Saturday, February 6, 2016

Super Bowl XLVIII Memories









Super Bowl XLVIII - Denver Broncos 43, Seattle Seahawks 8. Played on February 2, 2014 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. MVP - Malcolm Smith, Linebacker, Favorite Broncos by 2.5, Referee Terry McAulay, Attendance 82,529, National anthem Renee Fleming, Coin toss: Joe Namath, Phil Simms, Halftime show: Bruno Mars and Red Hot Chili Peppers, TV in the United States Network Fox, Announcers Joe Buck, Troy Aikman. Pam Oliver and Erin Andrews as sideline reporters, Cost of 30-second commercial US $4 million, Nielsen ratings 46.4, 167 million total. Market share 69 (national)[5]



This was billed as a likely great Super Bowl match-up. The Seahawks were an emerging powerhouse, while the Broncos were somewhat reminiscent of the 2007 New England Patriots - this powerhouse team that seemed to blow people out with an avalanche of points from a record setting offense. In 2013, Denver became the first team in NFL history to score over 600 points in one season. Now, they were going to put that to the test against Seattle's top rated defense.

Well, they failed that test. Things went wrong right from the first play, when Denver muffed a snap. It sailed past Peyton Manning, and although he did recover the ball, it happened to be in the end zone, giving Seattle a safety and a lead they would never relinquish. Perhaps it also set the tone for a laughably lopsided contest.

The Seahawks got the ball after the safety, and drove to within scoring range. Denver tightened up on defense enough to prevent the touchdown, but Seattle still got the field goal for a 5-0 lead. Later on, they would tack on another field goal to go up 8-0. In the meantime, their defense was pummeling Denver's offense, which hardly resembled the record setting unit throughout the 2013 campaign to this point.

Things kept going like that. The Seahawks began to convert those scoring opportunities into touchdowns, while Seattle's defense was completely dominating the Broncos on the field. The score went to 15-0, then to 22-0, before halftime.

Many people talked about the halftime show after the game, particularly the performance by Bruno Mars. Perhaps they were focusing on that, because the game itself had failed miserably to live up to high expectations, and it did not get much better in the second half.

Seattle was able to capitalize on more scoring opportunities, as they would score only touchdowns from here on out. Their lead extended to 29-0, then to 36-0, before Denver finally got their first, and only, points late in the third quarter..

The final score was 43-8, a blowout by any measure. It was tied with Dallas's 35-point win over the Bills in Super Bowl XXVII for the third most lopsided Super Bowl win of all time. People asked if Manning felt that the loss was embarrassing. he denied it, but it would be hard to argue that this loss was not at least a little embarrassing for the Broncos, given how strongly they had played all season.

For Seattle, it seemed to be the first championship in what might seem like a feast of titles. Indeed, they would return to the big game the next season, although this time, the outcome would be decidedly different.

But Super Bowl XLVIII was their moment to shine, and for the first time in their franchise history, they were the Super Bowl champions.


Personal Memories: Took my son to Newark’s Prudential Center to see the Super Bowl Media Day, with every member of the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks in attendance. This was just days before they would take the field to play the Super Bowl.

It was very cold – we all became familiar with something called the Polar Vortex.

On a personal note, I was laid off from Prudential, last day was Saturday, February 1, 2014, the day before Super Bowl Sunday.


