February 4, 2007- On a rainy evening in Miami, two northern teams, the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears met for Super bowl XLI. I coerced my parents to come to Greensboro, book a room, and watch the game with me. It was freezing and cramped in the room, but my family was there and my favorite quarterback, Peyton Manning, was on TV.
6:15 p.m. – I arrived at the hotel after an hour of driving my mom around Greensboro. Dad was waiting in the room, sitting in a rolling desk chair, drinking a soda. He shook his head saying, “They kickoff in 15 minutes!”
My father and I have watched almost every Super Bowl together since I was five. Every year we bet 25 cents apiece on the game. This year, I had a quarter on the Colts.
6:21, 7 minutes to kickoff – Commentator and former Super Bowl quarterback Phil Simms declares that rain would have no effect on the game.
Indianapolis plays their games in a climate controlled dome; I thought to myself, “This can’t end well.”
6: 24 p.m. – After Billy Joel croons the national anthem, Chicago wins the coin toss and elects to receive. I scan the Chinese delivery menu.
1st quarter; 14 seconds – 14 paltry seconds after kickoff, Devin Hester returns a touchdown for Chicago; 7-0, Chicago.
Not only was this impressive mere speed for a TD, but there has not been a touchdown in the1st quarter of the Super Bowl in the past five years.
1st quarter; 6 minutes, 40 seconds- The camera scans the Colts’ cheerleaders, bouncing, squealing, and smiling. My distaste for perfect women in fringed outfits was renewed. We began the “Peyton is so cute” tally, to count how many times I commented on the QB.
1st quarter; 9 minutes 10 seconds- Still in the arms of Bears defender Tank Johnson, Manning threw to Reggie Wayne who scored the first Colts touchdown.
I began to wonder if Indianapolis’ coach, Tony Dungy ever smiles. Although his boys just scored, he stood still, emotionless, while rain dripped off his cap. While the snap was good, Smith fumbled and the PAT was incomplete; 7-6, Chicago.
1st quarter; 12 minutes, 30 seconds – Commentator Simms was wrong.
Animals were lining up two by two to escape the rain, while the wet turf and ball caused a record-breaking four turnovers in the 1st quarter, three fumbles, and one interception.
2nd quarter; 14 minutes – The Chinese food arrived. I got the pathetic fortune of “The fortune you seek is in a different cookie.”
Rain continues to fall in Miami and no one can hold onto the ball, especially the Bears, who commit back-to-back fumbles.
9:07 p.m. – The gates open and fans flood the field to surround Prince’s purple neon stage. My mother sat glued to the TV mumbling something to the effect of “The man has talent.”
3rd quarter, 6minutes, 32 seconds – Adam Vinatieri kicks a 24 yard field goal; 19-14, Colts.
Cameras show Peyton sitting on the bench wearing a Colts jacket and a baseball cap; tally #4.
4th quarter; 3 minutes 16 seconds – The Colts’ Kelvin Hayden grazes the sideline but returns a Grossman interception 56 yards for a touchdown, the Bears challenge but are overruled.
“Had he worn _ inch cleats instead of 5/8 he would have been considered out,” my dad said. 29- 17; Colts.
4th quarter; 14 minutes, 45 seconds – Two men, carrying orange Gatorade coolers drench Coach Dungy’s already rain-soaked body in energy drink.
My parents laughed hysterically. Apparently, gallons of orange Gatorade were poured an inch short of Dungy, all over a camera man.
9: 58 p.m. – So I was wrong. Tony Dungy does smile.
He ascended the risers to accept the Vince Lombardi trophy. He is the 3rd to win the Super Bowl as both a player and a coach, and he is the 1st African American coach to participate, much less win a Super Bowl.
Peyton, who I declared as “cute” merely seven times, won MVP and a 2007 “passion red” Cadillac XLR.
10:32 p.m. – I walked out of the now warm hotel room and through the smoke of the sports bar to my car. It was freezing outside and my coat was, of course, lying in my backseat. I made the short five-mile drive back to Guilford content and 25 cents richer.