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Wednesday, February 16 2011
The NFL upped the ante again Tuesday for the 400 fans displaced by problems with temporary seats at the Super Bowl.
Spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league e-mailed all the fans to offer either $5,000 or reimbursement for "actual documented" Super Bowl expenses, whichever figure is higher.
The latest offer is the third and most valuable option for fans who had tickets but no seats in Cowboys Stadium for Green Bay's 31-25 victory against Pittsburgh on Feb. 6.
The NFL decided to extend another offer after commissioner Roger Goodell talked to fans over the past week, McCarthy said in an e-mail.
The first offer was for $2,400 -- three times the face value of the affected seats -- and a ticket to next year's Super Bowl. The league soon added a second option of a ticket to any future Super Bowl plus airfare and hotel costs.
"As you may know, we have been reaching out directly to those fans who regrettably and inexcusably were unable to watch Super Bowl XLV from a seat in Cowboys Stadium," the e-mail to fans stated. "In listening to your feedback, we have decided to offer a third option."
The seating issue has sparked at least two lawsuits against the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys, and the lead attorney for one of the suits was unswayed by Tuesday's move. Attorney Michael Avenatti said the NFL still isn't offering reimbursement for all Super Bowl expenses, or addressing fans who were delayed or relocated to "substandard" seats.
"The NFL and its lawyers need to come clean with the fans as to their right to full compensation and sit down with us to fairly resolve this matter," Avenatti said.
About 1,250 seats were declared unsafe hours before the Super Bowl, and the NFL scrambled to find new seats for about 850 fans. The remaining 400 were forced to watch from standing-room areas or on TV from places with no view of the field.
Documents released after the game show that the Cowboys were slow to respond to requests for building permits needed to install the seats, and indicated that a contractor walked out on the job in the days before the game. (source ESPN)
The NFL upped the ante again Tuesday for the 400 fans displaced by problems with temporary seats at the Super Bowl.
Spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league e-mailed all the fans to offer either $5,000 or reimbursement for "actual documented" Super Bowl expenses, whichever figure is higher.
The latest offer is the third and most valuable option for fans who had tickets but no seats in Cowboys Stadium for Green Bay's 31-25 victory against Pittsburgh on Feb. 6.
The NFL decided to extend another offer after commissioner Roger Goodell talked to fans over the past week, McCarthy said in an e-mail.
The first offer was for $2,400 -- three times the face value of the affected seats -- and a ticket to next year's Super Bowl. The league soon added a second option of a ticket to any future Super Bowl plus airfare and hotel costs.
"As you may know, we have been reaching out directly to those fans who regrettably and inexcusably were unable to watch Super Bowl XLV from a seat in Cowboys Stadium," the e-mail to fans stated. "In listening to your feedback, we have decided to offer a third option."
The seating issue has sparked at least two lawsuits against the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys, and the lead attorney for one of the suits was unswayed by Tuesday's move. Attorney Michael Avenatti said the NFL still isn't offering reimbursement for all Super Bowl expenses, or addressing fans who were delayed or relocated to "substandard" seats.
"The NFL and its lawyers need to come clean with the fans as to their right to full compensation and sit down with us to fairly resolve this matter," Avenatti said.
About 1,250 seats were declared unsafe hours before the Super Bowl, and the NFL scrambled to find new seats for about 850 fans. The remaining 400 were forced to watch from standing-room areas or on TV from places with no view of the field.
Documents released after the game show that the Cowboys were slow to respond to requests for building permits needed to install the seats, and indicated that a contractor walked out on the job in the days before the game. (source ESPN)
Wednesday, February 16 2011
United Football League commissioner Michael Huyghue confirmed that the financially troubled organization will kick off its third season in August as scheduled and that its creditors will be paid.
Huyghue said the UFL lost $45 million to $50 million in 2010 -- after sustaining losses of $32 million during its inaugural 2009 season -- and owes approximately $6 million to creditors. Among those owed money are the Locomotives players, who have yet to receive their $20,000 bonuses for winning the UFL title game Nov. 27.
"The owners have appropriated the money to pay the existing $6 million in expendables," Huyghue said during a break in league meetings at the Locomotives' Pilot Road practice facility. "We anticipate paying everyone within the next two weeks."
That's welcome news to Jeff Mackel, a former Locomotives media relations director who is owed about $5,600 in back salary. Mackel has grown frustrated with his inability to settle with the UFL after his contract was not renewed in December.
"It has put me in a difficult situation," Mackel said. "I'm pretty much through my savings. I've got bills piling up. I e-mailed Michael Huyghue and he told me that the league was having some financial problems but he would take it up with accounting.
"I'm not a disgruntled ex-employee who's looking to cause trouble. I just wish they'd honor my contract so I can do what I need to do and move on."
Las Vegas team owner Bill Hambrecht said part of the problem was with the UFL's Jacksonville, Fla., headquarters, which oversaw the dispersal of funds.
"You didn't know who was owed what," Hambrecht said. "But that's all changed. Now the teams will directly pay their bills."
The checks sent out by the Locomotives will now bear Jim Fassel's signature. Fassel was named Locomotives president Thursday in addition to his duties as coach and general manager.
Fassel has already met with Daren Libonati to negotiate a new lease for his team to play at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Locomotives were charged $100,000 last season to play four home games there and practice at an adjacent field.
UNLV is one of the UFL's numerous creditors. The school has not been paid for the Locomotives' use of Sam Boyd Stadium on Nov. 2 for their home finale last season.
"We are waiting for final payment," said Libonati, the president of Justice Entertainment, which books events for UNLV's athletic facilities. "But I'm not worried about getting paid. We went through the same thing last year. We didn't get paid what was still owed until March."
Faced with mounting losses, the league briefly considered suspending operations for this year, Huyghue said. But the owners decided to stay the course, sensing an opportunity for increased national visibility should the NFL fail to strike a new labor deal and suffer a work stoppage.
"We could be the only game in town," Hambrecht said. "It's potentially a great opportunity for us to showcase our product."
The UFL's five teams -- Las Vegas, Hartford, Sacramento, Omaha and Virginia, which replaces Florida -- are expected to play an eight-game schedule over 10 weeks, just like last season. The only difference is the season will start the first week of August instead of early September.
Huyghue said the key to turning things around financially will be a revised business model that calls for a reduction in costs, an increase in TV revenue and corporate sponsorships and identifying new investors for possible expansion in 2012 and beyond.
"The owners are still probably going to lose $7 million each this year," Huyghue said. "But they are prepared for that and they're committed to seeing this venture through." (source Las Vegas Review Journal)
United Football League commissioner Michael Huyghue confirmed that the financially troubled organization will kick off its third season in August as scheduled and that its creditors will be paid.
Huyghue said the UFL lost $45 million to $50 million in 2010 -- after sustaining losses of $32 million during its inaugural 2009 season -- and owes approximately $6 million to creditors. Among those owed money are the Locomotives players, who have yet to receive their $20,000 bonuses for winning the UFL title game Nov. 27.
"The owners have appropriated the money to pay the existing $6 million in expendables," Huyghue said during a break in league meetings at the Locomotives' Pilot Road practice facility. "We anticipate paying everyone within the next two weeks."
That's welcome news to Jeff Mackel, a former Locomotives media relations director who is owed about $5,600 in back salary. Mackel has grown frustrated with his inability to settle with the UFL after his contract was not renewed in December.
"It has put me in a difficult situation," Mackel said. "I'm pretty much through my savings. I've got bills piling up. I e-mailed Michael Huyghue and he told me that the league was having some financial problems but he would take it up with accounting.
"I'm not a disgruntled ex-employee who's looking to cause trouble. I just wish they'd honor my contract so I can do what I need to do and move on."
Las Vegas team owner Bill Hambrecht said part of the problem was with the UFL's Jacksonville, Fla., headquarters, which oversaw the dispersal of funds.
"You didn't know who was owed what," Hambrecht said. "But that's all changed. Now the teams will directly pay their bills."
The checks sent out by the Locomotives will now bear Jim Fassel's signature. Fassel was named Locomotives president Thursday in addition to his duties as coach and general manager.
Fassel has already met with Daren Libonati to negotiate a new lease for his team to play at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Locomotives were charged $100,000 last season to play four home games there and practice at an adjacent field.
UNLV is one of the UFL's numerous creditors. The school has not been paid for the Locomotives' use of Sam Boyd Stadium on Nov. 2 for their home finale last season.
"We are waiting for final payment," said Libonati, the president of Justice Entertainment, which books events for UNLV's athletic facilities. "But I'm not worried about getting paid. We went through the same thing last year. We didn't get paid what was still owed until March."
Faced with mounting losses, the league briefly considered suspending operations for this year, Huyghue said. But the owners decided to stay the course, sensing an opportunity for increased national visibility should the NFL fail to strike a new labor deal and suffer a work stoppage.
"We could be the only game in town," Hambrecht said. "It's potentially a great opportunity for us to showcase our product."
The UFL's five teams -- Las Vegas, Hartford, Sacramento, Omaha and Virginia, which replaces Florida -- are expected to play an eight-game schedule over 10 weeks, just like last season. The only difference is the season will start the first week of August instead of early September.
Huyghue said the key to turning things around financially will be a revised business model that calls for a reduction in costs, an increase in TV revenue and corporate sponsorships and identifying new investors for possible expansion in 2012 and beyond.
"The owners are still probably going to lose $7 million each this year," Huyghue said. "But they are prepared for that and they're committed to seeing this venture through." (source Las Vegas Review Journal)
Supera la final de la Copa Mundial FIFA 2010.
El Super Bowl XLV en FOX alcanzó un promedio de 10.0 millones de televidentes hispanos, convirtiéndose en el programa con la audiencia hispana mayor en la historia de la televisión estadounidense, según The Nielsen Company.
El partido por el campeonato de la NFL entre Packers y Steelers superó a la final de la Copa Mundial FIFA 2010 entre España y Holanda con 8.95 millones de televidentes hispanos – la marca previa – y un partido de octavos de final de la Copa Mundial FIFA 2010 entre Argentina y México con 8.91 millones de televidentes hispanos. El Super Bowl XLV es también el primer Super Bowl que supera en niveles de televidencia el capítulo final de la exitosa telenovela Destilando Amor (con 8.88 millones de televidentes hispanos).
El Super Bowl XLV es el primer programa televisivo (en inglés o español) que promedia más de 10 millones de televidentes hispanos. Cuatro de los 10 programas más vistos por hispanos en los Estados Unidos en la historia son Super Bowls:
Programas televisivos más presenciados por hispanos en los Estados Unidos
Programa - Promedio televidencia hispana
Super Bowl XLV (Packers-Steelers), 6/2/11, 10.01 millones
Copa Mundial FIFA 2010 (España/Holanda), 11/7/10, 8.95 millones
Copa Mundial FIFA 2010 octavos de final (Argentina/México), 27/6/10, 8.91 millones
Destilando Amor (final telenovela), 3/12/07, 8.88 millones
Super Bowl XLIV (Saints-Colts), 7/2/10, 8.28 millones
Super Bowl XLIII (Steelers-Cardinals), 1/2/09, 7.84 millones
Rubi (capítulo final de la telenovela), 7/3/06, 7.76 millones
Selena ¡VIVE! (concierto benéfico), 7/4/05, 7.65 millones
Super Bowl XLII (Giants-Patriots), 3/2/08, 7.49 millones
Soy Tu Dueña (capítulo final de la telenovela), 27/12/10, 7.18 millones
Fuente: NFL, The Nielsen Company, 1994-2011
El Super Bowl XLV es el programa más presenciado en la historia de la televisión en los Estados Unidos, con una televidencia total de 162.9 millones de televidentes, según The Nielsen Company.
El Super Bowl XLV en FOX alcanzó un promedio de 10.0 millones de televidentes hispanos, convirtiéndose en el programa con la audiencia hispana mayor en la historia de la televisión estadounidense, según The Nielsen Company.
El partido por el campeonato de la NFL entre Packers y Steelers superó a la final de la Copa Mundial FIFA 2010 entre España y Holanda con 8.95 millones de televidentes hispanos – la marca previa – y un partido de octavos de final de la Copa Mundial FIFA 2010 entre Argentina y México con 8.91 millones de televidentes hispanos. El Super Bowl XLV es también el primer Super Bowl que supera en niveles de televidencia el capítulo final de la exitosa telenovela Destilando Amor (con 8.88 millones de televidentes hispanos).
El Super Bowl XLV es el primer programa televisivo (en inglés o español) que promedia más de 10 millones de televidentes hispanos. Cuatro de los 10 programas más vistos por hispanos en los Estados Unidos en la historia son Super Bowls:
Programas televisivos más presenciados por hispanos en los Estados Unidos
Programa - Promedio televidencia hispana
Super Bowl XLV (Packers-Steelers), 6/2/11, 10.01 millones
Copa Mundial FIFA 2010 (España/Holanda), 11/7/10, 8.95 millones
Copa Mundial FIFA 2010 octavos de final (Argentina/México), 27/6/10, 8.91 millones
Destilando Amor (final telenovela), 3/12/07, 8.88 millones
Super Bowl XLIV (Saints-Colts), 7/2/10, 8.28 millones
Super Bowl XLIII (Steelers-Cardinals), 1/2/09, 7.84 millones
Rubi (capítulo final de la telenovela), 7/3/06, 7.76 millones
Selena ¡VIVE! (concierto benéfico), 7/4/05, 7.65 millones
Super Bowl XLII (Giants-Patriots), 3/2/08, 7.49 millones
Soy Tu Dueña (capítulo final de la telenovela), 27/12/10, 7.18 millones
Fuente: NFL, The Nielsen Company, 1994-2011
El Super Bowl XLV es el programa más presenciado en la historia de la televisión en los Estados Unidos, con una televidencia total de 162.9 millones de televidentes, según The Nielsen Company.
Tuesday, February 08 2011
By Michael Rawlings' calculations, it took five tons of cheese steak, 8,000 pounds of hot dogs, 15,000 Kobe beef sliders and a foot-long list of additional goodies to fill the fans that filled Cowboys Stadium for Super Bowl XLV. This article was written by Karen Robinson-Jacobs and appeared in the Dallas Morning News.
Rawlingsis chairman and chief executive of Legends Hospitality, which handles the food service operation at Cowboys stadium – everything from nachos to sushi.
With record attendance of well over 100,000, Rawlings was confident he'd get a record $5 million in Super Bowl food and drink sales.
As he toured the food stations of the Main Concourse and Hall of Fame level before kickoff Sunday, he seemed to be after a more ethereal goal.
"This is a special moment in people's lives," Rawlings said after inspecting the beer can chicken tacos and beef brisket at an NFL On Location stadium party. "We know we need to make it special."
Did he make it less expensive? He thinks his margins are "fair," and food a good value, even at $25 for sushi.
For Allison Halloran, of Westchester, N.Y., the prices for the Stadium fare were reasonable – by New York standards. And it's "a little more upscale than [typical] stadium food," she said after dining on braised pork that cost $25.
Deneice Chavez and husband Kenny of Irving were resigned to pay $9 for nachos and $10 for a beer, given the occasion.
"I think the prices are really high," Deneice Chavez said, "but these are the best nachos I've ever had."
By Michael Rawlings' calculations, it took five tons of cheese steak, 8,000 pounds of hot dogs, 15,000 Kobe beef sliders and a foot-long list of additional goodies to fill the fans that filled Cowboys Stadium for Super Bowl XLV. This article was written by Karen Robinson-Jacobs and appeared in the Dallas Morning News.
Rawlingsis chairman and chief executive of Legends Hospitality, which handles the food service operation at Cowboys stadium – everything from nachos to sushi.
With record attendance of well over 100,000, Rawlings was confident he'd get a record $5 million in Super Bowl food and drink sales.
As he toured the food stations of the Main Concourse and Hall of Fame level before kickoff Sunday, he seemed to be after a more ethereal goal.
"This is a special moment in people's lives," Rawlings said after inspecting the beer can chicken tacos and beef brisket at an NFL On Location stadium party. "We know we need to make it special."
Did he make it less expensive? He thinks his margins are "fair," and food a good value, even at $25 for sushi.
For Allison Halloran, of Westchester, N.Y., the prices for the Stadium fare were reasonable – by New York standards. And it's "a little more upscale than [typical] stadium food," she said after dining on braised pork that cost $25.
Deneice Chavez and husband Kenny of Irving were resigned to pay $9 for nachos and $10 for a beer, given the occasion.
"I think the prices are really high," Deneice Chavez said, "but these are the best nachos I've ever had."
BEGINS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24
WHAT: 2011 NFL Scouting Combine
WHO: Top Players Eligible for the 2011 NFL Draft
Select NFL Head Coaches & General Managers
WHERE: Lucas Oil Stadium, East Club Lounge (Enter through East Gate off of Capitol Ave.)
WHEN: Player groups will be available for interviews on the following days:
Thursday, Feb. 24:
Offensive Linemen, Kickers, Punters, Long Snappers, Tight Ends
Friday, Feb. 25:
Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers
Saturday, Feb. 26:
Defensive Linemen, Linebackers
Sunday, Feb. 27:
Defensive Backs
2011 NFL DRAFT
The NFL Draft will kick off in primetime for the second consecutive year at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The first round will be held on Thursday, April 28. The second and third rounds are set for Friday, April 29. Rounds 4-7 will be held on Saturday, April 30.
WHAT: 2011 NFL Scouting Combine
WHO: Top Players Eligible for the 2011 NFL Draft
Select NFL Head Coaches & General Managers
WHERE: Lucas Oil Stadium, East Club Lounge (Enter through East Gate off of Capitol Ave.)
WHEN: Player groups will be available for interviews on the following days:
Thursday, Feb. 24:
Offensive Linemen, Kickers, Punters, Long Snappers, Tight Ends
Friday, Feb. 25:
Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers
Saturday, Feb. 26:
Defensive Linemen, Linebackers
Sunday, Feb. 27:
Defensive Backs
2011 NFL DRAFT
The NFL Draft will kick off in primetime for the second consecutive year at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The first round will be held on Thursday, April 28. The second and third rounds are set for Friday, April 29. Rounds 4-7 will be held on Saturday, April 30.
Commissioner Roger Goodell announced today that two options will be offered to the approximately 400 fans that purchased a ticket to Super Bowl XLV and did not receive a seat in the stadium due to the installation failure involving their seat in Cowboys Stadium. Each of the holders of the approximately 400 affected tickets will have a choice of:
1. One free ticket to next year’s Super Bowl game plus a cash payment of $2,400 (three times the face value of the Super Bowl XLV game ticket held by the individual). The ticket to next year’s Super Bowl game is transferable.
[OR]
2. One free ticket to a future Super Bowl game of the fan’s choice, including next year’s if so desired, plus round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations provided by the NFL. This offer will be personalized in the ticketholder’s name and is not transferable.
The NFL office, in conjunction with the Steelers, Packers, and Cowboys, is in the process of obtaining contact information for the approximately 400 individuals that did not receive seats in the stadium bowl at Super Bowl XLV. Contact information for any of those individuals can be emailed to SBXLV@nfl.com. A personal call from a senior NFL staff member will follow to answer questions and provide information on how the fan’s choice will be confirmed and fulfilled.
Commissioner Goodell has initiated a complete review of the matter, including all seating and stadium entrance issues, to determine where the breakdowns occurred.
“We are ultimately responsible for the fan experience and we want it to be the best it can possibly be,” Commissioner Goodell said.
1. One free ticket to next year’s Super Bowl game plus a cash payment of $2,400 (three times the face value of the Super Bowl XLV game ticket held by the individual). The ticket to next year’s Super Bowl game is transferable.
[OR]
2. One free ticket to a future Super Bowl game of the fan’s choice, including next year’s if so desired, plus round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations provided by the NFL. This offer will be personalized in the ticketholder’s name and is not transferable.
The NFL office, in conjunction with the Steelers, Packers, and Cowboys, is in the process of obtaining contact information for the approximately 400 individuals that did not receive seats in the stadium bowl at Super Bowl XLV. Contact information for any of those individuals can be emailed to SBXLV@nfl.com. A personal call from a senior NFL staff member will follow to answer questions and provide information on how the fan’s choice will be confirmed and fulfilled.