http://www.infoplease.com/year/2014.html

Here are some of the major events that took place in 2014, the year this Super Bowl was played. The world's population was 7,174,611,584 billion people.  Jan. 16: Massive protests in Ukraine continue. Parliament hastily passes sweeping measures that stifle protesters and demonstrations. Feb. 21: In a deal between the opposition and President Yanukovich brokered by European Union officials, the president agrees to hold elections by the end of the year and accepts a weakening of the presidency. Russia refuses to endorse the deal. Feb. 22: Yanukovich flees Kiev on Feb. 22, and an interim government is put in place. The next day, Parliament votes to give speaker Oleksandr Turchynov the authority to fulfill the responsibilities of the president. Yanukovich, however, insists he remains in office. Feb. 27: Demonstrations against the turn of events in Ukraine break out in Simferopol, the capital of Crimea, a pro-Russian region in eastern Ukraine. Masked gunmen, believed to be ethnic Russian extremists, take over several government buildings and raise the Russian flag. Feb. 28: Similarly clad gunmen appear at two airports in Simferopol. There are no reports of violence by the gunmen, but officials fear a separatist revolt may break out. Russia denies any involvement by its military. Mar. 1: Russia dispatches troops to Crimea, citing the need to protect Russians from extremist ultranationalists, referring to the anti-government protesters in Kiev. Mar. 3: Russia is reportedly in control of Crimea. The move sparks international outrage and condemnation. Mar. 6: The U.S. imposes sanctions on Russian officials, advisers, and other individuals who have been involved in the undermining of democracy in Crimea. The Crimean Parliament approves a referendum, scheduled for March 16, asking voters if they want to secede from Ukraine and be annexed by Russia. Mar. 16: Nearly 97% of voters in Crimea choose to secede from Ukraine in the referendum. Mar. 17: The Crimean Parliament declares the region independent and formally seeks annexation by Russia. On same day, Obama imposes more economic sanctions. Mar. 21: The European Union and Ukraine sign a portion of the EU Association Agreement-the same deal that former President Yanukovich refused to sign, sparking the unrest. Mar. 24: Ukraine withdraws its military from Crimea. Meanwhile, on the same day, the members of the Group of 8 industrialized nations announces that they have suspended Russia from the group and move the upcoming meeting from Sochi, Russia, to Brussels. May 2: The Ukrainian government launches an offensive in the rebel-held eastern city of Sloviansk. May 7: As the fighting and chaos escalates in eastern Ukraine and the U.S. and Europe threaten additional sanctions for Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin announces the withdrawal of the 40,000 troops from the border with Ukraine, and says Russia will participate in negotiations to end the crisis. July: The Ukrainian military begins an aggressive campaign, using airstrikes to back up ground troops. The military takes control of some of the border crossings through which Russia had been arming the rebels. The offensive is not without cost: by the end of the month, about 1,130 people are killed, including about 800 civilians. Aug. The rebels continue to struggle, as Ukrainian government troops move into Luhansk and Donetsk, former rebel strongholds. Sept. 5: Ukraine cease-fire begins.   Feb. 7: Despite threats of terrorist attacks, complaints about poor preparations, and the international condemnation over their anti-gay law, Russia kicks off the costliest Olympic Games in history. On the same day as the opening ceremony, a passenger on a Turkish jetliner tells the crew a bomb is on board and to fly the plane to Sochi. Instead, the crew sends a signal to Istanbul where it lands. The suspect is taken into custody. No bomb is found onboard.   Feb. 11: High-ranking officials from China and Taiwan meet in Nanking, China. It is the first time since the 1949 split that minister-level officials held talks. While the meeting is largely symbolic, it signals that both sides want to maintain stability and warmer ties.   Feb. 17: The United Nations Human Rights Council releases a report accusing North Korea of crimes against humanity and compare the regime to that of Nazi Germany. The report is stunning in its graphic description of the horrors endured by political prisoners-who number between 80,000 and 120,000. The council recommends that North Korea be referred to the International Criminal Court.   Mar. 10: North Korea holds legislative elections. Considered a sham election for the rubber-stamp Parliament, only one candidate appears on the ballot for each district. Not one vote is cast against pro-government candidates, and voter turnout is 100%.   Mar. 24: A judge in Egypt sentences 529 people to death for the killing of a police officer during the protests against the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in August 2013. About 400 people are sentenced in absentia. It is a stunning verdict that met with international condemnation.   