Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23: Steelers Win Sixth Super Bowl Championship

This ESPN summary says it all .  It was the most exciting Super Bowl I've ever seen and it seems America agrees with me.  Congratulations to the Champion Pittsburgh Steelers for winning their sixth Super Bowl ring.  

And while the MVP went to Santonio Holmes, part of it should be share with Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arens, who created the plays that isolated Holmes and put him in position to make the plays he made.  Here's ESPN's take:  

TAMPA, Fla. -- Do you believe in miracles?

The longest play in Super Bowl history -- a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown by Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison -- was overshadowed by a breathtaking, helter-skelter second half of what may have been the most exciting Super Bowl ever.

Just when it looked like the Arizona Cardinals had authored the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history -- scoring 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter -- the Steelers answered with a monstrous, improbable drive. Ben Roethlisberger's 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left gave Pittsburgh a soaring 27-23 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday night at Raymond James Stadium.

When Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley knocked the ball loose from Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner and Brett Keisel recovered with seven seconds left, it was over.

From end to end, this one was even better than last year's crazy Giants victory over the undefeated New England Patriots. 

Local Tampa Business Can Buy Super Bowl Banners

According to the Tampa Super Bowl Host Committee , local businesses can purchase Super Bowl Banners now.  Here's what the Host Committee reports:

Today the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee introduced the “Presence Program,” a limited-time-only sale of official Super Bowl XLIII banners for area businesses, hotels and restaurants.

“With Super Bowl XLIII just around the corner, many business owners are looking for a way to attract traffic from the 100,000 visitors expected to visit the region at the end of January,” said Host Committee Chairman R.A. “Dick” Beard III. “The Presence Program is a unique opportunity for local businesses to be a part of the Super Bowl décor program and show their team spirit for Tampa Bay.”

The Presence Program includes banners of various sizes all featuring the dynamic Super Bowl XLIII logo and colors. Complete details are available by clicking on “Host Shop” on the left side of the screen. Interested businesses should download the official order form for sizes and pricing. The deadline to order banners is December 12.

“Each year the NFL partners with the local host community to develop and implement a regional decorations program,” said Reid Sigmon, executive director of the Host Committee. “This is the first phase of a coordinated campaign to create a spectacular visual impact during game week.”

Oakland To Phoenix Flight Southwest Airlines - Super Bowl XLII

This is a video of the flight that I took from Oakland to Phoenix to attend Super Bowl XLII and the events before the game. It was a Southwest Airlines flight that left at 1:30 that day and got in at about almost 5 PM.

Super Bowl XLV Host To Be Decided Today - AGENDA FOR 2007 NFL SPRING MEETING - Nashville - NFLMedia.com

In my opinion, this is the most exciting compeitition for the Super Bowl I've ever seen. I can't say I have a favorite in this race. However, I must admit from a technical standpoint that the D-FW Metroplex has more top quality hotels than in Indianapolis, but these competitions always come down to the most popular owner.

May 17, 2007

MEDIA ADVISORY:

AGENDA FOR NFL SPRING MEETING

The annual NFL Spring Meeting will be held at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville,
Tennessee on Tuesday, May 22.

The agenda for the one-day business meeting includes a vote on the awarding of Super Bowl
XLV in 2011. The finalists are Arizona, Indianapolis and North Texas. Super Bowls are
awarded by a vote of the ownership. A decision and announcement on the 2011 Super Bowl
is expected at the end of the morning session on Tuesday (approximately 1:00 PM Nashville
time).

There will be a series of committee meetings on Monday afternoon before the league
meeting begins at 8:30 AM on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s agenda will include a wide range of league matters.

The meeting is expected to conclude by 5:00 PM on Tuesday. NFL Commissioner Roger
Goodell will hold a news conference following the conclusion of the meeting.

To register for media credentials to cover the meeting, go to the NFL Event Credentialing
section of NFLmedia.com.

FUTURE SUPER BOWLS

SUPER BOWL LOCATION DATE

XLII February 3, 2008 Arizona
XLIII February 1, 2009 Tampa
XLIV February 7, 2010 South Florida
XLV February 6, 2011 TBD