Commissioner Goodell has initiated a complete review of the matter, including all seating and stadium entrance issues, to determine where the breakdowns occurred.
“We are ultimately responsible for the fan experience and we want it to be the best it can possibly be,” Commissioner Goodell said.
Monday, February 07 2011
A pugnacious pug, a thirsty gunslinger, a pint-sized Darth Vader and wild Kia drive through space, time and myth were among the most eye-catching Super Bowl XLV commercials Sunday night.
Advertisers plunked down up to $3 million for 30-second spots to peddle beer, cars, tires, chips, soft drinks, movies and other products during what should easily be the most-watched TV event of the year.
Most of the commercials used humor to make the pitch. But with more than 40 commercials there was a lot of clutter during the battle between Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
A cute little pug was the hero of the first commercial break. An obnoxious guy relentlessly teases the dog with a Doritos chip until the pug plows onto a glass door, pinning the doofus to the floor.
This amateur commercial from a couple reportedly only cost $500 to make. They used their pet dog Oko No-No.
At the other end of the expense spectrum was the head-spinning use of special effects in a commercial for the Kia Optima. The car is snatched off the road by a James Bond styled helicopter. It is then dropped in an ocean where a Poseidon catches it and hands it off to aliens. They drive it on a distant planet in to a wormhole where it emerges at an ancient Mayan temple.
Budweiser also scored early with a cowboy-themed spot in which a tough stranger rides in to a western town looking for a beer. The saloon is out of Bud and tension builds toward a showdown. But the Clydesdales are on the way, arriving just in time to cool off the gunslinger who breaks into song, leading the patrons in Elton John's "Tiny Dancer."
The commercials rolled by fast during the game with most being only mildly amusing. Bud Light poked fun at HGTV home improvement shows with a handyman remodeling a kitchen by only adding a bucket of beer.
There was nothing as surprisingly good as last year's Snicker's commercial featuring Betty White and Abe Vigoda. In the new Snicker's spot, cranky loggers are represented by cranky comics Richard Lewis and Roseanne Barr.
Volkswagen scored an "ahh that's cute" moment with kid in a Darth Vader outfit. The little guy tries his best "Star Wars" moves but can't muster "the force" until the family Volkswagen starts up (with secret help from Dad using a remote key).
The much-touted Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne spot for Best Buy wasn't as impressive or humorous as others that preceded it.
Doritos gave viewers the most creepy (but memorable) commercial in which a nerd who craves the cheesy chip licks a guys fingers and pulls off a co-workers' pants to sniff cheese wiped on the pockets.
Other memorable moments:
•Two inmates at a posh prison for the wealthy try to break out, getting past the hounds and the smoothing Kenny G music. One escapee is tricked into getting into a limo that takes him back to jail. The other gets away in an Audi.
• One of the best for Doritos features a man who is house-sitting for a friend and lets things go. He discovers that sprinkling Doritos crumbs on the dead fish he forgot to feed brings them back to life. He also sprinkles chips on the ashes of his friend's grandfather.
•Elderly, hearing-impaired people can't understand a TV commercial about how the Chevy Cruze Echo gets 42 miles to the gallon.
•A couple battles over calorie counting as she thwarts his every attempt to snack. They finally share a Pepsi Max in the park. But when he flirts with a cute blonde on a park bench, his gal tosses a can at him. He ducks and the can beans the cutie.
•Movie makers go overboard with Bud Light props in French costume drama to get free beer for unabashed product placement.
•A Chevy Silverado truck pulls a Lassie by honking for help when little Tommy is stuck in a well, trapped in a cave, swallowed by a whale and threatened by a volcano.
•Another Pepsi ad features a nerdy guy is teased because he is unable to catch the soft drink can that is shot from a cooler at high speed. He gets revenge on a tormentor by hitting him in the crotch with a can of Pepsi Max.
•A young man with a mobile video pad is on a mission that recalls George Orwell's "1984" and the legendary 1984 Apple Super Bowl commercial. With the Motorola Xoom tablet he sends virtual flowers to a woman, bringing color to a colorless world.
•An animated Eminem puppet fumes over not wanting to do commercials until he discovers Brisk tea drink. But he has a tantrum when the company won't change the drink's name to Eminen.
•Office nerd Rod sends an embarrassing e-mail and the guy in the next cubical warns that it's going to everyone in the company. Rod dashes around town, grabbing-up laptops and mobile phones. He speeds around thanks to Bridgestone tires.
•Buff celebrities Danica Patrick and Jillian Michaels unveil the last hot bodied babe for job-finder site GoDaddy.com. Surprise! It's Joan Rivers' head computer-generated on to a well-endowed female body.
•Faith Hill tries to help a young man compose a love letter but the best he can do is "Dear Kim, Your rack is unreal." It's a good thing he sent Teleflora flowers, too.
All the commercials can be seen at www.superbowlads.fanhouse.com (source TBO.com)
A pugnacious pug, a thirsty gunslinger, a pint-sized Darth Vader and wild Kia drive through space, time and myth were among the most eye-catching Super Bowl XLV commercials Sunday night.
Advertisers plunked down up to $3 million for 30-second spots to peddle beer, cars, tires, chips, soft drinks, movies and other products during what should easily be the most-watched TV event of the year.
Most of the commercials used humor to make the pitch. But with more than 40 commercials there was a lot of clutter during the battle between Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
A cute little pug was the hero of the first commercial break. An obnoxious guy relentlessly teases the dog with a Doritos chip until the pug plows onto a glass door, pinning the doofus to the floor.
This amateur commercial from a couple reportedly only cost $500 to make. They used their pet dog Oko No-No.
At the other end of the expense spectrum was the head-spinning use of special effects in a commercial for the Kia Optima. The car is snatched off the road by a James Bond styled helicopter. It is then dropped in an ocean where a Poseidon catches it and hands it off to aliens. They drive it on a distant planet in to a wormhole where it emerges at an ancient Mayan temple.
Budweiser also scored early with a cowboy-themed spot in which a tough stranger rides in to a western town looking for a beer. The saloon is out of Bud and tension builds toward a showdown. But the Clydesdales are on the way, arriving just in time to cool off the gunslinger who breaks into song, leading the patrons in Elton John's "Tiny Dancer."
The commercials rolled by fast during the game with most being only mildly amusing. Bud Light poked fun at HGTV home improvement shows with a handyman remodeling a kitchen by only adding a bucket of beer.
There was nothing as surprisingly good as last year's Snicker's commercial featuring Betty White and Abe Vigoda. In the new Snicker's spot, cranky loggers are represented by cranky comics Richard Lewis and Roseanne Barr.
Volkswagen scored an "ahh that's cute" moment with kid in a Darth Vader outfit. The little guy tries his best "Star Wars" moves but can't muster "the force" until the family Volkswagen starts up (with secret help from Dad using a remote key).
The much-touted Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne spot for Best Buy wasn't as impressive or humorous as others that preceded it.
Doritos gave viewers the most creepy (but memorable) commercial in which a nerd who craves the cheesy chip licks a guys fingers and pulls off a co-workers' pants to sniff cheese wiped on the pockets.
Other memorable moments:
•Two inmates at a posh prison for the wealthy try to break out, getting past the hounds and the smoothing Kenny G music. One escapee is tricked into getting into a limo that takes him back to jail. The other gets away in an Audi.
• One of the best for Doritos features a man who is house-sitting for a friend and lets things go. He discovers that sprinkling Doritos crumbs on the dead fish he forgot to feed brings them back to life. He also sprinkles chips on the ashes of his friend's grandfather.
•Elderly, hearing-impaired people can't understand a TV commercial about how the Chevy Cruze Echo gets 42 miles to the gallon.
•A couple battles over calorie counting as she thwarts his every attempt to snack. They finally share a Pepsi Max in the park. But when he flirts with a cute blonde on a park bench, his gal tosses a can at him. He ducks and the can beans the cutie.
•Movie makers go overboard with Bud Light props in French costume drama to get free beer for unabashed product placement.
•A Chevy Silverado truck pulls a Lassie by honking for help when little Tommy is stuck in a well, trapped in a cave, swallowed by a whale and threatened by a volcano.
•Another Pepsi ad features a nerdy guy is teased because he is unable to catch the soft drink can that is shot from a cooler at high speed. He gets revenge on a tormentor by hitting him in the crotch with a can of Pepsi Max.
•A young man with a mobile video pad is on a mission that recalls George Orwell's "1984" and the legendary 1984 Apple Super Bowl commercial. With the Motorola Xoom tablet he sends virtual flowers to a woman, bringing color to a colorless world.
•An animated Eminem puppet fumes over not wanting to do commercials until he discovers Brisk tea drink. But he has a tantrum when the company won't change the drink's name to Eminen.
•Office nerd Rod sends an embarrassing e-mail and the guy in the next cubical warns that it's going to everyone in the company. Rod dashes around town, grabbing-up laptops and mobile phones. He speeds around thanks to Bridgestone tires.
•Buff celebrities Danica Patrick and Jillian Michaels unveil the last hot bodied babe for job-finder site GoDaddy.com. Surprise! It's Joan Rivers' head computer-generated on to a well-endowed female body.
•Faith Hill tries to help a young man compose a love letter but the best he can do is "Dear Kim, Your rack is unreal." It's a good thing he sent Teleflora flowers, too.
All the commercials can be seen at www.superbowlads.fanhouse.com (source TBO.com)
Monday, February 07 2011
The advertising bowl that took place inside Super Bowl XLV on Sunday offered a wild — and somewhat welcome — ride through six decades of popular culture.
Thankfully, many viewers had probably fastened their seat belts before tuning in to Fox, considering that almost half the companies that bought commercial time in the game had something to do with the auto industry, among them nine car brands from A (Audi) to V (Volkswagen), along with Bridgestone, CarMax and Cars.com.
The traffic jam may be another sign of the postrecession recovery on Madison Avenue, but it made for occasional difficulty in distinguishing the Elantras from the Optimas.
It would also have been difficult to figure out most of the 60-plus commercials without a working knowledge of Americana or, at least, access during the game to Wikipedia (if not WikiLeaks). The spots dished up a dizzying — and at times ditzy — mélange of celebrity star turns, movie references, homages to television shows, snippets of songs and even hat-tips to other spots.
To fully appreciate the commercials, it helped to be at least passingly familiar with “Almost Famous,” “Back to the Future,” Roseanne Barr, Busby Berkeley, Justin Bieber, Adrien Brody, David Bowie, Diddy, the “Dogs Playing Poker” paintings, Howdy Doody, early video games, Thomas Edison and Eminem (who turned up in two spots, for Chrysler and Lipton Brisk).
Also, Facebook, geeks, “Glee,” Jimi Hendrix, Faith Hill, home-improvement TV series, Timothy Hutton, Janis Joplin, Kenny G, “Lassie,” Richard Lewis, nerds, “1984” (the novel) and “1984” (the Apple commercial from the 1984 Super Bowl).
Plus, Joan Rivers, silent movies, the Snickers spot from the 2010 Super Bowl, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, spy movies, “Star Wars,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” “Tiny Dancer,” “The Twilight Zone,” western movies, the “Where’s the beef?” commercial for Wendy’s and yuppies.
Whew. That is a big barrel of borrowed interest, to use the marketing term for wooing consumers by filling ads with familiar elements. The Super Bowl sponsors last year did it, too, rolling out proven draws like Kiss, “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and Betty White, but they were pikers compared with the advertisers and agencies that raided the national memory banks on Sunday.
On the other hand, there was a notable absence of athletes in ads, unlike Super Bowl XLIV, with spots that featured, among others, Lance Armstrong and Brett Favre. (The athletes’ recent history may explain why advertisers steered clear of locker rooms.)
There is nothing wrong with ads based on tropes or memes if they offer a twist or turn on the tried and true. Some managed that feat, but others were, alas, trite and tired. The culprits mainly fell back on devices like anthropomorphic animals, objectification of women and violent slapstick.
Here is a look at some of the high and low points among the spots shown nationally during the game. The commercials were among almost 50 provided to reporters before Sunday.
ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV A Budweiser beer commercial, by the Anomaly agency, amusingly crossed a western with the “Tiny Dancer” scene from the rock film “Almost Famous,” even giving the brand’s Clydesdales a cameo. A moody spot for Stella Artois, by Mother, seemed inspired by a scene in a jazz club from “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” replacing one improbably singing actor, Matt Damon, with another, Mr. Brody.
CARMAX One ad, likening a used-car buyer who shops at CarMax to “a geek at a robot convention” and “a mermaid at a swim meet,” was cute. The other, “Gas Station,” above, deftly recreated the moment in “Back to the Future” when Marty McFly watched disbelievingly as four eager attendants serviced a car at a 1955 Texaco station, then topped its inspiration by adding a cheerful milkman. The point: “We believe customer service shouldn’t be a thing of the past.” Agency: Amalgamated.
CHEVROLET A brand that has rarely been funny tickled countless ulnar nerves. One spot, set in a retirement home, evoked “Where’s the beef?” with oldsters who were hard of hearing. A second cast a Silverado truck as Lassie, constantly warning about a boy who needed rescuing from way-out mishaps (“I didn’t even know this town had a volcano,” Dad grumbled). Agency: Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, part of the Omnicom Group.
E*TRADE The “talking” baby returned in a funny spot meant to demonstrate how E*Trade can help even the youngest investors afford custom-made suits, and their tailors afford to retire to Tuscany. The commercial was marred when the baby briefly spoke in a stereotyped Italian accent reminiscent of Chico Marx. Agency: Grey New York, part of the Grey Group unit of WPP.
GODADDY One commercial served up the usual GoDaddy sexist schlock, suggesting the “GoDaddy Girls,” as its pitchwomen are demeaningly known, were naked. The other was better, or less worse, unveiling a feisty Ms. Rivers as an endorser for the new GoDaddy.co Web domain. Agency: internal.
GROUPON The purveyor of digital coupons went for shock-value humor with a spot that featured Mr. Hutton, below, bemoaning the plight of “the people of Tibet,” then veering off to praise a group discount at a Tibetan restaurant in Chicago. The commercial made Kenneth Cole’s comment about Egypt on Twitter last week — “Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available” — seem sensitive. Agency: Crispin Porter & Bogusky, part of MDC Partners.
MOTOROLA MOBILITY It takes nerve to evoke Apple’s famous “1984” Super Bowl spot in a Super Bowl spot, above, especially when peddling a product, the Xoom tablet, that competes against Apple’s iPad. A heart-warming tale about love conquering Big Brother helped pull it off. Agency: Anomaly.
PEPSICO Six commercials created by consumers, for Doritos, above, and Pepsi Max, were among the few that did not ransack pop culture for plot lines. Instead, several resorted, unfortunately, to crude, cruel violence for punch lines. The stand-out was a spot for Doritos, “The Best Part,” proclaiming they are finger-licking — and pants-licking — good.
SNICKERS A Snickers spot last year, with Ms. White, was a huge hit, so Snickers ripped itself off, replacing Ms. White with Ms. Barr and Ms. White’s partner, Abe Vigoda, with Mr. Lewis. Last year, Ms. White was knocked to the ground. This year, Ms. Barr, right, was knocked to the ground. Will next year be Florence Henderson’s turn? Agency: BBDO New York, part of the BBDO Worldwide unit of Omnicom.
VOLKSWAGEN A loving, spot-on tribute to “Star Wars,” and its ardent fans, presented a child dressed as Darth Vader who failed at conjuring up “the Force” until he got a hand from his father and the family’s new Passat. Agency: Deutsch L.A., part of the Deutsch unit of Lowe & Partners Worldwide, owned by the Interpublic Group of Companies.(source New York Times)
The advertising bowl that took place inside Super Bowl XLV on Sunday offered a wild — and somewhat welcome — ride through six decades of popular culture.
Thankfully, many viewers had probably fastened their seat belts before tuning in to Fox, considering that almost half the companies that bought commercial time in the game had something to do with the auto industry, among them nine car brands from A (Audi) to V (Volkswagen), along with Bridgestone, CarMax and Cars.com.
The traffic jam may be another sign of the postrecession recovery on Madison Avenue, but it made for occasional difficulty in distinguishing the Elantras from the Optimas.
It would also have been difficult to figure out most of the 60-plus commercials without a working knowledge of Americana or, at least, access during the game to Wikipedia (if not WikiLeaks). The spots dished up a dizzying — and at times ditzy — mélange of celebrity star turns, movie references, homages to television shows, snippets of songs and even hat-tips to other spots.
To fully appreciate the commercials, it helped to be at least passingly familiar with “Almost Famous,” “Back to the Future,” Roseanne Barr, Busby Berkeley, Justin Bieber, Adrien Brody, David Bowie, Diddy, the “Dogs Playing Poker” paintings, Howdy Doody, early video games, Thomas Edison and Eminem (who turned up in two spots, for Chrysler and Lipton Brisk).
Also, Facebook, geeks, “Glee,” Jimi Hendrix, Faith Hill, home-improvement TV series, Timothy Hutton, Janis Joplin, Kenny G, “Lassie,” Richard Lewis, nerds, “1984” (the novel) and “1984” (the Apple commercial from the 1984 Super Bowl).
Plus, Joan Rivers, silent movies, the Snickers spot from the 2010 Super Bowl, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, spy movies, “Star Wars,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” “Tiny Dancer,” “The Twilight Zone,” western movies, the “Where’s the beef?” commercial for Wendy’s and yuppies.
Whew. That is a big barrel of borrowed interest, to use the marketing term for wooing consumers by filling ads with familiar elements. The Super Bowl sponsors last year did it, too, rolling out proven draws like Kiss, “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and Betty White, but they were pikers compared with the advertisers and agencies that raided the national memory banks on Sunday.
On the other hand, there was a notable absence of athletes in ads, unlike Super Bowl XLIV, with spots that featured, among others, Lance Armstrong and Brett Favre. (The athletes’ recent history may explain why advertisers steered clear of locker rooms.)
There is nothing wrong with ads based on tropes or memes if they offer a twist or turn on the tried and true. Some managed that feat, but others were, alas, trite and tired. The culprits mainly fell back on devices like anthropomorphic animals, objectification of women and violent slapstick.
Here is a look at some of the high and low points among the spots shown nationally during the game. The commercials were among almost 50 provided to reporters before Sunday.
ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV A Budweiser beer commercial, by the Anomaly agency, amusingly crossed a western with the “Tiny Dancer” scene from the rock film “Almost Famous,” even giving the brand’s Clydesdales a cameo. A moody spot for Stella Artois, by Mother, seemed inspired by a scene in a jazz club from “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” replacing one improbably singing actor, Matt Damon, with another, Mr. Brody.
CARMAX One ad, likening a used-car buyer who shops at CarMax to “a geek at a robot convention” and “a mermaid at a swim meet,” was cute. The other, “Gas Station,” above, deftly recreated the moment in “Back to the Future” when Marty McFly watched disbelievingly as four eager attendants serviced a car at a 1955 Texaco station, then topped its inspiration by adding a cheerful milkman. The point: “We believe customer service shouldn’t be a thing of the past.” Agency: Amalgamated.
CHEVROLET A brand that has rarely been funny tickled countless ulnar nerves. One spot, set in a retirement home, evoked “Where’s the beef?” with oldsters who were hard of hearing. A second cast a Silverado truck as Lassie, constantly warning about a boy who needed rescuing from way-out mishaps (“I didn’t even know this town had a volcano,” Dad grumbled). Agency: Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, part of the Omnicom Group.
E*TRADE The “talking” baby returned in a funny spot meant to demonstrate how E*Trade can help even the youngest investors afford custom-made suits, and their tailors afford to retire to Tuscany. The commercial was marred when the baby briefly spoke in a stereotyped Italian accent reminiscent of Chico Marx. Agency: Grey New York, part of the Grey Group unit of WPP.
GODADDY One commercial served up the usual GoDaddy sexist schlock, suggesting the “GoDaddy Girls,” as its pitchwomen are demeaningly known, were naked. The other was better, or less worse, unveiling a feisty Ms. Rivers as an endorser for the new GoDaddy.co Web domain. Agency: internal.
GROUPON The purveyor of digital coupons went for shock-value humor with a spot that featured Mr. Hutton, below, bemoaning the plight of “the people of Tibet,” then veering off to praise a group discount at a Tibetan restaurant in Chicago. The commercial made Kenneth Cole’s comment about Egypt on Twitter last week — “Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available” — seem sensitive. Agency: Crispin Porter & Bogusky, part of MDC Partners.
MOTOROLA MOBILITY It takes nerve to evoke Apple’s famous “1984” Super Bowl spot in a Super Bowl spot, above, especially when peddling a product, the Xoom tablet, that competes against Apple’s iPad. A heart-warming tale about love conquering Big Brother helped pull it off. Agency: Anomaly.
PEPSICO Six commercials created by consumers, for Doritos, above, and Pepsi Max, were among the few that did not ransack pop culture for plot lines. Instead, several resorted, unfortunately, to crude, cruel violence for punch lines. The stand-out was a spot for Doritos, “The Best Part,” proclaiming they are finger-licking — and pants-licking — good.
SNICKERS A Snickers spot last year, with Ms. White, was a huge hit, so Snickers ripped itself off, replacing Ms. White with Ms. Barr and Ms. White’s partner, Abe Vigoda, with Mr. Lewis. Last year, Ms. White was knocked to the ground. This year, Ms. Barr, right, was knocked to the ground. Will next year be Florence Henderson’s turn? Agency: BBDO New York, part of the BBDO Worldwide unit of Omnicom.
VOLKSWAGEN A loving, spot-on tribute to “Star Wars,” and its ardent fans, presented a child dressed as Darth Vader who failed at conjuring up “the Force” until he got a hand from his father and the family’s new Passat. Agency: Deutsch L.A., part of the Deutsch unit of Lowe & Partners Worldwide, owned by the Interpublic Group of Companies.(source New York Times)
Monday, February 07 2011
Christina Aguilera flubbed a line as she belted out the national anthem at the start of the Super Bowl Sunday night.
When she was supposed to sing the line “O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming,” she instead repeated an earlier line, with a slight variation.
She sang “What so proudly we watched at the twilight’s last gleaming,” which is the same line from earlier in the song but with the word `watched’ instead of the word `hailed.’
The mistake immediately set social networks abuzz with people commenting on the error.
Aguilera’s representative did not immediately return a call and e-mail seeking comment.
She’s not the first person to mess up the lines of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In 2001, Macy Gray was famously booed for her off-kilter rendition of the national anthem.
She garbled the words at the Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibition game in Canton, Ohio, her home state. She later told The Associated Press: “That was definitely life’s most embarrassing moment.” (source Yahoo Sports)
Christina Aguilera flubbed a line as she belted out the national anthem at the start of the Super Bowl Sunday night.
When she was supposed to sing the line “O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming,” she instead repeated an earlier line, with a slight variation.
She sang “What so proudly we watched at the twilight’s last gleaming,” which is the same line from earlier in the song but with the word `watched’ instead of the word `hailed.’
The mistake immediately set social networks abuzz with people commenting on the error.
Aguilera’s representative did not immediately return a call and e-mail seeking comment.
She’s not the first person to mess up the lines of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In 2001, Macy Gray was famously booed for her off-kilter rendition of the national anthem.
She garbled the words at the Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibition game in Canton, Ohio, her home state. She later told The Associated Press: “That was definitely life’s most embarrassing moment.” (source Yahoo Sports)
Monday, February 07 2011
This was the season that hip-hop finally caught up to the N.F.L., something that happened weeks before the Black Eyed Peas took center stage at Cowboys Stadium for the Super Bowl XLV halftime show.
For months, the Pittsburgh Steelers have had their own unofficial fight song: “Black and Yellow,” by the young Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa. Hip-hop is generally far more associated with the slick N.B.A. than the surly N.F.L., but “Black and Yellow,” currently the No. 3 song on the Billboard pop singles chart, is the most significant football-related hip-hop song since “The Super Bowl Shuffle,” recorded by members of the 1985 Chicago Bears, who went on to win Super Bowl XX. (The less said of the rap catalog of the newly inducted Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, the better.)
That song figured heavily in pregame coverage of this year’s event, but the halftime show is sacred ground, choreographed to the second, stacked for maximum impact. Which meant that while hip-hop would get its say, it would be from the mouths of the Black Eyed Peas, the most denuded and hybridized of all hip-hop acts, and guaranteed appeasers of all demographics. They’re incontrovertible stars, and the ones most likely to deliver a frictionless performance.
Hip-hop had made cameos at the Super Bowl before. Queen Latifah was part of a Motown tribute during the halftime of Super Bowl XXXII, in 1998. Nelly has performed twice, for Super Bowl XXXV in 2001 (organized by MTV, it was the first youth-minded halftime show line-up), and for XXXVIII, in 2004, at which P. Diddy also performed, in what was the most hip-hop halftime show to date. (That was also the year of the wardrobe malfunction.)
But rap has always been a side dish, never the main course. So when the Black Eyed Peas — the rapper and producer will.i.am, the singer Fergie, the extras apl.de.ap and Taboo — descended onto the stage on platforms dangling from cables, dressed like a friendly alien delegation on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” it constituted a victory of a sort, even if it was a short-lived one.
The Black Eyed Peas began life a decade and a half ago as a socially conscious, dance-friendly underground hip-hop group and are now the ambassadors for hip-hop to the rest of the world. Their fundamental tenets remain, though — good cheer, movement, gauche taste — even as they churn out supersize, occasionless songs, at breakneck tempos, designed for maximum impact.
Theirs is music that works harder than the performers, which was a liability during the early part of the set, especially on “Boom Boom Pow,” one of the most limber pop songs in recent years, but which the group delivered largely standing still, letting the phalanxes of dancers around them do most of the work.
Those clusters of bodies were key. Unlike in previous years, in which fans were allowed on the field to suffocate the stage, this year there were hundreds of dancers in illuminated unitards helping round out the Black Eyed Peas’ space show. They formed arrows to direct the eye to action on the stage, and during “Where Is the Love?” formed hearts, lit up red and scattered across the field.
After two songs, Slash was inserted into the set-up for a jolt of arena rock, playing a crisp version of “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” dodging Fergie’s vocal and physical histrionics. That was for hip-hop novices, even though the Black Eyed Peas know how to service that audience on their own. They played “The Time (Dirty Bit),” which borrows from “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” (the theme from “Dirty Dancing”), and “Pump It,” which samples Dick Dale’s “Misirlou,” popularized in “Pulp Fiction.”
These are the group’s dimmest songs, the ones on which they pander the most. Stiffness aside, “Boom Boom Pow” was better, as was the relentless “I Gotta Feeling,” which opened and closed the set. The show peaked when Usher joined in, performing his hit “OMG,” which will.i.am produced and is featured on. But Usher’s spectacular choreography, including a high leap over a kneeling will.i.am, landing in a split, only ended up highlighting the headliners’ weaknesses.
Even amid these anonymous smash hits, it was hard not to think of “Black and Yellow,” a relaxed anthem of hometown pride pegged to the Steelers’ team colors, more or less: “Black and Gold” doesn’t have quite the same melodic punch. (The song works just fine for the Pirates and the Penguins, too, it should be noted: Pittsburgh is a chromatically narrow town.) Like any good fan, Wiz Khalifa pays tribute to his team, though in his case, it’s his car and diamonds that are decked in team colors.
Released in early September, “Black and Yellow” has risen hand in hand with the Steelers, who began playing the song at Heinz Field during the season, and who adopted it as their game-concluding song during the playoffs, playing it over the loudspeakers after home victories. Wiz Khalifa was invited to perform the song before the A.F.C. championship game last month. The video even features an appearance by Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley.“”
Last week the avowed cheesehead Lil Wayne released “Green & Yellow,” a feisty, if clunky rejoinder, in which he takes potshots at Ben Roethlisberger and Ike Taylor and muses, “Steel Curtain/ What is that, velvet?” It wasn’t the equal of the original, but it took some of the sting out of a partisan song.
Naturally, there’s a need for the N.F.L. to remain unbiased, preventing the performance of these songs during the halftime show. But this year more then ever, there was a ripe opportunity for an alternate halftime arrangement, official or otherwise, in which Wiz Khalifa and Lil Wayne could face off head to head. If puppies and lingerie-clad models can have their spin-off battles, why not rappers? Instead, Lil Wayne was watching the game from a luxury box. Wiz Khalifa, who had performed at an event in Dallas on Friday night, was in Las Vegas for a concert. It was an opportunity squandered. (source New York Times)
This was the season that hip-hop finally caught up to the N.F.L., something that happened weeks before the Black Eyed Peas took center stage at Cowboys Stadium for the Super Bowl XLV halftime show.
For months, the Pittsburgh Steelers have had their own unofficial fight song: “Black and Yellow,” by the young Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa. Hip-hop is generally far more associated with the slick N.B.A. than the surly N.F.L., but “Black and Yellow,” currently the No. 3 song on the Billboard pop singles chart, is the most significant football-related hip-hop song since “The Super Bowl Shuffle,” recorded by members of the 1985 Chicago Bears, who went on to win Super Bowl XX. (The less said of the rap catalog of the newly inducted Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, the better.)
That song figured heavily in pregame coverage of this year’s event, but the halftime show is sacred ground, choreographed to the second, stacked for maximum impact. Which meant that while hip-hop would get its say, it would be from the mouths of the Black Eyed Peas, the most denuded and hybridized of all hip-hop acts, and guaranteed appeasers of all demographics. They’re incontrovertible stars, and the ones most likely to deliver a frictionless performance.
Hip-hop had made cameos at the Super Bowl before. Queen Latifah was part of a Motown tribute during the halftime of Super Bowl XXXII, in 1998. Nelly has performed twice, for Super Bowl XXXV in 2001 (organized by MTV, it was the first youth-minded halftime show line-up), and for XXXVIII, in 2004, at which P. Diddy also performed, in what was the most hip-hop halftime show to date. (That was also the year of the wardrobe malfunction.)
But rap has always been a side dish, never the main course. So when the Black Eyed Peas — the rapper and producer will.i.am, the singer Fergie, the extras apl.de.ap and Taboo — descended onto the stage on platforms dangling from cables, dressed like a friendly alien delegation on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” it constituted a victory of a sort, even if it was a short-lived one.
The Black Eyed Peas began life a decade and a half ago as a socially conscious, dance-friendly underground hip-hop group and are now the ambassadors for hip-hop to the rest of the world. Their fundamental tenets remain, though — good cheer, movement, gauche taste — even as they churn out supersize, occasionless songs, at breakneck tempos, designed for maximum impact.
Theirs is music that works harder than the performers, which was a liability during the early part of the set, especially on “Boom Boom Pow,” one of the most limber pop songs in recent years, but which the group delivered largely standing still, letting the phalanxes of dancers around them do most of the work.
Those clusters of bodies were key. Unlike in previous years, in which fans were allowed on the field to suffocate the stage, this year there were hundreds of dancers in illuminated unitards helping round out the Black Eyed Peas’ space show. They formed arrows to direct the eye to action on the stage, and during “Where Is the Love?” formed hearts, lit up red and scattered across the field.
After two songs, Slash was inserted into the set-up for a jolt of arena rock, playing a crisp version of “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” dodging Fergie’s vocal and physical histrionics. That was for hip-hop novices, even though the Black Eyed Peas know how to service that audience on their own. They played “The Time (Dirty Bit),” which borrows from “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” (the theme from “Dirty Dancing”), and “Pump It,” which samples Dick Dale’s “Misirlou,” popularized in “Pulp Fiction.”
These are the group’s dimmest songs, the ones on which they pander the most. Stiffness aside, “Boom Boom Pow” was better, as was the relentless “I Gotta Feeling,” which opened and closed the set. The show peaked when Usher joined in, performing his hit “OMG,” which will.i.am produced and is featured on. But Usher’s spectacular choreography, including a high leap over a kneeling will.i.am, landing in a split, only ended up highlighting the headliners’ weaknesses.
Even amid these anonymous smash hits, it was hard not to think of “Black and Yellow,” a relaxed anthem of hometown pride pegged to the Steelers’ team colors, more or less: “Black and Gold” doesn’t have quite the same melodic punch. (The song works just fine for the Pirates and the Penguins, too, it should be noted: Pittsburgh is a chromatically narrow town.) Like any good fan, Wiz Khalifa pays tribute to his team, though in his case, it’s his car and diamonds that are decked in team colors.
Released in early September, “Black and Yellow” has risen hand in hand with the Steelers, who began playing the song at Heinz Field during the season, and who adopted it as their game-concluding song during the playoffs, playing it over the loudspeakers after home victories. Wiz Khalifa was invited to perform the song before the A.F.C. championship game last month. The video even features an appearance by Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley.“”
Last week the avowed cheesehead Lil Wayne released “Green & Yellow,” a feisty, if clunky rejoinder, in which he takes potshots at Ben Roethlisberger and Ike Taylor and muses, “Steel Curtain/ What is that, velvet?” It wasn’t the equal of the original, but it took some of the sting out of a partisan song.
Naturally, there’s a need for the N.F.L. to remain unbiased, preventing the performance of these songs during the halftime show. But this year more then ever, there was a ripe opportunity for an alternate halftime arrangement, official or otherwise, in which Wiz Khalifa and Lil Wayne could face off head to head. If puppies and lingerie-clad models can have their spin-off battles, why not rappers? Instead, Lil Wayne was watching the game from a luxury box. Wiz Khalifa, who had performed at an event in Dallas on Friday night, was in Las Vegas for a concert. It was an opportunity squandered. (source New York Times)
Monday, February 07 2011
Ice, snow, a taxi strike and stadium seating issues dominated the headlines leading up to Super Bowl XLV.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was hoping for some good news in the form of a Super Bowl attendance record Sunday night, but he'll have to settle for second place.
A total of 103,219 crammed into Cowboys Stadium to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers, missing the record by 766.
The construction of some temporary seating was not completed in time for the game, resulting in the relocation of 850 fans and refunds for 400 who could not be reseated in the stadium. It's unclear whether that was the reason the record wasn't set.
Sunday's total is the second largest for a Super Bowl and second largest for an NFL game in Cowboys Stadium, which opened in 2009.
Sunday's attendance included 91,060 fans -- including 3,000 who bought tickets to watch the game on HD screens outside the stadium -- and 12,159 credentialed personnel (league and team officials and media).
The previous record of 103,985 came at Super Bowl XIV between the Steelers and Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 20, 1980, at the Rose Bowl.
The largest crowd for any NFL game was when the Dallas Cowboys played the Houston Oilers in front of 112,376 fans in a preseason game in 1994 at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
Jones was hopeful his $1.2 billion jewel of a stadium would set the all-time attendance record. Jones and the NFL filled the end zone open areas, normally sold as standing-room only tickets, with bleachers. (source ESPN)
Ice, snow, a taxi strike and stadium seating issues dominated the headlines leading up to Super Bowl XLV.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was hoping for some good news in the form of a Super Bowl attendance record Sunday night, but he'll have to settle for second place.
A total of 103,219 crammed into Cowboys Stadium to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers, missing the record by 766.
The construction of some temporary seating was not completed in time for the game, resulting in the relocation of 850 fans and refunds for 400 who could not be reseated in the stadium. It's unclear whether that was the reason the record wasn't set.
Sunday's total is the second largest for a Super Bowl and second largest for an NFL game in Cowboys Stadium, which opened in 2009.
Sunday's attendance included 91,060 fans -- including 3,000 who bought tickets to watch the game on HD screens outside the stadium -- and 12,159 credentialed personnel (league and team officials and media).
The previous record of 103,985 came at Super Bowl XIV between the Steelers and Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 20, 1980, at the Rose Bowl.
The largest crowd for any NFL game was when the Dallas Cowboys played the Houston Oilers in front of 112,376 fans in a preseason game in 1994 at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
Jones was hopeful his $1.2 billion jewel of a stadium would set the all-time attendance record. Jones and the NFL filled the end zone open areas, normally sold as standing-room only tickets, with bleachers. (source ESPN)
Monday, February 07 2011
After a limited number of sections in temporary seating areas at Cowboys Stadium were not completed in time, 400 fans were not able to attend Super Bowl XLV on Sunday.
Two hours before the game, workers were frantically trying to fix the sections or get the fans "relocated to similar or better seats," valued at $800. The NFL found alternate seating for 850 of the 1,250 fans affected. The 400 who were not able to be seated were given a refund of triple face value -- $2,400.
"Incomplete installation of temporary seats in a limited number of sections made the seats unusable," the NFL said in a statement. "The safety of fans attending the Super Bowl was paramount in making the decision and the NFL, Dallas Cowboys and City of Arlington officials are in agreement with the resolution. We regret the situation and inconvenience that it may have caused. We will conduct a full review of this matter."
The NFL tried to placate those 400 fans, taking them inside the stadium to watch the game on monitors in the North Field Club behind the Pittsburgh bench. They also had the option of viewing the game from standing room platforms in each corner of the stadium. Those fans will still get the triple refund.
At about 4 p.m. in a concourse, a Steelers fan in a Troy Polamalu jersey was yelling obscenities into his cell phone at a stadium employee. He couldn't be seated because his seats were in an area near the seats that didn't meet code.
"We spent $3,000 on tickets," his friend said. "After parking and $10 beers, it's $3,000. I just want to sit."
Said Jennifer Dunfee, a friend in their party who flew in from Colorado for the game: "We've spent over an hour trying to figure out how to get up there."
The NFL closed four of the 10 entrance points into the stadium Sunday because of lingering ice on the roof of the stadium. On Friday, six people were injured by ice falling onto the sidewalk outside of the structure. The NFL was working with the Arlington Fire Department to direct fans safely into the stadium. Safe corridors were established around any potential fall zones.
In addition, the Arlington Police Department requested additional officers to the East Plaza ticket offices after the crowd started to become unruly after ticket scanners weren't functioning. There were chants of "Jerry Sucks!" and "NFL Sucks!"
Steve and Dawn Novak traveled from Rochester, NY to find that their $800 seats could be exchanged for three times face value, or else for a $350 standing room only ticket. They said the NFL would not reimburse the difference in value. They decided to take a loss on the ticket but attend the game after coming all that way. She is a Packers fan and he is a Steelers fan, and they were both angry about the experience.
"We said one of us was going to be happy at the end of the day and we were wrong," Steve Novak said.
Dallas resident Brian Shake said it generally takes 15 minutes to wait at the gate. He waited an hour and 20 minutes Sunday in line.
"It was just so long," Shake said. "Problem was, you didn't know if you were in the right line or not. Everywhere you looked, there were just fences and screens and you couldn't get in anywhere."
His wife Kathy Shake called it "frustrating."
"It was very confusing on how to get in as you snaked your way through security."
Paul Bryant, from Milwaukee, said he and his party waited at least 90 minutes in line to get into the stadium.
"Nobody knew where to go ... They had 14 detectives, and there's got to be 20,000 people going through here. If you do the math, that isn't enough," Bryant said.
Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said this week that they expect to set a Super Bowl attendance record. Jones estimated that there would be 105,000 fans seated inside the stadium. The current Super Bowl attendance record is 103,985, set during Super Bowl XIV between the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers at the Rose Bowl.
Stadium workers were covering the top corner sections of the upper deck behind one end zone two hours prior to kickoff. The fans affected were directed to the Party Plaza area, which is located outside the stadium for the Super Bowl.
The temporary seating sections were erected in what is usually an open area. Fans can purchase $29 "Party Passes" to stand in the open areas during Cowboys games. (source ESPN Dallas)
After a limited number of sections in temporary seating areas at Cowboys Stadium were not completed in time, 400 fans were not able to attend Super Bowl XLV on Sunday.
Two hours before the game, workers were frantically trying to fix the sections or get the fans "relocated to similar or better seats," valued at $800. The NFL found alternate seating for 850 of the 1,250 fans affected. The 400 who were not able to be seated were given a refund of triple face value -- $2,400.
"Incomplete installation of temporary seats in a limited number of sections made the seats unusable," the NFL said in a statement. "The safety of fans attending the Super Bowl was paramount in making the decision and the NFL, Dallas Cowboys and City of Arlington officials are in agreement with the resolution. We regret the situation and inconvenience that it may have caused. We will conduct a full review of this matter."
