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PART FOUR - PRE-GAME STUFF |
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We get to our seats super early - like about 2 hours before kickoff. But to be honest once you sit down (on the nicely provided souvenir Super Bowl cushion), you don't really want to leave as there was a lot of pre-game stuff lined up. As for the view well it was pretty damn fine. About 47 yard line on the 2nd row of the 600 section. The stadium looked fantastic. |
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Already well into their pre-game show were the CBS boys (from the left: Boomer, Deion, Dan and Jim Nance). This was supposed to be Marino's last TV gig ... NOT! |
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The Pats boys were soon out for their warm-ups led by QB Tom Brady (#12). Also shooting for a 2nd SB ring is ex-Claymore and Cheddar Hall of Famer OL Joe Andruzzi (#63). |
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The players have barely left the field when the first hurriedly erected stage was up and the pre-game was off and rolling courtesy of Willie Nelson (black hat) and Toby Keith (white hat). A few bars of a song each and it was over! RATING:
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Next up some Hispanic flavour courtesy of Walter Suhr and Mango Punch. Some nice dancing but not enough punch. RATING:
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Then lots of women took to the field swirling some things round and round. Mesmerizing! RATING:
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Then came one of the NFL's 'house' bands it seems (along with Bon Jovi) - Aerosmith. These guys make the Stones look like young! They made some proper noise, did a snippet of Them's "Baby please don't go" (What's wrong with going to New Orleans anyway?), burst into some other stuff before changing gear to some power ballad drivel. Preferred the girls with the swirly things. RATING:
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Then the stage appeared to blow up. The girls with swirly things ran for their lives. Was this the end for Tyler, Perry & Co? |
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Maybe not, as crack parachutists descended down on the field to rescue them. Where did these guys come from anyway? the roof was closed!
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And yes Aerosmith lived to see another day. Maybe they should go and buy an Arena team like Bon Jovi and square off in a half-time battle of the bands or something. The NFL needs a new house rock n roll band. The answer is simple. SCOOTER!!!! |
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Who is this furry feline making a dash for the end zone? Why it's none other than Sir Purr the Panthers trusty mascot. What has the portly pussycat seen? |
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The Vince Lombardi Trophy! (That's the tiny gleaming thing on the left of the big inflatable one). Sadly Sir Purr is thwarted in his attempt to get his paws on the prize. Security is extra tight around the field and there will be no clowning about on this day ... |
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Then a more somber moment. One year ago to the very day the Columbia shuttle crew were lost, and there was a moving tribute to them just before kickoff, led by singer Josh Groban. Also on hand was the next Shuttle crew (STS-114) who were introduced. Then as a climax, some wobbly spaceman planted his flag upon a fake Moon surface. No truth to the rumour it was Michael Jackson under the helmet. RATING:
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Then it was national anthem time. This was sung by local singer Beyonce Knowles, who we should chastise for 'inspiring' Warren Sapp's hideous endzone antics. People have been jailed for less! But the local gal did good. As did everybody else too. Because as she was belting out the tune, we were holding up a blank card which we flipped toward the end to produce the visual effect shown opposite. This would never work in Dusseldorf. By this time it's enough of a challenge to hold one's self up let alone a color coordinated card! RATING:
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After all this, there was a game still to be played ... SUPERBOWL XXXVIII Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots |
