, however, this is a new experience and he should benefit greatly from operating in a controlled environment.
Either way we should start getting some answers to all that in about 30 minutes.
PHOENIX, Ariz. - It’s still early but I get the feeling this is going to be a mostly Patriots crowd.
When they’re not showing that picture of the Lombardi Trophy sitting all by itself out in the desert they’re showing clips of Giants and Pats players welcoming fans to Super Bowl XLII.
Whenever they show a Patriots player a big roar goes up from the still-assembling crowd. Whenever they show a Giants player a chorus of boos and jeers ring out.
By tbe way, the pre-game entertainment is about to pick up significantly. Alicia Keys is just seconds away from taking the stage and saving us from another Glen Campbell song.
PHOENIX, Ariz. - It’s just about two hours until gametime here and if you think your missing something special think again.
The pre-game entertainment right now consists of canned music, some of which hasn’t been heard in years.
On the big screen in the end zones thbey’ve got a picture of the Lombardi Trophy with a desert scene as tbhe backdrop. Accompanying this are the dulcet tones of Glen Campbell singing “By The Time I Get To Phoenix.”
Actually, the entertainment level just went up several notches as tbe song has changed now to America’s “Horse With No Name.”
Truth be known, at this time of day on Super Bowl Sunday the real action is all outside, where the TV networks are using their pre-game shows to promote their nightly TV lineup.
For the next hour or so that’s where the stars are.
PHOENIX Bucs LB Derrick Brooks is used to pitching Tampa Bay’s amenities to potential free agents, but he spent Friday selling his hometown to anyone who would listen.
Brooks helped the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee promote next year’s event at an informational booth in the Phoenix Convention Center. Tampa Bay will host its fourth Super Bowl on Feb. 1, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium, and Brooks used his notoriety to create a buzz about that game.
“I wanted to let the committee members know they are appreciated and I always try to connect the community with our sports. Maybe we can be a group to make history by hosting the Super Bowl and playing in it,” Brooks said. “I just want to make it better [for the committee]. Tampa has always gotten a lot of respect for hosting the Super Bowl.”
Brooks encouraged anyone passing by to attend next year’s Super Bowl and he even handed out brochures and commemorative pins of the event. He also took pictures with fans during his brief visit.
Tampa Bay GM Bruce Allen spoke with several members of the national media Friday by the booth and also promoted next year’s Super Bowl.
“[Phoenix] is a beautiful town that has a lot to offer, but it doesn’t have our water. It doesn’t have our skyline. And it doesn’t have a lot of the passion we have,” Allen said. “[Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl] will be exciting. There is no question about it.”
Tom Petty didn’t sing a single note. His Heartbreakers didn’t strike a single chord. Not so much as a rim shot was heard Thursday from the band that will perform during the halftime show at this year’s Super Bowl.
What a letdown.
Granted, Prince set the bar extremely high last year, performing for close to 15 minutes. But even Bono got up and threw “an American football’’ around a little bit at U2’s new conference.
Petty and the Heartbreakers just sat behind a table and answered some questions. They didn’t even do that very well, refusing to predict a winner or pick a favorite for the game.
Petty, a Gainesville native, did give a shout out to the University of Florida, saying that on a college level the Gators are the team he pulls for. He also reminisced for about three seconds about going to UF’s homecoming as a kid.
Petty didn’t offer up much regarding the set his band will play, either. All he said was that the band has tried to put together the best 12-minute show possible and that they hope it “takes you somewhere.’’
Must be some kind of theme. Alicia Keys, who will provide the pregame entertainment for Sunday’s showcase, said her set is going to “take you by the throat and make you watch me.’’
The New York native also acknowledged she knew nothing about football, but she still predicted a Giants victory. So did Jordin Sparks, the reigning “American Idol” champion who will sing the national anthem.
Sparks also provided the best line of the news conference. Referring to her father Phillippi, who spent nine years playing in the NFL but never played in a Super Bowl, she said, “At least one of us made it to a Super Bowl.’’
Want to stargaze at the Super Bowl? Take a walk along Radio Row.
Aside from the parties, this is the best place to find celebrities.
Granted, most of them are sports celebrities. Every once in a while, though, you’ll stumble upon a B- or C-lister from Hollywood. Holly Robinson Peete was hanging out there for a while Wednesday.
Sooner or later, everybody who is somebody at the Super Bowl shows up on Radio Row. And why not? There are 97 stations broadcasting from the little community, and all are eager for a bite of a celeb’s time.
The nationally syndicated shows attract most of the top-line guests, of course, but at least one local show — the SportsChix (noon to 2 p.m. on WQYK, 1010 AM) — has no trouble matching the national shows’ guest lists.
In the past two days, the Chix — former Playboy Playmate Lynne Austin, model Heather Young and original Hooters girl B.L. — have talked to the likes of Archie Manning, Conrad Dobler and Terrell Owens.
‘’We had seven guests in two hours [Wednesday],’’ said Mike Pepper of WQYK. ‘’It was the same [Tuesday].’’
The guests are what the stations are fighting for. It helps drive the shows, and the Chix pull them in as well as anyone. Guess there’s something to be said for hanging out for a few minutes with models and former Hooters girls.
Radio Row reportedly began in 1990, when the ‘’Mike and the Mad Dog Show’’ originating from New York’s WFAN, 660 AM, broadcast from the press area set up for Super Bowl XXIV in New Orleans.
Since then, it has grown into such a phenomenon that entire sections of the Super Bowl media center are set aside for it.
There has been speculation Giants DE Michael Strahan would retire after this season, especially if New York defeats New England.