The NFL tried to placate those 400 fans, taking them inside the stadium to watch the game on monitors in the North Field Club behind the Pittsburgh bench. They also had the option of viewing the game from standing room platforms in each corner of the stadium. Those fans will still get the triple refund.
At about 4 p.m. in a concourse, a Steelers fan in a Troy Polamalu jersey was yelling obscenities into his cell phone at a stadium employee. He couldn't be seated because his seats were in an area near the seats that didn't meet code.
"We spent $3,000 on tickets," his friend said. "After parking and $10 beers, it's $3,000. I just want to sit."
Said Jennifer Dunfee, a friend in their party who flew in from Colorado for the game: "We've spent over an hour trying to figure out how to get up there."
The NFL closed four of the 10 entrance points into the stadium Sunday because of lingering ice on the roof of the stadium. On Friday, six people were injured by ice falling onto the sidewalk outside of the structure. The NFL was working with the Arlington Fire Department to direct fans safely into the stadium. Safe corridors were established around any potential fall zones.
In addition, the Arlington Police Department requested additional officers to the East Plaza ticket offices after the crowd started to become unruly after ticket scanners weren't functioning. There were chants of "Jerry Sucks!" and "NFL Sucks!"
Steve and Dawn Novak traveled from Rochester, NY to find that their $800 seats could be exchanged for three times face value, or else for a $350 standing room only ticket. They said the NFL would not reimburse the difference in value. They decided to take a loss on the ticket but attend the game after coming all that way. She is a Packers fan and he is a Steelers fan, and they were both angry about the experience.
"We said one of us was going to be happy at the end of the day and we were wrong," Steve Novak said.
Dallas resident Brian Shake said it generally takes 15 minutes to wait at the gate. He waited an hour and 20 minutes Sunday in line.
"It was just so long," Shake said. "Problem was, you didn't know if you were in the right line or not. Everywhere you looked, there were just fences and screens and you couldn't get in anywhere."
His wife Kathy Shake called it "frustrating."
"It was very confusing on how to get in as you snaked your way through security."
Paul Bryant, from Milwaukee, said he and his party waited at least 90 minutes in line to get into the stadium.
"Nobody knew where to go ... They had 14 detectives, and there's got to be 20,000 people going through here. If you do the math, that isn't enough," Bryant said.
Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said this week that they expect to set a Super Bowl attendance record. Jones estimated that there would be 105,000 fans seated inside the stadium. The current Super Bowl attendance record is 103,985, set during Super Bowl XIV between the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers at the Rose Bowl.
Stadium workers were covering the top corner sections of the upper deck behind one end zone two hours prior to kickoff. The fans affected were directed to the Party Plaza area, which is located outside the stadium for the Super Bowl.
The temporary seating sections were erected in what is usually an open area. Fans can purchase $29 "Party Passes" to stand in the open areas during Cowboys games. (source ESPN Dallas)
Monday, February 07 2011
The selection of Super Bowl destinations used to be a simple question of weather or not. South Florida, a place without real winters, has hosted the NFL's showcase game a record 10 times as a result. This article was written by Dave George and appeared in the Palm Beach Post.
Suddenly, however, Miami Gardens is in danger of falling out of the Super Bowl rotation because of expensive upgrades the NFL wants for Sun Life Stadium. While everybody's squabbling over who should pay that $200 million, here's a simpler strategy for winning back league officials.
Chill.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area was hit last week with a prolonged cold snap that started with a splattering of sleet and snow Tuesday and kept temperatures below freezing for days. Melting ice slid off the domed roof of Cowboys Stadium on Friday and injured six people.
None of that was in the party and travel plans leading up to tonight's Super Bowl XLV.
With next year's Super Bowl awarded to Indianapolis and the 2014 title game scheduled for just outside New York City, there's plenty more February parka weather to come. If that's not enough to warm NFL team owners to the idea of a return to South Florida, there's ample incentive for tailgaters, major corporate sponsors and even halftime entertainers.
"As a touring band, we always bring the heat," said Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, who will perform Sunday night while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers take a mid-game break. "Hopefully we will bring the heat because it's cold as hell here."
A week of headaches
All schools and most of downtown's skyscraping office buildings were closed in the Dallas metro area from Tuesday through Friday as wind chills dipped below zero on a few mornings and a fresh 6-8 inches of snow hit at the end of the week. Dallas-Fort Worth Airport was closed for two hours Tuesday, and road crews worked around the clock in a futile effort to make snow-covered highways safe.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a question for reporters at Media Day on Tuesday: "What's up with the weather?"
At 2 p.m. Thursday, the day when Super Bowl visitors traditionally start pouring into town, it was 21 degrees in Dallas. At the same moment, it was 18 in Green Bay, 26 in Pittsburgh and 80 in Miami.
By kickoff, when all the frosted limousines are parked and emptied, it's supposed to be in the high 30s with possible flurries in the forecast. The retractable roof at Cowboys Stadium guarantees a warm environment inside, but that's no help to anyone who wanted to fit in a Texas tee time earlier in the week, or simply wanted to leave the earmuffs at home.
"This isn't smart to do it in a city like this," Dan Patrick said during a break from his national radio show at the Super Bowl media center.
"Permanent sites would be great just because you're factoring in the weather and the fans themselves. They're paying the exorbitant prices."
Fans were far more comfortable at last year's Super Bowl between New Orleans and Indianapolis. The kickoff temperature at Sun Life Stadium was 60 degrees.
Mike Dee, CEO of the Dolphins, said the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee has informed the league it will bid on the 2015 and 2016 games. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is a tough one to figure, though.
By pushing for New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey in 2014, he broke the rule on enclosed stadiums for Northern Super Bowls.
Goodell's focus is on the quality of the stadium and the TV product presented on Sunday. He maintains that the snowy prelude of Super Bowl week in Arlington has gone just fine.
"The stadium is a priority consistent across all 32 clubs," Goodell said. "Quite frankly, that's our stage, and we're going to be playing and you're going to be watching this Super Bowl from one of the great stadiums in the world."
Dolphins hope for bed tax
Again, then, it all gets back to the improvements required to bring Sun Life Stadium up to Super Bowl snuff. A canopy to protect the stands but not the field from rain is high on the list. The stadium lighting must be brought up to the highest of high-definition standards, too.
"Suppose we don't do anything," said Dee, whose franchise is counting on help from Miami-Dade and Broward counties in the form of a bed-tax bill that is moving through committees in the Florida Legislature. "Suppose 10 years from now we have a 37-year-old stadium with no changes. Where are we then?
"It's still salvageable at this point. We don't need a facility like Dallas. They need that to keep the owners interested. We have beaches, airports and hotels. You just can't have a facility that falls below minimum standards."
Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson said "public money today is very tough to come by" and suggested that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, as the biggest beneficiary of any future Super Bowls, should fix his own stadium.
Aaronson is unswayed by arguments regarding economic impact. A Palm Beach County Sports Commission official said the county enjoyed an economic impact of $25 million from last year's game.
"We've got the greatest inducement to bring Super Bowls here without giving a nickel, ever," Aaronson said. "They're suffering in Dallas now. We have 81 degree weather here. What better inducement could there be?"
Sitting by the pool certainly feels more like a vacation than getting lost in a snowstorm on an unfamiliar city street. That's what happened to Rodney Barreto, chairman of the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee, when the Super Bowl was played in Detroit five years ago.
"The reality is that NFL owners could have worked it out to award us a game and then say, 'You have 24 months and if improvements aren't made, we'll pull it and give it to somebody else,' " Barreto said.
That's pretty much how Miami Gardens got the 2010 Super Bowl, which originally was awarded to the New York Jets on the condition that they build a new, retractable -roof stadium in Manhattan. When those plans fell through, the game fell into South Florida's lap.
More trouble next year?
Meanwhile, the Dallas area is hoping that a great game Sunday night will make everybody forget about the hassles of the past week, when several Pittsburgh players even complained of goose bumps while doing interviews at Cowboys Stadium in short-sleeved jerseys. The roof was closed at the time, but several large entry doors were open for delivery trucks and arctic gusts alike.
Indianapolis had its own wintry problems last week.
While trucks were salting the highways to combat an ice storm, people kept losing their footing on the slippery sidewalks. On Wednesday alone, one Indianapolis hospital reported treating 200 injuries from fractures and other problems suffered in falls.
"I don't want to go to Indianapolis for this game next year and I don't want to go to New York," said the NFL Network's Deion Sanders. "It's freezing up there. They should just have the Super Bowl in Miami or California every year."
Follow the sun, he's saying. It plays favorites even more than NFL owners do, and South Florida always will be one of them.
NFL WANTS IMPROVEMENTS
If the Dolphins want to get Sun Life Stadium back into the NFL’s rotation of Super Bowl sites, it will have to make improvements that could cost $200 million. These are some of the priorities cited by Dolphins CEO Mike Dee.
-A canopy attached to the inside edge of the roof to protect fans from rain.
-An additional 3,500 seats between the goal lines to increase inventory of most desirable seats.
-Less dead space between stands and the field. Stands would be moved 18 feet closer.
-Improved and reconfigured seats in lower bowl; some seats were moved to accommodate baseball.
-Better lighting to meet needs of high-definition TV broadcasts. Temporary lights were needed for previous Super Bowl.
Super sites today and beyond: Cold weather is possible at the next four Super Bowl locations.
Year Site The weather factor
2011 Arlington, Texas Retractable roof will be closed; ice has limited activities for days.
2012 Indianapolis Stadium has a retractable roof; city says it can deal with ice and snow.
2013 New Orleans Domed stadium; Big Easy can be chilly, but temperatures today should hit the 60s.
2014 East Rutherford, N.J. Open-air stadium; what if a blizzard hits the New York area? This article was written by Dave George and appeared in the Palm Beach Post.
The selection of Super Bowl destinations used to be a simple question of weather or not. South Florida, a place without real winters, has hosted the NFL's showcase game a record 10 times as a result. This article was written by Dave George and appeared in the Palm Beach Post.
Suddenly, however, Miami Gardens is in danger of falling out of the Super Bowl rotation because of expensive upgrades the NFL wants for Sun Life Stadium. While everybody's squabbling over who should pay that $200 million, here's a simpler strategy for winning back league officials.
Chill.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area was hit last week with a prolonged cold snap that started with a splattering of sleet and snow Tuesday and kept temperatures below freezing for days. Melting ice slid off the domed roof of Cowboys Stadium on Friday and injured six people.
None of that was in the party and travel plans leading up to tonight's Super Bowl XLV.
With next year's Super Bowl awarded to Indianapolis and the 2014 title game scheduled for just outside New York City, there's plenty more February parka weather to come. If that's not enough to warm NFL team owners to the idea of a return to South Florida, there's ample incentive for tailgaters, major corporate sponsors and even halftime entertainers.
"As a touring band, we always bring the heat," said Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, who will perform Sunday night while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers take a mid-game break. "Hopefully we will bring the heat because it's cold as hell here."
A week of headaches
All schools and most of downtown's skyscraping office buildings were closed in the Dallas metro area from Tuesday through Friday as wind chills dipped below zero on a few mornings and a fresh 6-8 inches of snow hit at the end of the week. Dallas-Fort Worth Airport was closed for two hours Tuesday, and road crews worked around the clock in a futile effort to make snow-covered highways safe.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a question for reporters at Media Day on Tuesday: "What's up with the weather?"
At 2 p.m. Thursday, the day when Super Bowl visitors traditionally start pouring into town, it was 21 degrees in Dallas. At the same moment, it was 18 in Green Bay, 26 in Pittsburgh and 80 in Miami.
By kickoff, when all the frosted limousines are parked and emptied, it's supposed to be in the high 30s with possible flurries in the forecast. The retractable roof at Cowboys Stadium guarantees a warm environment inside, but that's no help to anyone who wanted to fit in a Texas tee time earlier in the week, or simply wanted to leave the earmuffs at home.
"This isn't smart to do it in a city like this," Dan Patrick said during a break from his national radio show at the Super Bowl media center.
"Permanent sites would be great just because you're factoring in the weather and the fans themselves. They're paying the exorbitant prices."
Fans were far more comfortable at last year's Super Bowl between New Orleans and Indianapolis. The kickoff temperature at Sun Life Stadium was 60 degrees.
Mike Dee, CEO of the Dolphins, said the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee has informed the league it will bid on the 2015 and 2016 games. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is a tough one to figure, though.
By pushing for New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey in 2014, he broke the rule on enclosed stadiums for Northern Super Bowls.
Goodell's focus is on the quality of the stadium and the TV product presented on Sunday. He maintains that the snowy prelude of Super Bowl week in Arlington has gone just fine.
"The stadium is a priority consistent across all 32 clubs," Goodell said. "Quite frankly, that's our stage, and we're going to be playing and you're going to be watching this Super Bowl from one of the great stadiums in the world."
Dolphins hope for bed tax
Again, then, it all gets back to the improvements required to bring Sun Life Stadium up to Super Bowl snuff. A canopy to protect the stands but not the field from rain is high on the list. The stadium lighting must be brought up to the highest of high-definition standards, too.
"Suppose we don't do anything," said Dee, whose franchise is counting on help from Miami-Dade and Broward counties in the form of a bed-tax bill that is moving through committees in the Florida Legislature. "Suppose 10 years from now we have a 37-year-old stadium with no changes. Where are we then?
"It's still salvageable at this point. We don't need a facility like Dallas. They need that to keep the owners interested. We have beaches, airports and hotels. You just can't have a facility that falls below minimum standards."
Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson said "public money today is very tough to come by" and suggested that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, as the biggest beneficiary of any future Super Bowls, should fix his own stadium.
Aaronson is unswayed by arguments regarding economic impact. A Palm Beach County Sports Commission official said the county enjoyed an economic impact of $25 million from last year's game.
"We've got the greatest inducement to bring Super Bowls here without giving a nickel, ever," Aaronson said. "They're suffering in Dallas now. We have 81 degree weather here. What better inducement could there be?"
Sitting by the pool certainly feels more like a vacation than getting lost in a snowstorm on an unfamiliar city street. That's what happened to Rodney Barreto, chairman of the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee, when the Super Bowl was played in Detroit five years ago.
"The reality is that NFL owners could have worked it out to award us a game and then say, 'You have 24 months and if improvements aren't made, we'll pull it and give it to somebody else,' " Barreto said.
That's pretty much how Miami Gardens got the 2010 Super Bowl, which originally was awarded to the New York Jets on the condition that they build a new, retractable -roof stadium in Manhattan. When those plans fell through, the game fell into South Florida's lap.
More trouble next year?
Meanwhile, the Dallas area is hoping that a great game Sunday night will make everybody forget about the hassles of the past week, when several Pittsburgh players even complained of goose bumps while doing interviews at Cowboys Stadium in short-sleeved jerseys. The roof was closed at the time, but several large entry doors were open for delivery trucks and arctic gusts alike.
Indianapolis had its own wintry problems last week.
While trucks were salting the highways to combat an ice storm, people kept losing their footing on the slippery sidewalks. On Wednesday alone, one Indianapolis hospital reported treating 200 injuries from fractures and other problems suffered in falls.
"I don't want to go to Indianapolis for this game next year and I don't want to go to New York," said the NFL Network's Deion Sanders. "It's freezing up there. They should just have the Super Bowl in Miami or California every year."
Follow the sun, he's saying. It plays favorites even more than NFL owners do, and South Florida always will be one of them.
NFL WANTS IMPROVEMENTS
If the Dolphins want to get Sun Life Stadium back into the NFL’s rotation of Super Bowl sites, it will have to make improvements that could cost $200 million. These are some of the priorities cited by Dolphins CEO Mike Dee.
-A canopy attached to the inside edge of the roof to protect fans from rain.
-An additional 3,500 seats between the goal lines to increase inventory of most desirable seats.
-Less dead space between stands and the field. Stands would be moved 18 feet closer.
-Improved and reconfigured seats in lower bowl; some seats were moved to accommodate baseball.
-Better lighting to meet needs of high-definition TV broadcasts. Temporary lights were needed for previous Super Bowl.
Super sites today and beyond: Cold weather is possible at the next four Super Bowl locations.
Year Site The weather factor
2011 Arlington, Texas Retractable roof will be closed; ice has limited activities for days.
2012 Indianapolis Stadium has a retractable roof; city says it can deal with ice and snow.
2013 New Orleans Domed stadium; Big Easy can be chilly, but temperatures today should hit the 60s.
2014 East Rutherford, N.J. Open-air stadium; what if a blizzard hits the New York area? This article was written by Dave George and appeared in the Palm Beach Post.
Monday, February 07 2011
The Twin Cities lost the Lakers in 1960 and the North Stars in 1993 because of the lack of decent facilities being provided and because the political climate wasn't right for building those decent facilities. And we almost lost the Timberwolves in 1994, and the Twins were up for elimination in 2001. This article was written by Sid Hartman and appeared in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
The Lakers moved to Los Angeles, where they remain one of the NBA's showcase franchises. The North Stars won a Stanley Cup as the Dallas Stars in 1999. The Wolves remained at Target Center only because NBA Commissioner David Stern wouldn't allow the team to move to New Orleans, and a Hennepin County judge's injunction helped ensure the Twins would play the 2002 season.
Now it's pretty evident that with the Anschutz Entertainment Group having secured a $700 million naming deal from Farmers Insurance for the Los Angeles football stadium that AEG plans to build, there is greater danger than ever of losing the Vikings if a new stadium bill isn't passed by the current Legislature.
Yes, a new football stadium would be used only 10 days a year by the Vikings, but if it were a covered stadium it could be used more than 300 times a year for other uses and also be a candidate to play host to big events such as a Super Bowl and the NCAA Final Four. And every time a Vikings home game is played, Minneapolis picks up $9.1 million spent by those attending.
The fact that some in Los Angeles are determined to build a new stadium and work hard to get two teams is no longer just a rumor.
Tim Leiweke, the CEO of AEG who was instrumental in getting Staples Center built in downtown L.A., is confident that his city will eventually get two NFL teams to move. And because AEG's new stadium won't be ready until 2015, he said that the teams could play immediately in either the Los Angeles Coliseum or the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Having lost the Lakers and North Stars and coming close to losing the Wolves and Twins, I believe that if a new stadium bill isn't passed in the Legislature this year, that the Wilf family, owners of the Vikings, will take advantage of the fact that their lease at the Metrodome runs out after the 2011 season and try to persuade Commissioner Roger Goodell and other NFL owners to allow them to be one of two teams that will eventually move to Southern California.
The collapse of the Metrodome roof following a December snowstorm also will put the Wilfs in a position to get a favorable vote to relocate, because without a new stadium the Wilfs are not assured that once the roof is repaired, the same problem won't come up again.
Furthermore, unlike the Pohlad family that owns the Twins and Glen Taylor, the Wolves owner and Mankato businessman, the Wilf family doesn't have any connection with this community. They won't have to worry about hurting their local businesses if they move the Vikings.
Came close to losing Twins
Those politicians who insist the Twins never came close to moving have forgotten what kept them from being eliminated by Major League Baseball in 2001. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which runs the Metrodome, was successful in suing the Twins and obtaining an injunction to prevent the team from folding, forcing it to fulfill its lease for 2002. It was Judge Harry Crump's temporary injunction that barred Major League Baseball from interfering with the Twins' 2002 season.
You also can credit the three sons of the late Carl Pohlad for keeping the Twins here. Being heavily involved in the business world here, Jim, Bill and Bob Pohlad knew they would have had a hard time operating here if the family was responsible for removing Major League Baseball from this area.
Time after time, Carl told me he was sick of losing money on the team in the 1980s and wanted to sell or move the franchise, but his sons persuaded him otherwise. Finally, after many long years of fighting for a new ballpark, the result was Target Field, with a great contribution by the Pohlad family to make it one of the best in the country. Had Target Field not been built, the Twins eventually would have left town.
We didn't keep the Lakers here because their home facility, the old Minneapolis Auditorium, wasn't available for them whenever they made the playoffs. As a result, games had to be moved to the Armory, the old St. Paul Auditorium and even the Hamline gym.
As for the North Stars moving, the MSFC wouldn't make any improvements to Met Center in Bloomington, and so Norm Green moved the team to Texas, only three years after first being hailed as a hero for acquiring the team.
