Concussions ~ Don't play with your health

It's Week 14 of the NFL season and we're still/always talking about concussions.  Here's a quick pictorial that I received from Jen Rhee about concussions.  Fortunately for me, my quarterbacks: Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning are healthy. 

Yes, I am an Indianapolis Colts fan, but I'll always root for Peyton Manning...

Enjoy the infographic.

Please Include Attribution to MastersInHealthcare.com With This Graphic



THE WIRK

Babyface at the Howard Theatre - Love song 90s flashback

I'm a sucker for 90s R&B and I love a good love song.  When I saw that Babyface was at The Howard Theatre, I knew I had to grab a ticket and go.  I picked up my ticket on StubHub, where I found it for 50% off the Ticketmaster price. 

Sure enough, as soon as I bought the ticket, I was reminded that the Denver Broncos were playing Thursday night football.  Oh well.  I hadn't seen Babyface since the mid 90s and I wanted to go.  Every time I've noticed that he was performing near me in the past, his schedule never coincided with mine, so I had to seize the opportunity.

I'd never been to the Howard Theatre before.  I knew it had "recently" been redone.  I went in not knowing what to expect and wow, was I surprised!  It's great in there.  They don't pack people in and there was seating for everyone from what I could tell.  The tickets were general admission, but you may have been able to reserve a table.  I'm not really sure.  The venue serves a full menu, so next time I'm definitely getting there early to dine.  I was able to pull right in front of the theatre and valet my car for $20.  Retrieving the car only took about 20 minutes.

Babyface opened the show with "For the Cool in You" and played songs that he's known for singing and those that he wrote for Bobby Brown, Tevin Campbell, etc.  The show only lasted about 1 hour and 40 minutes, but easily could've ran 3 hours with his extensive catalog.  Personally, I would've preferred that he sang longer, but that's always the case with artists that I love.

The crowd and I sang along through most of the show and Babyface told stories of his youth and how he enjoyed being in love.  To be a successful writer, you need to write about what you know and I'm a firm believer that Babyface is an expert when it comes to writing a love song.  He has the formula down to a science.  Granted he's not the most charismatic artist to ever take the stage, but as he tells his stories you can see he has a sense of humor.

The new year is almost upon us, and then there's Valentine's Day.  Babyface's show was an early Valentine's Day present to myself!

And best of all Peyton Manning led the Broncos to victory later that night.


THE WIRK

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

NFL Sunday Funday and some Temple of the Dog

As of now, I have 10 points for the week in my against the spread (ATS) pool...  I don't think it'll be enough for first place.  If you're not first, it doesn't matter where you fall in the line-up so, "oh well".

I went out for Sunday Funday and met about 10 of my favorites out to watch the New York Giants v Philadelphia Eagles game.  I'm pretty sure the Eagles won, since my friend (i.e. who was giving me a ride home) wanted to leave before the game ended.

Good times with great friends and as usual, when more people showed up they texted other friends and our group grew.

For you music fans out there, here's a funny exchange... 
Jeff to Amy: Did you get my email about "Temple of the Dog"?
Me (interjecting): Did you send it in 1993?

Who knew Temple of the Dog was touring again?  Not this girl...  Anyway, here's "Hunger Strike" for your listening pleasure.  Yes, I pulled it off of Youtube, just for you.



I'd show you a Indianapolis Colts' highlight (i.e. since it's my favorite team) or a Giants' highlight (i.e. since I watched the game), but let's face it...  Both teams lost, so it doesn't matter.  This Sunday was not a good day for the Mannings (i.e. Eli and Peyton), since both brothers had 3 interceptions. 

There's always "next" week.


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

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