April 7: The 2014 general election begins in India. The election is scheduled to run until May 12, making it the longest election in the history of India. Projected to cost around $5 billion dollars, the election is the second most expensive in world history. In terms of population, 814 million people are eligible to vote, making it the largest election ever. May 12: In election results, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party trounces the governing Indian National Congress Party, taking about 60% of the seats in parliament. The decisive victory gives the party an outright majority in parliament. Narendra Modi becomes prime minister. May 21: India invites Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the inauguration of Narendra Modi. May 26: Sharif accepts the invitation to attend the inauguration. The two shake hands and exchange pleasantries at the ceremony, a sign that there may be a thaw in relations between India and Pakistan.   April 14: Islamist militant group Boko Haram is accused of kidnapping about 280 girls from a school in northeast Nigeria with the intention of making the girls sex slaves. The mass kidnapping sparks international outrage. May 5: Boko Haram claims responsibility for kidnapping in a video.   April 15: Iraq announces the "complete closure" of Abu Ghraib, the infamous prison in which members of the U.S. military physically and sexually abused Iraqi prisoners. The Iraqi government cites security concerns as the reason for the closure due to the Sunni insurgency over the last year.   May 17: Mali Prime Minister Moussa Mara visits the northern towns of Timbuktu, Kidal, and Gao. In Kidal, rebels shoot at him when he arrives. Mara calls the provocation a "declaration of war," and about 1,500 Malian troops are dispatched to Kidal and attack the rebels. The military is outmatched by the rebels, who kill 50 troops, take 50 prisoners, and capture a government fort in Kidal. Hundreds of troops surrender.   May 20: Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army chief, declares martial law throughout Thailand. He says the move is to restore peace and order and requests that both sides stop protesting. He explicitly says the military is not launching a coup-something it has carried out on numerous occasions. May 22: Gen. Prayuth announces that he has indeed seized power from the interim government in a coup. It is the second military coup in less than 10 years.   May 31: After years of negotiations, the U.S. and Taliban complete a prisoner swap. The Taliban surrenders Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had been held prisoner for five years, and the U.S. release five top members of the Taliban leadership from the Guantanamo Bay prison.   June 2: The Palestinian government announces a new "government of national unity" with Hamas. The reconciliation agreement ends two separate governments in Gaza and the West Bank. The new government will still be led by moderate Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Hamdallah and is considered a huge step toward ending the seven year battle between the two separate political factions in Palestine.   June 2: In Spain, King Juan Carlos announces that he will abdicate after 39 years at the throne. His son, Felipe, 46, will succeed him.   June 3: In Syria presidential elections, Bashar al-Assad is re-elected to a third seven-year term, taking about 89% of the vote. However, votes are cast only in areas under government control as the opposition boycotts the election.   June 11: Members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) take control of Mosul, in northern Iraq, dealing the government an enormous-and unexpected-blow. As many as 500,000 people flee Mosul. Prime Minister Maliki declares a state of emergency and appeals for help from international allies. The militants press on after seizing Mosul, taking Tikrit and oil facilities in Baiji as they head south toward Baghdad. June 14: ISIS continues to seize more territory in the north and west, putting pressure on the U.S. and other nations to consider a military response. June 21: President Obama says 300 military advisers will be sent to Iraq but says combat troops will not be deployed. There are calls from both inside Iraq and by foreign leaders for Maliki to step down so a unity government can be formed. July 1: ISIS changes its name to the Islamic State and declares the territory in Iraq. Aug. 7: ISIS militants take control of the largest dam in Iraq, which is located in Mosul. President Obama announces in a press conference that he has authorized limited airstrikes on ISIS as well as airdrops of humanitarian supplies. While not a full-scale engagement in Iraq, the mission does mean the return of the U.S. military for the first time since 2011. Aug. 19: Members of ISIS behead American journalist James Foley, 40, in apparent retaliation for U.S. airstrikes against the group. ISIS releases a graphic video of his killing. Sept. 2: ISIS releases a video showing the beheading of American journalist Steven Sotloff, 31, who worked for Time and had been abducted in 2013 in Syria. Sept. 10: President Obama authorizes airstrikes against ISIS in Syria. He also asks Congress to authorize money to fund and train moderate rebel groups in Syria to aid in the fight, which it does in late September. Sept. 13: ISIS beheads a third victim, British aid worker David Cawthorne Haines. Sept. 23: Airstrikes begin in Syria, with Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates joining the U.S. in its campaign against ISIS. Oct. 14: The U.S. launches airstrikes on Kobani, Syria, in an effort to prevent ISIS from taking over the strategically located town and gaining additional smuggling routes to arm fighters. Oct. 27: ISIS maintains its hold on many cities in the largely Sunni Anbar Province, as U.S.