Gameday, Finally

Unlike the Cardinals and Steelers, I’ll admit that I’m happy to be here.  That’s what was speeding through my mind as I ran this morning on Bayshore Drive to the best Hold Steady/Lil’ Wayne mix in creation. (Perhaps the only one.) The weather has improved, already in the low sixties, with no wind, and no chance of rain all day.  The Goodyear blimp is already overhead, the amount of fans asking me for tickets is increasing, and everyone in the hotel is checking their watches, seeing if its time yet to head over to Raymond James Stadium.  Finally, it’s gameday.

The first bus to the game leaves at 1:30, and I plan to be on it.  What else is there to do today?  If I ever take this for granted, if the love for football ever wanes, if I ever can’t get excited for the Super Bowl, then it’s time to quit.  It’s a privilege to be here and I’d write a Bob Hayes style list of thanks to everyone who has helped me get here, and who has helped me while here, if I thought anyone would find it interesting.  (Hayes' letter, incidentally, gave a room full of media schlubs chills.  Awesome, memorable moment.)

I get a lot more excited and nervous talking to the other writers here than the players or coaches.  Talking to the team is our job and it’s their responsibility to talk with us. It’s cool to shoot the bull with Mewelde Moore for ten minutes, but that’s the job; he’s required to talk to me.  Getting to know the men and women I’ve read and respected for so long is more surreal.  Maybe it is because I am coming from the fantasy/Rotoworld background, but it’s weird to think of them as colleagues.  It took a second Super Bowl trip, but now I feel like I belong.  And I want to make sure I come back for a long, long time.

I'm going to grab a quick bite and head over to the stadium.  I'll be blogging from there throughout the pregame.  See you then. 

- Gregg