Media Day is a necessary evil of Super Bowl week.
It is the reason this sport is literally bigger than life.
From American Idol flunkee Kelly Pickler to some woman from a South American TV show in a wedding dress (she was going to propose to Tom Brady), Media Day, every Tuesday of Super Bowl week is to be tolerated.
There are so many people clamoring on the field where the booths are set up for the stars. About 20 percent of the questions are more about favorite color rather than favorite blocking scheme.
I’d complain, but that is not appropiate this time of year, especially when it is near freezing north of Boston.
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Here are a few early notes from the day:
The real grass field is impeccable. I’ve never been to Augusta National in the spring, but I can’t imagine those fairways are any better than the field at University of Phoenix Stadium.
It almost looks fake it is so real.
As for the stadium? Gorgeous.
Not only is picturesque with wide open throughways, like most of the newer stadiums of all professional sports, but the retractable roof adds a little extra special feeling there.
The roof opened completely (the opening is the size of a football field) in only five minutes, about 15 to 25 minutes quicker than the original retractable roofs, including Toronto.
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The Patriots, as expected chose to where blue uniforms as the home team. To be honest, it doesn’t matter, but the great Giants games over the years always seem to be when they wore their blue jerseys.
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I ran into Salem, Mass. native Peter Giunta, defensive backs coach with the Giants. Giunta, 51, attended St. John’s Prep where he played hockey and football. His first job was as a freshman football coach at Swampscott High, which he said was one of his favorite seasons as a coach.
Of course, he’s had great ones in the NFL too, as he was the defensive coordinator with the Rams when they won the Super Bowl in the 1999 season. I will have a story in the Salem News on Giunta on Thursday.
I’ll check in a little later.
If you have any questions, bring them on.