Super Bowl XLIV ~ Saints 31 - Colts 17, but the score doesn't tell the story

Yesterday I went to Super Bowl XLIV...  It was my first Super Bowl ever.  Notice, I said "first", which implies maybe there's a "second" or a "third", etc.  You never know..  I could score another ticket and go again...  As long as I'm breathing, there's always a chance!

Transportation to Sun Life Stadium was provided.  We meet up with a group of guys and we're off to the stadium ~ we probably left close to 1:30 and were parked by about 3.  Plenty of time to check out the scene, take a few pics outside, buy a program, get some grub, and sit in the seats to take in the whole experience.  My brother has been to the Super Bowl before.  He lives in South Beach.    Soooo, guess who got to go also?!?!  This girl!!!!  I've been a Colts fan since 2002, when I dated Jason.  Jason and I met when I lived in Atlanta.  He was from Indiana and a huge Colts fan, and I ended up falling in love with the team and having such a great time at the RCA Dome  and in Indy a few times a year, that I adopted the team also.  I went with Jason and his friends to the AFC Championship game in 2004, and saw the Colts lose to the Patriots at Gillette...  Yes, this is serious and I told you I was a Colts fan...

I didn't go to the Super Bowl 3 years ago.  I didn't see Prince and watch the Colts win it all.  Have you ever looked at ticket prices for the Super Bowl?!?!!?  Wow.  They definitely make it tough for the gen pop (i.e. general population = those of us without agents, grammys, oscars, guaranteed contracts, etc.) to get into the stadium!  This was going to be my year.

I started chronicling this year's football travels, in this blog, with my trip to the new Cowboys Stadium and then subsequently stopped off in Indy and Minneapolis on my way to the Super Bowl.  Incidentally, I hit Heinz Field earlier this year also.  Obviously I kept up with the NFL season, but I skipped traveling to the AFC and NFC Championship games.  I was exhausted from the travels the week before.  Lucky for me, early last week my brother sent me an email asking me what was better: (a) lowers in the corner or (b) uppers in the center...  The answer for me was obvious ~ lowers in the corner as long as corner didn't translate to "endzone".  Sure enough, he was asking, since one of those tickets would be mine!!!

Insert happy dance.

On the "coach" to the stadium, we hear about an auction the night before at the Hard Rock in Laudy and that there were a couple of tickets to the Grammy's and a Grammy's after party up for bid.  I love my brother, because he thought the same thing I did.  We both asked if the guy had another pair of tickets.  The guy makes a call and leaves a voicemail.  So now, we wait...  Seriously ~ how cool would it be to go to the Grammys?!?! 

Around the stadium, I was so excited to see more people in Colts' blue walking towards the building.  In the security line it seemed like the Saints to Colts fan ratio was about 5:1.  I have no idea why I had a pack of about 6 Jets fans (in Jets jerseys) to my right.  Carlos, a Jets fan, was cool though...  Oh well ~ to each their own.  Security was tight ~ bags bigger than 12X12 inches weren't permitted.  My Dior made it through.  I don't even want to get into what sort of scene would've occurred if my bag had to stay out. There would've been a problem...

They have rides at the Super Bowl!

On the concourse for $22 you could have a Cuban sandwich and for about the same price you can have some freshly cooked paella.  I found that interesting ~ loved the fact they featured local food, but seriously, $22 <-- really?!!?  The Saints fan in front of my brother had the paella (which looked AMAZING) and then proceeded to fall asleep for the 1st HALF of the game!  I couldn't believe it.  LOL.  It's almost as if he knew that his team would have very little for him to see in the 1st half!  His buddy said his friend hadn't slept in 2 days.  I believe it.  It'd been a party in South Beach the past few days, regardless if you went to a star-studded party or not!

Steve Winwod's performance at the Tailgate Party was being broadcast in the stadium.  I'm actually not sure if he sang anything except for "Higher Love".  Emmit Smith was getting his picture taken with the Zebras before the game.  Queen Latifah sang "America the Beautiful".  Carrie Underwood sang the "National Anthem".  Ashton Kutcher was with Demi Moore on the Colts' sideline and he was shooting pictures ~ perhaps it was another Nikon add in the making... 

Emmit Smith with the Zebras

Ashton Kutcher next to Demi Moore

Did I mentioned that our seats were amazing?!?!!  Row 9. 9...  Yes, I said 9. The seats were in the Lower Level.  Santa Claus came early this year!!!  The seats were just perfect.  Free and perfect.  I couldn't have been happier.  It was a little cooler temperature wise, but there was no rain ~ excellent, fall football type weather!

