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Sunday January 27, 2002 My Super Bowl preparations start as soon as I got home from watching the AFC Championship game at The End Zone in Foxboro - and before I'm fully sober. With no week off between the AFC/NFC Championship games and the Super Bowl things are going to be especially crazy. The first thing I had to do was schedule my traditional Super Bowl haircut. When I got my season tickets years ago I made a vow that whenever the team made it to the Super Bowl I'd shave my head and paint it to look like a Patriots helmet (as I did for SuperBowl XXXI). Of course a stunt as strange as this deserves some publicity so I call some of my friends at 94HJY in Providence. First I talked to 94HJY's Program Director Joe Bevilacqua. This call was especially pleasurable as he's a huge Steelers fan - and when I called him he was in the airport in Pittsburgh on his way back to Providence after seeing the Patriots defeat his Steelers in the AFC Championship Game! Next I called one of 94HJY's morning DJs Paul Fuller to get a few more headshaving details in place. Monday January 28, 2002 Monday morning I call my friend Steve Smith at Kendall Travel to see if I can get reasonable airfare so I won't have to drive all the way to the Big Easy. Most of the airfare he finds is over $1000, but he says he'll keep looking. A few more calls to WHJY's PD and the headshaving details are finalized - I'll do it live on the radio starting at 6:00 AM Wednesday morning - and WB56 will televise it live in Boston! Tuesday January 29, 2002 I send out a few dozen press releases to the local media inviting them to my headshaving, then call Kendall Travel again. Good news - Steve has found me a flight for less than $500! But I have to fly out of Logan (and things are a mess there due to heightened security), and into Baton Rouge - but I can live with that to save over $500. With a my flights in place things aren't quite as crazy. It basically gives me an extra day to get things together. Still things are pretty hectic. I go to sleep around midnight, setting the alarm for 4:30 AM. Wednesday January 30, 2002 Thursday January 31, 2002 I set my alarm for 4:00 AM and fall asleep around midnight - and again I wake up a half hour before the alarm. As exhausted as I am I'm still to excited to sleep much. I catch the 5:00 AM bus to Logan Airport and get there at 5:40 AM. The lines are huge.and it takes an hour just to check my bags and get my boarding pass. While in line I tune to WAAF - they're broadcasting live from New Orleans and Greg Hill, the morning DJ has invited me on his show Friday. After checking my bags I get into an even longer line to pass through security. With only 40 minutes left until my flight leaves I know there's no way I'll make it through in time if I have to wait in line. But I figure (correctly) that with the huge security mess the flights will be leaving late - and they'll call me ahead when my flight gets close to departing. I finally get on the plane a half-hour after its scheduled departure - turns out I'm the last one to board the flight. With a shaved head painted to look like a Patriots helmet I'm a little worried about airport security - or having the pilots using their prerogative to remove me from their flight. Fortunately everyone loves my outfit - I even get applause when walking by others waiting in the security line and again while boarding the plane. Now that I'm on the plane I'm finally able to relax a bit, for the first time since the Patriots won the AFC Championship. The first leg of the flight is to Atlanta and I actually manage to sleep a bit, something I rarely manage to do on airplanes. Since I have an hour layover in Atlanta I decide to get a bite to eat (especially since I didn't have time to eat breakfast at Logan Airport). Since I couldn't get a reasonably priced flight to New Orleans I'm flying into Baton Rouge. I step off the plane and immediately get interviewed by WBRZ, the local ABC affiliate. I go to get my luggage and a guy says "Hey, weren't you on TV last night?". We start talking and it turns out it's Scott Coen from News40, the ABC affiliate in Springfield, MA - he's there with his videographer Dave Guthro. Scott tells me they aired the video ABC6 shot of me yesterday! We talk a bit more and he offers me a ride into New Orleans. It's about 85 degrees and really humid so I'm really happy to hop into the back of an air-conditioned Buick Park Avenue - much better than taking the bus. New Orleans is about an hour's drive from Baton Rouge and we spend the time exchanging funny stories about being on-air and all the crazy things that can happen to screw up a live broadcast. About halfway to the Big Easy we see a bald eagle - the first one I've ever seen in the wild - a patriotic symbol - this has to be a good sign! A few minutes later my cellphone rings. It's Rob and his flight has just landed - the News40 guys drop me off near the airport and 10 minutes later Rob picks me up. Usually when you travel there are lots of little aggravations, but