-led airstrikes prove largely ineffectual without the support of Iraqi troops on the ground. U.S. and Iraqi officials are concerned that if ISIS takes over Anbar, it can then close in on Baghdad and the international airport there. Nov. 10: Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, the most virulent militant organization in Egypt, pledges allegiance to ISIS. The move not only expands the reach of ISIS into Egypt, it also increases the resources available to Ansar Beit al-Maqdis to wage war against the government.   July 2: The body of a missing Palestinian teenager is found the day after the burial of the three Israeli teenagers who were kidnapped and killed while hiking in the West Back in June. Both incidents increase tension between Israelis and Palestinians, including riots in East Jerusalem and an exchange of rocket fire in Southern Israel and Gaza. July 9: Hundreds of rockets are launched into Israel by militant groups in Gaza. In response, Israel launches an aerial offensive in Gaza, killing dozens of Palestinians, and calls up thousands of reservists for a potential ground operation. July 17: Israel launches a ground offensive into Gaza. July 24: 16 Palestinians are killed and more than 100 wounded in an attack on a UN elementary school in Gaza. Israel denies launching the attack, saying Hamas militants are responsible, missing their target. Aug. 26: After fighting for seven weeks and attempting several short-term cease-fires, Israel and Hamas agree to an open-ended cease-fire. The agreement is mediated by Egypt. Since the conflict began last month, 2,143 Palestinians have been killed, mostly civilians, with more than 11,000 wounded and 100,000 left homeless. On the Israeli side, 64 soldiers and six civilians have been killed.   Aug. 5: Maj. Gen. Harold Greene is gunned down by an Afghan soldier while touring a military training academy near Kabul, Afghanistan. He is the first general killed in battle since the Vietnam War.   Sept. 2: After gaining wide support from both Shia and Sunnis, the Houthis enter the Yemen capital, Sana, and set up camp there. Yemen president, Abdel Rabbo Mansour Hadi, agrees to form a new government, with the Houthis nominating the prime minister. The Houthis, however, reject his concessions. Fighting breaks out between the rebels and security forces in Sana days later and continues until the Houthis take control of Sana. Sept. 20: The UN brokers a peace deal between the Houthis and the government. Sept. 21: Prime Minister Mohammed Basindwa announces his resignation. As part of the deal the Houthis agree to withdraw from Sana, and Hadi says he will reinstate the fuel subsidy, and a "technocratic national government" will be established. Oct. 13: Khaled Bahah,former ambassador to the UN, is named new prime minister of Yemen.   Sept. 18: In an independence referendum, Scottish voters opt, 55% to 45%, to remain part of the United Kingdom. More than 4.2 million voters (86% turnout) take to the polls in record numbers to vote.   Oct. 13: Britain Parliament votes 274-12 to give diplomatic recognition to Palestine. The symbolic nonbinding vote is an indication of a shift in British government since the recent conflict in Gaza, the latest round of failed peace negotiations, and Israel continuing to build settlements.   Oct. 22: Four security guards for the private security company Blackwater Worldwide are convicted by a jury in a Washington Federal District Court of manslaughter, murder, and weapons charges for their involvement in the September 2007 shooting deaths of 17 unarmed Iraqi civilians. Nicholas Slatten is convicted of murder, and Dustin Heard, Evan Liberty, and Paul Slough are convicted of voluntary manslaughter and weapons violations. The killings sparked furious protests in Iraq.   Nov. 11: After weeks of discussion, China and the U.S. reach a landmark agreement on climate change. The agreement includes a commitment for the first time by China to stop its emissions from increasing by 2030.   Nov. 29: An Egyptian court drops all charges against former president Hosni Mubarak for his role in the killing of hundreds of unarmed protesters in the Arab Spring protests of 2011. His security chief and several high-ranking police officials are also cleared. Thousands of people protest the verdict in Tahrir Square.   Dec. 14: In a move that signals the end of the protests in Hong Kong, police clear tents from the main protest area, ten weeks after the protests began. The Chinese government does not make any concessions, but the protesters make clear that they can challenge the government. These are the largest protests since the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations.   Dec. 15: An armed man holds 17 employees and customers hostage for more than 16 hours in a downtown cafe in Sydney, Australia. The armed man is identified as Man Haron Monis, an Iranian-born, 50-year-old man with a criminal record. Dec. 16: After being held for 16 hours, six hostages escape the cafe. Soon after, gunshots are heard inside and police storm the building. Three people are killed, including two hostages and Monis.   Dec. 16: The Taliban attacks the Army Public School and Degree College in Peshawar, in northwest Pakistan. At least 145 people are killed in the siege, including more than 100 children. It is the most brazen and deadly attack by the Taliban in years.  Dec. 17: Cuba frees U.S. aid contractor Alan Gross, who had been sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2011 after his effort to create a way to communicate outside of limitations set by the Cuban government. The government cites humanitarian grounds as the reason for the prisoner release. In response to the prisoner release, President Barack Obama announces that he will begin working with Cuba on resuming full diplomatic relations between the two countries for the first time since 1961.



