Ain’t No Party Like a Super Bowl Media Party

By Chris Mottram
Chris will be blogging from somewhere in Arizona all week where apparently a game is happening. He promises to not once mention anything that might actually occur on the field of play.
My friend Dan Steinberg has a better wrap up of last night’s Media Party (he took notes, I just sipped Jack), but I feel inclined to give you my version of the night because, well, you couldn’t be there. And trust me, that is not a bad thing.
As I’ve alluded to, this is my first Super Bowl, so I’ve never done these big media party/functions. For the most part, it was what I expected: Free buffet-style southwestern food (we were, after all, at a ranch in Arizona, which naturally made the entire area stink of horse crap), free booze (only beers available were Coors and Coors Light), and lots of middle-aged white males. What I was definitely not prepared for was the night’s entertainment: The Gin Blossoms.
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Standing in the crowd, forcing down my free Coors Original and watching this band that was somewhat relevant about 12 years ago was kind of tragic. I honestly felt sad for them. It’s like an athlete trying to stay in the game well past his prime. Except sadder. They were playing such early 90’s hits as “Hey Jealousy” at a ranch in Bumville, Arizona for members of the sports press corps. And they were well aware of this, seeing as they opened their set by yelling, “Hello press corps, welcome to Arizona!”
But it wasn’t all sad and tragic. I got to see press superstar Woody Paige in person! Although I was quite disappointed he didn’t ride the mechanical bull. Oh, and I got a beer glass shaped like a cowboy boot. So there’s that.
Now, on to today. With my head still a bit fuzzy from the sweet nectar that Jack Daniels’ Master Distiller Jimmy Bedford poured into my glass himself, I’m still trying to sort out Wednesday. I believe it will involve a lot of time on Radio Row, which will inherently lead to lots of “zaniness†from those “craaaazy” sports radio DJs. But maybe I’ll get to talk to someone slightly more interesting than Rodney Peete.↵