Long before the kickoff on Sunday, I will be the guest on Sree Sreenivasan's #NYTReadalong from 8:30-10:15 AM -- a weekly feature, usually with one Timesperson, present or past, discussing that day's edition and the ongoing evolution of this great paper. I will draw from my blessedly varied career at the NYT, news as well as sports, including my love-ennui relationship with the Super Bowl. Comments are welcome during the show. You can watch live or later on social media sites: Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | Twitter * * * I Just Might Like This Super Bowl Sunday's Super Bowl will be different from the first LIV Super Bowls: The Young Lady Poet. In a flash of brilliance, the NFL – or maybe Jay-Z, the impresario of the show -- has recruited Amanda Gorman, the star of the Inauguration, to write and recite a poem honoring three admirable Americans. Ms. Gorman is imprinted on my brain, a vision in yellow and red, a fresh face blinking in the mid-day sun, reciting her poem of hope to a nation ground down by four years of incompetence and cruelty. Her presence is one of the great lateral plays ever: a pitchout from Dr. Jill Biden to her husband, who told the Inauguration folks, who made it happen, or rather, Ms Gorman made it happen. Not yet 23, Amanda Gorman appealed to better selves more than anybody ever did at any Inauguration, including John F. Kennedy (“Ask not…”) and surely more than anybody ever has at a Super Bowl. I hope Ms. Gorman’s deals for modeling and publishing, the mass production of The New Great Thing, will not get in the way of her poetry and her idealism. But for the moment, she's the reason I plan to watch. The young lady poet from LA and Harvard is quite a step up for the National Football League, in which quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt a time or three in homage to Black Lives Matter and has not thrown a pass since. It may sound incongruous coming from a long-time sports columnist but I'm just not a fan of football -- waiting around all week for the ball to be in play something like 12 minutes. I covered some Super Bowls and I watched some -- a numbing week of buildup followed by the Big Game plus copious TV timeouts for new commercials plus the pregame show and the halftime show. For playoff excitement, I’ll take a Stanley Cup final series (Islanders, early 80s) or Celtics-Lakers (mid 80s) or many World Cup soccer matches. It all comes back to me now: the games I covered mostly blend into each other -- in midweek, buses took reporters to an arena where we made mooing sounds as if being guided by cattle prods, down a gloomy corridor to tables where players waited to be interviewed. Fortunately, the sainted Dave Anderson was writing his knowing columns about the Super Bowl. One year, my wife and I went to the New York Philharmonic, where Maestro Mehta asked the audience to please not follow the game on their phones, lest they cheer inadventently. Another time we went to a New Year feast in Chinatown, with the dragon parade from table to table. I do have a few memories of Super Bowls: 1969. Super Bowl III – I followed up north as Joe Namath, in the good old informal days, could take a few rays poolside and tell reporters the Jets would beat the Baltimore Colts – and they did. Joe Willie’s loosey-goosey persona still looms over the game. 1970. IV. My first Super Bowl in person -- in cold, rainy New Orleans, where I spent a lot of wonderful time in Preservation Hall listening to Sweet Emma Barrett and the house musicians. 1982. XVI. Back after 10 years of being a news reporter in the Real World., I found myself stuck in a snow-bound Detroit suburb, the media piled into buses to the domed stadium in Pontiac. Then, Vice President George H.W. Bush chose to do some fund-raising in downtown Detroit and his late arrival clogged up the roadways with security, which meant reporters had to scramble over snowy fields to get to work, like overladen mountain goats. 1983. XVII. Rose Bowl – The rain-slicked Rose Bowl was no place for fancy stuff and race-horse football but a percheron named John Riggins lugged the ball for 166 yards and a Washington victory -- old-fashioned mudball. 1986. XX. The Chicago Bears, my favorite team from childhood, won, as defensive end Richard Dent, as supple as a limbo dancer, was voted the most valuable player, a rarity for a defensive player. 1987. XXI. Pasadena: Having criticized the management of the Giants in the past, I got to see George Young’s team win the Super Bowl, and in the winning clubhouse I shook the hand of Wellington Mara, the gracious and long-suffering owner. 2000. XXXIV. Atlanta. We were invited to a garden party at the home of Lynda and Furman (the iconic columnist) Bisher – but an ice storm forced them to cancel. My wife and I sat in our downtown hotel, watching drivers careen off guardrails on the Interstate like linemen whacking each other. 2003: XXXVII. In London to write about The Real Football, I watched the Super Bowl on the telly and was impressed by how well the English broadcasters knew the sport. 