This weekend we visited our son and his family. Usually I don’t post when we make these visits because who likes hearing someone brag about their grandchildren? No one wants to hear that but yes, mine are amazing. So why post this weekend? Well you might know that this was Super Bowl weekend. You also might know that the Super Bowl was being played at nearby Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, not too far from where my son and his family live. I’ve never been to a Super Bowl and frequently fantasized that it would be nice to go to just one before I exit this planet. Well yesterday was that day and I can now check that one off my bucket list. Yes, I WENT TO THE SUPER BOWL!
My son and his wife got tickets to the event and graciously invited me to join them. I’m truly blessed.
I have heard that there are people who have been to all 60 Super Bowls (I’m told that number equals 6). I’m among those who are just happy to be have been alive for all 60. I remember the first one before it was called the Super Bowl and merely named the AFL-NFL World Championship game. Of course that game was a joke since there were at least a half dozen NFL (now called the NFC) teams who would have beaten the AFL (now AFC) champion, Kansas City Chiefs. It was the Green Bay Packers who had the honor, led by their quarterback Bart Starr and their ancient wide receiver, Max McGee. I think he was 34 but that seemed ancient to me at the time. If you believe the folklore he was suffering from a hangover on game day because he got drunk the night before. Interest in the game was so minimal it was blacked out in Los Angeles hoping to boost attendance. There was a reported 61,946 fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum that day leaving over 30,000 seats empty. I listened to the game on the radio.
Over the years there are a few games that stand out. Super Bowl III when a brash Joe Namath predicted a win for the underdog NY Jets and backed up his promise with a victory over the powerful Baltimore Colts. Super Bowl XXII, in 1988, I was incredibly sick. We only had one amazing child at that time, our almost 5 year old son, so it wasn’t too much for me to ask to stay in bed and watch the game while Patrice took care of her two babies (David and me). I got ready to watch and just hoped for a good game because the previous few years there had been about 4 or 5 blowouts. I settled down and watched the Denver Broncos put up 10 quick points on the board and I said “Oh, no, not another blowout!” My fears were realized when the Broncos opponent, the Washington (then called the Redskins) put up 45 unanswered points.
One of my favorite memories was being in Portugal in 2017. It was about midnight and I was there with Patrice and our daughter, Erica. It was time for bed and Patrice wanted to head there. I said I was going to go down the street and watch the SB at the Hard Rock Cafe. Erica said she would keep me company. And Patrice not wanting to be left out joined us. The restaurant was not especially crowded but I did see a young man wearing a New England Patriots jersey. He seemed very excited about the game, anticipating another Patriot Super Bowl win. When New England fell behind 28-13 with 8:31 left in the 3rd quarter, I saw the kid literally laying face down on the floor. It was as if his life savings depended on the game outcome. I have to admit I always root for the underdog (unless my team is the favorite) so I was quite pleased to enjoy his misery. Football fans will remember that the Falcons proceeded to then experience one of the biggest collapses in football history. The Patriots won their 5th Super Bowl and the kid in the jersey had his life reinvigorated.
Many fans will remember Super Bowl XLVII in 2013 as the game pitted the Harbaugh brothers (John and Jim) against each other. John, the coach of the Baltimore Ravens took a commanding 28-6 lead in the 3rd quarter. Then there was a power outage that resulted in a 34 minute delay. When power was restored it was as if the teams had switched jerseys because the 49ers, coached by Jim Harbaugh, dominated the rest of the game but came up short losing 34-31. Many remember that great game because of the power outage and the exciting play on the field. I remember it because of the amazing filet mignon sliders at our friend, Melanie’s Super Bowl party. In fact that was all I looked forward to each Super Bowl Sunday for many years. Who cares about the game. I’m waiting for the half time filet mignon sliders. Heck, my mouth is watering just writing this sentence. Of course covid ended the parties and with that, adios to the sliders. This year the party (and I assume the sliders) returned. I had to message Melanie that we wouldn’t be at the party this year because as I told her, “I AM GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL”
Kickoff was scheduled for 3:40. The stadium is about a 30 minute drive from the house so we left a little early……. 11:30. I couldn’t leave too early………….. I WAS GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL.
We arrived at the stadium after a relatively short walk and having to avoid some religious zealots with loudspeakers and signs talking about God, the future of the human species, and some specifics about gays. With that obstacle avoided we then had to deal with security. One of the security screeners said that he thought my binoculars might be too big to let me in. Really? My binoculars are too big? Fine, give me Leonardo DiCaprio’s seats and you can have my binoculars Luckily the security guards did not have a problem with my binoculars and we entered the expo outside the stadium without incident. We looked at a variety of the exhibits with the most interesting being the line to see the Lombardi Trophy (Super Bowl winner’s prize). Who would wait about 30 minutes just get a look at the Super Bowl trophy (see below).
We then saw a display of all the Super Bowl Championship rings and then headed into the stadium. Our seats were great. We were seated among a lot of Seattle fans but that was fine with me since I planned to root for the Seahawks.
The game was amazing with the Seahawks’ defense dominating the day/night. There were also some interesting sights in the stadium.
When the game ended, I didn’t want to leave. Neither did my mates. We stayed for the award presentations. The owner, coach, and MVP all thanked the fans of course. There was a lot of confetti and the traditional Gatorade on the coach’s head.
It was a spectacular day and thank you so much to David and Robyn for making it happen for me.
Patrice and my next trip will be to ………. Not trying to be coy, I really don’t remember because afterall, I JUST WENT TO THE SUPERBOWL!
Robert Reiss Travel Blog and Other Ramblings 