New Orleans Saints' Coach Sean Payton talks to reporters at Super Bowl Media Day in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday, February 2. (Photo courtesy Kiera Fobb)
Super Bowl Sunday!
Teams have some pre-game fun on Media Day
Everything about the Super Bowl is a production, including the media build up. To contribute to the hype and excitement, members of the press from all over the world are turned loose onto the field of play a few days before the game each year. This is called Media Day and the Scholastic Kids Press Corps was there.
This year Media Day was held the Tuesday before this Sunday's big game. The threat of rain pushed everyone off the field and into the club level of Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida. It was the first indoor Media Day in its 10-year history. Super Bowl XLIV (44) is the fifth Super Bowl game to be played in Miami.
The area was filled to the brim with reporters, cameras, and microphones of all shapes, sizes, and lengths. Everyone wanted to talk to the players from the AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts and NFC Champion New Orleans Saints.
The most commonly overheard term for the day was "it's a zoo." About 2,000 members of the media crammed into the space, which included a karaoke "Super Bowl Idol" booth for players. American Idol finalist from season two Kimberly Caldwell judged who did the best job of belting out a rendition of Beyonce's "Single Ladies."
Also seen were women dressed in butterfly costumes, a Telemundo reporter wearing a halo, and an intern from The Jay Leno Show. Not exactly football focused, but fun anyway.
Despite all the excitement about the future game, a past tragedy still hangs over the helmets of several players on both teams. New Orleans, which is the home of the Saints, was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It not only destroyed the team's home stadium, but prevented the Saints from playing at home throughout the 2005 season.
Colts Coach Jim Caldwell pointed out that the hurricane has also affected two of his players, Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne. Both players are from New Orleans and both have worked hard with relief efforts over the last five years.
Manning's father, Archie Manning, was a star quarterback for the Saints from 1971-1982. He is a hometown hero, but says he will be rooting for his son's team.
And while Wayne admitted that his dream as a child was to play for the Saints, he is all about the Colts for this Sunday's game. His New Orleans friends are keeping his cell phone buzzing with text messages, he said. He shut off the phone during an interview with reporters on Media Day.
"I guarantee you in this game Sunday, if we take care of business the way we should, I'll be happy to look at all those text messages and answer them back," he said.
Saints Quarterback Drew Brees addressed the issue, but in terms of a win for his side. The Saints have never won a Super Bowl. In fact, this is the first year the Saints have made it all the way to the big game.
"It's enough just knowing that we're playing for much more than just another ‘W' or a Super Bowl for our organization," Brees said. "It's a Super Bowl for our city, and our fans and for everything that they've been through over the past few years. There's no city that deserves a championship more than New Orleans."
Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning has a different take on the upcoming match.
"I think this game is about two great teams that have had two outstanding seasons," he said. "It's the first time since 1993 I think that two number one-ranked teams are meeting in the final game."
The game begins at 6:25 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, February 7 and can be seen live on CBS. For more information on the game and halftime entertainment, check out the Super Bowl XLIV website.
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