Superbowl!

San Jose one week, San Diego the next. Phoenix is on the way... right?



So I decided to drop in for the Superbowl. After all, the Patriots were 1 game away from going 19-0, the first perfect season since 1972. First team ever to 19-0. Wow, to think I could be a part of that.

I stayed about 17 miles from the stadium, but the partying was EVERYWHERE. I spent most of Saturday night bar hopping around the stadium in a place called Westgate. They had the area roped off so you could wander with your beer. perfect. Sights and sounds, celebrities, fans, scalpers, hoodlums. Craziness.



The day of the game was amazing. I got to the area a few hours before kickoff and went right into the NFL experience area. Home Depot put together an area twice the size of the stadium with rides, food, exhibits, and vendors. There was even a guy selling a brick from Fenway.

Made my way into the stadium, and holy nuts I was close. Only 37 rows off the field! Not the closesT I've ever been (see: skins at pats oct '07), but for the Superbowl I thought I did really well. The whole row of us had bought our tickets a few hours before the game, and the two around me were pats fans thankfully. WAY more fans of the stupid Giants than the Patriots.


By far the quietest game I've ever been to. Even the outside games were louder. First and second downs were almost silent. You could even hear the players yelling at times. Bizarre. The half time show was INSANE. They gave us all these little button LED flashlights and spent 5 minutes explaining when and how to use them. We all thought it was dumb... but during the show when they cut the lights and everyone turned them on... well, I'm sure you saw it on TV.


As for the rest... well, you know the score. I don't really want to talk about it. Don't ask me how much I paid for the ticket, or how much the weekend cost, what I did the night before the game or why the sky is blue -- I have no idea. One more thing to scratch off my list of "Things I've Done". Worth every penny.
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Da Bears

So I'm sitting in the terminal at O'Hare today, minding my business because that's what I do. A cart pulls up, which usually means one of two things: old people or important people. I am neither, so I don't get a cart. I didn't pay much attention (see: minding my business), but the girl next to me pokes me in the arm and says "is that... is that who I think it is"? So I give the cart a good once over, and sure enough... it's Mike Ditka!



He gets to board first because he's either old or important... by now probably both. So as I'm getting on the plane I ask the flight attendant if Mike got on our plane - since there were two planes at one gate - and sure enough... there he was right across the aisle from me! We're flying in one of those soda cans with wings, so he may as well have been in my lap.

I said "hi" but he spent most of his time chatting it up with the lady sitting next to him who had absolutely NO idea who he was. He could not have been a nicer guy, especially given his record as a bruiser and a coach. I wanted so bad to lean over and say "da bears"... but I thought today is not a good day to get a broken nose, what with Christmas fast approaching and all.
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Me Padre's Patriots Birthday

My Dad always used to take me to Patriots games, so I figured what better thing to do for his birthday than a Patriots game. And what better seats than... oh, 1st row 50yd line. Got a heck of a deal through the always-popular stubhub (love those guys). And I thought 4th row enzone was good! (see: pack/viks). Got to see the 'skins for a second week in a row. This time the Patriots routed them by something like six million points. I'll let the picture say the rest.
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Packers at Vikings = Favre Touchdown

As per usual, my travel plans involved:

• Book flight
  
• Book hotel
  
• Book car
  
• Book NFL ticket

I had no idea what I was getting myself into. My usual source was coming up pretty dry - prices were high and the seats were higher. A quick check of eBay and I struck gold. 4th row endzone! Note: I had never sat any closer than 37th row in the 3rd tier at Gillette in the freezing cold... so this was a big deal.

Again, no idea what I was getting myself into. Sunday morning I pick up a paper while I wait for my plane... and find out that I'm going to see the Green Bay Packers play at the Minnesota Vikings. Big deal right? Well... turns out Brett Favre is ONE touchdown pass away from breaking the NFL all-time touchdown pass record (currently tied with Dan Marino). HOLY CRAP.


I go to the game... and I swear I must have looked like a 6 year old going to his first baseball game. I had never even been that close to an NFL field, let alone to watch a game. The touchdown pass came on the other end of the field... but it was still insane. Now - I've been to a LOT of VERY loud concerts. None compare to how loud it was in that dome. Full Post...