since leaving Logan Airport everything's going unbelievalby smoothly - better than I could have even imagined. It's 6PM on a Thursday night so Bourbon Street is manageable. Still it's amazing how many people are already so drunk they can hardly walk - guess they don't know how to pace themselves. The media is out and about and we do a few interviews and pose for a bunch of pictures. The sports editor of the Boston Globe snaps a few - then a photographer for AFP (the world's oldest established news agency) takes some - and one of them makes it into Saturday's Los Angeles Times and Aruba Daily! We make our way to Pat O'Brien's where I grab my first Hurricane of the weekend - delicious! After a dinner of oysters, turtle soup, and crawfish etouffe we again wander down Bourbon Street. We see a few women bartering for beads and get some great pictures - what a great tradition these "magic beads" are! Cheap liquor and public nudity, and my team's in the Super Bowl - this must be what heaven is like! Friday February 1, 2002 We go back to the hotel and to get a few more hours of sleep. After touching up out paintjobs we head back into the city via Tulane Ave looking for a cheap hotel room for Saturday and Sunday nights. It's a pretty rough area but the nicer hotels still want $350/night. We find a fleabag motel for $100/night - it will do, all we're going to do is sleep, shower, and touch up our paint. Friday night on Bourbon Street! Things are much rowdier than the previous night, but we're tired and our feet are killing us from all the walking we've been doing on the uneven streets and sidewalks of the French Quarter so we're not really in the mood for the Bourbon Street craziness yet - what a difference 24 hours makes! And we're getting really tired of people seeing our Patriots outfits and saying "What team are you rooting for?", then laughing like they said something funny. After hearing this a few hundred times Rob suggests we print up T-shirts that say "I'm rooting for the Patriots you idiot". Sounds like a great idea! I know a few Hurricanes will make me feel better so we head over to Pat O'Brien's. A half hour later I'm feeling much, much better. Again the courtyard of Pat O'Brien's is the place to be. I run into a few friends from the Patriots front office, some of the Boston media, and then two Patriots fans I met before Super Bowl XXXI, Mike and Chris Rickard. They were nice enough to let me sleep on their hotel room floor before the big game 5 years ago when I couldn't find a room - it was great seeing these two again! We wander around Bourbon Street some more, watch beads being exchanged and have a great time. We head back to the hotel at about 4:00 AM to get a little sleep before checking out. Saturday February 2, 2002 We head towards the city and check into the fleabag hotel room we reserved the day before. Most of Tulane Avenue (and much of New Orleans proper) seems to be a very economically disadvantaged area. The motel was worse than we imagined, and everyone opened their doors and stared at us when we went up to our rooms - two facepainted guys certainly attracted a lot of attention. We felt really out of place - now I know how the guys from Delta House felt when they went to see Otis Day & the Nights in Animal House. We decide our luggage would be safer in the car trunk than in our rooms at that point. After Rob touches up his facepaint we get out of there, with me saving my paint touch-up for the Canal Place Mall. I've heard the Corner Oyster Bar is Patriots Central for the fans. I go back to the Corner Oyster Bar and it's getting pretty crowded. I try to squeeze inside to get a drink when I hear someone yell my name. I turn around and see Foxborough selectman Charlie Masison, we talk for a while then another Foxborough resident, Joe DeCoste joins us. I worked hard with both Charlie and Joe to get the new stadium approved at Town Meeting 2 years ago and it was great seeing both of them in the Big Easy. Another guy from ESPN comes over and says if I want to get on TV to come across the street. Five minutes later I'm on ESPN live with a bunch of other Patriots fans - and a few Rams fans! I go back to the Corner Oyster Bar and things are getting really crazy now, The bar is now a mob scene. Inside it's too packed to move at all and Pats fans are all over the sidewalks and side street too. A Rams bus goes by and get a nasty taunting. Things are starting to get out of hand (but in a good way) but when the crowd starts spilling out into Decatur Street the police clear things out. By now we're hungry anyway so me, Rob, Mike and Chris and plot our strategy for the evening. My cellphone rings - it's a reporter from The Boston Metro. We agree to meet in the Hard Rock Cafe in a hour. I enjoy a large Cajun seafood dinner and am pretty tired, but I figure if I relax for a while and have a few drinks I'll feel better and get my second wind. Rob, Mike and Chris are anxious to get back to Bourbon Street so I tell them I'll catch up with them later. I relax a little longer at the Hard Rock but I'm still