I have mentioned a few times this week about how many fans come to the Super Bowl to see the players and hopefully get some autographs. At the media centre and hotel, the lobby is jammed with fans ready to pounce on a player who walks through. The New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees tried to get though the lobby but was basically attacked. He looked like a piece of candy on the ground surrounded by ants. The thing I find funny is when any young, large, muscular man walks through the lobby. Everyone starts whispering to each other "who is that?". Many times it's just some person who happens to be big. It gets very funny when a fan walks up and says: "Excuse me, are you somebody?"
On Wednesday's radio show we were loaded up with current and past NFL players. I enjoy the open dialogue. You never know what you may learn. The former Denver and Baltimore tight end Shannon Sharpe is a finalist for the NFL Hall of Fame. He either will or will not get the call Saturday morning. Could you imagine the tension of staring at your phone waiting for that call? However, the best thing Shannon said was about his older brother Sterling. Sterling was a star receiver with Green Bay before a neck injury ended his career far too early.
"If I could trade places and have my brother getting this call [the Hall of Fame], I would do it in a second. He made me what I am today," Shannon Sharpe said. Another interesting revelation was made by the Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana. Joe told us that later in his career when San Francisco did not want him anymore, he really wanted to go back home and play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Steelers did not bite. Steelers' fans are in a great mood with their team in the Super Bowl this year, but it must be tough to hear you could have had Joe Montana.
We did a poll question yesterday, would you rather be a back-up player on a winning Super Bowl team or a long-time starter on a team who never win a Super Bowl. I was pretty impressed with the response - 65 per cent said they would be OK being a back-up as long as they got a ring. Which would you choose?
"I told them to go to the parties the next time they are in the Super Bowl. This time just take it easy and stay in. Once you get that Super Bowl ring, you can get into any party you want." - Arizona Cardinals' quarterback Kurt Warner when asked what advice he would give his teammates about hitting the parties during Super Bowl week.
ppabst@thenational.ae
