Category Archives: Sports Talk

#Sports Talk ~ Super Bowl 50 ~ Game and party over! by guest author, Allan Freidson

 

And the trophy goes to the Denver Broncos!
And the trophy goes to the Denver Broncos!

Since I used this space for a pre-Super Bowl blog Susan suggested I do the same now that the game has been played. My first thought is I am glad I don’t currently have a sports financial advisor, known to some as a “bookie,” because I would have given the points, taken the over, and lost a whole bunch of money when Carolina failed to show up.

Peyton Manning, quarter back of the Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning, quarter back of the Denver Broncos

As for the game itself, the Broncos defense was fantastic and I thought the Panthers defense also played very well. Neither offense did much so the fantastic defense prevailed over the very good one. How’s that for in-depth analysis?

party food

The only other thing I want to note is the phenomenon that is the Super Bowl party. I wasn’t invited to many before I met Susan, but I do remember one I attended in January, 1985 while still living back East. San Francisco was to play Miami in Palo Alto and while the Niners weren’t my team I was soon to move to that area and was busy embracing everything about my new home. I don’t remember who hosted the party or why they were kind enough to invite me, but I do know that the group was clearly divided into two camps. One group wanted to watch the game and the other was much more interested in conversing. And, yes, there were men and women in both categories. Anyhow, as the curmudgeon I was then and remain to this day I wanted to watch the game, at least while it was competitive, and found that difficult to do with all the noise. So now I mostly watch alone, which strikes me as what I deserve.

safeway

But going to the Safeway this past Sunday several hours before the game merely to get some stock items reminded me that Super Bowl parties are alive and well. No place to park in a rather large lot and inside reminded me of a scene I hadn’t seen since Christmas Eve. So Super Bowl games may come and go, some more memorable than others, but those parties are here to stay whether I want to go or not. Sounds fair to me.

#Sports Talk~ Super Bowl 50 by Allan Freidson, guest author

Hello, my name is Allan and I am the loving spouse of the usual inhabitant of this space – Susan Clark. Since I am a huge sports fan and this is Super Bowl week Susan suggested I pen a little something about the occasion.

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The 2016 edition takes on more significance than others for those of us residing on the Monterey Peninsula because the game is to be played only an hour from here in a city named Santa Clara. That city is an hour north of us and about the same distance in the other direction from San Francisco, the host city for the event. Partying all week in San Francisco and making the drive to the game on Sunday is nice work for those who can make it happen.

bmocean

A tasty alternative is to spend the week in Carmel or Pebble Beach before heading to the game, and if that is your choice please take the time to pay my wife a visit and let her show you the house you need to buy immediately. In fact, if you are coming our way at any time for any reason please let her do the same. That said, some Super Bowl memories are in order.

1117 Sawmill Gulch, Pebble Beach offered at $1,295,000
1117 Sawmill Gulch, Pebble Beach offered at $1,295,000

Having spent the first half of my life in our nation’s capitol I always have rooted for the Washington Redskins (sorry for the nickname) and as such I have seen my team play in five Super Bowls, winning three and losing two. I attended two, a victory and a loss. Interesting enough, both of those games have a connection to Susan even though I didn’t know her at the time.

red skins helmet

The years were 1983 and 1984 and my team won the first and got destroyed in the latter. Since my memories of the 1983 Super Bowl are a whole lot better I will start there and devote many more words to that experience.

1883 logo

The 1983 game was played in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and although still living back East I jumped at the chance when my cousin offered me the opportunity to join he and his wife at the game. Now, my cousin barely can tell the difference between a football and a piece of squash, but he was in advertising in Washington and through his job had a shot at some tickets and thought…actually, I don’t know what he was thinking, but he wanted to go and had a flight arranged, so off we went. Turns out Susan’s parents were living in Florida and her father was a fan of the loyal opposition that day, the Miami Dolphins . . .

dolphins

. . .  and her brother, who also lived in Washington D.C. had tickets for Susan and her parents as well as for himself to see the game.  So there we were on game day seated on opposite sides of the field although not knowing each other from the other 100,000 on hand.

red skins- players

Washington won that day and I finally got to experience the feeling of rooting for a team that won the biggest game of the season. And don’t feel badly for Susan’s father because a decade earlier his Dolphins had defeated the Redskins in Super Bowl VII and to this day remain the only team to win all their games in the same season.

dolphins - in play

And as for the 1984 game, it was played in Tampa not that far from where Susan’s parents lived. But, again, we didn’t know each other then so she wouldn’t have minded that I beat it out of Tampa in a big hurry after the Raiders, then of Los Angeles, left my Redskins for very dead. At least I had the prior year’s win as consolation and later on in the 80’s they won another one. At that time I still had not met Susan but we did meet in 1990 when she sold me a house and thankfully (for me) agreed to see me socially after the house closed. So it was that we were together when shortly thereafter Washington won their last Super Bowl. Watching me watching that game on television no doubt convinced her it was good to be nowhere near me for those prior Super Bowls as my behavior during that game, although non-violent, did not come close to reflecting the way anyone over the age of 9 should act over a football game.

Super Bowl 50

Now the fans of Carolina and Denver will have a go at the experience while those of us without much of a rooting interest simply will watch in amazement at how the Super Bowl has evolved. Enjoy.

 

#Super Bowl 50 ~ #Levi Stadium

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It’s almost here! Super Bowl 50 will take place this Sunday February 7th at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara.  However, the host City is actually San Francisco  with events going on all week long.  All this week leading up to Sunday’s game are several fan events taking place in downtown San Francisco.
aerial moscone

NFL Experience Driven by Hyundai will take place at the Moscone Center through Sunday February 7th. It’s been described as a Theme Park for football! Offering participatory games, displays, entertainment attractions, youth football clinics and free autograph sessions from NFL players.

Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco
Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco

All the media has converged upon the City.  Even the Dan Patrick sports show is being televised from San Francisco with their studio set up in the Presidio with the amazing back drop of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Having spent most of my life in the City by the Bay, I never get tired of looking at the amazing Golden Gate.  All week Dan Patrick has been interviewing every football player known to man – particularly the ones who have participated in the crowing glory of football . . . the Super Bowl!

Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers
Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers

Soon we will know who will wear the crown and those lovely Super Bowl rings.  Will it be the Denver Broncos or the Carolina Panthers.

Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers

Some say the Panthers can’t be stopped, but we’ll have to wait until Sunday . . . in sports as in life, you just never know.