http://boards.sportslogos.net/topic/98529-super-bowl-field-database-sb-xlvi-texture-added-122215/page-9




















Super Bowl XLVIII Media Day, Newark, NJ  January 28, 2013






So, yes, I went to the Super Bowl Media Day event yesterday. I wanted to post this blog entry then, but the computer crapped out on me, and I could not even get on, let alone download the pictures and post this entry.

But now, I have managed it, and so here comes the review:

Truth be told, I was looking forward to this for some time. Now, we all know how expensive and ludicrously overpriced Super Bowl tickets are. And I kind of thought that this would be a cool, obviously much cheaper alternative. The tickets sell for maybe around $35 or so after all of the service charges and such, so you are not exactly breaking the bank to go there, as opposed to the actual Super Bowl game itself, where tickets are going for no less than $1,000 for face value! No way that I can get those, unless I win them in some contest of something. So, this offered me the chance to take my son, so that we both could see the hoopla of the media coverage, as well as all of the players and coaching staff from both teams, and perhaps some extras.

And indeed, see those things we did. Also, indeed, there were some surprises.

Now, some of it was good, and some of it was...well, not bad, exactly but...well, kind of long and a bit on the boring side.

It's just that the ticket said that the event started at 9:30am, and so we got there a bit earlier. But the Broncos, the first team slated to make an appearance, were going on not before 10:30am, and it was closer to 10:40 or so when they actually came out. I had arranged to get out of work a bit early (yes, I work overnights, in case you were wondering), and rushed to go pick up my son. But it was early yet, so I kind of just hung around and let him wake up a bit, before we went on our way. It was extremely cold, in the single digits, when we left. The day got warmer as it progressed, and it would be in the teens when the event was over. Now, that might seem cold, but it felt positively balmy compared to the single digit, deep freeze of the morning. But after rushing like that, waiting in very heavy traffic, it was disappointing to see that the event started at 10:30, one hour earlier than we had been led to believe.

Then came the next disappointment. I had told my son that both teams would be wearing their uniforms, so that it would make the thing feel more like a game, and more like an actual sports event. After all, to my knowledge, both teams participating in the Super Bowl had always had worn their uniforms for media day in the past as far back as I could remember, and that included last year. So, I was looking forward to seeing them in their uniforms.

Instead, both teams wore these kind of gray-silver jumpsuits. It it were not for the bright orange caps and the t-shirts that the Broncos wore underneath (and not all of them wore the caps, nor did all of them have those jumpsuits unzipped enough to see the orange Broncos t-shirts underneath), you would not even really be able to tell the difference between the two unless you went right up to them as could see it. So, that was  (which were really good, and my son really loved them!), all of which I think they were experimenting with, giving free samples to people to test a new line, or something. Also, we got cell phone protectors from the NFL, and little radios that allowed us to tune into six different stations, or podium lines. Each player was assigned to different podiums, and you could choose what line you wanted to hear. So long as it was one of the major players, or the head coach, you could pretty much listen to whoever you wanted to. For the most part, I listened to Peyton Manning, Head Coach John Fox, Eric Decker, and Knowshon Moreno for the Denver Broncos, and Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, Head Coach Pete Carroll, and Earl Thomas for the Seahawks.

Predictably, the men with the most media around them were Peyton Manning and Richard Sherman.

