Superbowl XVIV 10:00 am: 4:45 am flight from Chicago arrives in Miami International Airport. I’m walking off the plan after a riveting conversation with a local Chicagoblonde socialite (headed to Cancun) feeling pretty content with her email in my phone. Suddenly I snap out of my “email close” and look up and see Nmudokah Suh, underneath a huge Sueprbowl XVIV poster. Screw girls, I’m looking at the first pick in the NFL draft. I calmly give him a head nod (like what’s up bro) and say, “I like your nick name”. He answered, “thanks man” and kind of rolled his eyes. I’ll admit, I truly dropped my Wildcat status while passing by him, I would have said something, but after that game, there was nothing to say. I was so shocked, I didn’t think about fumbling for my camera. The sensory overload in the Miami airport, from all the Superbowl banners to no body, not one person, who speaks English. I felt like I was in Castro’s Cuba. I get my bag (which my camera was in anyways) and check out the 100 limo drivers holding up signs. I saw a few signs for names I thought I recognized, but nobody like Romo or Vick. Suddenly I hear a color guard marching towards me. Security stops everyone and ATF agents and police provide a blockade tunnel. The color guard stands up strait to “Atten HUT” and suddenly a solid stream of marines fresh from Iraq and Afghanistan start walking through the airport. These young men came all the way from the Middle East and get to attend the game. The whole airport gave a loud applause and many were getting pretty emotional. It was a great entrance into Miami. Noon: I get into my yellow sedan limo with my driver Ishmael and have him take me to south beach. The festivities are alive and well with a cool view of the ESPN set surrounded by Art Decco and memories of Tony Montana from Scarface. I eat lunch at some bar and relax while I wait for my buddy and his friend to pick me up. 5:00 pm: I finally get picked up and my buddy says, “we’ve got a side detour… we are going to the U”.. I got pretty excited and we head over to Coral Gables. What a let down of a campus, really really old buildings. But it was cool seeing where the co-eds would lay out by the lake while picturing Luther Campbel from 2 Live Crew walking around withVinny Testaverde or Warren Sapp was pretty memorable. Get the hell out of there, because it’s not a nice neighborhood and head to the first party of the night. It is a Leigh Steinberg party for a Haiti benefit at a Racetrack and Casino. The club was pretty cool/good music, but nothing too crazy. Wyclef was chilling and some trophies were walking around. We get a number to call for some tickets to the Private Coors Party and take them up on that. (Apparently we missed Dennis Rodman by 10 minutes who stumbled in blacked out, god damn that hurt). 10:30 pm: Show up at the red carpet at Coors and meet with our “connection”. Hands us the wristbands and we head in. As the paparazzi take our pictures (I don’t know why, but I did hear someone say, Who are they?) I see a man come running up franticly in a suit. He pulls the bouncer aside and says “Mr. Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys is coming, do not stop him while walking in, please clear all entry ways and through ways and let him walk right up to his table. There will be two Dallas Cowboy custom buses full of players and three Cadillacescalades with the Jone’s parties. I didn’t want to get swept up or pushed to the ground by Jerry’s entourage, so we swiftly made our way to the area to watch this entrance. Get to the top of the club “the cool/I wear a purple wristband area” and watch him enter… the guy knows how to make an entrance with 50 people in his entourage. Some guy comes up next to me and is like “who is that?”, I look and it’s Percy Harvin. Strike up a convo with him about his rookie of the year award and is probably one of the nicest guys I’ve spoken with. We get a beer then go our separate ways.
11:45 am: I’m slamming Coors lights and shots of patron with everyone in our party, very good times, almost Vegas drunk. I’m even giving $5 dollar tips! Sighting of Pete Coors, the Miller Highlife guy (who was sitting at a private table surrounded by security, hypocrite), Julius Peppers, Darius Hayward-Bay, Jamarcus Russell (assholdpushed me), Felix Jones, and finally Alex Rodriguez (who had no time for anyone and was walking to some back room with the hottest hostess I’ve seen in a while). Get to talk with boxer Andre Berto about his family in Haiti, that are okay, but he delayed his fight with Shane Mosely because of it; rub elbows with Seinfeld actor (3-4 episodes) Patrick Wolburn, also know as the Tick and some guy in other random sit-comes. We did have him yell “let’s go devilllllllsss” (if anyone watches Seinfeld). Finally get a pic with Demarcus Ware and inform him that he’s one of our favorite defensive players in the league.
12:30 am: Suddenly after a decent conversation with Demarcus, we here “What the fuck is up Miami, light your joints and let’s party”… Bursting onto stage is Snoopdoggand 20 Coors light girls to “What’s my motherfuckin’ name”. Demarcus Ware flips out and runs to his buddies while we simultaneously run to the railing for a better view. This was a great performance, especially because snoop was heckling everyone withWest Coast signs and repping an LA Lakers purple jump suit. 2:00 am: No matter who you were, the Coors light party ran out of Coors (seriously?!) and they started to kick everyone out. Sports celebrities washed up actors, gold diggers, and bums like myself. Everyone poured onto the streets of south beach where jerry had his huge cowboy buses picking up people and low riders were running around like it was south central… it was Miami. Grab a late night Pita and head back up to Ft. Lauderdale.
2:00 am: Well rested and pretty hung over make our way to the Steinberg 24th Annual Superbowl party. This year had a really good venue but was a little too open. It was on the bay front of Miami, but felt more like I was at a BBQ in a park. The typicalSteinberg party essentials were there: you could play video games against troops in Iraq, the silent auction of priceless sports memorabilia, fresh gumbo from NO (my favorite), many great stands where you could try new products, and a cool CGI sports world (like what they have all the NBA players do, put on the suit with golf balls all over it and then make them move around) and finally some cool Indy cars (one saints Indy car and one colds Indy car). It was a very cool party and a beautiful day. Had a good conversation with Woody Page and how he could care less about Denver sports, also he accepted an apology from my friend who bumped into him a few years ago while he was played pool. Randomly at the end, he stated, “I Like you pink pocket scarf” and I rebutted, “I liked your teal tie and matching teal shirt 2 years ago” (his wife started cracking up)… He surrendered, “touché”. After this ran into Tim Colishaw and placed a gentlemen’s bet that Lebron would end up in Chicago (I hope) and Colishawthough he would stay put (most likely). Met the mayor of Indianapolis (had nothing to say) and ate a lot more GUMBO/Jambalaya or whatever spicy rice it is called. Finally had a really good conversation with Myron Rolle. This guy is one of the most legit college football athletes around and probably one of the smartest. I wish him nothing but the best of luck in all his endeavors whether winning a Superbowl or solving the world’s diseases (he’ll probably do both). All in all it was a great party. I definitely didn’t get to meet everyone that attended, but the people that I did meet were quality people and fun to talk with. 8:00 pm: Make our way to a famous Miami/Dade fish house and continue to have cocktails until they close then make our way back to our respectiverooms. The Superbowl was a lot of fun this year. I kind of think the whole Florida thing has been played out though. I’m all for having it in Los Angeles, better weather, cooler people, more room. But I am looking forward to having it in Dallas next year where I hope to attend; once again a memorable time.
bja
