My Super Bowl History: This Will be XII; I Think
Someone asked me the other day "how many Super Bowls have you been to?" ... and I honestly didn't know.
I took a guess.
I said, "Maybe 12, 15?"
So just now I looked it up ... and I'm pretty sure it's 12. Or will be, if I get to Glendale, Ariz., as planned ... and get into the stadium, etc. (I am constantly reminded, these days, of something Vin Scully told me: "If you want to make God smile, tell Him your plans.")
The list, chronologically:
1. SB XIV, Pasadena, 1980: Steelers 31, Rams 19; my favorite Super Bowl; great game; lead changed six times
2. SB XVII, Pasadena, 1983: Redskins 27, Dolphins 17; John Riggins and the fourth-down TD run
3. SB XXI, Pasadena, 1987: Giants 39, Broncos 20; I should have been there, but I have no memory of it. Probably should check to make sure I WAS there.
4. SB XXII, San Diego, 1988: Redskins 42, Broncos 10; Denver scored the first 10, Redskins the next 42
5. SB XXVII, Pasadena, 1993: Cowboys 52, Bills 17; Defeat No. 3 of the Bills' four consecutive; ugly game, aside from the Don Beebe/Leon Lett incident
6. SB XXIX, Miami, 1995: 49ers 49, Chargers 26; I was the second-to-last guy out of the press box; that's what I remember ... other than the Seifert-Young Niners rolling.
7. SB XXX, Tempe, 1996: Cowboys 27, Steelers 17; Neil O'Donnell kept throwing interceptions
8. SB XXXI, New Orleans, 1997: Packers 35, Patriots 21; game was ordinary, but Bourbon Street and the SB Party were outstanding
9. SB XXXII, San Diego, 1998: Broncos 31, Packers 24; biggest surprise; I was sure Packers would win
10. SB XXXVII, San Diego, 2003: Buccaneers 48, Raiders 21; the last bleat from the Commitment to Excellence crew
11. SB XXIX, Jacksonville, 2005: Patriots 24, Eagles 21; I drove to this game with my daughter and did a daily diary; the trip was far FAR more memorable than the game
12. SB XLII, Glendale, Ariz., 2008: I suppose this one will be The Patriots Did It ... or not.
The thing about the Super Bowl: Fans/journalists may want to see it in person ... once. I can understand that.
But after going once ... you're better off watching it on television with friends, or at a party. Trust me. It's just such an overblown, out-of-hand zoo, in person. Better to turn it on TV, walk away if you want, ignore the commercials, or embrace them.
The food and drink probably are better, and so is the company, and the halftime/pre-game stuff will be easier to see than from the stands ... and it will cost you $1,000-plus less.
Comments
2005 - Liked your trip diary that ran in the paper. Did not know till now you travelled w/your daughter. Please do another trip diary. They are well written, and wonder why you're NOT a travel writer.
Posted by: Char Ham | February 3, 2008 5:23 PM
Maybe next year. Or the year after. The next two Super Bowls are in Florida. Tampa, then Miami. The diary to Jacksonville, that was fun.
Posted by: Paul Oberjuerge | February 3, 2008 5:33 PM