SUPER BOWL SITES 1967-2010
GAME YEAR SITE STADIUM WINNER LOSER SCORE DATE
XLIV 2010 South Florida Dolphin Stadium 2/7/2010
XLIII 2009 Tampa Raymond James 2/1/2009
XLII 2008 Arizona University of Phoenix Stadium 2/3/2008
XLI 2007 South Florida Dolphin Stadium Indianapolis Chicago 29-17
XL 2006 Detroit Ford Field Pittsburgh Seattle 21-10
XXXIX 2005 Jacksonville ALLTEL New England Philadelphia 24-21
XXXVIII 2004 Houston Reliant New England Carolina 32-29
XXXVII 2003 San Diego Qualcomm Tampa Bay Oakland 48-21
XXXVI 2002 New Orleans Superdome New England St. Louis 20-17
XXXV 2001 Tampa Raymond James Baltimore Ravens NY Giants 34-7
XXXIV 2000 Atlanta Georgia Dome St. Louis Tennessee 23-16
XXXIII 1999 South Florida Pro Player Denver Atlanta 34-19
XXXII 1998 San Diego Qualcomm Denver Green Bay 31-24
XXXI 1997 New Orleans Superdome Green Bay New England 35-21
XXX 1996 Tempe Sun Devil Stadium Dallas Pittsburgh 27-17
XXIX 1995 South Florida Joe Robbie San Francisco San Diego 49-26
XXVIII 1994 Atlanta Georgia Dome Dallas Buffalo 30-13
XXVII 1993 Pasadena Rose Bowl Dallas Buffalo 52-17
XXVI 1992 Minneapolis Metrodome Washington Buffalo 37-24
XXV 1991 Tampa Tampa Stadium NY Giants Buffalo 20-19
XXIV 1990 New Orleans Superdome San Francisco Denver 55-10
XXIII 1989 South Florida Joe Robbie San Francisco Cincinnati 20-16
XXII 1988 San Diego Jack Murphy Washington Denver 42-10
XXI 1987 Pasadena Rose Bowl NY Giants Denver 39-20
XX 1986 New Orleans Superdome Chicago New England 46-10
XIX 1985 Stanford Stanford Stadium San Francisco Miami 38-16
XVIII 1984 Tampa Tampa Stadium LA Raiders Washington 38-9
XVII 1983 Pasadena Rose Bowl Washington Miami 27-17
XVI 1982 Pontiac Pontiac Silverdome San Francisco Cincinnati 26-21
XV 1981 New Orleans Superdome Oakland Philadelphia 27-10
XIV 1980 Pasadena Rose Bowl Pittsburgh LA 31-19
XIII 1979 Miami Orange Bowl Pittsburgh Dallas 35-31
XII 1978 New Orleans Superdome Dallas Denver 27-10
XI 1977 Pasadena Rose Bowl Oakland Minnesota 32-14
X 1976 Miami Orange Bowl Pittsburgh Dallas 21-17
IX 1975 New Orleans Tulane Stadium Pittsburgh Minnesota 16-6
VIII 1974 Houston Rice Stadium Miami Minnesota 24-7
VII 1973 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Miami Washington 14-7
VI 1972 New Orleans Tulane Stadium Dallas Miami 24-3
V 1971 Miami Orange Bowl Baltimore Colts Dallas 16-13
IV 1970 New Orleans Tulane Stadium KC Minnesota 23-7
III 1969 Miami Orange Bowl NY Jets Baltimore Colts 16-7
II 1968 Miami Orange Bowl Green Bay KC 33-14
I 1967 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Green Bay KC 35-10

# # #

NFL Super Bowl Policy Committee Does Not Meet In Arizona

Bid for 2011 Super Bowl put on NFL's back burner
Scott Wong
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 28, 2007 12:00 AM

Two months from now, NFL team owners will decide whether Dallas, Indianapolis or Arizona makes the better host for the 2011 Super Bowl.

But at the annual owners meeting at the Arizona Biltmore resort this week, any talk of the distant championship game took a back seat to discussions about harsher penalties for player misconduct, the adoption of a new revenue-sharing plan and other more pressing league issues.

Making his way into a spacious ballroom on Monday, Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson, who sits on the league's Super Bowl Advisory Committee, said he hadn't even thought about the 2011 bidding process yet.

And Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, a Home Depot co-founder, appeared skeptical when told that Arizona had thrown its hat in the ring for 2011.

Mary Owen, Wilson's niece and the Bills' vice president of strategic planning, said at this moment it was too early to look past next year's Super Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

"We're looking forward to the Super Bowl being here. It's a good-weather city," said Owen, who will be representing her uncle on the Super Bowl committee. Regarding the 2011 bid, she added: "It's more of wait and see."

The team putting together the Arizona 2011 bid said last week it had no plans to lobby owners during their meeting, which wraps up today.

But Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill, who was on hand Monday, said sometime in the near future he intended to speak with his counterparts throughout the league about Arizona's second Super Bowl bid in four years.

"I'm not planning on it immediately, but I'll be talking to some of them," Bidwill said.

The Arizona Super Bowl committee must submit its bid by next Monday. Owners will hear presentations in Nashville, Tenn. during their spring meeting, set for May 22 and 23 and could vote then to award the game.

How to Pick A Super Bowl Party - Zennie Abraham's Criteria For Selecting A Super Bowl Party

With every Super Bowl Game in a "host city" comes Super Bowl Parties. From Maxim to Playboy to Leigh Steinberg, there are at times too many parties. There were over 1,000 in Miami, the host city for Super Bowl XLI. How does one determine which parties to go to? Read on for help from a Super Bowl verteran. Me: Zennie Abraham, CEO of Sports Business Simulations , has attended five Super Bowls, and counting.

I also headed the effort to bring the 2005 Super Bowl to Oakland. (Oakland lost to Jacksonville on the third ballot vote of NFL owners.)

I felt compelled to write this after my great Miami Super Bowl experience, where I went to six parties, and didn't pay a dime. That's what maintaining good relationships gets you. But I digress, here's my guide. (Which can also apply to the NBA All Star game, by the way.)

Things You'll Need

Here's what you need to know about a Super Bowl Party. First, location. Where's it at. Second, how much does it cost to attend? Third, has it been done before. Beyond that, here's a step by step plan.

Instructions

STEP 1: Is PDiddy or another celebrity's name on it? If so, don't go to the party. Why? Because celebs who's names are part of the party name sometimes don't show up. Meanwhile, you're dealing with a lot of people in a crowded place waiting for that person to show. Save your money. I made this mistake in Detroit in 2006, when PDiddy himself failed to come to a Super Bowl Party with his name on it. But the place -- the Elylisium Lounge -- was so packed, the fire marshal threatened to shut the party down three times.