pretty tired and my feet and back are killing me so so I decide to check out the scene at the team's hotel before heading over to Bourbon Street. I walk in and talk to a few other Patriots fans when I again run into Foxborough Selectman Charlie Masison. I guess I still look pretty tired because Charlie's concerned about me. I assure him I'll be fine after a few more hurricanes. While making my towards the hotel lounge I run into the Patriots Director of Player Personnel Scott Pioli. His friends talk to me and I pose for a quick picture with them. I finally make it to the lounge, see a lot of Patriots fans, and a few people I know from the Patriots front office. Again people are buying me drinks and I'm starting to finally get my second wind. I grab a hurricane and this is the most potent one I've had yet! Later I find out when the bartenders ask you if you want your drink topped off they're using Bacardi 151 rum. I grab one for the road and head down Bourbon Street. It's just after midnight and the whole street is packed. Somehow I make it down the street waving my Patriots flag in one hand while not spilling my drink in the other. With perfect timing I arrive at Pat O'Brien's just as I'm finishing my hurricane. I see Rob, Mike & Chris as soon as I enter the courtyard. The place is packed, and it's almost all Patriots fans! We enjoy the ambience and leave at about 4:00 AM to get our usual 4-5 hours of sleep. At my first Super Bowl five years ago I had too much fun the night before the game and was too excited to sleep at all - a big mistake. I was tired and worn out from a week on Bourbon Street and during the game I was so overwhelmed with everything had my first (and only) anxiety attack. I made sure I brought some sleeping pills with me this time so I'd get at least a few hours of sleep. Super Bowl Sunday - February 3, 2002 The Tailgate Party ends at 2:30 PM - now it's time to head to the game! We drop off our souvenirs at the car and head up Canal Street to The SuperDome We get near the stadium and all kinds of photographers are snapping pictures of us. A film crew interviews us - it's the Discovery Channel. They ask if I think football should be allowed in prison. I say "I don't know, but I sure wouldn't want to be the Center. Kind of brings a new meaning to the term Tight End,... or Wide Receiver, doesn't it?" Pre-Game Almost game time! The thing about Super Bowl is it's unlike any other football game. There's so much hype that the game almost has a mythical feel to it. And the crowd is different, not only is it (somewhat) neutral but it's full of Kick-Off The Rams take the kickoff and only manage one first down before punting. So far so good! I try to tune in WBCN's coverage of the game - hearing Gil Santos and Gino Cappelletti will help calm me down a bit, but I can't find it. The packaging on my SuperBowl radio says 'BCN is on 92FM. I scan the dial - turns out it's 93.6FM on my digital tuner. The Patriots take over at their own 3 - not exactly where you want to be but better than having the Rams at your 3. A quick pass to Troy Brown for 21 yards - 1 play and we have some breathing room. Pats manage to get close to midfield before punting. Rams get the ball and drive to the Patriots 32 before settling for a 50 yard field goal. Pats 3 and out. Rams get the ball - the quarter ends - Rams only have 3 points - our defense is doing the job! 2nd Quarter Pats take over but only manage 1 first down before punting. Still, we're only down by 3. The teams exchange punts. Rams have the ball - but fumble! We drive for another touchdown - it's 14-3 at the half and we get the ball to start the 3rd quarter! Half-Time 2nd Half St. Louis has the ball - another interception, this one by Otis Smith! Vinatieri kicks a 37 yarder! Three St. Louis turnovers - and we've scored on every one of them! End of third quarter - and we're up by 14! The scoreboard flashes "The largest deficit overcome in Super Bowl history is 10 points". 4th Quarter 15 minutes away from a championship! If we can just keep the Rams from scoring a quick touchdown. Rams start at their 23 and drive to the Pats 3. 4th and goal this is it - Warner's pressured, he rolls right - and fumbles! Oh my god - we've clinched the SuperBowl - up by 3 TD's! All the Patriots fans are going nuts, everyone is hugging and high-fiving this is unreal! But wait,... there's a flag on the play - holding on Patriots. Rams get the ball back - and with a fresh set of downs. Rams score, they're down by 7 with 9:31 left, still lots of time. Pats 4 and out, uh-oh. Rams drive stalls at midfield. Pats get the ball with less than 4 minutes left. Rams are out of timeouts, one first down should do it. Pats 4 and out, again, no... We need a good punt here,... 30 yards. Not what we needed. Rams drive 55 yards in 21 seconds to tie the game - we just blew the biggest lead in Super Bowl history. We don't have a first down this quarter and the defense must be exhausted. 