And the only reason Minneapolis kept the Wolves is that Stern and the league wouldn't allow former owners Marvin Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner to sell the team to a New Orleans group because of questions over that group's finances. Taylor bought the team so it could stay here.
My conclusion is that with the Metrodome being a questionable facility for the Vikings, with the Wilfs not having any real connection here and with Los Angeles in the process of building a new stadium, the city of Minneapolis could possibly set a record by losing three major league teams if a new stadium isn't provided.
The Twin Cities lost the Lakers in 1960 and the North Stars in 1993 because of the lack of decent facilities being provided and because the political climate wasn't right for building those decent facilities. And we almost lost the Timberwolves in 1994, and the Twins were up for elimination in 2001. This article was written by Sid Hartman and appeared in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
The Lakers moved to Los Angeles, where they remain one of the NBA's showcase franchises. The North Stars won a Stanley Cup as the Dallas Stars in 1999. The Wolves remained at Target Center only because NBA Commissioner David Stern wouldn't allow the team to move to New Orleans, and a Hennepin County judge's injunction helped ensure the Twins would play the 2002 season.
Now it's pretty evident that with the Anschutz Entertainment Group having secured a $700 million naming deal from Farmers Insurance for the Los Angeles football stadium that AEG plans to build, there is greater danger than ever of losing the Vikings if a new stadium bill isn't passed by the current Legislature.
Yes, a new football stadium would be used only 10 days a year by the Vikings, but if it were a covered stadium it could be used more than 300 times a year for other uses and also be a candidate to play host to big events such as a Super Bowl and the NCAA Final Four. And every time a Vikings home game is played, Minneapolis picks up $9.1 million spent by those attending.
The fact that some in Los Angeles are determined to build a new stadium and work hard to get two teams is no longer just a rumor.
Tim Leiweke, the CEO of AEG who was instrumental in getting Staples Center built in downtown L.A., is confident that his city will eventually get two NFL teams to move. And because AEG's new stadium won't be ready until 2015, he said that the teams could play immediately in either the Los Angeles Coliseum or the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Having lost the Lakers and North Stars and coming close to losing the Wolves and Twins, I believe that if a new stadium bill isn't passed in the Legislature this year, that the Wilf family, owners of the Vikings, will take advantage of the fact that their lease at the Metrodome runs out after the 2011 season and try to persuade Commissioner Roger Goodell and other NFL owners to allow them to be one of two teams that will eventually move to Southern California.
The collapse of the Metrodome roof following a December snowstorm also will put the Wilfs in a position to get a favorable vote to relocate, because without a new stadium the Wilfs are not assured that once the roof is repaired, the same problem won't come up again.
Furthermore, unlike the Pohlad family that owns the Twins and Glen Taylor, the Wolves owner and Mankato businessman, the Wilf family doesn't have any connection with this community. They won't have to worry about hurting their local businesses if they move the Vikings.
Came close to losing Twins
Those politicians who insist the Twins never came close to moving have forgotten what kept them from being eliminated by Major League Baseball in 2001. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which runs the Metrodome, was successful in suing the Twins and obtaining an injunction to prevent the team from folding, forcing it to fulfill its lease for 2002. It was Judge Harry Crump's temporary injunction that barred Major League Baseball from interfering with the Twins' 2002 season.
You also can credit the three sons of the late Carl Pohlad for keeping the Twins here. Being heavily involved in the business world here, Jim, Bill and Bob Pohlad knew they would have had a hard time operating here if the family was responsible for removing Major League Baseball from this area.
Time after time, Carl told me he was sick of losing money on the team in the 1980s and wanted to sell or move the franchise, but his sons persuaded him otherwise. Finally, after many long years of fighting for a new ballpark, the result was Target Field, with a great contribution by the Pohlad family to make it one of the best in the country. Had Target Field not been built, the Twins eventually would have left town.
We didn't keep the Lakers here because their home facility, the old Minneapolis Auditorium, wasn't available for them whenever they made the playoffs. As a result, games had to be moved to the Armory, the old St. Paul Auditorium and even the Hamline gym.
As for the North Stars moving, the MSFC wouldn't make any improvements to Met Center in Bloomington, and so Norm Green moved the team to Texas, only three years after first being hailed as a hero for acquiring the team.
And the only reason Minneapolis kept the Wolves is that Stern and the league wouldn't allow former owners Marvin Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner to sell the team to a New Orleans group because of questions over that group's finances. Taylor bought the team so it could stay here.
My conclusion is that with the Metrodome being a questionable facility for the Vikings, with the Wilfs not having any real connection here and with Los Angeles in the process of building a new stadium, the city of Minneapolis could possibly set a record by losing three major league teams if a new stadium isn't provided.
February 07 2011
About 80,000 people watched Super Bowl XLV inside Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Finished in 2009 at a cost of $1.15 billion, it's one of the most expensive sport 'palaces' ever built.
To help finance the stadium's dozens of luxury suites, upper end eateries — and the world's largest high-definition video screen — local officials increased the sales tax, as well as those on hotel rooms and car rentals while floating some $325 million in bonds.
But as states face budget busting deficits — an estimated total of $140 billion for all 50 next year — the game clock may have expired on subsidized stadiums.
"With the Recovery Act funding nearly exhausted, states and cities are being forced to downsize and prioritize their spending," says Alan Wohlstetter, who chairs the infrastructure practice at the law firm Fox Rothschild. "Will cities replace a 100-year-old school, a 50-year-old bridge or 18-year-old sports stadium? My bet is not on the sports stadium."
"For cities in states that are struggling financially, sport project spending makes a bad situation worse," says Emily Sparvero, assistant professor at Temple University's Sport Industry Research Center.
Philadelphia is a good example, says Sparvero. "The city has a high debt burden, which is due in part to the funding it provided for the new stadiums for the NFL's Eagles and Phillies (baseball team). The city is now perceived as a very high credit risk, which makes it more difficult and costly to issue additional bonds for money it needs now."
While public funding may be in short supply, there's no shortage of teams looking for new or re-furbished stadiums.
The NFL's Minnesota Vikings want a new stadium, especially after part of the roof of the team's current home field collapsed under the weight of a heavy snow storm in December.
The Atlanta Falcons have been trying to move from the Georgia Dome they share with Georgia State University's college football team, to a place of their own for the past three years.
There are even plans in Los Angeles to build a stadium to attract an NFL franchise. The city hasn't had a pro football team since 1995 — after the Raiders and Rams moved to Oakland and St. Louis, respectively. Several pro baseball teams, like the Chicago Cubs, want their stadiums updated.
Turning any one of those field of dreams into reality won't be easy, say experts.
"It's difficult even in the best of times to fund a sports stadium," says Ross Taylor, a lawyer who specializes in corporate and lease financing at the firm, Kelley Drye & Warren. "And these days it may be near impossible."
Public assistance hasn't always been a building block for sport facilities. It wasn't until after World War II that subsidized stadiums became a game plan.
Decades before the phrase became a cliche, Milwaukee took an 'if you build it, he will come' approach in 1950 to get a major league baseball team by building a stadium with public money to woo the then Boston Braves— who wanted a new stadium.
The Braves did go to Milwaukee — the first time a MLB team moved — only later to leave Milwaukee for Atlanta, Ga.
As loyal fans know, other sport franchises did the same. Baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants, the NFL's Rams, Raiders, Colts and Cardinals and the NBA's Seattle Supersonics— recently reborn as the Oklahoma City Thunder — are all examples of teams moving to cities that used public funds to help build new or better facilities.
To many, team migrations confirm the overwhelming power of pro athletics. Others say it's just the business of sports.
"Moving a club is never easy or simple," says Irwin Raij, a partner and vice chair of the sports industry team at Foley & Lardner law firm and has handled recent stadium financing. " I think teams would prefer not to move but they are under pressure to improve in order to keep fans coming and sign free agent players. You need good stadiums for that."
Financial benefits of sports teams
The pubic funding issue raises a central question: Is having a pro franchise worth the cost of public financing? Experts are clearly divided.
"For the most part, very few cities get a financial benefit from having the teams," Edelman argues. "The jobs and revenues that are promised don't turn up. People go home after games and if they didn't spend their money there, they'd spend it someplace else. Cities that have given tax benefits or leasing deals end up short changed. It's mostly the happiness of the fans."
Edelman adds that high-priced stadiums only benefit the upper echelons of society.
"An NFL game costs well over $250 for four people. Costs for most sports tickets have skyrocketed in part because of the new stadiums. They're only benefiting the rich," concludes Edelman.
Other analysts say the benefits go far beyond the fan base.
Much depends on the market and what any city can afford to spend, says Dan Grigsby, chair of the national sports law group at Mangels Butler & Mitchell, who's represented teams like the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers in stadium negotiations.
"But games bring in millions of dollars to the surrounding areas," Grigsby adds. "Places near the stadiums really see the benefit on game days. New stadiums also create jobs even if temporary. The loss of a team would have significant economic impact."
Politicians in the crosshairs
All this leaves local politicians in a no-win position. If they don't help fund the stadiums they can lose the team—and votes of irate fans.
If they approve stadium funding, they can still lose at the polls, as was the case with those in Seattle, Washington who OK'd public funds to help construct Qwest Stadium in 2002 for the pro football Seahawks.
Carl Wimmer, a Republican state representative in Utah, voted against a bill in 2007 to use public funds to help build a stadium for the professional soccer team, the Salt Lake City Real. The bill just narrowly passed, but not before tempers flared.
"The outcry against using public funds was tremendous," says Wimmer. "I expect it to get even louder now across the county. You see a lot of rosy projections used to sell these type of things but more often than not, they fall quite short."
As for the NFL's Vikings and Falcons, their new stadiums are still on the drawing boards; the Minnesota legislature voting down the most recent proposal, while the Falcons are stuck in the Georgia Dome until the bonds used to finance its construction are paid off.
Los Angeles officials have just OK'd a commission to look into building a football facility—with no guarantees of any money. (The city just announced a naming rights deal for the proposed stadium with Farmers Insurance worth $700 million. Officials continue to say "not a dime of taxpayer money" will be used for the project.)
While no one is predicting the end of public funds for building stadiums, experts say a new playbook has to be drawn up.
"Governments and private business need to be more creative," says Lee Walko, a lawyer at Brennan, Manna & Diamond whose focus includes real estate and corporate management.
"One way is more use of corporate naming rights," says Walko. "The private sector has to come up with more money in these times. For their part, governments can look at long term leases for land to be used as a training facility or other uses at favorable terms. There's also multi-use stadiums instead of just single teams as tenants."
"You probably won't see many bond issues for buildings or huge tax benefits being giving away," Harley Lance Kaplan, an economist and certified financial planner at Beta Industries in Sherborne, Massachusetts.
In the end, however, there's more involved in the equation than money.
"It's like the movies in the 1920s and '30s during the Depression," says Kaplan. "People loved to go to them to escape. As long as sports does that too, you will have stadiums built." (source – USA Today)
About 80,000 people watched Super Bowl XLV inside Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Finished in 2009 at a cost of $1.15 billion, it's one of the most expensive sport 'palaces' ever built.
To help finance the stadium's dozens of luxury suites, upper end eateries — and the world's largest high-definition video screen — local officials increased the sales tax, as well as those on hotel rooms and car rentals while floating some $325 million in bonds.
But as states face budget busting deficits — an estimated total of $140 billion for all 50 next year — the game clock may have expired on subsidized stadiums.
"With the Recovery Act funding nearly exhausted, states and cities are being forced to downsize and prioritize their spending," says Alan Wohlstetter, who chairs the infrastructure practice at the law firm Fox Rothschild. "Will cities replace a 100-year-old school, a 50-year-old bridge or 18-year-old sports stadium? My bet is not on the sports stadium."
"For cities in states that are struggling financially, sport project spending makes a bad situation worse," says Emily Sparvero, assistant professor at Temple University's Sport Industry Research Center.
Philadelphia is a good example, says Sparvero. "The city has a high debt burden, which is due in part to the funding it provided for the new stadiums for the NFL's Eagles and Phillies (baseball team). The city is now perceived as a very high credit risk, which makes it more difficult and costly to issue additional bonds for money it needs now."
While public funding may be in short supply, there's no shortage of teams looking for new or re-furbished stadiums.
The NFL's Minnesota Vikings want a new stadium, especially after part of the roof of the team's current home field collapsed under the weight of a heavy snow storm in December.
The Atlanta Falcons have been trying to move from the Georgia Dome they share with Georgia State University's college football team, to a place of their own for the past three years.
There are even plans in Los Angeles to build a stadium to attract an NFL franchise. The city hasn't had a pro football team since 1995 — after the Raiders and Rams moved to Oakland and St. Louis, respectively. Several pro baseball teams, like the Chicago Cubs, want their stadiums updated.
Turning any one of those field of dreams into reality won't be easy, say experts.
"It's difficult even in the best of times to fund a sports stadium," says Ross Taylor, a lawyer who specializes in corporate and lease financing at the firm, Kelley Drye & Warren. "And these days it may be near impossible."
Public assistance hasn't always been a building block for sport facilities. It wasn't until after World War II that subsidized stadiums became a game plan.
Decades before the phrase became a cliche, Milwaukee took an 'if you build it, he will come' approach in 1950 to get a major league baseball team by building a stadium with public money to woo the then Boston Braves— who wanted a new stadium.
The Braves did go to Milwaukee — the first time a MLB team moved — only later to leave Milwaukee for Atlanta, Ga.
As loyal fans know, other sport franchises did the same. Baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants, the NFL's Rams, Raiders, Colts and Cardinals and the NBA's Seattle Supersonics— recently reborn as the Oklahoma City Thunder — are all examples of teams moving to cities that used public funds to help build new or better facilities.
To many, team migrations confirm the overwhelming power of pro athletics. Others say it's just the business of sports.
"Moving a club is never easy or simple," says Irwin Raij, a partner and vice chair of the sports industry team at Foley & Lardner law firm and has handled recent stadium financing. " I think teams would prefer not to move but they are under pressure to improve in order to keep fans coming and sign free agent players. You need good stadiums for that."
Financial benefits of sports teams
The pubic funding issue raises a central question: Is having a pro franchise worth the cost of public financing? Experts are clearly divided.
"For the most part, very few cities get a financial benefit from having the teams," Edelman argues. "The jobs and revenues that are promised don't turn up. People go home after games and if they didn't spend their money there, they'd spend it someplace else. Cities that have given tax benefits or leasing deals end up short changed. It's mostly the happiness of the fans."
Edelman adds that high-priced stadiums only benefit the upper echelons of society.
"An NFL game costs well over $250 for four people. Costs for most sports tickets have skyrocketed in part because of the new stadiums. They're only benefiting the rich," concludes Edelman.
Other analysts say the benefits go far beyond the fan base.
Much depends on the market and what any city can afford to spend, says Dan Grigsby, chair of the national sports law group at Mangels Butler & Mitchell, who's represented teams like the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers in stadium negotiations.
"But games bring in millions of dollars to the surrounding areas," Grigsby adds. "Places near the stadiums really see the benefit on game days. New stadiums also create jobs even if temporary. The loss of a team would have significant economic impact."
Politicians in the crosshairs
All this leaves local politicians in a no-win position. If they don't help fund the stadiums they can lose the team—and votes of irate fans.
If they approve stadium funding, they can still lose at the polls, as was the case with those in Seattle, Washington who OK'd public funds to help construct Qwest Stadium in 2002 for the pro football Seahawks.
Carl Wimmer, a Republican state representative in Utah, voted against a bill in 2007 to use public funds to help build a stadium for the professional soccer team, the Salt Lake City Real. The bill just narrowly passed, but not before tempers flared.
"The outcry against using public funds was tremendous," says Wimmer. "I expect it to get even louder now across the county. You see a lot of rosy projections used to sell these type of things but more often than not, they fall quite short."
As for the NFL's Vikings and Falcons, their new stadiums are still on the drawing boards; the Minnesota legislature voting down the most recent proposal, while the Falcons are stuck in the Georgia Dome until the bonds used to finance its construction are paid off.
Los Angeles officials have just OK'd a commission to look into building a football facility—with no guarantees of any money. (The city just announced a naming rights deal for the proposed stadium with Farmers Insurance worth $700 million. Officials continue to say "not a dime of taxpayer money" will be used for the project.)
While no one is predicting the end of public funds for building stadiums, experts say a new playbook has to be drawn up.
"Governments and private business need to be more creative," says Lee Walko, a lawyer at Brennan, Manna & Diamond whose focus includes real estate and corporate management.
"One way is more use of corporate naming rights," says Walko. "The private sector has to come up with more money in these times. For their part, governments can look at long term leases for land to be used as a training facility or other uses at favorable terms. There's also multi-use stadiums instead of just single teams as tenants."
"You probably won't see many bond issues for buildings or huge tax benefits being giving away," Harley Lance Kaplan, an economist and certified financial planner at Beta Industries in Sherborne, Massachusetts.
In the end, however, there's more involved in the equation than money.
"It's like the movies in the 1920s and '30s during the Depression," says Kaplan. "People loved to go to them to escape. As long as sports does that too, you will have stadiums built." (source – USA Today)
Super Bowl XLV – Monday, February 7, 2011
NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL & NFL EXECUTIVE VP ERIC GRUBMAN
(opening remarks from Roger Goodell during the MVP press conference) “Good morning. Congratulations to Coach (Mike) McCarthy. Fantastic football game. I want to congratulate not only coach, but (President) Mark Murphy, (General Manager) Ted Thompson, the great players in the entire (Green Bay Packers) organization the great Packer fans. We have preliminary readings that have come in already that indicate that the game will be the most-watched show in the history of television, so we’re excited about the fan reaction from last night and the incredible game they were able to see. Any time you put on an event of this magnitude, you have your challenges. We’ve had them this week. We had an issue this week with several seats for our fans. It’s something that we have been taking very seriously, working at it. We apologize to those fans that were impacted. We are going to work with them and we are going to do better in the future. We will certainly do a thorough review and get to the bottom of why it all occurred, but we take full responsibility for that as putting on this game. But the one thing we will never do is compromise safety – safety for our fans, safety for our players, anyone involved with our event. I want to thank in context of that, the Arlington Fire Department and the Arlington Police Department. They, and other officials in this area have done an outstanding job and we are grateful to them for their hard work and helping us as we addressed many of the challenges this week. I’d also like to take a minute and thank our staff, who worked tirelessly this week and right through the game and right through the night last night – they did an extraordinary job. Several of our employees volunteered to give up their seats so we could accommodate those fans. I’m proud of what they’ve done and I thank them for all of that. And we’re going to take your questions after Aaron (Rodgers) gets done. (President of NFL Ventures, inc.) Eric Grubman and I will meet you over here on the side and will be happy to answer your questions on that. Let me just make one more thank you, which is to the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee: Roger Staubach, Bill Lively, Troy Aikman, all the people that worked so hard on this event. They did an absolutely terrific job and we’re grateful for their hard work and the success that they had. But this morning is about the Super Bowl. It’s about football and it’s about the great players and the great team that won the Super Bowl last night. We have a Super Bowl MVP that represents the best in the game, the best of the people who play the game. He’s not only an extraordinary quarterback who had a great performance last night, more importantly, he’s a great young man. He really does things right and he’s a terrific person to have involved in the NFL. We’re so proud that he is the Super Bowl MVP, and so I’d like to have Aaron Rodgers come up and accept the Pete Rozelle MVP Trophy for a great performance last night. (on why the seats in Cowboys Stadium were not set up in time for the Super Bowl) Goodell: “We are going to do a thorough review of that. We don’t have all of the answers to that, but it was obviously a failure on our part, and we have to take responsibility for that.”
Nota completa...
NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL & NFL EXECUTIVE VP ERIC GRUBMAN
(opening remarks from Roger Goodell during the MVP press conference) “Good morning. Congratulations to Coach (Mike) McCarthy. Fantastic football game. I want to congratulate not only coach, but (President) Mark Murphy, (General Manager) Ted Thompson, the great players in the entire (Green Bay Packers) organization the great Packer fans. We have preliminary readings that have come in already that indicate that the game will be the most-watched show in the history of television, so we’re excited about the fan reaction from last night and the incredible game they were able to see. Any time you put on an event of this magnitude, you have your challenges. We’ve had them this week. We had an issue this week with several seats for our fans. It’s something that we have been taking very seriously, working at it. We apologize to those fans that were impacted. We are going to work with them and we are going to do better in the future. We will certainly do a thorough review and get to the bottom of why it all occurred, but we take full responsibility for that as putting on this game. But the one thing we will never do is compromise safety – safety for our fans, safety for our players, anyone involved with our event. I want to thank in context of that, the Arlington Fire Department and the Arlington Police Department. They, and other officials in this area have done an outstanding job and we are grateful to them for their hard work and helping us as we addressed many of the challenges this week. I’d also like to take a minute and thank our staff, who worked tirelessly this week and right through the game and right through the night last night – they did an extraordinary job. Several of our employees volunteered to give up their seats so we could accommodate those fans. I’m proud of what they’ve done and I thank them for all of that. And we’re going to take your questions after Aaron (Rodgers) gets done. (President of NFL Ventures, inc.) Eric Grubman and I will meet you over here on the side and will be happy to answer your questions on that. Let me just make one more thank you, which is to the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee: Roger Staubach, Bill Lively, Troy Aikman, all the people that worked so hard on this event. They did an absolutely terrific job and we’re grateful for their hard work and the success that they had. But this morning is about the Super Bowl. It’s about football and it’s about the great players and the great team that won the Super Bowl last night. We have a Super Bowl MVP that represents the best in the game, the best of the people who play the game. He’s not only an extraordinary quarterback who had a great performance last night, more importantly, he’s a great young man. He really does things right and he’s a terrific person to have involved in the NFL. We’re so proud that he is the Super Bowl MVP, and so I’d like to have Aaron Rodgers come up and accept the Pete Rozelle MVP Trophy for a great performance last night. (on why the seats in Cowboys Stadium were not set up in time for the Super Bowl) Goodell: “We are going to do a thorough review of that. We don’t have all of the answers to that, but it was obviously a failure on our part, and we have to take responsibility for that.”
Nota completa...
Super Bowl XLV News Conference
Dallas, Texas – February 7, 2011
(on no longer being overlooked) “I guess I ran out of motivation, huh? You know what, I’m always looking for challenges. I think the challenge now goes to repeating, scrutinizing this season, finding ways to get better. Obviously, being a perfectionist and having a quarterback coach who is as well, there’s going to be plenty of time to work on things and plenty of things to work on.
(on how he thinks he stacks up against other quarterbacks in the league) “Well, I was competitive last night. I need to play well for our team and Mike (McCarthy) and his staff had a great game plan. We rolled through some calls and I made enough plays to get the job done last night. As far as where I compare to other quarterbacks in the league, that’s for you guys to determine and talk about. As a kid, I always wanted to obviously win a Super Bowl. Now that I’ve got one, it’s like, ‘Now what?’ Let’s go get another one.”
(on how he has typically been referred to as an underdog and how he reflects on his career after getting the opportunity to win a Super Bowl as a starting quarterback) “That’s kind of been my career there, getting my opportunity and making the most of it. In high school, junior college, Division-I, being a backup, getting overlooked on draft day, three years as a backup, finally getting an opportunity and making the most of it. This was another opportunity that doesn’t come around too often. I just wanted to make the most of it and we did. Great team, great locker room. I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
Nota completa...
Dallas, Texas – February 7, 2011
(on no longer being overlooked) “I guess I ran out of motivation, huh? You know what, I’m always looking for challenges. I think the challenge now goes to repeating, scrutinizing this season, finding ways to get better. Obviously, being a perfectionist and having a quarterback coach who is as well, there’s going to be plenty of time to work on things and plenty of things to work on.
(on how he thinks he stacks up against other quarterbacks in the league) “Well, I was competitive last night. I need to play well for our team and Mike (McCarthy) and his staff had a great game plan. We rolled through some calls and I made enough plays to get the job done last night. As far as where I compare to other quarterbacks in the league, that’s for you guys to determine and talk about. As a kid, I always wanted to obviously win a Super Bowl. Now that I’ve got one, it’s like, ‘Now what?’ Let’s go get another one.”
(on how he has typically been referred to as an underdog and how he reflects on his career after getting the opportunity to win a Super Bowl as a starting quarterback) “That’s kind of been my career there, getting my opportunity and making the most of it. In high school, junior college, Division-I, being a backup, getting overlooked on draft day, three years as a backup, finally getting an opportunity and making the most of it. This was another opportunity that doesn’t come around too often. I just wanted to make the most of it and we did. Great team, great locker room. I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
Nota completa...
Press Conference
Monday, Feb. 7
(Has it sunk in yet that you’re taking that trophy home? How did you spend the evening?)
It was a fun night. I can’t put into words the experience post-game in the locker room. But we had a party back at the hotel. We’re a community-owned football team, so you can see all the fingerprints on our trophy. It was passed around. Everybody had a lot of fun with it. Spent a lot of time with family throughout the evening. I’m sure it will sink in when we get off that plane in Green Bay.
(You made a lot of bold coaching moves over the last couple months. Giving pre-game to the captains. The ring thing. What went into that whole confidence thing from your perspective?)
I talked to our football team a lot about having real confidence, and those are just examples and opportunities to express that. I felt that the measurement of the rings, the timing of it would be special, it would have a significant effect on our players doing it the night before the game. Letting the captains speak to the football team before we go out in pre-game, frankly was really an opportunity to try to develop leadership. I wanted to look for ways for Aaron Rodgers to continue, for his leadership to develop and grow, and it has tremendously this year. Same with Charles Woodson. So it’s just all about staying focused on the program. It’s an excellent football team that we feel is going to continue to grow and get better, and it was just a thought of trying to develop leadership. Ego, everybody has an ego, but you have to discipline your ego and look for those types of opportunities, even coaches too. We have assistant coaches that talk before practice on Friday, and it’s an opportunity for them to grow and express themselves and give a good message, because it’s about the team, it’s about growth, it’s about development, and that’s something we did a very good job of as a football team, particularly through the injury phase that we went through.
(What factors contributed to your game plan of throwing from beginning to end? Was there something about Pittsburgh that made that the best way to attack them?)
Well, a huge part of our game plan was really putting the ball in Aaron Rodgers’ hands. He did a great job at the line of scrimmage. A majority of our plays were run and pass options. We were really feeding off of how they were going to play our personnel groups, and Aaron’s discipline, ability to throw the ball away when it wasn’t there, didn’t take any chances, just gave me the ability to be aggressive as a play-caller. But it was a game plan that we were going to put the ball in Aaron’s hands, put it on his shoulders, and we knew he would produce.
Nota completa...
Monday, Feb. 7
(Has it sunk in yet that you’re taking that trophy home? How did you spend the evening?)
It was a fun night. I can’t put into words the experience post-game in the locker room. But we had a party back at the hotel. We’re a community-owned football team, so you can see all the fingerprints on our trophy. It was passed around. Everybody had a lot of fun with it. Spent a lot of time with family throughout the evening. I’m sure it will sink in when we get off that plane in Green Bay.
(You made a lot of bold coaching moves over the last couple months. Giving pre-game to the captains. The ring thing. What went into that whole confidence thing from your perspective?)
I talked to our football team a lot about having real confidence, and those are just examples and opportunities to express that. I felt that the measurement of the rings, the timing of it would be special, it would have a significant effect on our players doing it the night before the game. Letting the captains speak to the football team before we go out in pre-game, frankly was really an opportunity to try to develop leadership. I wanted to look for ways for Aaron Rodgers to continue, for his leadership to develop and grow, and it has tremendously this year. Same with Charles Woodson. So it’s just all about staying focused on the program. It’s an excellent football team that we feel is going to continue to grow and get better, and it was just a thought of trying to develop leadership. Ego, everybody has an ego, but you have to discipline your ego and look for those types of opportunities, even coaches too. We have assistant coaches that talk before practice on Friday, and it’s an opportunity for them to grow and express themselves and give a good message, because it’s about the team, it’s about growth, it’s about development, and that’s something we did a very good job of as a football team, particularly through the injury phase that we went through.
(What factors contributed to your game plan of throwing from beginning to end? Was there something about Pittsburgh that made that the best way to attack them?)
Well, a huge part of our game plan was really putting the ball in Aaron Rodgers’ hands. He did a great job at the line of scrimmage. A majority of our plays were run and pass options. We were really feeding off of how they were going to play our personnel groups, and Aaron’s discipline, ability to throw the ball away when it wasn’t there, didn’t take any chances, just gave me the ability to be aggressive as a play-caller. But it was a game plan that we were going to put the ball in Aaron’s hands, put it on his shoulders, and we knew he would produce.
Nota completa...
Sunday, February 6
WR GREG JENNINGS
HEAD COACH MIKE McCARTHY
LB DESMOND BISHOP
PRESIDENT MARK MURPHY
C SCOTT WELLS
WR JAMES JONES
LB A.J. HAWK
LB FRANK ZOMBO
QB AARON RODGERS
CB CHARLES WOODSON
WR JORDY NELSON
LB CLAY MATTHEWS
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOE PHILBIN
S CHARLIE PEPRAH
CB NICK COLLINS
T CHAD CLIFTON
G DARYN COLLEDGE
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR DOM CAPERS
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS BOB HARLAN
CB SAM SHIELDS
WR DONALD DRIVER
GENERAL MANAGER TED THOMPSON
DT B.J. RAJI
DE CULLEN JENKINS
CB TRAMON WILLIAMS
WR GREG JENNINGS
HEAD COACH MIKE McCARTHY
LB DESMOND BISHOP
PRESIDENT MARK MURPHY
C SCOTT WELLS
WR JAMES JONES
LB A.J. HAWK
LB FRANK ZOMBO
QB AARON RODGERS
CB CHARLES WOODSON
WR JORDY NELSON
LB CLAY MATTHEWS
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOE PHILBIN
S CHARLIE PEPRAH
CB NICK COLLINS
T CHAD CLIFTON
G DARYN COLLEDGE
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR DOM CAPERS
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS BOB HARLAN
CB SAM SHIELDS
WR DONALD DRIVER
GENERAL MANAGER TED THOMPSON
DT B.J. RAJI
DE CULLEN JENKINS
CB TRAMON WILLIAMS
Sunday, February 6
WR HINES WARD
LB JAMES FARRIOR
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BRUCE ARIANS
QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER
WR MIKE WALLACE
LB JAMES HARRISON
OT FLOZELL ADAMS
RDE BRETT KEISEL
S TROY POLAMALU
HEAD COACH MIKE TOMLIN
LB LaMARR WOODLEY
PRESIDENT ART ROONEY II
S RYAN CLARK
TE HEATH MILLER
WR HINES WARD
LB JAMES FARRIOR
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BRUCE ARIANS
QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER
WR MIKE WALLACE
LB JAMES HARRISON
OT FLOZELL ADAMS
RDE BRETT KEISEL
S TROY POLAMALU
HEAD COACH MIKE TOMLIN
LB LaMARR WOODLEY
PRESIDENT ART ROONEY II
S RYAN CLARK
TE HEATH MILLER
Compiled By Elias Sports Bureau
SUPER BOWL RECORD SET IN SUPER BOWL XLV
Fewest Rushing Attempts, Game, Both Teams – 36, Green Bay (13) vs. Pittsburgh (23)
SUPER BOWL RECORDS TIED IN SUPER BOWL XLV
Most Games, Team – 8, Pittsburgh (tied record set by Dallas)
Fewest Turnovers, Game, Team – 0, Green Bay (tied record shared by 17 other teams)
Most Points, First Quarter, Team – 14, Green Bay (tied record shared by six other teams)
Largest Lead, End of First Quarter, Team – 14, Green Bay, led 14-0 (tied record shared by Miami, SB VIII and Oakland, SB XV)
Fewest First Downs By Penalty, Game, Both Teams – 0, Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh (tied record set in five other SB)
Fewest Rushing Attempts, Game, Winning Team – 13, Green Bay (tied record set by St. Louis, SB XXXIV)
Most Two-Point Conversions, Game -- 1, Antwaan Randle El (tied record shared by five other players)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Compiled By Elias Sports Bureau
Green Bay has won 13 NFL championships (including nine in the pre-Super Bowl era), the highest total for any team.
Green Bay committed no turnovers; Pittsburgh committed three. Teams committing the fewer turnovers have a 33-3 record in Super Bowls.
Jordy Nelson had nine receptions for 140 yards, breaking the Packers’ record for receiving yards in a Super Bowl, set by Max McGee, who had 138 yards in SB I.
Green Bay scored two touchdowns within 24 seconds in the first quarter – the fastest pair of touchdowns scored by one team in a Super Bowl since SB XXVII, when Dallas scored two touchdowns in 18 seconds after having scored two touchdowns in 15 seconds earlier in that game.
For the third consecutive postseason game, Green Bay scored a touchdown on an interception return, becoming the first team in NFL history to score a touchdown on an interception return in each of three consecutive postseason games.
SUPER BOWL RECORD SET IN SUPER BOWL XLV
Fewest Rushing Attempts, Game, Both Teams – 36, Green Bay (13) vs. Pittsburgh (23)
SUPER BOWL RECORDS TIED IN SUPER BOWL XLV
Most Games, Team – 8, Pittsburgh (tied record set by Dallas)
Fewest Turnovers, Game, Team – 0, Green Bay (tied record shared by 17 other teams)
Most Points, First Quarter, Team – 14, Green Bay (tied record shared by six other teams)
Largest Lead, End of First Quarter, Team – 14, Green Bay, led 14-0 (tied record shared by Miami, SB VIII and Oakland, SB XV)
Fewest First Downs By Penalty, Game, Both Teams – 0, Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh (tied record set in five other SB)
Fewest Rushing Attempts, Game, Winning Team – 13, Green Bay (tied record set by St. Louis, SB XXXIV)
Most Two-Point Conversions, Game -- 1, Antwaan Randle El (tied record shared by five other players)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Compiled By Elias Sports Bureau
Green Bay has won 13 NFL championships (including nine in the pre-Super Bowl era), the highest total for any team.
Green Bay committed no turnovers; Pittsburgh committed three. Teams committing the fewer turnovers have a 33-3 record in Super Bowls.
Jordy Nelson had nine receptions for 140 yards, breaking the Packers’ record for receiving yards in a Super Bowl, set by Max McGee, who had 138 yards in SB I.
Green Bay scored two touchdowns within 24 seconds in the first quarter – the fastest pair of touchdowns scored by one team in a Super Bowl since SB XXVII, when Dallas scored two touchdowns in 18 seconds after having scored two touchdowns in 15 seconds earlier in that game.
For the third consecutive postseason game, Green Bay scored a touchdown on an interception return, becoming the first team in NFL history to score a touchdown on an interception return in each of three consecutive postseason games.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was voted the winner of the Pete Rozelle Trophy, awarded to the Super Bowl XLV Most Valuable Player. The award is chosen by a panel comprised of 16 members of the Pro Football Writers Association of America, selected members of the electronic broadcast media and interactively through the National Football League’s official website, NFL.com. Rodgers collected 17.5 votes of the possible 20 cast in the process, with Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson collecting two votes and Packers linebacker Clay Matthews garnering half a vote. More than 1.64 million fans voted for the award.Rodgers, 25, completed 24-of-39 pass attempts for 304 yards for a passer rating of 111.5 in leading the Packers to their fourth Super Bowl title. The Packers also won Super Bowl titles in Super Bowl I, II and XXXI.
The 6-2, 225-pound product of the University of California opened the scoring late in the first quarter on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Nelson. Following kicker Mason Crosby’s extra point, Green Bay led 7-0 with 3:44 remaining in the first quarter. Later in the second quarter, Rodgers took advantage of an interception by Green Bay defensive back Jarrett Bush and promptly tossed his second touchdown pass of the game, a 21-yard strike to wide receiver Greg Jennings. Rodgers finished the first half of play with 11 completions on 16 pass attempts for 137 yards, two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 134.6 as the Packers took a 21-10 lead into halftime.
In the second half, Rodgers, a native of Chico, California, completed 13-of-23 passes for 151 yards and another key touchdown pass to Jennings. In a pivotal drive with the Packers holding a 28-25 lead, Rodgers marched the Packers 75 yards in 10 plays, completing four-of-five passes on the drive for 64 yards. The Packers took 5:27 in time of possession off the clock on their final scoring drive and widened their lead to 31-25 after Crosby’s 23-yard field goal, which proved to be the final margin.
Rodgers is the second consecutive quarterback to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player honor, as New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was voted the recipient in Super Bowl XLIV. The announcement of Rodgers’ selection as Super Bowl XLV Most Valuable Player marked the 24th time that a quarterback has been named the winner of the award. He also became the first Packers’ quarterback to win the honor since Bart Starr accomplished the feat in Super Bowl II. Starr was the first player to capture the Super Bowl MVP and is just one of four players to have won the MVP multiple times, later joined by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw (Super Bowls XIII and XIV), San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana (Super Bowls XVI and XXIV), New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII). Rodgers became the 18th different quarterback to win the Pete Rozelle Trophy/Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award.
Rodgers also became the first Packer to win the Pete Rozelle/Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award since kick return/punt return specialist Desmond Howard (XXXI).
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011
By Calvin Watkins
ESPNDallas.com
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The Pittsburgh Steelers’ last practice in preparation for Super Bowl XLV at the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility on the TCU campus was relaxed.
Family members surrounded the field as the players went over some situational plays during a causal walkthrough.
Players wore jerseys and shorts and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wore the jersey of teammate Brett Keisel.
A relaxed practice in front of family members was the goal of coach Mike Tomlin, who followed a similar strategy for Super Bowl XLIII.
Tomlin was hopeful the addition of family members outside the field would help the players stay focus on the eve of the Super Bowl.
“Nothing else was normal,” Tomlin said before boarding the team bus after the nearly 45-minute session. “But there’s not a lot about this week that is [normal], so we’re not going to fight against it. We're going to embrace it.”
After the practice, family members gathered at midfield to greet their loved ones and take a team/family photo at midfield. Players also posed for individual photos as little kids ran around the field.
“It’s two-fold,” Tomlin said. “We want to honor them of course because they’re love and support is the reason why these men are here. But also we use them to a degree because we had to get some work done today and nothing outside of the white lines was normal but let’s face it, nothing tomorrow night outside the white lines is going to be normal. This is a mock game for us, it represented just that. It was unique in terms of the people that were outside the field but the work we got done inside the white lines was very normal for a Saturday.”
Among the people watching practice was Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II, TCU football coach Gary Patterson and Steelers greats John Stallworth and Mel Blount.
One person who watched practice was living his dream in 16-year old Randy Stephens. The Wheeling, W.V., native received a gift from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to attend a Super Bowl.
As an added bonus he was allowed to watch Steelers practice on Saturday.
Hines Ward, Casey Hampton and Roethlisberger posed for pictures and signed a football for Stephens.
Off the field, the Steelers made a roster move placing rookie center Maurkice Pouncey (ankle) on the Reserve/Injured List and adding center/guard Dorian Brooks from the practice squad.
And nothing else has changed on the injury front as defensive end Aaron Smith (torn triceps) will not play on Sunday vs. the Green Bay Packers.
By Calvin Watkins
ESPNDallas.com
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The Pittsburgh Steelers’ last practice in preparation for Super Bowl XLV at the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility on the TCU campus was relaxed.
Family members surrounded the field as the players went over some situational plays during a causal walkthrough.
Players wore jerseys and shorts and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wore the jersey of teammate Brett Keisel.
A relaxed practice in front of family members was the goal of coach Mike Tomlin, who followed a similar strategy for Super Bowl XLIII.
Tomlin was hopeful the addition of family members outside the field would help the players stay focus on the eve of the Super Bowl.
“Nothing else was normal,” Tomlin said before boarding the team bus after the nearly 45-minute session. “But there’s not a lot about this week that is [normal], so we’re not going to fight against it. We're going to embrace it.”
After the practice, family members gathered at midfield to greet their loved ones and take a team/family photo at midfield. Players also posed for individual photos as little kids ran around the field.