The teams were warming up and I noticed Freeney was in uniform and running through some drills.  That was reassuring.  Everyone on the Colts looked loose, but focused.

Freeney was ready to play

Coin toss - Saints won it.

Game started and it looked like the Colts would have the game.  "3 and Out" described the Saints' performance.  The Saints finally had a first down and the place erupted.  Very little trash talking was going on.  People were focused on the game and let's face it, the game was a tight one.  At the half, the score was 10-6.  Colts had the lead, but there was a noticeable/palpable lack of ease on behalf of Colts fans.  Where was the expected Colts scoring surge?!?!  Shouldn't we have at least another touchdown?!?!  Did I miss something?

Colts offense

The extra point was good!

Saints offense

I saw myself on the jumbotron twice during the 2nd Quarter.  That was pretty cool and the exact reason why I own that lime green sweater!  Haha.

The Who came out at the half and did their thing.  I recognized a few of their songs, but I didn't do the cell phone movements that were broadcast on the screen so that the crowd could participate in their performance.  For those of you, who see me, I'll demonstrate the moves if you want ~ but trust me, they're not that special.  The performance was good ~ but, it was no Prince... 

The Who onstage

The Who up close.

At the start of the 2nd half, if you have a TV, you already know what happened.  The Saints' trick play...  Sean Payton was a genius ~ ONLY because the play worked.  If it would've failed and the Saints had lost, I'm sure he would be crucified all day long and there'd be a joke about him that would be told every year.  I could've sworn that onside kick was a mistake by the Saints' team ~ I didn't expect it.  From the looks of the replay, neither did Hank Baskett since the ball bounced off of his helmet.  @#$%@$#@#@!#   For all you ladies, out there ~ Hank is married to former Playboy Playmate, Kendra.  Among other credits, she was featured in the Girls Next Door show on E.

Were my eyes deceiving me, but I swear I saw Matt Stover miss a field goal in the 4th Quarter.  $#%^$%#$@#  I watched the 4th Quarter with such a sense of urgency, and yet I felt hollow.  It was almost as if the Saints had deflated me.  Unbelievable. Yet I still thought that the Colts were still "in it" since we were driving and had a little more than 3.5 mins left in the game.  With a little more than 3.5 mins in the game, and a Saint's player down on the field, I decided I could run up the steps to the bathroom and make it back before play resumed.  Yes, I have tiny tanks.  Believe it or not, I did make it back in time.  I made it back in time to watch Tracy Porter pick off Peyton Manning's throw to Reggie Wayne.  I turned my back, and when I got back I witnessed a "Pick 6" that resulted in a 74 yard return for a TOUCHDOWN...  &^%^%#$@$#!@!

For those of you trivia buffs ~ Porter is also the guy that picked off Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game.  I'll never forger that guy's name.  Did you know he's from Louisiana, but went to Indiana?  Neither did I...

Saints win!

Now THAT'S a lot of confetti!

The final score was 31 to 17.  The score doesn't tell the story, but it's all that most people will remember.  At the end of the game I think I was just trying to take it all in...  "I'm sorry," my brother said.  What's there to be sorry about?  Sure, I wanted the Colts to win.  Yes, I was bummed about the outcome ~ but I was able to go from "start to finish" more or less with a Super Bowl weekend and experience.  I saw the Saits' franchise win their first Super Bowl ever.  And even though, they lost ~ I can say that I saw my Colts in the Super Bowl...  Not many people can say that.  And I did it for FREE, so even though the Saints knocked the wind right out of me ~ I'm gonna be just fine!

My phone died right after the game.  I think it was the ATT&T gods trying to save me, so I wouldn't "lose it" as all my friends who were Saints fans started blowing up my phone.  I get a text from a friend that he's headed to LIV at the Fountainebleau.  I was not going to go.  I had nothing to celebrate and I was mentally exhausted.  My brother and I went for a slice of pizza as we headed back to his car.

I got home and my friend Jack who's also watching Sportscenter starts blasting texts to me about points he wants me to include in this blog.  Jack is a Redskins fan, but let's not hold that against him.  He does make some points that I agree with and one that I'll take his word for.