1:30 left in the 4th quarter. We need a good runback from Troy Brown - he only takes it back to the 17. We may see the first Super Bowl decided in overtime. A 5 yard pass, then an 8 yard pass - hey we got a first down. Incomplete, 11 yard pass, another first down. Spike the ball - 29 seconds left, ball on our 41. 20 yards and Adam should be able to put it through the uprights. 23 yards to Troy Brown - we're at their 36 - Adam can kick a 53 yarder indoors! 6 yard completion. Brady spikes the ball - 7 seconds left. This is unreal - I've been waiting 31 years for this - is it really going to happen? The ball is snapped... the kick is up... and it's good !!! I look at the clock - and there's no time left ! We've just won the Super Bowl !!!!! Post-Game The Rams fans exit pretty quickly, Pats fans stick around and watch the celebration. Me and Rob look around for SuperBowl souvenirs left behind by other fans. We take as much as we can carry before we leave. I've been waiting over 3 decades for this so I'm taking all I can. We go back to the car to drop off our schwag and head over to the team's hotel. The team hasn't arrived yet and a huge crowd has gathered. I try to buy an Super Bowl autograph football in the lobby, no luck. I walk down Canal Street to about 5 places - not one has autograph footballs. Finally find one a half mile away. Back to the hotel. Post-Game Gala Next I talk to Patriots alumni Tim Fox and Scott Zolack - more pictures. I spot Ted Johnson - I congratulate him and tell him I've been waiting 31 years for this, get a picture and autograph - same with Grey Ruegamer. Mom will be proud. Bourbon Street hear we come! By the time we get to Bourbon Street things have quieted down. We make our way to Pat O'Brien's and see Mike & Chris - the four of us embrace and the tears start flowing again - what a wuss I am! A few more hurricanes and I'm feeling pretty good. 5:00 AM and I finally have a chance to call home. I talk to my parents and brother and tell them of my latest adventures. They say the whole town is going nuts - and when Vinatieri's kick sailed through the uprights the fire horn and police sirens all sounded. Rob's getting tired so we head back to our fleabag motel room. I try calling Paul & Al at 94HJY but the phone isn't working. Turns out I have to leave a 5 dollar cash deposit at the front desk to use the phone - what kind of a place is this? It's 6:40 AM when I get through to Paul & Al. I've had no sleep yet and we go on the air live - not sure if this is a good idea. When I mention I'm staying on Tulane Avenue Paul's asks if it's near Tulane University. I reply "I think so - did you know they invented asphalt there,... Tulane Highway." (listen here) Monday February 4, 2002 Rob washes off his facepaint, but I decide to keep my paint on for a few more days - after all I've been waiting 31 years for this and I figure it will be fun to hit the nightclubs back in Foxboro in full Patriots regalia. We change hotels one final time - and get a room on Bourbon Street - but we're too tired to party. We spend the day buying half-priced Super Bowl merchandise and boxing up our souvenirs to mail back home. We're in bed by 11:00 that night. Tuesday February 5, 2002 Tuesday morning we're up before 7:00 AM. We stop by the post office shortly after it opens - and I end up mailing back 3 boxes of souveniers (and checking one as luggage). We get to the airport by 8:30 AM. I talk to former Bills coach Marv Levy and make a few more friends in the airport. I change planes in Cincinatti and am back in Boston that afternoon - missing the victory parade by hours. I catch the bus back to Foxboro and my brother picks me up, but my car is making some bad noises. I look under the hood - the whole brake caliper has come loose and is dangling by the hose. I can't wait to get home and relax but it looks like I have another hour to wait. A call to AAA and I'm towed home. Finally! The Aftermath I finally shave off the Mohawk and wash off the paint after being a guest on "An Hour with Bob". It was on for 14 days and 14 hours! It was a lot of fun, but it sure felt good to get that mess off my head. Watching my team win the Super Bowl was the most exciting moment of my life. And it still seems kind of unbelievable, especially the way it happened. The team overcame so much adversity this year, the death of Quarterback Coach Dick Rehbein. LB Andy Katzenmoyer leaving training camp, their most athletically talented player Terry Glenn missing most of the season and only making an impact in one game, losing their starting QB and having a second year player (and last year's 4th string QB) take over. And it's really amazing how the whole playoff picture fell into place over the last month of the regular season for the Patriots to get the second seed in the AFC, and how they won their last game ever at Foxboro Stadium in overtime - and in a blizzard. It certainly is a fitting way to send off Foxboro Stadium. And what a way to open the new one! Some people have called the Patriots a team of destiny, but more than that they're a team - and are Super Bowl Champions because they played as one! |
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