Right now, I have a better chance of going to Super Bowl XLV than the Colts

Last year I went to Super Bowl XLIV, and I saw my Indianapolis Colts lose to the New Orleans Saints.  Have you ever been to a Super Bowl?  It's a big football festival with skills challenges, a ride, and plenty of photo opportunities.  Oh, yeah.  There's a football game too.

I watched the most recent Super Bowl and never lost faith that the Colts would pull out a victory.  In the 4th quarter, I had returned to the top of my section, just in time, to see my Colts' Super Bowl dreams get shattered. 

Peyton Manning's pass was intercepted by Tracy Porter. 

Are you a Colts' fan?  Want to relive this nightmare?  Here you go.  I found this video on Youtube.

With the Colts' pitiful (i.e. relatively speaking compared to previous years) record this season, I doubt that I'll see the Colts in the playoffs much less Super Bowl XLV this February.  ****  Well if the Colts are there, they'll be like me (i.e. sitting in the stands at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium). 

For the 2nd week in a row, I've watched Peyton Manning throw 4 interceptions a game.  4 INTERCEPTIONS A GAME?!?!  Are you kidding me?  Now I know he hasn't always had his regular supporting cast (i.e. the Colts' have been plagued with injuries), but COME ON.

It's tough to be a Colts' fan these days.  It doesn't make it any easier to watch the New England Patriots steamroll the New York Jets right now.  I remember when the Colts and the Patriots battled for the AFC Championship in January of 2004.  I was at Gillette Stadium for that game.  I remember when Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were BOTH at the top of their games...

I'm going to continue to root for Manning and his Colts, but for the rest of the season I'm just going to have to appreciate the sport and games for what they are.  I hope the playoffs and Super Bowl produce compelling match-ups.  Even if the Colts are done after the regular season, there is still a lot of football that this girl can cover. 

Let's just hope the stories are interesting...

THE WIRK

Cold Weather Super Bowl XLVIII - No, Thank You

So I'm in Minneapolis and I was looking at the Vikings website.  I realize that I'm late to the game on this, but here goes...  I saw a quick poll about whether or not visitors to the site "Like the idea of a 'cold weather' Super Bowl".  After attending my first Super Bowl in Miami this year, I figured I'd vote.  I voted "No".  I was surprised at the results of the poll.

 The results of the poll were as follows, with a total of 281 votes:

• 
  
  Yes ~ 58%
• 
  
  No ~ 37%
• 
  
  Not Sure ~ 5%

What I want to know is of the people who voted, how many of them have actually gone to the big game?  We all know that the Super Bowl is primarily a corporate event, unless you're lucky enough to have the disposable income to get yourself a seat.  Tickets to the Super Bowl aren't cheap.  Trust me.  Back when I was looking for a ticket, I couldn't get myself to cough up the hundreds if not thousands of dollars it would've taken me to get a seat worth sitting in.  Thank goodness the ticket fairy landed in my lap!

Maybe it's because I'm admittedly not a fan of cold weather.  My favorite team is the Indianapolis Colts (i.e. before when I lived in Atlanta, I was an Atlanta Falcons fan).  I'll confess - I like domes and being safe from the elements.  Don't get me wrong, I can be tough when I need to be.  In 2004, when the Indianapolis Colts played the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game, I was right there at Gillette Stadium, with my boyfriend at the time and his friend to cheer Peyton Manning on, in a losing effort.

According to Wikipedia: 
Traditionally, the NFL does not award Super Bowls to stadiums that are located in climates less than 50°F (10°C) unless the field is completely covered by a fixed or retractable roof. Only three Super Bowls have been played in northern cities; two in the Detroit area (Super Bowl XVI at Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, and Super Bowl XL at Ford Field in Detroit), and one in Minneapolis (Super Bowl XXVI). However, all three were played inside domed stadiums. There had never been a Super Bowl scheduled to be played outside in cold temperatures, until May 25th, 2010, when it was announced that the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, home to the New York Giants and New York Jets would play host to Super Bowl XLVIII, marking the first time that a Super Bowl will be played outside in a northern city. Super Bowl XLVI will also be played in a northern city, Indianapolis. The new Lucas Oil Stadium has a retractable roof, which presumably will be closed when the game is played in February 2012.

The Vince Lombardi trophy on display at the NFL Commissioner's Party

I can only imagine how cold the conditions will be for the Super Bowl in 2014.  After experiencing a beautiful Super Bowl in Miami (i.e. there wasn't the same tsunami-like rain conditions, like the year Prince performed) ~ blog or no blog, I don't think I'll be there, UNLESS of course, the ticket fairy decides to come back for another visit AND brings hand warmers, a scarf, warm socks, and a down coat.


THE WIRK