• Jack: "The Saints appeared to have a better game plan."  My thoughts: The Saints kept Manning off the field.  It reminded me of the Georgetown v Villanova game in 1985 , when the Wildcats slowed down the offense and basically just "held the ball"... Manning can't be effective if he's not on the field.
• Jack: "The commercials were mad weak, u missed nothing."  My thoughts:  I'll take his word for it.
• Jack: "The Saints have like 13 contracts up of starters."  My thoughts: I just saw this stat on TV and I counted about 10 unrestricted/restricted free agents.
• Jack: "I bet they (i.e. the Saints) go 6-10 next year."  My thoughts:  We shall see.
• Jack: "Gregg Williams was the X factor."  My thoughts: I needed Jack to explain this one and tell me who Gregg Williams was ~ but based on this link, that my brother just sent me: http://espn.go.com/blog/NFCNorth/post/_/id/9853/jumping-the-colts-routes, Jack is correct.
• Jack: "Both are class acts"  My thoughts:  He was referring to Brees and Manning.  I watched the post-game interviews on TV and I agree.  Brees was gracious as a winner, and as the loser you could see the frustration in Manning's face and hear the irritation in his voice, but he said all the right things.  I felt like the reporters were trying to get Manning to "flip out", but he handled the questions fairly well.

I'm watching TV now and it turns out the TV rating for Super Bowl XLIV surpassed the numbers for the final episode of "Mash".  Yes, I witnessed history...  Thank you!  Thank you!!  Thank you!!!  :-P

My brother and I after the game

THE WIRK

Friday before the Super Bowl ~ Vegas, NFL Commish Party/Lockout, Caps, and Go Colts!!!

Today,  I wasn't able to get out since I was jockeying con calls and working.  HOWEVER, I was able to watch a little bit of TV, check some schedules, and gather my thoughts before trekking out to Laudy for the NFL Commish party.

My predictions for the night:
Winners: I liked the Hawks, Pacers, and Nuggets.  I liked the Nuggets even after I heard that Kobe was playing and Carmelo Anthony was out.  It was a hunch ~ but it was dead ON.  Did you see that Nuggets v Lakers game?!  If not, you missed a good one.  Chaucey was shooting the lights out of the arena and left with a career high of 37 points.  I need to get to Denver when they're all healthy and see them play, in person, for myself...
Loser: I also liked the Hornets, even though CP3 wasn't playing, since I read that AI was out also.  No idea what happened with that game, since I was up to my eyes in football stuff, but according to the ESPN crawl, the Philly bench "stepped up"...  Yeah, well you're just as shocked as I am... Who cares ~ you can't predict them all, and that's what you get when you pick a lame game to guess about.

So, what's the verdict?!?  Well, I'm not 100% psychic, but I'm 75% psychic...  I would've gone 3/4...  Can you tell that I'm jonesing for a trip to Vegas?!?! I looked at flights to Atlantis last night and the RT fare was a hair under $200.  I always carry my pasport with me (i.e. since you "never know") and almost bought the ticket to head out there tomorrow, but I held off.  Sure enough when I looked for the same flights on the way to Laudy, they flights were sold out.  Oh well.  It wasn't that serious for me to head out there for THE DAY. 

I wish I had enough time to head to Vegas before the Super Bowl.  I love the Venetian Sportsbook.  Ask anyone who knows me, has spent any amount of time with me in Vegas, or is looking for me when I'm in Vegas and they'll tell you where I am and they'd be willing to bet on it.  I'm a creature of habit.  I like familiarity.  I know the guys there in that book, and they have served me well throughout the years.  I'm superstitious (i.e. just a little),and I study that board (with all the games listed) ridiculously well.  As a gambler, I believe in the streak.  I believe in momentum, and I have a firm grip on the psychology of sports.  I've seen what it's like for athletes to travel, to wake up for film, and to have to go to the arena early for treatment/shoot around.  I've seen how quickly or slowly some bounce back from injury,  I know that back spasms is a fake diagnosis, when listed as an injury, and I also have a clue as to who's a headcase and who has brains.  OK - so maybe I don't KNOW, but I'm VERY confident in my hunches. 

When in the book and in preparation for my trips to Vegas I watch plenty of games, look up the trends, and crunch/examine the numbers just as much, if not more than the investors that watch the companies in their stock portfolios.  I get a little obsessive compulsive.  Instead of buying and selling Coca Cola, I decide whether I want to pick up teams that are improving and try to time it right, as to when to jump off of another team's bandwagon...  My brother looks at health care com[anies/technology etc. for work, and he always tells me he hates gambling.  BULLSHIT.  He's a gambler ~ he does the exact same thing I do.  He just chooses health care related companies, and I'd rather watch sports.  Ever get tickets to go watch Pepsi , Boeing, or Wendy's do anything!?!  Yeah, I didn't think so.

Anyway... Enough about that.