I remember looking for Marshawn Lynch, but he was nowhere to be found. I listened in to the NFL Network (they were among our radio options), and there was a rumor going that Lynch had physically left the building. That ended up not being true, although he was not at any podium, and was kind of hiding away. The media circus just wasn't his thing, and he wanted to get away from it. It just wasn't his thing, and he was more interested in the actual game on Sunday, rather than the media blitz of Super Bowl Media Day. On some level, you can understand and respect that, right?

The other players were a bit harder to find, but once you got the gist of the podium orders, it became relatively easy - again, for the major players. As for the others like, say, the placekicker for the Denver Broncos who scored that NFL record 64-yard field goal earlier this season? Well, your guess is as good as mine. Just one more reason why, in my opinion wearing the uniforms (without the shoulder pads) would have been more considerate to the fans.

There were a few other appearances by notable football personalities. You can see the program hosts from the NFL Network (I cannot specifically remember their names at the moment. But some of these included Deion Sanders, Michael Irving, Terrell Davis, Kurt Warner, and Marshall Faulk. Also, John Elway was one of the special guests. Like with Peyton Manning, I had seen him in a game before (actually, in a season when the Broncos would win the Super Bowl, but the Broncos lost that day to the Giants, ending their bid for a perfect season after starting off 13-0), but from nosebleed seats. So, it was really cool to see him in a lot more detail.

Indeed, you did get a taste of all the hoopla surrounding the Super Bowl. The presence of the media was just incredible, and I've never seen so many media people in one place before. It was a bit like a circus. In fact, I heard that they did have a clown, literally. They also had cheerleaders (from the Jets), a drum line (from the Giants) and some players from other teams milling about. I also saw a couple of guys wearing superhero outfits. Why? I don't know. But they were there.

Quite a few people seemed to be hosting their own television shows down on the floor, which was very crowded. So crowded, that several news sources were relegated to the stands themselves, and were interviewing the fans. A couple of them were in our section, and the next section over, and there are pictures of them down below.

Again, I have been looking forward to this event for some time. Not that my Giants were here, but it was a pretty cool event nonetheless.

But, a little long, and I think that was the main thing that took me by surprise. Not sure what I was expecting, exactly. But the length of the thing was just...well, it kind of wears on you. The Broncos came on at 10:30, an hour after the ticket suggested the event started. That's a long wait. And they were on for one hour, plenty of time for the players to be asked (and unfortunately, often to answer) some ridiculous questions that had nothing to do with football. For instance, Eric Decker was asked about Bruno Mars, and he answered that while he was not all that familiar with his music, he did feel Bruno Mars had some good music, and that he was the right choice for this event. Another player (can't remember his name) who had a big, bushy beard, was asked something about it (I could not quite make out what it was, because you could not hear the reporters asking questions), and he was walking about not washing his beard ever again, and putting some maple syrup in it, or something like that, to make it even thicker.

After a while, you begin to feel like it is a circus, and the appreciation for just how huge this event has grown begins to get clearer. In fact, it is actually absurdly popular.

Another thing that was different, and a bit of a disappointment specific to this Media Day, was that since it was not held in the stadium itself, you did not get to see the field, with end zones painted up in the colors of both teams, and the painted logo of the Super Bowl, and all of that. I think that could have made for great picture taking, but obviously, that was not an option in a hockey arena, miles away from where the game will actually be played. Not a huge thing, but a bit of an annoyance, nonetheless, although that obviously has to do with this being a cold weather Super Bowl, and is not likely to be repeated in future Super Bowls, to my understanding.

So, would I recommend it?

I don't know, actually. Depends on how big of a fan you are, or how curious you are about it. It is definitely pretty cool to see the players fairly close, and without all of their gear on, particularly the helmets. Also, it was interesting to see just how much media there is there, and how they reacted and competed. It can't be easy in their situation. But it also gives you the sense of scale regarding the enormity of this thing, of just how huge (some might suggest that it has gotten preposterously big) it has gotten over the course of the years, and even decades. This is a taste of the media circus, and so it is interesting, nonetheless. And being able to hear the interviews for at least the biggest names from both teams (save Seattle's running back, Marshawn Lynch - and he was ultimately found and interviewed by the NFL Network's Deion Sanders), was pretty cool.