2015. Laura and Diane had just moved back east from Seattle, where they had become infatuated with the team they lovingly called The Fleahawks. In the closing minutes, Seattle drove toward what would be a game-winning touchdown. All they had to do was hand the ball off to Marshawn Lynch, the powerful fullback….but instead, quarterback Russell Wilson cocked his arm – and we screamed in unison: “Noooooo!!!!!” ---Interception in endzone. Fleahawks lost. Worst bench call in the history of the Super Bowl. This year, nothing is normal. I may even watch the game itself, because of Pat Mahomes, the Chiefs' quarterback -- sort of the football version of the Lady Poet: young, smart, talented, engaging. I will be rooting for her to have another great moment, with the world watching. * * * (The links to theReadalong:) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sreenet/posts/10105690116457802 YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvk49eLPgc8&list=PLpcj64uXCCR-TTeP4RrCnF9pAYutl4iuL&index=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:6762930856265953280/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/neilparekh/status/1357166008260255745 * * * Links to my post: : http://www.espn.com/nfl/superbowl/history/winners https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Super_Bowl_halftime_shows Did I have fun in New Orleans in 1970? https://www.nytimes.com/1970/01/11/archives/fans-celebrate-in-vieux-carre-30000-join-in-festivities-opera-and.html?_r=0 Spent most of my time here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=WHT6IldqG8s Worst Coach Call in Super Bowl history: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=U7rPIg7ZNQ8 0 Comments
Hillel Kuttler
2/4/2021 10:08:48 am
Overladen Mountain Goats: destined to be a band inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a terrific offensive line for Super Bowl teams (and a successor to the Joe Gibbs-era Hogs) or a four-legged bearded family soon to make its home in a pen at the Bronx Zoo. All will owe their fame to the moniker conjured by George Vecsey’s imaginative pen.
George
2/4/2021 10:27:48 am
Hillel, thanks, man....you're a writer, you'll understand. That was a last-edit toss-in....I just felt the sentence needed something else. we all had laptops, media guides, electronic material, staggering in icy fields. I later met Bush 41 twice, informally, such a nice guy to schmooze with. I did not bring up my mountain goat business with him. GV
Hillel Kuttler
2/4/2021 10:33:16 am
Serious question, George: Did you ever ask about his Yale baseball days, his memories of meeting The Babe in that famous picture or his family connection to the Mets?
George
2/4/2021 03:17:23 pm
Hillel: I have a photo on my office wall, 10 feet from me, of a bunch of sportswriters in the White House, courtesy of Curt Smith, the president's speechwriter, circa 1991. Just talking baseball. The most vivid thing for me was in his office, when he reached into a desk and displayed his George McQuinn 1B glove from the College WS. The rest is a blur of guy talk about baseball. In Feb. of 2011 I was in the White House when Musial received his presidential medal from Obama. Afterward, George and Barbara Bush were in the hallway, he in a wheelchair. I introduced myself and recalled that nice visit and asked if he still had the glove. He shouted to Mrs. B: "Bar, do you know where my glove is?" She replied it was probably in a packing box....Just like any other older couple. Wish I had asked about the Babe. I recall Pres. Bush said he had been a decent fielder,, not great hitter...modest or accurate. Sorry, nothing more...GV
Hillel Kuttler
2/4/2021 03:56:36 pm
I would love to see that picture. 2/4/2021 07:06:13 pm
Great story. Some of the unexpected encounters are so brief that that you are hardly aware of its impact at the time. That is memories are for.
George
2/4/2021 07:22:27 pm
Alan; absolutely right. Given the dynamics of journalism, a lot of my favorite stories are about “one night stands” — people i met once, wrote my piece, and moved on. GV
bruce
2/5/2021 12:01:50 pm
george,
George
2/7/2021 07:25:49 am
Bruce: To explain the Bears....when I was 9 or 10, my father brought home a book by Sid Luckman, the Chicago QB, the pioneer of the T Formation -- Brooklyn guy, Columbia Univ. He was now a backup to Johnny Lujack (and Bobby Layne)....but in Luckman's final season, they played the old NY Yankee franchise in Yankee Stadium and my father got me a pass and late in the first half, Coach George Halas sent in Luckman to run a series....a tribute to the NY guy. What a wonderful gesture. I loved the Bears' blue and orange uniforms....and names like Bulldog Turner and George McAfee. Monsters of the Midway. I don't root or follow....but I did enjoy being there when they won a Super Bowl in New Orleans, GV
George Vecsey
2/7/2021 07:30:48 am
7:30 AM: Paula. Thank you. Doing my pre-game stretching, having my "major-league coffee" -- always wondered what the ball players meant by that -- and reading this morning's NYT. GV
ED MARTIN
2/6/2021 11:49:19 pm
I share your feelings about FBall, but I was a dedicated fan at Bama with stories about Joe, which I will spare you, but we did play a game of golf together, and fans in Tuscaloosa ran out onto the Country Club course to get autographs which he graciously signed, no prima donna.
