Super Bowl XLIII -- Pregame Report

My brother surprised me by calling and saying he would get us tickets to
the Super Bowl if I could find my way to Tampa. I immediately checked
flights on the Internet and easily found tickets for mom and me. We
stayed at the Dayton Airport Hotel the night before our flight. At the
hotel I ran into a woman dressed completely in Steeler gear. She said
her brother called her and said she was the best sister in the world and
he was taking her to the Super Bowl -- her eyes teared up. Mine did, too,
as I told her my brother did the same thing for me.

Our seats, high enough to see the entire field, are on the railing just
above the sky boxes near mid-field.

Our flight to Tampa took 2 hours and 10 minutes and went smoothly.
We were in Tampa by 10:00 a.m. Upon landing, the pilot, Maddog, said,
"We hope you choose to fly with us again because there is nothing we
love more than you, and your money." The flight attendant announced
arrival and said, "Go Steelers." The plane was full and at least a quarter
of the passengers were Steeler fans, many in full Steeler garb.

Tampa is full of all-day and all-night Super Bowl parties, many of which
are in the Channelside and Ybor City neighborhoods. Here, under the
palm trees, is the ESPN radio show.

Donovan McNabb with the ESPN hosts, Scott van Pelt and Mike Tirico.

We had lunch with Cliff and Amy, surrounded by Steeler fans. Any
Arizona fans were few and far between. The temporary, Super Bowl
only stores were typically filled with Steeler gear except for one table
in the corner with Arizona stuff. I think this will be a home game for us.

Walking from our parking space to the festivities in Ybor City.

We stopped in the Columbia Restaurant where the Pro Football Hall of
Fame Luncheon was being held. If you were a Beatles fan, like my
friend Larry, you could have attended the Fab Four show at the
Performing Arts Center. And if you wanted to escape the Super hype,
you could drive to the Kumquat Festival in historic Dade City.

Of course Tampa is known for other things, too.

A picture of the Mons Venus near the stadium (hello, Larry).

We could have stayed out and partied with people like Snoop Dog,
Joe Frazier, the Bud Bowl gang, etc., but we took mom home at a
decent hour. Tomorrow is another party day.

Two more days.

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