That said, I know this event will not be for everybody. Some will find it rather boring. I was tired from the lack of sleep (usually, I sleep right after returning from work in the morning), and some of the waiting certainly was not helping me to stay awake. My son, when told that players would be coming out in their uniforms (and again, I really wish they had come out in their uniforms), then being disappointed that they didn't, and that they weren't playing the Super Bowl right then and there, that is something to bear in mind, if you have children and are thinking of taking them. I thought it would be special, a once in a lifetime kind of thing, because who knows if this area will ever host the Super Bowl again? But there were times, especially during the waiting, when he certainly appeared bored. He did not get as much excitement from seeing some of the "old" players, like John Elway. That's understandable, since he is too young, and would have no memories of him, having been born more than six years after Elway retired from the game.

Overall, it's not that much of a financial commitment. And if you want to see your team, or just the whole media circus surrounding a Super Bowl, this can be intriguing, indeed. it pales to the actual Super Bowl, but then again, with prices as exorbitant as they are, the Super Bowl Media Day can be a cheap and rewarding alternative, if you are into it.








A panel from the NFL Network. Not sure who the two far guys, and the woman are. But Michael Irving and Terrell Davis are the two figures closest to the camera.



Broncos coach John Fox talking to the press.






 Peyton Manning answering some questions at his podium.



Demaryius Thomas of the Broncos trying on a wrestling style championship belt



The media day from event set back a bit, while it's going on. 



Legendary quarterback John Elway, who still works for the Denver Broncos, appears as a guest on the show for the NFL Network. 








The lady next to us, who was a Broncos fan, absolutely adored my son, and told us that she was glad that she sat next to us, because we were so nice. She was very nice, as well, and when she saw this (which I had not noticed), she took a picture, with her own camera, and send it to SBMEDIADAY site, so that our picture could go up on the screen, in the waiting time between the appearance of the two teams.


And here we are. Our picture is the middle picture on the top row. My son is wearing a red hoodie, while I am wearing a brownish gray hoodie. This was the clearest shot that I was able to take of our picture being posted here. 

Here is the other picture I managed to take of our photo being posted. Here, we are on the bottom row, second from right.


Of course, it seemed fitting to take a picture of my son when we arrived. Here, he is posing before the camera, with the Super Bowl Media Day festivities preparing to kick off shortly. When the players came out, the floor was far more packed than what you see here in the background.




The Seahawks are about to come out for their portion of Super Bowl Media Day.




Seattle coach Pete Carroll was all smiles today, talking to the media. 



The most popular guy for the media to focus in on was Richard Sherman, the Seahawks outspoken cornerback. 

















It was relatively quiet when we got there, with our section pretty empty (we must have been one of the few people who did not know that the starting time had been pushed back to around 10:30am, annoyingly. There were still a lot of reporters and media around, but nowhere near as much as when the players came out.




A picture of the transparent bag that we were given, with the stuff inside. The bag was pretty cool, and it had "Super Bowl Media Day" printed on it, a cool little souvenir. Otherwise, there were a few snacks and a couple of drinks (Pepsi), a cell phone protector from the NFL, the portable radios with Super Bowl XLVIII logos on it, some football cards (don't believe they were Topps, but can't say for sure), and some other stuff. I think there was shaving gel, or aftershave, or something, in there (will have to check later). Maybe a few other items that I'm not thinking of or remembering. Nothing grandiose or anything, but a cool little makeshift souvenir of the event, which was appreciated.




The special shows being broadcast live from this event were still just setting up with makeup crew, and the women getting their hair done, all while preparing their notes and such. Also, in the above picture, you can see some people were interviewing special guests, although I could not always identify just who some of the people were. Some of those in attendance who gave interviews were Antrel Rolle of the New York Giants, and DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles, who was roundly booed. This I did not agree with, despite being a Giants fan, because his son was there, and looked at the crowd and appeared surprised and a little stung at the reception his father got.





The outside entrance of the Prudential Center in Newark, adorned with a huge banner advertising the Super Bowl Media Day event.






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