STEP 2: Does the party have free food? The best Super Bowl parties all have free food; the PDiddy party had no food at all. If you have to pay for food, don't go. There's no excuse other than poor planning for a lack of free food. If you have to pay for the party, you should expect that the caterer has been secured and paid. Plus, eating is a great way to cut down the impact of any cocktail you may consume. Which brings me to this point...

STEP 3: Are the drinks free? Again, if you're paying a lot to go to a party, the drinks should be free. That's a basic Super Bowl Party rule. If you go to the Playboy, Maxim, or Leigh Steinberg parties, the drinks are free. Don't even think of going to a Super Bowl party where you have to pay for drinks, unless the party itself is free of charge.

STEP 4: Is the party in a central location? Where is the party located? If it's in a downtown location, well served by cabs, and all of the other criteria for a Super Bowl Party are met, then go to the party. But if it's located way out in some suburban location where the cabs call once every 20 years, forget it. The best Super Bowl parties are the easiest to get to. Now, I'll place a word in for some very exclusive parties that are way out in a suburban location. I've been to a few of them, and given the celebs in attendance, I can understand. This was true for a party I attended at the Doral Country Club. But then cabs do serve at places like the Doral, so my basic rule applies -- it must be a place cabs call to.

STEP 5: Is there one party price? What's the price of the party? Is there one price or a level of prices? If there's a level of prices, avoid the party. It means that someone there will play favorites and as the result, what people paid for the party will be all over the place. If you paid for a ticket at $600 and find that someone else just paid $100 and for the same service, you will feel cheated and rightly so. Don't bother. One price should fit all.

Overall Tips & Warnings

If all of the criteria I listed above are met, it's obvously a party worth attending. But here are some more tips. First, don't drink and drive. Remember, you're more than likely from out of town and the last problem you need is to come back to the Super Bowl host city just to defend a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charge. Forget it. If you're going to drink -- and most people do -- take a cab or a limo. They're plentiful for Super Bowls.

Here's a major warning: If you're going to buy a Super Bowl Party ticket do it where the purchase is either directly from the party producer or the transaction is insured. Some people posing as ticket brokers may sell you a fradulent ticket. I'm serious. The Super Bowl is also a magnet for dishonest business people. If you're going to buy a ticket, go to our site http://www.sbstickets.com"> , where your ticket transactions are secured as we're part of the StubHub network.

Glenn Dickey - San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Bill Walsh Caused Increase In Hiring Of Black Coaches In NFL

My friend and SF Examiner columnist Glenn Dickey wrote this great column on ex-49ers coach Bill Walsh, which I post here and link to here.

Dickey: Walsh laid groundwork for black coaches

"Bill Walsh was not only a groundbreaking offensive coach with Stanford and then the 49ers, he also was instrumentral in integrating blacks into the coaching ranks. Notably, Denny Green and Ray Rhodes were on his staffs and went on to become head coaches." - Glenn Dickey.

Feb 2, 2007 3:00 AM (5 days ago)

SAN FRANCISCO - Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith will be the first black head coaches to face each other in the Super Bowl because of groundwork laid by Bill Walsh.

From his first year as a head coach — at Stanford in 1977 — Walsh looked for black assistant coaches. Denny Green was on his first staff.

“Denny was one of our first hires,” Walsh said this week. Green later became head coach at Stanford and then one of the first half-dozen black head coaches in the NFL.

When he came to the 49ers, Walsh started an intern program to bring in black assistants. One of them was Ray Rhodes, who also became one of that first group of black head coaches in the NFL.

“You have to start somewhere,” Walsh said. “At that time, NFL teams weren’t even hiring black assistants.”

In 1987, Walsh created the Minority Coaching Fellowship program, which has produced several black college coaches, including Tyrone Willingham, who has coached at Stanford, Notre Dame and Washington.

He also started a yearly conference of black college coaches to discuss their situation among themselves. Lowell Cohn and I were the only writers present at one memorable meeting, when coaches talked frankly among themselves and then listened to a candid message by Dr. Harry Edwards about their specific role and the condition of black society. An organizer of the black athletes’ protest at the 1968 Olympics, Edwards was a sociology professor at the University of California who had been brought to the 49ers by Walsh to counsel players. He is still on the 49ers’ payroll.

Walsh then turned his focus to the NFL, working with Roger Goodell, now the NFL commissioner but then an assistant to Paul Tagliabue, on a program to help black assistants get head-coaching jobs.

“They weren’t even getting interviews,” Walsh said. “I don’t think it was racism so much as just indifference. White coaches and administrators had their own jobs, their own concerns.”

“I’ve worked with Bill almost from the time I came into the league in 1982,” Goodell said when I interviewed him before he became commissioner, “and I’ve never ceased to be amazed at the depth of his knowledge and understanding. He has a way of processing information and formulating a plan quickly.”

That’s exactly what Walsh did with his program to get black assistants into head-coaching jobs.

“They weren’t even getting interviews,” he noted, “So, we set up a video program where these coaches were interviewed and could then send tapes to clubs.”

One black assistant who did get interviewed was Marvin Lewis, but Lewis didn’t interview well because he didn’t know what was expected. So, Walsh set up seminars with other NFL executives to instruct the black assistants on how to interview.

The black assistants were prepared when the Rooney Rule, which mandates the interviewing of at least one minority candidate for head-coaching jobs, was installed in 2002. There were seven black NFL head coaches last season.