George Vecsey
2/7/2021 07:34:10 am
Ed: Wait, fullbacks were supposed to run? I just waited near the goal and swiped my foot at the sneaky forwards trying to get around me.
ED MARTIN
2/8/2021 07:57:22 pm
GV, one game against Haverford or Swathmore, I was “covering” a guy about 6’6-8”, reportedly a Nigerian Prince, He could do things with his feet, I couldnt with my hands. Further he dominated every ball in the stratosphere with his head.
George
2/8/2021 10:29:05 pm
Ed: we were playing Bayside on a muddy pitch and I took down a striker. I was a big (fat) boy in those days, and pretty much drove the guy into the mud, whereupon i heard Spanish words i did not know. It was maybe my finest hour. I was not starting by midSeason. Deservedly. GV 2/8/2021 10:56:22 pm
Ed-it must have been the same coach as when I played.
ED MARTIN
2/8/2021 11:45:34 pm
Alan, glad you evened the score. Berg is not immune from bad behavior in my book, and gets no pass.
Gene Palumbo
2/7/2021 02:26:21 pm
For those of you who weren't able to see the program this morning, here's the link:
Gene Palumbo
2/7/2021 02:27:51 pm
That is, at the 11 minutes 15 seconds point.
ED MARTIN
2/7/2021 02:31:12 pm
GV! Self deprecating humor, learned that phrase from JFK.
ED MARTIN
2/7/2021 02:31:51 pm
GV! Self deprecating humor, learned that phrase from JFK. 2/8/2021 06:50:20 pm
Ed-You certainly did a terrific job in revitalizing Muhlenburg's soccer program. You were a few years ahead of me, so we just missed meeting.
ED MARTIN
2/8/2021 07:49:54 pm
Alan, Lehigh was big league during the 49-53 era. Berg Played them in football, basketball, not wrestling, that was a Lehigh and Penn State strength. Lehigh played in A-town, night football game in the fog that ended 22-21 or similar, not even sure who won, probably those dam Engineers. With the GIs gone, about 800 students, we focused on Haverford, Swathmore, Ursinus, F&M in most sports but Basketball continued to play big 5 in Philly and NYC area schools, CCNY, Seton Hall, LIU. Later the Centennial Conference was formed,
Andy Tansey
2/9/2021 07:50:24 am
I am so grateful that this discussion was inexorably drawn away from American football to Football. Until Saturday, I didn't know which teams were playing in the stupor bowl, but I am humbled to know of Ms. Gorman's role. Maybe I need to take my arrogant head out of the pitch. C'mon, you Spurs!
bruce
2/9/2021 07:59:04 am
andy,
George
2/9/2021 08:59:49 am
Bruce, be easy on my home boy. At one point, he lived a few blocks north of my family home....and the Cuomos were a few blocks to the east and the Trumps were a few blocks to the west. Two out of three isn't bad for neighbors. GV
bruce
2/9/2021 09:04:51 am
george,
Andy Tansey
2/10/2021 12:50:29 pm
Just watched the NYTreadalong. Hadn't heard of it before. That was wonderful! Thanks.
Altenir Silva
2/9/2021 12:47:53 pm
Dear George,
George Vecsey
2/9/2021 10:07:24 pm
Dear Altenir: Thank you for noticing. I'm sorry I didn't let you know that was coming up. My little tour of my bookshelves was spontaneous and sloppy -- but you picked up on my "favorites" -- including vintage Thomas Wolfe novels. My parents turned me on to him when I was 12 or 13 -- perfect for an adolescent (which Wolfe remained his entire 39 years or so.) But I love and honor much of what he did -- not the childish or the racist. As for the titles, it is so much a matter of cultural differences. The Italian one in my room "La Ragazza di Nashville" makes sense -- people in Italy will know Nashville. But "The Destiny Changed Her Life" sounds like a non sequitur -- more like a translation of a translation. You're a writer. What do you think?
Altenir Silva
2/10/2021 09:58:10 am
Dear George, Comments are closed.
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