Super Bowl Diary: Throng Of The South
Media Horde Keeps Things Interesting In Tampa
Patrick Donnelly, Staff Writer
January 24, 2001, 12:29 p.m. EST
Tuesday, January 22, 2001
7:15 a.m. EST
ON THE ROAD TO TAMPA
Dear Diary,
Driving down a dusty two-lane highway an hour east of Tampa, passing orange trees and one-pump gas stations and a rickety old raceway, it hardly seems possible that in just hours we'll be surrounded by approximately 72 percent of all electronic and print journalists in the free world.
I'm staying with our Florida regional sports editor Chris Reimer, who's based in Orlando but lives halfway between there and Tampa. Yeah, we'll probably put more than a couple of miles on his '93 Nissan Sentra, and maybe we'll miss out on a chance or two to rub elbows with the beautiful people after dark. But we're a heck of a lot closer to our friends at the TV station in Orlando, where we'll be doing our video work for the Super Bowl package.
Besides, if we were staying in a hotel, I would have missed out on this morning's Egg McReimer. Mmm-mmm, that's good eatin'.
So we're just a few scant hours away from the gaping maw of Super Bowl Media Day. The Giants are up first. Kerry Collins met with the media yesterday to discuss his troubled past, his alcohol problems licked and his life back in order. He was smart to do it that way too. He took the air out of the balloon by pre-empting the questions about his past. He beat the muckrakers to the punch.
Then there's Ravens coach Brian Billick. If you have any clue what he was doing yesterday, feel free to let me know. I know he was just trying to protect his player when he said that the media was "reprehensible" in its pursuit of the Ray Lewis story. But in doing so, Billick added fuel to the fire. Trust me, the media does not like to be told how to do its job. Even though we love to tell other people how to do theirs. It's a double-standard, sure, but they teach it to us in journalism school -- Intro To Mudslinging 101.
We're almost there, so I'll finish it up with a traffic report. Man, these Floridians drive like madmen. Even on a cloudless day like today, it's bumper-to-bumper with people passing on the shoulder and generally taking my life in their hands. Not Reimer of course -- he's the model of AAA consistency on the road.
More from Tampa if we get there alive . . .
*****
12:15 p.m.RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM -- TAMPA
Yeah, we made it. (See right for proof.)
One down, one to go. The Giants proved to be true to their image -- as corporate and blue and boring as a Wall Street stockbroker. This team is as exciting as a tofu buffet. For an inspirational speaker to fire up the boys, they brought in Ben Stein.
"Sehorn? … Sehorn? … Sehorn? … Anyone? . . . Strahan?"
OK, so the team isn't totally without its charms. Linebacker Jesse Armstead and defensive end Michael Strahan did their best to fill the reporters' notebooks. Coach Jim Fassel can get the red-behind syndrome with the best of them. And Pete Mitchell did bring a new meaning to the term "tight end" when news broke that he was named the "sexiest player in the Super Bowl" in a survey of posted by a dating Web site.
The Giants' most recognizable face is cornerback Jason Sehorn, who has starred in a few commercials and is dating Angie Harmon of TV's "Law & Order." But Sehorn is a coverboy in the same way that Victoria's Secret models are covergirls -- he simply doesn't have much to say. Behind that pretty face is just a lot of pretty teeth.
Other New Yorkers had even less to offer. Collins said his piece on Monday night -- he politely reiterated it for those who missed it the first time, but by Tuesday it was old news. Running back Tiki Barber has an engaging smile, but spoke in a whisper not heard well in a crowd of 2300 reporters, each jostling for a soundbite. His backfield mate, Ron Dayne, slumped in a chair, glared at reporters, and clearly would have rather been someplace far, far away.
No, these Giants are not into filling your notebooks or giving you a catchy soundbite. If they have their way, the Ravens will have the emptiest blackboard in the league. These Giants are all about humility, respecting their opponents, staying within themselves, carrying their own water, doing their best and the Good Lord willing things will work out.
Which would be admirable, if it weren't so darn boring.
OK, OK, in this day and age of self-promoting, chest-thumping, trash-talking, get-out-of-my-way-because-I-invented-the-world athletes, the Giants' humility is admirable. But I didn't fly all this way for a week of clichés. Bring on Shannon Sharpe, Chris McAlister and Tony Siragusa.
Post-script: When our hour of tedium with the Giants had ended, a voice on the PA system boomed, "Media Day is over. Giants players, please report to the field for your team picture. Media, please exit through Gate D."
Clearly, the NFL wanted us out of their hair so they could clean up and let the Giants take care of their business. And just as clearly, the NFL knows how to work the media. They called out the two words we love most: Free food.
Lunch was pretty good, by the way. Fresh salad with a delicious creamy Italian dressing, half a roast beef on caraway and half a ham on a Kaiser roll. Oh, and one of the better chocolate chip cookies I've had in awhile.
*****
2:45 p.m.ON THE ROAD
Now that's more like it.
Sharpe used his bully pulpit to rain quotes on my parched notebook. Siragusa auditioned for his own one-man Vegas act -- seriously, the guy is funnier than two-thirds of the hacks who stand in front of brick walls and remind us that men like to control the TV clicker and women take a long time to get ready for a date. (ba-DUM-bum) Even Trent Dilfer (yes, that Trent Dilfer) was electric and engaging. At least, compared to the Giants.
The Ravens may have a vanilla offense and a straightlaced, smash-mouth defense, but their roster truly is a cast of characters. Besides the guys listed above, defensive end Michael McCrary was singing, laughing and talking more smack than Jim Rome on a good day. Tackle Jonathan Ogden's words were as big as his monstrous frame. And then there's Ray Lewis.
Yes, as soon as the gates opened, the media horde descended upon his podium. And yes, Lewis handled the questions about the double-murder at last year's Super Bowl with as much grace as possible. And yes, we're all glad it's over.
You know, I've heard a lot of media bashing over the past couple of days, from sources ranging from Billick to other members of the media who say that many broadcasters and writers go over the line in their pursuit of "the story." And I also heard many, many reporters ask the players, "What was the stupidest question you have heard so far today?"
And almost to a man, the players didn't have much of a response to that. Because the media has been taking its job more seriously than ever as of late. Oh sure, we like to have our fun, but when it's time to get down to business, most of us are answering the call. No sign this year of Downtown Julie Browne asking questions only MTV viewers could care about. And no Meredith Viera embarrassing herself and every female journalist in the world as she did at the World Series when she suggestively asked Mike Piazza who had the biggest "bat" in the Mets' locker room.
Yeah, I did see wacky FOX comic/pregame host Jay Mohr asking Sharpe who his favorite Muppet is. (Answer? "Kermit.") But more often that not, we've been good boys and girls so far.
So, we've made it through the chaos that is Media Day. Now, what do we do to fill the next four days? I guess you'll find out shortly after I do.
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2 comments:
Doesn't Reimer still owe us money in the IBS "experts" picks pool??? :-)
Oh yeah. I'm sure he's good for it, too. We'll have to track him down at a future PGA Tour event -- that's who he's working for now.
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