It all comes back to Walsh, who has affected so many people with his intelligence and compassion.

“To focus on him as a football coach is really a mistake,” Goodell said, “because it ignores the breadth of the man. He’s been involved in our league in so many ways.”

Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith can attest to that.

Glenn Dickey has been covering Bay Area sports since 1963 and also writes on www.GlennDickey.com. E-mail him at glenndickey@hotmail.com.

Interesting Statement On Churches and NFL Super Bowl Viewing

I found this very interesting notice over at NFL Media.com:

February 2, 2007
STATEMENT FROM AN NFL SPOKESMAN:
The National Football League has absolutely no objection to churches and others hosting Super Bowl viewing parties as long as they do not charge admission and that the game is shown on a television of the type commonly used at home.

We are simply following copyright law and have done so consistently with regard to hotels, theatres, museums, schools, arenas and other such venues.

This is nothing new. It is a matter of longstanding policy and the law. We have no rules that relate to viewing at home on any type of television.

That's all there was to the statement. More on this later.

2006 NFL PLAYER COMPENSATION FOR NFL POSTSEASON GAMES

From NFLMedia.com

*Wild Card Games:

$18,000
Divisional Playoff Games:

$20,000
Conference Championship Games:

$37,500
Super Bowl Winning Players:

$78,000
Losing Players:

$40,000
Pro Bowl Game Winning Players:

$40,000
Losing Players:

$20,000

NFL Super Bowl Hotel and Media Center Information - NFLMedia.com

For anyone in the media who may not have access to the website

NFL HEADQUARTERS — Marriott Biscayne Bay,
1633 North Bayshore Drive, Miami, FL 33132,
(305) 374-3900; FAX: (305) 536-6411.

NFL Office: (212) 450-2000.

MEDIA CENTER — Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-7311;

FAX: (305) 673-7435. Registration Desk will open at 2:00 P.M., Sunday, January 28, and each day thereafter from
8:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M. Media Lounge will open at 2:00 P.M., Sunday, January 28, and each day thereafter at 8:00
A.M. Week of game credentials can be picked up beginning Sunday, January 28 at 2:00 P.M. Gameday credentials can be picked up beginning at 10:00 A.M., Friday, February 2.

Any credentials not picked up by 6:00 P.M., Saturday, February 3, will be available at the Media Center beginning at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday, February 4. There will be no willcall at Dolphin Stadium on gameday.

Oakland Tribune's Monte Poole On The Color Barrier In The NFL and In Sports

Color barrier: Sports still has long way to go
Column by Monte Poole
Article Last Updated: 01/29/2007 02:37:52 AM PST

WELCOME TO Super Bowl Week, where football fans will be inundated with stories about Indianapolis and Chicago, about the various Colts and Bears, about fans and skin color.

We'll see and hear plenty about these, most assuredly the last one.

Because the skin color of Colts coach Tony Dungy is a relative match with that of Bears coach Lovie Smith. This is news not simply because neither is white but because neither is white and both have nurtured and coaxed their teams into the NFL's championship game.

Their incidental involvement in this bit of history is undeniable. The most pleasant aspect of this, though, should be the flattening of another color barrier.

Another one down, a hundred or so still standing.

If this is an example of sport leading the way, providingmembers of a race previously considered unfit with the opportunity to prove otherwise, it should be noted that sport has slowed its pace toward achieving a truly equal society.
Ownership, the most significant and aristocratic level of sports, has been excruciatingly slow to accept non-whites.
The power brokers remain overwhelmingly white — whiter than the much-publicized head-coaching ranks in NCAA Division I-A football. The owner/managing-partner level among the 92 teams in our three major sports — MLB, NBA, NFL — is roughly 2 percent Asian, black or Latino.

To be more distinct, a total of two.

Bob Johnson in 2003 bought the rights to the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, becoming the second majority owner of a major sports team; Peter Bynoe and Bertram Lee bought the Denver Nuggets in 1989, lasting three years as owners.
Johnson's purchase preceded by four months that of Artie Moreno buying the Anaheim Angels, making him the first Latino to become majority owner.
Though Hiroshi Yamauchi, the Japanese billionaire and former majority owner of the Seattle Mariners, preceded Johnson and Moreno, he sold his shares a few years ago.
Several individuals of color own minority stakes, including Magic Johnson with the Lakers, but only Bob Johnson and Moreno top the organizational chart.
Meanwhile, Reggie Jackson, urged by commissioner Bud Selig to be patient in his quest for baseball ownership, has nothing to show after nearly a decade. Joe Morgan's attempt to become president-owner of the A's, with a group led by Bob Piccinini, was rebuffed. Alabama attorney and businessman Donald Watkins, with a reported worth in excess of $1 billion, was denied in his effort to buy the Minnesota Twins in 2001 because MLB was uncomfortable with his finances.
Former Duke player Brian Davis failed in a recent bid to lead a group seeking to purchase the Memphis Grizzlies. Reggie Fowler's attempt to become majority owner of the Minnesota Vikings died amid questions about his financial wherewithal; he now is a minority owner of the team under Zygi Wilf, who received unanimous approval.
This is not so much an allegation of racism as a recitation of facts, thereby highlighting the color barriers still in existence in sport.
So many have come down, from the playing fields to the executive offices, from merely reaching the position to actually winning championships. This is another. Dungy or Smith will become the first black head coach to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
If the definitive integration moment in this country is Jackie Robinson's entrance into the Major Leagues in 1947, the pivotal moments of measured progress came with the promotion of Bill Russell to head coach of the NBA Boston Celtics in 1966, the hiring of Frank Robinson as manager of the Cleveland Indians in 1975 and the promotion of Art Shell to head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders in 1989.
Seeing these men earn authority and experience success opened minds and softened hearts. It suggested that, lo and behold, fitness for a specific job had much less to do with skin color than with character and intellect.
Had these moves not been made on the social gameboard, would someone like Barack Obama be in position to think about running for president?
But Obama, though identified as a political star, still can't consider himself a favorite. If sports is his barometer, he is a decided underdog.
While the sight of Dungy on one sideline and Smith on the other surely represents a measure of progress, it also reiterates the statement regarding character and intellect.
Which might be enough to convince an owner or athletic director to consider what he or she might not have in the past: That a black coach not only can win a championship but also hold his own in the upper levels of society.
As sport pats itself on the back this week, reminding everyone of how far it has come, let's not kid ourselves. It still has a ways to go. We all do.
Monte Poole can be reached at (510) 208-6461 or by e-mail at
mpoole@angnewspapers.com.

