Miami – Writers, reporters and paparazzi from around the world converged on Sun Life Stadium for media day at Super Bowl XLIV all for a chance to get the best scoop. The top story might be the big game on Sunday but the big competition was the media trying to outdo each other. Non-sports reporters, faux reporters dressed in costumes, kid reporters and even NFL players not in the Super Bowl carried mics and cameras working the crowd to get stories.
“Entertainment Tonight” did their version of “American Idol” crowning the top singers on each of the teams in a singing duel. Not to be outdone, Jay Leno had his crew doing various skits with the players to be unveiled on his evening show.
Meanwhile, it was ESPN versus the NFL Network with NBC, ABC, CBS and the rest of the press fighting for stories in the massive interview onslaught. The event, which is normally held on the field of the stadium, was moved indoors due to heavy rains that fell in Miami the day before the event. As it turned out, the sun was shining on media day, but it was too late to switch the venue.
The biggest story that was directly related to the game was the status of defensive end Dwight Freeney’s ankle. Easily the second best player on the team next to quarterback Peyton Manning, Freeney tore a ligament in his right ankle in the AFC championship game. Speaking from podiums set up around the club level of the stadium, a throng of reporters surrounded Freeney’s booth waiting to hear from the Colts’ superstar.
For the most part, the teams were civil to each other. But not everyone kept his mouth shut. New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton said that he wanted to feed his defensive coordinator Gregg Williams some sandpaper and peanut butter to keep him quiet. That after Williams’ earlier comments about his defensive players delivering some “remember me” shots on Peyton Manning in hopes that they could knock him out of the game.
“Maybe I should have said ‘We’re going to blow him kisses’ or ‘send him a Hallmark Valentine card,’ ” Williams said. “But I don’t know [if] that would have been the right message to send the defensive guys that I have.” –lenn durant
Photo: “American Idol’s” Kimberly Caldwell and Jaime Thomas, Indianapolis Colts.