Strahan is currently in his 15th NFL season, and has appeared in seven of the last nine Pro Bowls, but sacked the notion of retiring any time soon.
“I didn’t talk to anybody in the organization about it. Heck, I didn’t tell them that I was coming to training camp until the day of [his return]. So you know that I am not talking about retirement until I’m ready,” Strahan said. “I didn’t have any discussions with them [organization] about that. I’m not thinking about it. If you start to think like that, it takes away from your season, your preparation for the year and especially for a game like this.”
Former Bucs RB Warrick Dunn just reached out to ex-Falcons teammate Michael Vick, who is serving a 23-month sentence for charges related to dogfighting.
Dunn held court at the Super Bowl media center Wednesday, and he confirmed he recently spoke to Vick, confined at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., 35 miles northwest of Kansas City.
“I told Michael that we’re all supporting him, and hopefully he’ll come out of this a better man,” Dunn said. “He was happy to hear my voice.”
With Vick suspended, the Falcons plunged to a 4-12 mark. Dunn finished with 720 yards to top 10,000 rushing yards for a pro career that began with the 1997 Bucs.
“I plan on seeing Michael in a couple of weeks,” Dunn said. “I’ve already filled out the paperwork needed to visit him.”
Brock Domann stood out among reporters during Tuesday’s Media Day - even if he was much shorter than most of them.
The 9-year-old confidently carried a legal pad and pen to interview New York and New England players like a seasoned reporter. Domann is a student at Academy Endeavor in Colorado Springs, Colo., and he was selected by Scholastic News Kids Press Corps to interview players during this year’s event.
“I have to write a story about the players,” Domann said. “I think it’s cool to be this close to the players ... I have to get autographs.”
Although mainstream media members are prohibited from asking professional players for autographs, Domann easily snagged signatures from WR Jabar Gaffney, DB Willie Andrews and G Billy Yates.
“My teacher told me if I was going to the Super Bowl, I had to get her autographs,” Domann said.
Domann successfully got the attention of Giants DE Michael Strahan, who was surrounded by hundreds of media members.
“How old are you? And you were able to land this gig this early? Man, you must be good,” Strahan said.
Domann later caught the attention of WR Plaxico Burress, who brought the junior journalist to the podium and talked with him.
“You see all these people here?” Burress said. “You see all those seats? They’re all going to be filled Sunday. You see this podium with my name on it? I’m telling you, it’s the greatest feeling in the world.
“So my advice to you is, it’s a lot of hard work.”
Today’s Super Bowl Media Day had the look and feel of a Fellini movie.
The NFL’s annual nod to the surreal featured a series of characters out of central casting strolling the grounds of University of Phoenix Stadium.
Patriots rookie safety Brandon Meriweather found himself in conversation with a man in mascara, wearing a gold turban. Joel Bengoa of Telemundo was telling anyone who would listen about his prediction for Sunday’s game between the Giants and the unbeaten Patriots.
‘’Let’s see, Uranus is coming over the Milky Way,’’ Bengoa said, casting his eyes toward the open roof of the stadium. ‘’On second thought, let’s just flip a coin and find out who’s going to win.’’
Standing a few yards away, former NBA player John Salley was chatting up Ines from TV Azteca.
Salley was dressed casually.
Ines was in a wedding gown.
‘’I’m looking to get married to Tom Brady,’’ Ines said, pining for the New England quarterback who is famously dating Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen. ‘’I’m better than Gisele.’’
Ninety minutes later, Ines had ditched Brady and was seen looking for Eli Manning.
’’If you go on the road and beat three teams you’re not supposed to beat, you definitely deserve to be here.’’ – Giants DE Osi Umenyiora.
‘’We’re about legacy with most things we do.’’ – Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
‘’This is like walking down Broadway. This is no big deal. Where is the Naked Cowboy? Is he out here strumming his guitar in some tighty-whitie shorts?’’ – Giants DE Michael Strahan on the Media Day scene.
‘’There has not been a player that we have brought here that Bill Belichick and I did not agree on.’’ – Patriots VP of Player Personnel Scott Pioli.
Pepper Johnson laughed at the mere thought.
New England’s jovial defensive line coach was asked about his playing days as a Giants linebacker, when New York assistant coaches Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin went at each other during practice.
‘’There was no battle,’’ Johnson said with a smile. ‘’Coughlin’s guys couldn’t do a thing against us.’’
For three years beginning in 1988, Coughlin’s group of wide receivers tried to shake free against Belichick’s veteran defense, while head coach Bill Parcells viewed the spirited practice sessions.
A generation has passed and now Coughlin and Belichick will stand on opposite sidelines in Sunday’s Super Bowl, still trying to upstage the other.
‘’I remember Tom being in a world all to himself,’’ said Johnson. ‘’Say what you will about him, but Tom elevated those wide receivers in New York. He got production from a group that always seemed to be in question.’’
After all these years, Johnson is still working for Belichick, whose 18-0 Patriots have one last obstacle on the path to NFL immortality.
‘’Bill’s the same guy, the same tyrant,’’ Johnson said. ‘’He wants the most out of his players and coaches and we all understand that because he’s the guy in charge. Anyway you slice it, it’s Bill Belichick and the Patriots.’’
New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress knows the odds are against his team defeating New England, but it did not stop him from making a bold prediction.
Burress has predicted New York will defeat New England, 23-17, in this Sunday’s Super Bowl. He arrived at that score is even more interesting:
“My high school basketball number was 23,” said Burress, whose currently jersey number is 17.
New England defeated New York, 38-35, in the season finale, but Burress is more than confident his team will win the rematch. Do you agree with his prediction? Should Burress do anything to ignite New England’s wrath?
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