With Dungy and Smith In Super Bowl XLI, African Americans Forced To See Positive Role Models

Yes, I know the title of my post is controversial. But it's also true. It comes from several episodes in my personal life that I will never forget and caused me to think that we -- African Americans or "blacks" if you will (I use the terms interchangebly) -- have actually conditioned ourselves to accept a second class place in American Life. (Oh, if youre wondering, that's me on the left, in the suit.)



Now, with the two teams in Super Bowl XLI being coached by African Americans -- the Chicago Bears by Lovie Smith and the Indianapolis Colts by Tony Dungy, Blacks are actually forced to see ourselves in positive role model positions. It's about time and will help me reduce, but not erase the memory of the following occurences in my life.

The first one was when I was 14-years-old. (I'm 44 now.) I was just leaving a McDonald's Restaurant located in South Chicago and just off Avalon Avenue, when an older Black man walked in and yelled "I want the manager! Where's the manager?!" I don't know what his complaint was but he seemed angry. So a tall, well dressed Black man walked out from behind the counter and identified himself as the manager. "Can I help you?" He asked.

"Naw. You're not the manager. I wanna see the White Man." That's what he said, and I obviously never forgot it. I left the place as my Mom was waiting for me outside, but those words "I wanna see the White Man" never left my head.

The second occurence was during a visit to see my auntie in Tennessee when I was 17-years-old. One of her family friends was bragging about how he purchased a new car almost every year "Like the White man does" he said. And he kept saying it. It was annoying to me and so I asked Mom about it. "That's how some of us think," she said. "It's not right, but you're being exposed to it."

No kidding.

I was never told or even allowed to think that I could not do something because I am Black. I was never instructed that there are "two rules" -- one for Blacks and the other for Whites. I was also never discouraged from seeing the late Economist John Kenneth Galbraith as my hero even though he's White. No one ever told me that his position or way of thinking was not attainable to me or anyone else because they were or I am Black. I was never told not to date interracially because I was Black. I was never told that I could not be with Asian or White or Latino or any "different" friends because I am African American. Never.

I was always instructed to expect to see Blacks in important positions and indeed my Mom knew Blacks who were. Blacks like Arnold Grant, who was the first African American Regional Director of Kentucky Fried Chicken in the 60s. Or my father, who I'm named after, and who invented an electric ladder. Or my late stepfather Chester Yerger, Jr., who fought in World War II and who's father was part of one of Arkansas' most prominent families. Thus, I'm happy that at least one of the members of the Federal Reserve Board are Black -- there should be more. The point is, I was brought up to expect greatness from Blacks.

But I digress.

I've seen more examples of Black self-hatred and dislike of other Blacks who rise to positions of power or prominence than the opposite. You can take the examples I gave, or San Francisco Radio Station KNBR's Personality Rod Brooks' recent statements calling Black Coaches "one of those" as if they were a bad thing, or Black on Black crime, I could go on and on.



But now, with Colts Coach Tony Dungy exorcising the demons of Patriots past, and Lovie Smith expecting his Chicago Bears to be Super Bowl champions and then willing his team to the game, I have a reason to smile. And Blacks everywhere do as well.

This adds to the expected greatness of Tiger Woods, and the rise of Barack Obama to Senator and perhaps President of the United States of America. It means we can expect greatness from us, and indeed should insist on it. Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith coaching in the World's largest single day sports event seen by almost 1 Billion people, will do almost as much for Black self-esteem as Martin Luther King did decades ago and today. A tall statement, perhaps. But consider the size of the Super Bowl TV audience once again and then think about it.

Still, it's a jarring experience for some of us to see this. Derrick Bell, the noted Black law professor formerly of Harvard and now at New York University, told the story of an African American cab driver who asked what he did, and when he told him, the driver said "Man, it's guys like you that make it hard for me." What he meant, was that he could not easily use the fact that he's Black as a reason for not succeeding. Indeed, it's a reason to at least try. We all know that racism is alive and well but it makes life harder when we as Blacks don't expect to excell because of it. It's better to fight racism and battle through it, but not destroy one's self because of it.

Thus, the next time -- regardless of who you are as we need all hands on deck to rid ourselves of this self-esteem problem -- you hear someone Black ask "Where's the White Man?" when an African American manager appears, don't slap the crap out of him, just say to him "He's in line, ordering from the Black man who runs the place."