“It’s two-fold,” Tomlin said. “We want to honor them of course because they’re love and support is the reason why these men are here. But also we use them to a degree because we had to get some work done today and nothing outside of the white lines was normal but let’s face it, nothing tomorrow night outside the white lines is going to be normal. This is a mock game for us, it represented just that. It was unique in terms of the people that were outside the field but the work we got done inside the white lines was very normal for a Saturday.”
Among the people watching practice was Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II, TCU football coach Gary Patterson and Steelers greats John Stallworth and Mel Blount.
One person who watched practice was living his dream in 16-year old Randy Stephens. The Wheeling, W.V., native received a gift from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to attend a Super Bowl.
As an added bonus he was allowed to watch Steelers practice on Saturday.
Hines Ward, Casey Hampton and Roethlisberger posed for pictures and signed a football for Stephens.
Off the field, the Steelers made a roster move placing rookie center Maurkice Pouncey (ankle) on the Reserve/Injured List and adding center/guard Dorian Brooks from the practice squad.
And nothing else has changed on the injury front as defensive end Aaron Smith (torn triceps) will not play on Sunday vs. the Green Bay Packers.
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011
By Todd Archer
ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- The Green Bay Packers concluded their final preparations for Super Bowl XLV on Saturday morning at the team’s Omni Mandalay Hotel in Irving, Texas, with separate jog-throughs for the defense and the offense, totaling 41 minutes.
In the Salon D ballroom, defensive coordinator Dom Capers ran through a series of defensive calls in a 27-minute session, covering all kinds of down-and-distance as well as time-and-score situations. Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin put the offense through a 14-minute session going over some final corrections. When completed the players chanted and clapped before breaking up for the day.
“I really liked today’s schedule because finally this gets you back on the routine you’ve been on for the last five years,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “We’ve had an opportunity for our final corrections in our meetings. The coordinators have given their last message to each unit and they had their final walkthrough, like we always do. They’re done for today and we’ll have a team meeting tonight.”
Wide receiver Donald Driver (quadriceps) took part in the jog-through, while linebacker Erik Walden, who is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, stood next to outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene during the defensive walkthrough.
“Erik’s going to have to show us something before the game,” McCarthy said. “Obviously we’re going over early, 2 o’clock, so we’ll have a decision right there at the deadline.”
Unlike Pittsburgh, the Packers will remain at the hotel they have called home since arriving on Monday, on Saturday night.
“I’ve received feedback from clubs that have left the hotel and stayed,” McCarthy said. “Seeking routine and consistency in how we’ve operated in the past, I chose to stay in the same hotel. I’ve heard positives from both sides.”
Following the jog-through the players were off until an 8:30 p.m. chapel and 9 p.m. team meeting. McCarthy will hold his final team meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday before the team heads to Cowboys Stadium.
“This is their time,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy said will have a guest speaker at Saturday’s team meeting but he did want to divulge who that will be.
“To me the preparation stress has just left the building,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s very important to put the players in a mental state where their mind is clear and it’s time for them to prepare themselves for the game. We’ll have our team meeting. We’ll have a strong message tonight then our snack will follow ... I’ll give them the final message at 10:30 in the morning.”
By Todd Archer
ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- The Green Bay Packers concluded their final preparations for Super Bowl XLV on Saturday morning at the team’s Omni Mandalay Hotel in Irving, Texas, with separate jog-throughs for the defense and the offense, totaling 41 minutes.
In the Salon D ballroom, defensive coordinator Dom Capers ran through a series of defensive calls in a 27-minute session, covering all kinds of down-and-distance as well as time-and-score situations. Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin put the offense through a 14-minute session going over some final corrections. When completed the players chanted and clapped before breaking up for the day.
“I really liked today’s schedule because finally this gets you back on the routine you’ve been on for the last five years,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “We’ve had an opportunity for our final corrections in our meetings. The coordinators have given their last message to each unit and they had their final walkthrough, like we always do. They’re done for today and we’ll have a team meeting tonight.”
Wide receiver Donald Driver (quadriceps) took part in the jog-through, while linebacker Erik Walden, who is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, stood next to outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene during the defensive walkthrough.
“Erik’s going to have to show us something before the game,” McCarthy said. “Obviously we’re going over early, 2 o’clock, so we’ll have a decision right there at the deadline.”
Unlike Pittsburgh, the Packers will remain at the hotel they have called home since arriving on Monday, on Saturday night.
“I’ve received feedback from clubs that have left the hotel and stayed,” McCarthy said. “Seeking routine and consistency in how we’ve operated in the past, I chose to stay in the same hotel. I’ve heard positives from both sides.”
Following the jog-through the players were off until an 8:30 p.m. chapel and 9 p.m. team meeting. McCarthy will hold his final team meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday before the team heads to Cowboys Stadium.
“This is their time,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy said will have a guest speaker at Saturday’s team meeting but he did want to divulge who that will be.
“To me the preparation stress has just left the building,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s very important to put the players in a mental state where their mind is clear and it’s time for them to prepare themselves for the game. We’ll have our team meeting. We’ll have a strong message tonight then our snack will follow ... I’ll give them the final message at 10:30 in the morning.”
Friday, Feb. 4, 2011
By Peter King
Pro Football Writers of America
FORT WORTH, Texas—The guessing game with two key Pittsburgh Steelers for Super Bowl XLV is over: Center Maurkice Pouncey and defensive end Aaron Smith were both declared out for the game by coach Mike Tomlin Friday afternoon.
Smith, out since Oct. 24 with a torn triceps, never got close to playing again here in the final days before the Super Bowl matchup with Green Bay. But the Steelers held out faint hope that the rookie keystone to their offensive line, Pouncey, might be ready with concentrated rehab. Pouncey didn’t appear at practice for the third straight day Friday, rehabbing inside the TCU trainers’ room, and Tomlin said as his team left the practice: “He’s out.’’
Asked after the Steelers’ two-hour Friday practice inside the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility on the snow-swept TCU campus how Pouncey’s absence will affect the Steelers’ offensive gameplan, Tomlin said: “It won’t. Obviously he’s a quality player, and how it affects the game, no one knows. But as far as what we do, we have a plan, and that won’t change.’’
Talk about stepping into a pressurized situation: Undrafted center Doug Legursky from Marshall will make his first NFL start at center in the Super Bowl—and he’ll be facing 2009 first-round nose tackle B.J. Raji of the Packers to boot. Legursky has made four previous starts at guard for the Steelers, but never in the middle of the line, at such a key spot making line calls and handling the exchanges with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. There were times in the three days of Steeler practices here at TCU that Legursky looked like a misfit in the land of the giants, at 6-1 and 315. On average, his four starting linemates are four inches taller and 19 pounds heavier than Legursky.
“The NFL is made up of lots of players like him—guys who somehow got an opportunity and seized it,’’ said Tomlin. “We’re completely confident that he will seize this opportunity and play well. That’s why we’re not changing what we do.’’
As has been the case for the past three months, second-year defensive end Ziggy Hood will man the left end spot for Smith Sunday against Green Bay.
Friday’s workout was the third straight this week inside the TCU practice facility for the Steelers, and the third straight in shells, sweats and helmets. The Steelers, not surprisingly, didn’t wear shoulder pads and didn’t tackle all week, befitting a team trying to stay healthy and fresh after six months of practices and games.
Tomlin had crowd noise piped in for the first time this week as the Steelers went through their normal Friday routine of goal-line, short-yardage and two-minute plays. The team seemed loose, as it has all week. When Troy Polamalu picked off a Charlie Batch pass near the goal line, fellow safety Ryan Clark chanted: “MVP! MVP! MVP!’’
“We’ve had a very good practice week, very normal,’’ said Tomlin. “We’re lucky to have guys who just love football and love one another. It’s a special group.’’
The Steelers are welcoming team families into the practice facility Saturday for their final practice of the week, a light walk-through Saturday at 10 a.m. On Saturday afternoon, the players and coaches will part with their families and go to a secret hotel for their last night before the game, the same practice the Steelers followed before the championship game two years ago against Arizona.
By Peter King
Pro Football Writers of America
FORT WORTH, Texas—The guessing game with two key Pittsburgh Steelers for Super Bowl XLV is over: Center Maurkice Pouncey and defensive end Aaron Smith were both declared out for the game by coach Mike Tomlin Friday afternoon.
Smith, out since Oct. 24 with a torn triceps, never got close to playing again here in the final days before the Super Bowl matchup with Green Bay. But the Steelers held out faint hope that the rookie keystone to their offensive line, Pouncey, might be ready with concentrated rehab. Pouncey didn’t appear at practice for the third straight day Friday, rehabbing inside the TCU trainers’ room, and Tomlin said as his team left the practice: “He’s out.’’
Asked after the Steelers’ two-hour Friday practice inside the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility on the snow-swept TCU campus how Pouncey’s absence will affect the Steelers’ offensive gameplan, Tomlin said: “It won’t. Obviously he’s a quality player, and how it affects the game, no one knows. But as far as what we do, we have a plan, and that won’t change.’’
Talk about stepping into a pressurized situation: Undrafted center Doug Legursky from Marshall will make his first NFL start at center in the Super Bowl—and he’ll be facing 2009 first-round nose tackle B.J. Raji of the Packers to boot. Legursky has made four previous starts at guard for the Steelers, but never in the middle of the line, at such a key spot making line calls and handling the exchanges with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. There were times in the three days of Steeler practices here at TCU that Legursky looked like a misfit in the land of the giants, at 6-1 and 315. On average, his four starting linemates are four inches taller and 19 pounds heavier than Legursky.
“The NFL is made up of lots of players like him—guys who somehow got an opportunity and seized it,’’ said Tomlin. “We’re completely confident that he will seize this opportunity and play well. That’s why we’re not changing what we do.’’
As has been the case for the past three months, second-year defensive end Ziggy Hood will man the left end spot for Smith Sunday against Green Bay.
Friday’s workout was the third straight this week inside the TCU practice facility for the Steelers, and the third straight in shells, sweats and helmets. The Steelers, not surprisingly, didn’t wear shoulder pads and didn’t tackle all week, befitting a team trying to stay healthy and fresh after six months of practices and games.
Tomlin had crowd noise piped in for the first time this week as the Steelers went through their normal Friday routine of goal-line, short-yardage and two-minute plays. The team seemed loose, as it has all week. When Troy Polamalu picked off a Charlie Batch pass near the goal line, fellow safety Ryan Clark chanted: “MVP! MVP! MVP!’’
“We’ve had a very good practice week, very normal,’’ said Tomlin. “We’re lucky to have guys who just love football and love one another. It’s a special group.’’
The Steelers are welcoming team families into the practice facility Saturday for their final practice of the week, a light walk-through Saturday at 10 a.m. On Saturday afternoon, the players and coaches will part with their families and go to a secret hotel for their last night before the game, the same practice the Steelers followed before the championship game two years ago against Arizona.
Friday, Feb. 4, 2011
By Jim Trotter
DALLAS _ Coach Mike McCarthy called his Packers “loose but confident” Friday afternoon following their last on-field practice before Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers.
“We’ve had an opportunity to go over every situation twice for our game plan, so we’re ready to go,” he said before departing Highland Park High School’s indoor practice facility. “The one thing you want to see in your football team is that the players have maintained confidence throughout the process. Our guys have done that. They totally believe what’s in front of them. They believe in what they’ve seen on film. We respect Pittsburgh, but we feel that this is our time and Sunday will be our night.”
The Packers listed everyone but linebacker Erik Walden as probable for the game. Walden, who is recovering from an ankle sprain sustained two weeks ago in the NFC Championship Game at Chicago, will be listed as questionable.
“We’ll take Erik up the game and see what happens,” McCarthy said. “I have a good feel for what he can and cannot do. Sunday I’m going to trust him and the medical staff to make that call.”
Frank Zombo would start if Walden is unable to play or limited.
Wideout Donald Driver was held out of team drills for the second consecutive day because of a quadriceps strain, but he’s expected to play. Driver participated in the team’s jog-through early Friday morning and was part of the kickoff return's “hands” team during practice.
Green Bay took its team photo at Highland Park High shortly before starting the 47-minute workout. Everyone was in attendance, including the players who are on injured reserve.
Before starting practice, McCarthy followed Friday tradition by having an assistant coach address the team. This time it was linebackers coach (and former Steeler) Kevin Greene, who spoke for 5 minutes as the players encircled him in the middle of the synthetic turf field.
When he finished, each player raised a hand to form a human umbrella. They broke the huddle by yelling: “Pack”.
The practice, which focused on special teams and 11-on-11 team competition with noise pumped in through speakers, was roughly half the length of a normal Friday workout. McCarthy said it was by design because the team went longer than usual in their previous “Friday” workout in Green Bay (last Sunday).
“I feel good about preparation,” he said. “I thought today was sharp.”
The Packers will conduct a final jog-through Saturday morning at their team hotel in Las Colinas.
By Jim Trotter
DALLAS _ Coach Mike McCarthy called his Packers “loose but confident” Friday afternoon following their last on-field practice before Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers.
“We’ve had an opportunity to go over every situation twice for our game plan, so we’re ready to go,” he said before departing Highland Park High School’s indoor practice facility. “The one thing you want to see in your football team is that the players have maintained confidence throughout the process. Our guys have done that. They totally believe what’s in front of them. They believe in what they’ve seen on film. We respect Pittsburgh, but we feel that this is our time and Sunday will be our night.”
The Packers listed everyone but linebacker Erik Walden as probable for the game. Walden, who is recovering from an ankle sprain sustained two weeks ago in the NFC Championship Game at Chicago, will be listed as questionable.
“We’ll take Erik up the game and see what happens,” McCarthy said. “I have a good feel for what he can and cannot do. Sunday I’m going to trust him and the medical staff to make that call.”
Frank Zombo would start if Walden is unable to play or limited.
Wideout Donald Driver was held out of team drills for the second consecutive day because of a quadriceps strain, but he’s expected to play. Driver participated in the team’s jog-through early Friday morning and was part of the kickoff return's “hands” team during practice.
Green Bay took its team photo at Highland Park High shortly before starting the 47-minute workout. Everyone was in attendance, including the players who are on injured reserve.
Before starting practice, McCarthy followed Friday tradition by having an assistant coach address the team. This time it was linebackers coach (and former Steeler) Kevin Greene, who spoke for 5 minutes as the players encircled him in the middle of the synthetic turf field.
When he finished, each player raised a hand to form a human umbrella. They broke the huddle by yelling: “Pack”.
The practice, which focused on special teams and 11-on-11 team competition with noise pumped in through speakers, was roughly half the length of a normal Friday workout. McCarthy said it was by design because the team went longer than usual in their previous “Friday” workout in Green Bay (last Sunday).
“I feel good about preparation,” he said. “I thought today was sharp.”
The Packers will conduct a final jog-through Saturday morning at their team hotel in Las Colinas.
Super Bowl XLV News Conference
Dallas, Texas — February 4, 2011
Opening Statement:
“Good morning. Welcome to Super Bowl XLV. We are all thrilled to be here in North Texas. We are concluding one of the greatest seasons in the history of the NFL. It will always go down, at least until next year, as the most watched season in the history of the NFL. We thank our fans and all of the people who supported us in this great season. It was really one of the more competitive seasons we’ve had, just from a reflection of the fans reaction to this season. We had great performances, both individual and by teams. And we want to congratulate the two teams that have risen above all of it: the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers. Congratulations to both organizations. It just sounds like football. Packers. Steelers. This is what has the whole country excited about this weekend and this year’s Super Bowl. When you think of the great history, the great traditions that come from both of these organizations, and recognize that both of them are small markets, it says a lot about what is unique about the National Football League – that competitiveness, that hope that you can always win. I know that it is going to lead to a great Super Bowl here in North Texas.
Nota completa...
Dallas, Texas — February 4, 2011
Opening Statement:
“Good morning. Welcome to Super Bowl XLV. We are all thrilled to be here in North Texas. We are concluding one of the greatest seasons in the history of the NFL. It will always go down, at least until next year, as the most watched season in the history of the NFL. We thank our fans and all of the people who supported us in this great season. It was really one of the more competitive seasons we’ve had, just from a reflection of the fans reaction to this season. We had great performances, both individual and by teams. And we want to congratulate the two teams that have risen above all of it: the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers. Congratulations to both organizations. It just sounds like football. Packers. Steelers. This is what has the whole country excited about this weekend and this year’s Super Bowl. When you think of the great history, the great traditions that come from both of these organizations, and recognize that both of them are small markets, it says a lot about what is unique about the National Football League – that competitiveness, that hope that you can always win. I know that it is going to lead to a great Super Bowl here in North Texas.
Nota completa...
Press Conference Transcript – Friday, Feb. 4
(Going back to when you were with the 49ers and you picked Alex Smith in the draft, what were the things you didn’t see in Aaron Rodgers that you see now, and what was the decision-making process in that draft?)
Well, going through the draft process that both Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers were involved in, there was a number of things that you definitely liked about both young quarterbacks. And I like to emphasize young. They both had a lot in front of them. There was definitely a lot of projection. But I’ve said it time and time again, just for Aaron Rodgers to be considered for the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft speaks volumes about him as an individual and what we thought about him athletically. Fortunately for the Green Bay Packers he was available at 24, and I’m glad I have the opportunity to work with him and watch him develop into a championship-caliber quarterback. But Aaron’s always had the physical ability, definitely has the mental capacity to operate a very high-level offense, which he does very effectively for us. And I think he’s improved in his in-the-pocket, out-of-pocket ability to transition and make plays with his feet. There’s a lot that goes into those decisions, and we are here today because Aaron Rodgers is in Green Bay.
(How does your offense thrive in a typical weather season in Green Bay? What obstacles does it cause and how do you overcome them?)
When we prepare for football games, and the topic of weather comes up, the one element that I pay close attention to is the wind. The temperatures really don’t factor unless they get well below zero, then it definitely affects the way you handle the football. We’re fortunate enough that we can practice in it, prepare particularly our perimeter players to handle the football in cold temperatures. But the wind, to me, is what affects you game-planning-wise, what affects the way you approach a game, and it affects the way you call a football game. That’s really what we focus on.
(Do you have any sense how difficult this week was for Cullen Jenkins and is there a sense of relief right now that the situation seems to be resolved to some extent?)
Definitely. I think anytime you’re dealing with a personal situation in such a heightened week of importance professionally, it definitely drains on you. I know Cullen is relieved and that’s more of a personal matter for him and his family. But definitely, there’s relief, the fact that there’s been communication.
(The name on the trophy resonates in Green Bay, and Vince Lombardi influenced generations of coaches who came after him. What was that influence and what did you personally take from Lombardi’s career and learn from?)
I think every coach that’s ever had the opportunity to step on the playing field, or even on the practice field is aware of Coach Lombardi’s presence and the importance and the impact that he’s made on the coaching profession. When you talk about excellence and discipline, work ethic, he was the one that really brought all that to the forefront. He’s such a big part of the history and tradition of the Green Bay Packers, something that we celebrate all the time as an organization, something that’s being celebrated right now on Broadway, and we take a tremendous pride and focus on bringing that trophy back where it belongs. Coach Lombardi not only affected the coaching profession. I’m a big believer that he’s made a clear impact on the development of the National Football League.
(How long have you dreamed about that trophy and what would it mean to you to hoist that on Sunday?)
Well, I’ve always dreamt about championships, and the opportunity to be in the National Football League since 1993, this is definitely the goal. I think it’s obvious that it’s heightened with my opportunity to be the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. The opportunity to bring this trophy back home is something we all think about as a football team, as an organization on a daily basis.
(How would you assess the Super Bowl prep week, and what do you do from here until gameday?)
I think has gone very well. I really like our practice structure over there at Highland Park High School. It’s been excellent for us. Our setup at the Omni hotel has been very conducive to our classroom environment that we operate in and the things we’re trying to get done as a football team. I think the quality of work has been excellent. I know our players are looking forward to today’s practice to wrap things up and get back onto a normal schedule. We will meet at the Omni until 10:30, we’ll get on the buses at 11 a.m. to go over to the Highland Park High School facility. We will take a team photo, and then we’ll have an hour of practice in helmets to finish up our on-the-field preparation. Then the players will be free the rest of the day. And then tomorrow’s schedule will be the same schedule that we’ve operated on for the last five years. We’ll come in in the morning. The special teams and quarterbacks will meet at 8:30. Then we’ll go from that to offensive and defensive meetings that will conclude at 11 a.m. Then we’ll have chapel at 8:30 and we’ll have a team meeting tomorrow night at 9 o’clock. Then Sunday we’ll have our gameday schedule.
