I could bore you with how tired I am, but I owe the faithful an update since I've started working in Miami (which isn't really Miami, as I'll explain below).
The "who's who" of the people down here is really incredible. Most of it means nothing to anyone but me, but the PR staff is made up of mostly public relations directors of the NFL teams. While I'm obviously not on the same plane as them, it's amazing to be volunteering and doing the same tasks as a guy who's the head honcho with his main team.
Not to mention, most of these guys, when I hear about them, come with phrases like, "He's been doing a great job for a really long time." And they're all in the same room. Unbelievable.
Two of my fellow NFL Europe volunteers are here as well! That makes half of the League here in attendance. Clearly, the League picked its future interns well. It's nice to put some names to the faces too, and to actually know people before I dive into it.
On Saturday, we all got a tour of Dolphin Stadium. Schematically, from the outside, it looks very much like Giants Stadium in East Rutherford. The interior of the building is very interesting, since it's one of the few combined football/baseball stadiums still in existence. Everything looks very nice and new, considering it's been in use for quite a while.
They're still making additions to the stadium as well, for the Super Bowl. They're building--literally, from scratch--media areas on the top of the stadium, for the international broadcast booth for example (where I will be on Sunday).
It was very sunny that day, and I have a great necktan to show it.
The main person I'm working with is David Tossell, head of NFL International. One of the big things he does, for instance, is campaign to get an NFL regular season game in London--which is happening next year. Which two teams will it be? Find out Friday at Commissioner Goodell's press conference. But I know already. (Sorry, I hate to rub it in.) (Not that it matters, you'll find out in a few days, too.)
Ready for something cool? The webmaster of the 49ers website, the wonderful Chrissy Mauck, has asked me to blog about my experience at the Super Bowl this week! My blog for her, which will appear on 49ers.com, will talk about what it's like to see the Super Bowl from behind the scenes, after being a fan all of my life.
I just sent that one over a few minutes ago, so when it's posted on the website, I'll put the hard link here.
But in the meantime, you check out the videos on the website, masterfully done by the 49ers website/video intern and my roommate back in California, Scott Kegley.
As I alluded to before, the Super Bowl is NOT being held in Miami. Seriously. Since all of the week's events are being held up by the three surrounding counties (could some of the locals help me on the names?), this has been touted as the South Florida Super Bowl. It makes sense, yes, but will the people really call it that? I doubt it.
So, it's a small world after all. As all the Super Bowl volunteers went around the room introducing themselves, a very familiar face popped up. She works at the League office on Park Ave, back in New York. I went to camp with her after 8th and 9th grade! And I dated one of her friends! Her name is Joanna Hunter, and we went to Explo together for two years. So now, not only are two of my Explo friends in the Bay Area with me, but one of them works in the NFL, and she's here, in Mia...South Florida. Amazing! That camp has been wonderful to me. I still regret not working there one summer (despite what Jane says).
I saw John Clayton and Marshall Faulk (at different times) today. John Clayton is a really, really nice guy. I didn't hear or see Marshall say anything, but come on, he's one of the greatest running backs of all time. He HAS to be a good guy, right?
Bears arrived today, Colts tomorrow, Media Day Tuesday. That will be a circus. I can't wait. Until then....I need to wake up for work in less than 5 hours. Hasta luego.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
Bienvenidos a Miami
I've got some catching up to do as far as getting the masses up to speed, but it's about to be a crazy time over here, so here's what's going on.
Flew into Miami today. I think this is the longest trip I've ever packed for in my life (besides Vandy and SF, where I was going to live). It isn't even like I can pack and look like I just rolled out of bed, either. I packed two bags (two!) and I probably could have packed more, but it was just getting excessive.
My flight wasn't direct from SF, but I connected in Los Angeles, so it might as well have been. I hadn't been to LAX in a few years, and I forgot how massive that place is. I always get a kick out of taking a shuttle within the airport; it's really that big of a place that you can't simply walk? LAX is for sure too big to walk around (Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Atlanta are equally bad offenders.)
The plane I took from LAX to Miami might have been the biggest plane I've been on in my life. My seat was "33J." 33J? Are you kidding me? I was right in the middle of the plane, too, so there might have even been another 30 rows behind me. When I got on the plane, the stewardess said, "Your seat is in the other aisle." I felt like I was in a grocery store.