Coming to Miami? Come to the Bauer's Super Bowl Party!

NFL SUPER BOWL XLI FACT SHEET - SUPER BOWL MIAMI NFL / MEDIA HOTELS - ECONOMIC IMPACT: $350 million - PRESS RELEASE

I found this press release from the Miami Super Bowl XLI Host Committee complete by accident and posted it. It's full of information on the 2007 Super Bowl in Miami.

SUPER BOWL XLI FACT SHEET

HOST COMMITTEE: The South Florida Super Bowl XLI Host Committee is a private, not-for-profit 501 c (6) Florida Corporation that serves as the liaison between the National Football League and local efforts in the planning and executing of Super Bowl XLI. The 32 NFL owners awarded the game to South Florida on the condition that a Host Committee was established.

The South Florida Super Bowl XLI Host Committee is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, which is chaired by Mr. Rodney Barreto. Day-to-day operations are handled by a small full-time staff under the direction of Mr. Michael Kelly, President of the Host Committee, a grouping of sub-committees and thousands of dedicated volunteers.

HOST COMMITTEE CONTACT INFORMATION:
South Florida Super Bowl XLI Host Committee
2269 Dan Marino Boulevard, Miami Gardens, Florida 33056
Phone: 305-626-7341
Fax: 305-614-7567
Website: www.superbowlxli.org

E-mail: General Information - info@superbowlxli.org, Media - media@superbowlxli.org,
Volunteer - volunteer@superbowlxli.org

SUPER BOWL XLI WHERE & WHEN: Super Bowl XLI will be played at Dolphin Stadium on
Sunday, February 4, 2007, at approximately 6 p.m. EST.

SUPER TRADITION: Super Bowl XLI is the 9th Super Bowl to be hosted in South Florida since
1968. This ties the record for the most Super Bowls hosted by a community.

1) Super Bowl II – played January 14, 1968 (Green Bay Packers 33, Oakland Raiders 14)
2) Super Bowl III – played January 12, 1969 (New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7)
3) Super Bowl V – played January 17, 1971 (Baltimore Colts 16, Dallas Cowboys 13)
4) Super Bowl X – played January 18, 1976 (Pittsburgh 21, Dallas 17)
5) Super Bowl XIII – played January 21, 1979 (Pittsburgh 35, Dallas 31)
6) Super Bowl XXIII – played January 22, 1989 (San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16)
7) Super Bowl XXIX – played January 29, 1995 (San Francisco 49, San Diego 26)
Page 2
8) Super Bowl XXXIII –played January 31, 1999 (Denver 34, Atlanta 19)
9) Super Bowl XLI – to be played February 4, 2007
10) Super Bowl XLIV - to be played February 7, 2010

ECONOMIC IMPACT: Super Bowl XLI is expected to generate over $350 million in total economic impact for the region. Most of these dollars will be generated from the 125,000 visitors who patronize hotels, restaurants, stores and attractions and indirectly from exposure that leads to increased tourism and business relocation.

PRACTICE SITES: AFC Champions – Miami Dolphins Training Facility (Nova Southeastern University Davie Campus); NFC Champions – University of Miami (Coral Gables).
MEDIA CENTER: The Media Center will be located at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
HOTELS AND LODGING: The NFL in conjunction with the Host Committee has approximately 20,000 hotel rooms under contract. For further information on ‘Fan Housing’, please visit SuperBowl.org

NFL Headquarters Hotel for Super Bowl XLI:

♦ Marriott Biscayne Bay
1633 N. Bayshore Drive, Miami, Florida 33132 (p) 305-374-3900
Team Hotels for Super Bowl XLI:

♦ Hilton Miami Airport (NFC Team)

5101 Blue Lagoon Drive, Miami, Florida 33126 (p) 305-262-1000
♦ Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa (AFC Team)
3030 Holiday Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33316 (p) 954-525-4000

Media Hotels for Super Bowl XLI:

♦ Hyatt Regency Miami
400 SE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33131 (p) 305-358-1234
♦ Doubletree Surfcomber
1717 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (p) 305-532-7715
♦ Holiday Inn South Beach
2201 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (p) 305-779-3200
♦ Fairfield Inn & Suites
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4101 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140 (p) 305-673-3337
♦ Four Points by Sheraton
4343 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140 (p) 305-531-7494
♦ Best Western Beach Resort
4333 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140 (p) 305-532-3311
♦ Deauville Resort
6701 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141 (p) 305-865-8511

SOUTH FLORIDA SUPER BOWL XLI HOST COMMITTEE BOARD MEMEBERS:

Rodney Barreto (Chairman), The Barreto Group
Joe Bailey, Dolphins Enterprises
Steve Belous, Ernst & Young
Bruce Jay Colan, Holland & Knight
Dean Colson, Colson Hicks Eidson
Shaun Davis, Shaun Davis & Associates
Victor Diaz, Podhurst Orseck
Albert Dotson, Bilzin Sumberg Dunn Price & Axelrod
Linda Gill, Gill Hotels Company
Nicki Grossman, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau
Robert J. Henninger, Huizenga Holdings, Inc.
Pete Hernandez, Miami-Dade County
W.E. “Mac” McLaughlin, Palm Beach County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Angel Medina, Jr., Regions Bank
Bruce Schulze, Dolphin Stadium
Phil Smith, Phil Smith Mitsubishi & KIA
William D. Talbert, III, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

SOUTH FLORIDA SUPER BOWL XLI HOST COMMITTEE STAFF:
Michael Kelly, President
Myra Berk, Executive Administrator
Ken Elder, Senior Director of Corporate Marketing
Nicole Epley, Director of Operations & Special Events
Gary Hartfield, Director of Community Outreach
Soulan Johnson, Director of Volunteer Services
Leslie Bauknight Nixon, Community Outreach/Public Relations Coordinator
Donn Patchen, Director of Communications
Kathryn Rogers, Director of VIP Relations/Hospitality Services

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SOUTH FLORIDA SUPER BOWL XLI HOST COMMITTEES:
Communications – This committee is responsible for developing a comprehensive media/public relations plan that is designed to promote Super Bowl XLI programs and events, and to foster a sense of community pride in hosting Super Bowl XLI throughout the South Florida region.