(Mike Tomlin said the decision would be made today on Maurkice Pouncey, whether he practices or not will determine whether he plays. Is it too late to make an adjustment based on who’s going to be in there, and is there a big difference from Legursky to Pouncey?)
We’re preparing for their offense. I don’t think their protection schemes or their run concepts are going to change very much based on who’s playing center, because Ben Roethlisberger is going to make that offense go. It will not change our approach defensively based on who’s playing center.
(Inaudible question)
Chasing perfection and catching excellence on the way is something I think exemplifies everything that every football team, particularly ours, is trying to accomplish.
(When Pittsburgh and Green Bay met last time, we saw a tremendous display of offensive football by both teams. Do you expect a similar kind of game this time, or do you expect a different kind of game?)
I hope half of that game is one offense playing at that performance, and I hope it’s ours, obviously. That was an exciting football game, but every year is a different year. I think defensively, based on watching their body of work throughout the season, and I know firsthand that our defense has improved, so with that their defense has improved. So I look for the defenses to impact this football game more than they did in last year’s game. These games have all the potential in the world for big plays. We’re more focused on staying true to the little things, to the fundamentals, staying true to what brought us here in all three phases, offense, defense and special teams. We’re going to play as wide open as we need to, as smash mouth as we need to, and situations will dictate that throughout the game. But it’s the last game of the year, it’s the opportunity to bring the Lombardi trophy home, and we’re going to give it everything we’ve got.
(You talk back home about having your finger on the pulse of the team. Can you describe how you think your guys have handled all the other things that come with being in the Super Bowl this week?)
I think they’ve handled it smoothly. I had a chance to, the stage I was sitting on at media day, being in the middle there, just had a chance to watch the players interact. They seemed to be enjoying themselves. The comments and the feedback from the public relations department seems like they’ve enjoyed themselves. The families started to show up yesterday, so that’s always a nice moment, a nice break in the week for everybody, players and coaches. I think that part has gone very well. The schedule is similar to the way we operate, so that’s what you try to accomplish as a team, to stay within the regularity and the continuity that you have in preparing for football games. After today, I know they’re really looking forward to completing today’s work, because they really like Saturday’s schedule, and Saturday’s schedule is very significant. We have a 48-hour rule that we always talk about when we break practice on Friday, and then when we break our meetings on Saturday at 11 o’clock, we’re in the 24-hour rule. It will probably be 27-hour rule this week. Those are targets throughout the week that our players are very in tune with, and everybody, I’m sure Pittsburgh’s the same, is ready to play t his game.
(What is the condition of Donald Driver’s quad and is there any chance he wouldn’t be able to go on Sunday?)
I would be shocked if Donald Driver does not play Sunday. He would practice today if I would let him. He tweaked it in Wednesday’s practice, and frankly I just do not want to take any chances at this point. So I will hold Donald from practice again today. Donald’s played a lot of football, he knows the offense, he’s had a whole week of preparation with the plan last week, so this is clearly just being safe with him.
(How do you keep the stage from not being too big for your players? How do not get them to be swallowed up by everything that surrounds it? And what have you learned about the players as men over the last couple weeks?)
Well, the last couple weeks, I’ll start there. We’ve had an opportunity to play in five playoff-type football games. We feel that has really prepared us for this opportunity. In yesterday’s team meeting, we normally go through and give a report on the officials’ crew. It’s an all-star crew, so there really wasn’t a whole lot to talk about from that standpoint. We talked about the different scheduling that goes on with the Super Bowl, as far as the long pre-game, the long halftime, and just make sure that we’re preparing our players for everything. And frankly, we took a moment and showed the movie from Hoosiers. Everybody loves the movie Hoosiers, where the basketball team walks into the arena and they measure the foul line and it’s 15 feet, and they measure the hoop and it’s 10 feet, and everybody goes OK, it’s big in here. That’s our approach. We’re going to play football. When we cross that white line, it’s going to be about playing Packer football, and that’s what we’re focused on.
(Can you talk about the greatness of Charles Woodson and him continuing to play at this high a level at that position as long as he’s played?)
Charles is a tremendous football player. That’s very evident to anybody that’s played against him. I can recall when he came into the league and I was coaching at the Kansas City Chiefs, and the first couple game plans competing against Charles, and we said we’d better go after him now because in a couple of years we’re not going to be throwing the ball over there. That just holds true. He’s very smart. He plays four positions on our defense. I think that tells you a lot about this ability mentally to operate in and out of schemes. Plays the nickel, the dime, has played safety, and is our starting corner in base. So he gives us tremendous flexibility, but he’s a tenacious player. He’s always around the football. He’s probably one of our best or the best tacklers on our football team. It’s nothing for him to go back and handle a punt or a kickoff in a tough situation, whether it’s because of injury. He returned punts for us his first year and a half in Green Bay. So I just have tremendous respect for him as a player.
Leading into the next step, I felt that he had a lot more to offer as a leader. The leadership of our football team wasn’t where it needed to be. After the regular season is concluded, traditionally in Green Bay we have playoff captains that are voted on. Charles was voted as one of the defensive playoff captains. I thought about it the whole week leading into the Philadelphia game, and I called the six captains into a meeting Saturday night after the snack, and I said before the game the captains are going to lead the team prayer and are going to give the final message before we go onto the field. You six figure it out. It’s your message. I want it to come from the heart, and it was an opportunity for leadership to grow. Just to watch him in that position, because the other five anointed him as the one to talk -- Aaron Rodgers is the one that leads the prayer -- but just to watch him in that position, it’s been special, and the football team has responded to it. He has a lot to offer. He has a big heart. He’s played a lot of football. But he’s a tremendous Hall of Fame football player in my opinion.
(You have talked about how you have tried to keep the team loose to a degree. How are you personally keeping yourself loose or is it possible to do that as the head coach?)
I am focused on hand. I am fortunate that I have extra responsibilities. I get to jump in a police car and come over here this morning and talk to you guys while the football team is in meetings. But just keeping very busy, keeping very focused on the game. It’s not another game. It is a football game is really what we’re really focused on. We’re focused on beating the Pittsburgh Steelers. That is very important for us. We understand everything that goes on with the Super Bowl. Now we have the weather that may cause situations with our families coming in. These are things we talked about, tried to prepare for prior to us coming down here to North Texas. I really like the way our team handles it. Our football team, really our locker room as a whole, there are a lot of steady personalities in our locker room. We don’t have a lot of people bouncing off the walls when something goes wrong. I think that is a real credit to our people, to our players, and I think that is a big part of why we have been successful this year.
(Coach Tomlin said this morning he had plans to have people come in and give some motivational speeches. Are you going to have any former Packers or motivational speakers come in, and if so, when?)
We have two team meetings left in our schedule, one tomorrow night at 9 p.m. and one Sunday at 10:30 a.m. I will have a speaker tomorrow night, and I’d rather keep that to the players for right now. We’ll discuss publicly who that is after the fact, but we’ll have a speaker at tomorrow night’s team meeting.
(With so many injuries this season and guys stepping into key roles, what does it say about your coaching staff’s ability to get guys ready to play in big spots?)
I think it’s a tremendous compliment to our coaching staff to take players continuously through the year, whether they are young players on our roster that frankly weren’t ready to play, or if it was free agents that were brought into our program in Week 6 or 7. It probably doesn’t mean much coming from me but it’s one of the best coaching performances that I’ve been a part of from a staff standpoint, just individual coaches. You go down to the team meeting at 7:45 and Edgar Bennett is walking out of his 6:30 early meeting with James Starks. That’s just something that’s gone on all year. Kevin Greene is given two or three new outside linebackers, and 7, 8, 9, 10 o’clock on a Wednesday and Thursday night you see him walking out of his individual meeting room. So, just a lot of great one-on-one teaching that has gone on, but ultimately it’s about the players. It’s a player’s game, and each player has been given opportunities. They’ve put the extra time in. They’ve leaned on their coaches to prepare them for these opportunities, and they’ve stepped up and gave us the opportunity to continue to grow as a football team throughout the season, and that’s why we’re here in the Super Bowl.
(Going back to when you were with the 49ers and you picked Alex Smith in the draft, what were the things you didn’t see in Aaron Rodgers that you see now, and what was the decision-making process in that draft?)
Well, going through the draft process that both Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers were involved in, there was a number of things that you definitely liked about both young quarterbacks. And I like to emphasize young. They both had a lot in front of them. There was definitely a lot of projection. But I’ve said it time and time again, just for Aaron Rodgers to be considered for the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft speaks volumes about him as an individual and what we thought about him athletically. Fortunately for the Green Bay Packers he was available at 24, and I’m glad I have the opportunity to work with him and watch him develop into a championship-caliber quarterback. But Aaron’s always had the physical ability, definitely has the mental capacity to operate a very high-level offense, which he does very effectively for us. And I think he’s improved in his in-the-pocket, out-of-pocket ability to transition and make plays with his feet. There’s a lot that goes into those decisions, and we are here today because Aaron Rodgers is in Green Bay.
(How does your offense thrive in a typical weather season in Green Bay? What obstacles does it cause and how do you overcome them?)
When we prepare for football games, and the topic of weather comes up, the one element that I pay close attention to is the wind. The temperatures really don’t factor unless they get well below zero, then it definitely affects the way you handle the football. We’re fortunate enough that we can practice in it, prepare particularly our perimeter players to handle the football in cold temperatures. But the wind, to me, is what affects you game-planning-wise, what affects the way you approach a game, and it affects the way you call a football game. That’s really what we focus on.
(Do you have any sense how difficult this week was for Cullen Jenkins and is there a sense of relief right now that the situation seems to be resolved to some extent?)
Definitely. I think anytime you’re dealing with a personal situation in such a heightened week of importance professionally, it definitely drains on you. I know Cullen is relieved and that’s more of a personal matter for him and his family. But definitely, there’s relief, the fact that there’s been communication.
(The name on the trophy resonates in Green Bay, and Vince Lombardi influenced generations of coaches who came after him. What was that influence and what did you personally take from Lombardi’s career and learn from?)
I think every coach that’s ever had the opportunity to step on the playing field, or even on the practice field is aware of Coach Lombardi’s presence and the importance and the impact that he’s made on the coaching profession. When you talk about excellence and discipline, work ethic, he was the one that really brought all that to the forefront. He’s such a big part of the history and tradition of the Green Bay Packers, something that we celebrate all the time as an organization, something that’s being celebrated right now on Broadway, and we take a tremendous pride and focus on bringing that trophy back where it belongs. Coach Lombardi not only affected the coaching profession. I’m a big believer that he’s made a clear impact on the development of the National Football League.
(How long have you dreamed about that trophy and what would it mean to you to hoist that on Sunday?)
Well, I’ve always dreamt about championships, and the opportunity to be in the National Football League since 1993, this is definitely the goal. I think it’s obvious that it’s heightened with my opportunity to be the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. The opportunity to bring this trophy back home is something we all think about as a football team, as an organization on a daily basis.
(How would you assess the Super Bowl prep week, and what do you do from here until gameday?)
I think has gone very well. I really like our practice structure over there at Highland Park High School. It’s been excellent for us. Our setup at the Omni hotel has been very conducive to our classroom environment that we operate in and the things we’re trying to get done as a football team. I think the quality of work has been excellent. I know our players are looking forward to today’s practice to wrap things up and get back onto a normal schedule. We will meet at the Omni until 10:30, we’ll get on the buses at 11 a.m. to go over to the Highland Park High School facility. We will take a team photo, and then we’ll have an hour of practice in helmets to finish up our on-the-field preparation. Then the players will be free the rest of the day. And then tomorrow’s schedule will be the same schedule that we’ve operated on for the last five years. We’ll come in in the morning. The special teams and quarterbacks will meet at 8:30. Then we’ll go from that to offensive and defensive meetings that will conclude at 11 a.m. Then we’ll have chapel at 8:30 and we’ll have a team meeting tomorrow night at 9 o’clock. Then Sunday we’ll have our gameday schedule.
(Mike Tomlin said the decision would be made today on Maurkice Pouncey, whether he practices or not will determine whether he plays. Is it too late to make an adjustment based on who’s going to be in there, and is there a big difference from Legursky to Pouncey?)
We’re preparing for their offense. I don’t think their protection schemes or their run concepts are going to change very much based on who’s playing center, because Ben Roethlisberger is going to make that offense go. It will not change our approach defensively based on who’s playing center.
(Inaudible question)
Chasing perfection and catching excellence on the way is something I think exemplifies everything that every football team, particularly ours, is trying to accomplish.
(When Pittsburgh and Green Bay met last time, we saw a tremendous display of offensive football by both teams. Do you expect a similar kind of game this time, or do you expect a different kind of game?)
I hope half of that game is one offense playing at that performance, and I hope it’s ours, obviously. That was an exciting football game, but every year is a different year. I think defensively, based on watching their body of work throughout the season, and I know firsthand that our defense has improved, so with that their defense has improved. So I look for the defenses to impact this football game more than they did in last year’s game. These games have all the potential in the world for big plays. We’re more focused on staying true to the little things, to the fundamentals, staying true to what brought us here in all three phases, offense, defense and special teams. We’re going to play as wide open as we need to, as smash mouth as we need to, and situations will dictate that throughout the game. But it’s the last game of the year, it’s the opportunity to bring the Lombardi trophy home, and we’re going to give it everything we’ve got.
(You talk back home about having your finger on the pulse of the team. Can you describe how you think your guys have handled all the other things that come with being in the Super Bowl this week?)
I think they’ve handled it smoothly. I had a chance to, the stage I was sitting on at media day, being in the middle there, just had a chance to watch the players interact. They seemed to be enjoying themselves. The comments and the feedback from the public relations department seems like they’ve enjoyed themselves. The families started to show up yesterday, so that’s always a nice moment, a nice break in the week for everybody, players and coaches. I think that part has gone very well. The schedule is similar to the way we operate, so that’s what you try to accomplish as a team, to stay within the regularity and the continuity that you have in preparing for football games. After today, I know they’re really looking forward to completing today’s work, because they really like Saturday’s schedule, and Saturday’s schedule is very significant. We have a 48-hour rule that we always talk about when we break practice on Friday, and then when we break our meetings on Saturday at 11 o’clock, we’re in the 24-hour rule. It will probably be 27-hour rule this week. Those are targets throughout the week that our players are very in tune with, and everybody, I’m sure Pittsburgh’s the same, is ready to play t his game.
(What is the condition of Donald Driver’s quad and is there any chance he wouldn’t be able to go on Sunday?)
I would be shocked if Donald Driver does not play Sunday. He would practice today if I would let him. He tweaked it in Wednesday’s practice, and frankly I just do not want to take any chances at this point. So I will hold Donald from practice again today. Donald’s played a lot of football, he knows the offense, he’s had a whole week of preparation with the plan last week, so this is clearly just being safe with him.
(How do you keep the stage from not being too big for your players? How do not get them to be swallowed up by everything that surrounds it? And what have you learned about the players as men over the last couple weeks?)
Well, the last couple weeks, I’ll start there. We’ve had an opportunity to play in five playoff-type football games. We feel that has really prepared us for this opportunity. In yesterday’s team meeting, we normally go through and give a report on the officials’ crew. It’s an all-star crew, so there really wasn’t a whole lot to talk about from that standpoint. We talked about the different scheduling that goes on with the Super Bowl, as far as the long pre-game, the long halftime, and just make sure that we’re preparing our players for everything. And frankly, we took a moment and showed the movie from Hoosiers. Everybody loves the movie Hoosiers, where the basketball team walks into the arena and they measure the foul line and it’s 15 feet, and they measure the hoop and it’s 10 feet, and everybody goes OK, it’s big in here. That’s our approach. We’re going to play football. When we cross that white line, it’s going to be about playing Packer football, and that’s what we’re focused on.
(Can you talk about the greatness of Charles Woodson and him continuing to play at this high a level at that position as long as he’s played?)
Charles is a tremendous football player. That’s very evident to anybody that’s played against him. I can recall when he came into the league and I was coaching at the Kansas City Chiefs, and the first couple game plans competing against Charles, and we said we’d better go after him now because in a couple of years we’re not going to be throwing the ball over there. That just holds true. He’s very smart. He plays four positions on our defense. I think that tells you a lot about this ability mentally to operate in and out of schemes. Plays the nickel, the dime, has played safety, and is our starting corner in base. So he gives us tremendous flexibility, but he’s a tenacious player. He’s always around the football. He’s probably one of our best or the best tacklers on our football team. It’s nothing for him to go back and handle a punt or a kickoff in a tough situation, whether it’s because of injury. He returned punts for us his first year and a half in Green Bay. So I just have tremendous respect for him as a player.
Leading into the next step, I felt that he had a lot more to offer as a leader. The leadership of our football team wasn’t where it needed to be. After the regular season is concluded, traditionally in Green Bay we have playoff captains that are voted on. Charles was voted as one of the defensive playoff captains. I thought about it the whole week leading into the Philadelphia game, and I called the six captains into a meeting Saturday night after the snack, and I said before the game the captains are going to lead the team prayer and are going to give the final message before we go onto the field. You six figure it out. It’s your message. I want it to come from the heart, and it was an opportunity for leadership to grow. Just to watch him in that position, because the other five anointed him as the one to talk -- Aaron Rodgers is the one that leads the prayer -- but just to watch him in that position, it’s been special, and the football team has responded to it. He has a lot to offer. He has a big heart. He’s played a lot of football. But he’s a tremendous Hall of Fame football player in my opinion.
(You have talked about how you have tried to keep the team loose to a degree. How are you personally keeping yourself loose or is it possible to do that as the head coach?)
I am focused on hand. I am fortunate that I have extra responsibilities. I get to jump in a police car and come over here this morning and talk to you guys while the football team is in meetings. But just keeping very busy, keeping very focused on the game. It’s not another game. It is a football game is really what we’re really focused on. We’re focused on beating the Pittsburgh Steelers. That is very important for us. We understand everything that goes on with the Super Bowl. Now we have the weather that may cause situations with our families coming in. These are things we talked about, tried to prepare for prior to us coming down here to North Texas. I really like the way our team handles it. Our football team, really our locker room as a whole, there are a lot of steady personalities in our locker room. We don’t have a lot of people bouncing off the walls when something goes wrong. I think that is a real credit to our people, to our players, and I think that is a big part of why we have been successful this year.
(Coach Tomlin said this morning he had plans to have people come in and give some motivational speeches. Are you going to have any former Packers or motivational speakers come in, and if so, when?)
We have two team meetings left in our schedule, one tomorrow night at 9 p.m. and one Sunday at 10:30 a.m. I will have a speaker tomorrow night, and I’d rather keep that to the players for right now. We’ll discuss publicly who that is after the fact, but we’ll have a speaker at tomorrow night’s team meeting.
(With so many injuries this season and guys stepping into key roles, what does it say about your coaching staff’s ability to get guys ready to play in big spots?)
I think it’s a tremendous compliment to our coaching staff to take players continuously through the year, whether they are young players on our roster that frankly weren’t ready to play, or if it was free agents that were brought into our program in Week 6 or 7. It probably doesn’t mean much coming from me but it’s one of the best coaching performances that I’ve been a part of from a staff standpoint, just individual coaches. You go down to the team meeting at 7:45 and Edgar Bennett is walking out of his 6:30 early meeting with James Starks. That’s just something that’s gone on all year. Kevin Greene is given two or three new outside linebackers, and 7, 8, 9, 10 o’clock on a Wednesday and Thursday night you see him walking out of his individual meeting room. So, just a lot of great one-on-one teaching that has gone on, but ultimately it’s about the players. It’s a player’s game, and each player has been given opportunities. They’ve put the extra time in. They’ve leaned on their coaches to prepare them for these opportunities, and they’ve stepped up and gave us the opportunity to continue to grow as a football team throughout the season, and that’s why we’re here in the Super Bowl.