So today was Roger Goodell's State of the NFL press conference and his Super Bowl party...  I missed the press conference.  I told you I was working...  Anyway, the gist of it is this.  I firmly believe there will be an NFL Lockout next season in 2011, and I'm not in the minority.  Why?!?  Because everyone wants to get paid and $8 billion in gross revenue is plenty of money to fight over.  (Shoot, I'll lock you out of my car for $20...  I can't even fathom what I'd do if I had to fight for a cut of $8 billion...  But I digress... ) Another reason I think a lockout will happen, is because I've seen it happen in basketball.  I've seen what happens when the bluff is called.  I remember when my ex had to go workout with the college kids at Cleveland State or the Cleveland Indians, since the Cavs facility was off-liimts.

I mentioned the strong possibility of no football in 2011 to my brother at the Commish's party.  "There going to strike?!?" was his reply.  No, Grasshopper ~ let me school you and any other person with incorrect ideas about this issue.  The players aren't going to strike.  The owners will lock them out ~ hence, LOCKOUT.  Just like in basketball...  Don't believe me?  Here.

According to Wikipedia ~ A lockout is a work stoppage in which an employer prevents employees from working. This is different from a strike, in which employees refuse to work.

As a fan, a lockout would be terrible.  I've seen the movie "The Replacements".  It was good, but that's a movie.  I was having drinks with my friends yesterday and my friend MW had me laughing.  He pointed to his 3 friends and said, "They're going to put us in uniforms, give us helmets, and call us the Dallas Cowboys!"  How can you not laugh at the thought?!?!

We also talked about the Pro Bowl and the movement of the game to the week before the Super Bowl.  Consensus at the table and the ratings showed me that this was a good move.  Although, I'm not sure that anyone of us actually watched the game.  Sure, fan attendance was better ~ duh, has anyone compared airfare price differences between a trip to Honolulu v. a trip to Miami?!?!  The argument is that people need something to fill the void preceding the Super Bowl.  Yeah ~ but does anyone even know who won the game?!?!  I think it was the NFC...  Dammit ~ just checked it, and I was wrong ~ the AFC won.

Oh well, if you would've asked me to put in order the musical performances at the Grammy's I could've done that quicker.  I actualy ended up DVR'g the Grammy's and waching 2 crappy ACC basketball games that Sunday ~ but let me tell you, that if I had to do it all over again, I still wouldn't want to watch the Pro Bowl.  I've never been to the event, but any event that the PROFESSIONAL athletes are given the PRIVILEGE to play ~ and the athletes bow out ~ well, why should I watch?!?!  The player himself doesn't want to play...  What is that even about?!?!?  If anyone honored me enough to pick me to represent whomever/whatever in the internet shopping and text message olympics I'd be there with bells on.  I just don't understand it. Some people want to play, some people don't.  It all boils down to this ~ if you're not psyched about your own gig/product, how am I supposed to be psyched about your gig/product?!!

One last thng, and I realize that this is selfish ~ I met my last fiance during the NBA Lockout so who's to say an NFL Lockout would be so bad?!?!  Just saying...  Haha :-P

Anyway...  Enough about that.

The Caps have won 13 in a row.  The record in hockey is 17...  I say the Caps go for at least 18!  Let's go Caps!!!

I can't think of anything else right now.  So that's all I have for now.  Time to light a candle and pray for Dwight Freeney's ankle.  GO COLTS!!!

Wait...  Speaking of the Colts check out the pics from the NFL Commish party today.  I'm a Colts fan so I'm partial to the Unitas pics...  Incidentally, Unitas was Lithuanian..  Hahaha:-P

Tickets to the party looked like credentials...

The Pointer Sisters ~ Jump was the last song they sung.

The Vince Lombardi trophy

Unitas' helmet

Unitas' game jersey from the Super Bowl

THE WIRK

It's tough to be a Celtics or Hornets fan right now ~ Go Cavs, Go Caps, Go Colts!!!

Basketball

1. Wouldn't be surprised if Paul Pierce sits out a few games.  Might as well rest the foot/ankle, until after All-Star break.

Paul Pierce walking off the court after hitting the deck

2. Ray Allen to be traded?  I think it's a mistake. I like Ray Allen as a Celtic and his 3 point prowess...  He's the Celtics version of John Starks...  I like his 3P%age (about 33 percent) and his 15 PPG.  Admittedly, I'm not a GM so I have no idea what he's making.

What uniform do you see Ray Allen wearing?