Co-Chairs: Gary Bitner, Evan Contorakes
Staff Contact: Donn Patchen
Community Outreach - The Community Outreach Committee is responsible for conveying to all segments of our population the ways in which people can get involved with the local Super Bowl XLI movement. Of particular importance to this committee is the implementation of the NFL’s Emerging Business Program in order to promote and facilitate opportunities for local businesses. This committee will also develop a comprehensive youth outreach program that will provide all students an opportunity to participate in Super Bowl XLI and will work with the NFL to enhance the existing Youth Education Town (YET) Centers. YET Centers were built during the two most recent Super Bowls in South Florida. The facilities are high-tech educational facilities designed to benefit economically disadvantaged youth.

Co-Chairs: Dr. Wilhelmena Mack, Al Padron, Bryan Finnie
Staff Contact: Gary Hartfield
Corporate Marketing - The committee works towards the development of sponsorship opportunities, creating and monitoring prospect lists, and developing sponsorship packages and benefits in order to provide the resources necessary to accomplish our organizational objectives.

Co-Chairs: Phil Smith, Jose Cancela
Staff Contact: Ken Elder
Government Relations – This committee will ensure that the federal, state and local governments are informed about the preparations surrounding Super Bowl XLI and that governmental compliance with all bid parameters are met.

Co-Chairs: Marshall Criser, Joel Gustafson
Staff Contact: Michael Kelly
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Hospitality Services – This committee is responsible for welcoming visitors to South Florida in a warm and memorable manner and providing exceptional service throughout their stay. This committee will identify a sufficient number of accommodations in the area suitable for both VIP’s and general fans. The committee will also develop programs to properly train the local service industry to embrace the opportunity of hosting a Super Bowl in our community.

Co-Chairs: Christopher Pollock, Larry Gautier
Staff Contact: Kathryn Rogers
Operations – In conjunction with the NFL’s transportation and logistical consultants, this committee is responsible for the integrated planning of all aspects of traffic, transportation, parking, public safety and spectator/visitor movement, including ground and air transport. This committee will also be responsible for preparing Dolphin Stadium and the surrounding areas to host Super Bowl XLI and ancillary activities, establishing a local medical services program and securing and preparing practice sites.

Co-Chairs: Pete Hernandez, Rob Hernandez
Staff Contact: Nicole Epley
Special Events – This committee is responsible for producing all Host Committee events and for coordinating and facilitating the calendar of ancillary events that surround the Super Bowl so that visitors and residents have a “super” week whether they have a game ticket or not.

Co-Chairs: John Webb, Victor Diaz
Staff Contact: Nicole Epley
Volunteer Services – The Volunteer Services Committee recruits, trains and coordinates more than 8,000 volunteers who will assist in many areas (e.g. Meet & Greet, NFL Experience, airports, hotels, transportation, special events, command center, visitor information line). This committee will work closely with the Hospitality Committee to provide first-class service to our visitors.
Co-Chairs: Elaine Adler, Kelly Tortoriello
Staff Contact: Soulan Johnson

SPECIAL EVENTS INFORMATION: Dozens of events are staged each year during Super Bowl week. The dates for several key events surrounding Super Bowl XLI are:

♦ Saturday and Sunday, January 27 and 28; Wednesday through Sunday, January
31 through February 4 – NFL Experience
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♦ Saturday and Sunday, January 27 and 28 – NFL Youth Football Clinics
♦ Sunday, January 28 and Saturday, February 3 – İSuper Fieston!
♦ Monday, January 29 – Opening Ceremonies, “A Salute to South Florida’s Super
Tradition”
♦ Tuesday, January 30 – Miami-Dade County Media Party
♦ Wednesday, January 31 – Broward County Media Party
♦ Wednesday, January 31 and Saturday, February 3 – NFL Global Junior
Championship XI
♦ Thursday, February 1 – International Media Reception
♦ Friday, February 2 – South Beach Celebrity Shootout
♦ Friday, February 2 – Super Bowl Gospel Celebration
♦ Saturday, February 3 – NFL Charities Golf Classic
♦ Saturday, February 3 – Super Bowl Saturday Night
♦ Saturday, February 3 – Taste of the NFL
♦ Saturday, February 3 – Volleypalooza
♦ Sunday, February 4 – NFL On Location
♦ Sunday, February 4 – The Touchdown Club
Additional information regarding the many special events that will occur during Super Bowl week in South Florida will be posted on www.superbowlxli.org as soon as the details are confirmed.