Regardless, I eventually made it to the Biscayne Bay Marriott in Miami. I forgot how good humidity felt. It even smelled like the East coast. Both of those will be cool for about a day. Everything here is in Spanish, too. When they announced things over the airport PA only in Spanish, it reminded me of Cancun. Only this time, I'm in America. Trippy.
As you might expect, you couldn't walk three feet in Miami without some kind of reminder that the Super Bowl is coming. There are banners and posters and signs everywhere.
For the last week, I haven't been able to get Miami by Will Smith out of my head.
I'm on the 26th floor of the hotel here. It's the second straight trip that I've been on some incredibly high level of a nice hotel. (Vegas feels like it was months ago.)
Seeing that I have a meeting in 8 and a half hours, I'm done for the night. I'm supposed to be meeting everyone (whoever everyone is) and learning what I'm doing for the week. Should be interesting.
Flew into Miami today. I think this is the longest trip I've ever packed for in my life (besides Vandy and SF, where I was going to live). It isn't even like I can pack and look like I just rolled out of bed, either. I packed two bags (two!) and I probably could have packed more, but it was just getting excessive.
My flight wasn't direct from SF, but I connected in Los Angeles, so it might as well have been. I hadn't been to LAX in a few years, and I forgot how massive that place is. I always get a kick out of taking a shuttle within the airport; it's really that big of a place that you can't simply walk? LAX is for sure too big to walk around (Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Atlanta are equally bad offenders.)
The plane I took from LAX to Miami might have been the biggest plane I've been on in my life. My seat was "33J." 33J? Are you kidding me? I was right in the middle of the plane, too, so there might have even been another 30 rows behind me. When I got on the plane, the stewardess said, "Your seat is in the other aisle." I felt like I was in a grocery store.
Regardless, I eventually made it to the Biscayne Bay Marriott in Miami. I forgot how good humidity felt. It even smelled like the East coast. Both of those will be cool for about a day. Everything here is in Spanish, too. When they announced things over the airport PA only in Spanish, it reminded me of Cancun. Only this time, I'm in America. Trippy.
As you might expect, you couldn't walk three feet in Miami without some kind of reminder that the Super Bowl is coming. There are banners and posters and signs everywhere.
For the last week, I haven't been able to get Miami by Will Smith out of my head.
I'm on the 26th floor of the hotel here. It's the second straight trip that I've been on some incredibly high level of a nice hotel. (Vegas feels like it was months ago.)
Seeing that I have a meeting in 8 and a half hours, I'm done for the night. I'm supposed to be meeting everyone (whoever everyone is) and learning what I'm doing for the week. Should be interesting.
welcome to bloggingandy.
Ok, I had mentioned to a few people that I would do this. So, for all you guys, hey--I'm no liar. For everyone else, I guess you deserve an explanation.
Over the next few months, I'm going to be in a lot of different places. In lots of those places, I simply won't get to talk to everyone very often, and while I might not call you or e-mail you ever, I promise, I do care about (most of) you very, very much.
So here's my cheapo way of keeping in touch with everyone: I can blog. This way, I can tell all my fans and followers what exactly it is that I'm up to while I'm in (Las Vegas/Miami/New York/Tampa/all over Germany) (and beyond?).
Even cooler, I can put up all my sweet, sweet pictures too, just in case some of you are still skeptical that I actually am doing all of this stuff. (if you don't trust me, why are you even here?)
So there you have it. It's a little personal version of "Where's Waldo," but with no book, or striped sweater, or ski hats. But I will be in Germany, and I know Waldo was there. I found him myself.
Once I figure out how to use this little blog stuff, I'll try and keep the schedule of what's going on someplace obvious on the page.
Oh, and tell your friends!
Over the next few months, I'm going to be in a lot of different places. In lots of those places, I simply won't get to talk to everyone very often, and while I might not call you or e-mail you ever, I promise, I do care about (most of) you very, very much.
So here's my cheapo way of keeping in touch with everyone: I can blog. This way, I can tell all my fans and followers what exactly it is that I'm up to while I'm in (Las Vegas/Miami/New York/Tampa/all over Germany) (and beyond?).
Even cooler, I can put up all my sweet, sweet pictures too, just in case some of you are still skeptical that I actually am doing all of this stuff. (if you don't trust me, why are you even here?)
So there you have it. It's a little personal version of "Where's Waldo," but with no book, or striped sweater, or ski hats. But I will be in Germany, and I know Waldo was there. I found him myself.
Once I figure out how to use this little blog stuff, I'll try and keep the schedule of what's going on someplace obvious on the page.
Oh, and tell your friends!
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