3. Would hate to be a Celtics fan right now, with all these headaches and KG back in the game.
4. Celtics don't scare Cavs fans!
5. Boobie Gibson is getting it done in Cleveland!  Cavs won 9 is a row last night as they beat Memphis.  I'm going to have to look for my "Got Boobie" T-shirt...
6. Incidentally I was playing on Twitter and saw NBATVChris (aka Chris Webber) ask if anyone thought Memphis was going to beat the Cavs last night... I tweeted back that there would be no upset in Cleveland and that the Cavs would win.  Chris, I was right!
7.  Chris Paul to have surgery.  That's really unfortunate for him and the NO Hornets, who currently are in the 9th spot in the West.  Sorry Hornets fans...  There's room for you on the Cavs bandwagon...  We'll welcome you with open arms.  Hornets don't scare Cavs fans either!
8.  NBA-All Star next weekend in Dallas ~ I need to start planning my trip!!!

Hockey
1. Capitals have won 11 in a row, but I won't be able to check them out until March.  They're away A LOT this month and I'm headed to the Super Bowl this weekend.
2. The Caps should beat the Rangers easily on Thursday night ~ just a hunch...
3. Whoever is in charge of setting NHL hockey schedule needs to get fired.  Why would you have the Capitals play the Penguins on Super Bowl Sunday?!?!  It makes no sense and at a minimum completely inconveniences ME, since I would've liked to have been there in-person to see the match-up at the Verizon Center!  Seriously, the first time these 2 teams met this year (last month), they were up against the Lakers v the Cavs in Cleveland.  I remember that, because I was in Cleveland watching LeBron et al ball...  I have no idea what cave the NHL schedulers are hanging out in ~ but I hope they get their acts together and position the marquee matchups better next year.

NHL Playoffs, Penguins v Caps, May 2009

Football
1. Dwight Freeney will play.  He has to...  It's the Super Bowl.  GO COLTS!!!

Other
1.  Still looking at logos for TheWirk.com.  I've seen so many mock-ups, that I've got a headache...

Alright, I'm done ~ I need to head to the airport "soon"...  Miami here I come...

THE WIRK

Celtics don't scare me, and I still need a ticket to the Super Bowl.... GO COLTS!!!!

List of thoughts because I'm too tired to write paragraphs right now.

Basketball
1.  Yesterday, Pat's dad couldn't go to the game Celtics v Wizards game, so I got called up.  Thanks, Pat. He's a Celtics fan so I compromised and wore lime green.  I will not put a Celtics hat on my head.

2.  I said to bet the Celtics -5.  If you did, you WON.  The Celtics didn't really play until the 4th Q, so sorry if you had to sweat it out.

Final score

2.  The Celtics are not scary.  As a Cavs fan, they'll have to show me more, before I BEGIN to consider them a credible threat in the East.  Garnett is definitely NOT back, even though he's playing.
3.  The only scare of the game happened when Paul Pierce went down, but he got back up and continued playing ~ eventually.

Paul Pierce getting treated on the bench.

4.  The Wizards are running some sort of promotion now through Chik Fil-A.  Chik Fil-A picks a player on the visiting team, and if that player misses both of his free throws, everyone in the arena gets a free sandwich.  Thank you, Big Baby Davis ~ for your poor shooting and my free lunch tomorrow (i.e. if I can drag myself out of my apartment and into the cold).
5. Can't watch another Wizards game for a long time.  Enough is a enough.  I walk out of the Verizon Center stressed out, and this is not good.
6.  I caught/picked up one of those free give away balls that they throw out into the crowd.  I was not standing and waving for it like a 6 year old child.  This proves you can get free stuff by sitting and "playing it cool". 

Yeah, I like free stuff

6.  Watching ESPN Sportscenter, and I'm disgusted.  You'd think Kobe Bryant walked on water last night.  Yes, I get it.  He's the all-time leading scorer for the franchise.  However, in my opinion, he's NOT the best Laker ever.  If you make me choose between Kobe or Magic ~ I'll take Magic any day.  To me, Magic is the Lakers' heart.
7.  Working on plans for NBA All-Star weekend. 
8.  I'm not Oprah and the last thing I want to do is read/sell books, but here's one for you.  I came across my copy recently, and it started me thinking. If you've never read "Homecourt Advantage" by Rita Ewing and Crystal McCrary ~ check it out. It reads quickly and will give you a good idea of what it's like to be a WAG in the NBA.
















Football
1.  Headed to Miami on Wednesday night/Thursday morning for the Super Bowl.  I need/want to be on the ground for all the festivities.
2.  Dwight Freeney and a torn ligament?!?!  Oh no!!!!  Dwight, please play!!!!!  GO COLTS!!!!
3.  I need a ticket to the Super Bowl.  Still.

Other
1.  Working on a logo for TheWirk.com
2.  Trying to come up with other sports ideas/events for this blog.
3.  Apologies to my trivia team, who I ditched to go to the game last night.
4.  Shout out to Fogdog and the Bryant brothers who I saw/ran into while at the game.


THE WIRK