# # #
Contact:
Donn Patchen, Director of Communications, 305.614.7560, dpatchen@superbowlxli.org
Maria Scott, Media Relations, 305.614.7558, mscott@superbowlxli.org

Indianapolis Is Bidding For The 2011 Super Bowl - WTHR, Mary Milz/Eyewitness News

Indy hopes to court Super Bowl
Jan 5, 2007 02:38 PM

Mary Milz/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - It's not too early for Indianapolis to think Super Bowl - the 2011 Super Bowl, that is. Indianapolis, Phoenix and Dallas have all expressed interest in hosting football's big event.

Indianapolis business and government leaders think the city has a good shot at getting the game with Lucas Oil Stadium opening in 2008, but a great stadium is just the start.

So what will it take to host the Super Bowl? The NFL's Brian McCarthy said the NFL's checklist starts with weather. Temperatures must average 50 degrees or higher in January or the host city must have a climate-controlled venue. Lucas Oil meets that requirement.

That venue needs at least 70,000 seats. Lucas Oil can provide that. McCarthy said if the venue is new, the host team must have played at least two regular seasons in the stadium. The Colts will have.

The host city must also provide two comparable practice facilities. Indy has the Colts training facility, but needs another.

Capital Improvement Board President Fred Glass said that's one requirement the city needs to address.

"That's going to be an expense," Glass said. "It's the challenge of a cold-weather city. We have to have a top over our second facility. We'll be able to do it. It's just the expense."

McCarthy said the host city must provide a first-class media center able to accommodate 3,500 journalists from around the world. It must provide between 700,000 and one million square feet for the NFL Experience, an interactive theme park and it must have facilities able to house large-scale events, like the Commissioners' party, expected to draw 5,000 to 7,000 people.

Glass said the expanded convention center should accommodate much of that, with other venues such as Conseco Fieldhouse also available.

"We're built for entertainment to host big events," Glass said, pointing to the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard and U.S. Grand Prix. Indy has also hosted five men's Final Four Championships.

McCarthy said the NFL also requires a host city to provide 27,000 available hotel rooms within an hour's drive of the venue. Those rooms must be designated for the Super Bowl.

"That will be one of the challenges," Glass said, "But I believe we'll absolutely be able to meet that and without bringing cruise ships up the White River or anything off the wall like that."

Glass was referring to Jacksonville, Florida which hosted the Super Bowl in 2005. Because it didn't have enough hotel rooms, Jacksonville used cruise ships to make up the difference.

He said the new 1,000-room JW Marriott convention center hotel will help considerably. It's due to open in early 2010. Also on the list of NFL requirements?

Adequate security, transportation and 5,000 to 10,000 volunteers. No problem, said Glass.

"Again, the events we put on are a huge advantage for us," Glass said. "We know how to run big events. Our police officers know how to run events, our firefighters do."

Nearby attractions can help. Miami, the site of this year's Super Bowl, offers an array of outdoor activities including beaches, boating, fishing and golfing. Glass said while Indianapolis can't compete with South Florida on weather, it does offer an array of attractions and a compact, easy-to-get-around downtown.

"The hotels are close to the venues, the restaurants and bars, so you get this buzz of activity that you don't get in other places," Glass said. "What we bring is this excitement focused on downtown."

Glass estimates the cost of hosting a Super Bowl in Indianapolis at $15 million to $20 million, all money that would be privately raised. Glass said he and others exploring the feasibility of a bid, will make a decision by month's end. At this point, he said, it looks likely they will pursue it.

The NFL requires bids by April first. McCarthy said league officials will then spend a month or so helping cities improve their bids. Those cities will make a final presentation to the NFL owners, who meet in Nashville in mid-May.

A final decision is expected then.

Prince To Perform at Pepsi Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show

Prince to perform at Pepsi Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show - Superbowl.com

NEW YORK (Dec. 10, 2006) -- Prince, one of the world's most electrifying performers, is set to perform in the Pepsi Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show on CBS at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida on Sunday, Feb. 4, the NFL announced today. The announcement was made live on CBS' NFL pregame show, The NFL Today.

Prince is more than just one of the world's most popular and influential musicians -- he is an international icon. One of the greatest living performers of our time, he has sold nearly 100 million albums and is a member of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He has won six Grammy Awards (he's one of the leading nominees this year with five Grammy nominations) and five American Music Awards. He has one of the most recognizable and successful bodies of work of any musician, consisting of 20 Top 10 hits which include "Purple Rain," "Little Red Corvette," "1999," "Kiss," "When Doves Cry," "Cream," "Diamonds and Pearls" and countless others. There is no question that when it comes to his achievements, Prince has made an indelible mark on rock 'n roll history.

The Super Bowl is annually the nation's highest-rated TV program. More than 141 million viewers watched last year's game in the U.S. Super Bowl XLI will be broadcast to a potential worldwide audience of 1 billion in more than 230 countries and territories.

This year marks the first time Pepsi, which has been an NFL sponsor the past five seasons, has sponsored the Super Bowl halftime show.

Don Mischer Productions and White Cherry Entertainment will produce the Pepsi Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show as part of their season-long marquee entertainment agreement with the NFL. The two companies produced the NFL Opening Kickoff 2006 special from Pittsburgh and the Thanksgiving special from Kansas City on NFL Network. In addition to the halftime show, they also will produce the Super Bowl XLI pregame show. Don Mischer Productions will serve as executive producer and director, while White Cherry Entertainment, led by Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss, will serve as executive producers. The NFL has worked the past three years with both Don Mischer Productions and White Cherry Entertainment on Opening Kickoff and Super Bowl shows.