According to the Dallas Morning News, the game starts at 5 p.m. Central Standard Time.
That would be: 6 EST, 4 MST, 3 PST
 |
Posted on 01/26/2003 8:20:15 AM PST by ewing
Gawd I hope yer right.
I've got NFC 7 and AFC 4 in my pool.
According to the Dallas Morning News, the game starts at 5 p.m. Central Standard Time.
That would be: 6 EST, 4 MST, 3 PST
|
Whew!! Yer tough CG.
I'm trying to figure out if I'd rather be run over 12 times by a Mercedes or an SUV
Buried treasure awaits one of the two reclamation projects
01/26/2003
SAN DIEGO - Rich Gannon and Brad Johnson are the Forrest Gumps of the NFL. Bumpkins who, at different times over 15- and 11-year careers, were benched, traded or discarded yet somehow found their way to the Super Bowl.
It's hard to imagine Gannon, the NFL's MVP in Oakland this season, ever sitting out of football because no one wanted him. But there was Gannon at home in 1994, waiting for a phone call that never came.
It's hard to imagine Johnson, the star of Tampa Bay's revitalized offense that tore apart the demonic Philadelphia defense last weekend, essentially being run out of Washington by owner Daniel Snyder after the 2000 season in favor of Jeff George. But there was Johnson, looking for a new home in 2001.
"They were down in the dumps, castaways," said New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan of Gannon and Johnson. "I remember playing against Brad in Washington, and they were ready to just get him out of there. And I remember in Tampa it wasn't always great for him, either. And Rich bounced around the league about as much as you can."
Late bloomers, survivors and friends, both Gannon and Johnson began in Minnesota, where they were traded away by then-coach Dennis Green. Both played in Washington, where they were let go (Gannon) or allowed to leave (Johnson). Both had their careers saved by Jon Gruden.
They've been accused of having a weak arm (Johnson), poor throwing motion (Gannon), no mobility (Johnson) and being too hot-headed (Gannon). Their meandering journeys to San Diego Sunday, fueled by their most common traits - mental toughness and being stubborn - are symbolic of their teams.
It took Tampa Bay 27 years to reach a Super Bowl after setting NFL records for futility early in their inception while wearing powder orange jerseys visible from space. Oakland dominated in the late 1970s and early 1980s. But the Raiders waded through eight non-winning seasons from 1984-1997.
'I am a quarterback'
Compared to Gannon, Johnson's journey to the Super Bowl has been smooth. Gannon, it seems, was a horror movie character who just wouldn't die. He was drafted out of Delaware by the New England Patriots in the fourth round in 1987 - as a defensive back.
"I was a quarterback, and I made that clear to them," Gannon said. "Six days later, I was traded to Minnesota."
But the Patriots weren't the only ones who saw Gannon's impressive speed as a good fit for the defensive backfield. Chet Franklin, then the Raiders defensive backs coach and now a member of Oakland's player personnel department, worked out Gannon at the NFL combine in 1987. Franklin had Gannon run and do some agility drills before asking him to do some backpedaling.
"At that point, I asked him what position he coached," Gannon said. "And he said, 'Defensive backs.' And I said, 'That's the end of the workout.' It just goes to show you the Oakland Raiders had me slated as a defensive player in this league, and it only took me 12 years to prove them wrong and get a chance to play quarterback for them."
Gannon's six years in Minnesota were defined in 1992, when he went 8-3 as a starter while helping break in Johnson, a rookie, ninth-round draft pick out of Florida State. Despite Gannon's performance in helping the Vikings to an 11-5 record and playoff berth, Green wavered between Gannon and Sean Salisbury before choosing Salisbury for a wild-card playoff game at home against Washington - a 24-7 loss.
The Vikings brought in Jim McMahon with the thought of making him the starter in 1993 and shipped Gannon to Washington for peanuts - a fifth-round draft choice. After a forgettable year with the Redskins in which he struggled through shoulder problems and a 59.6 quarterback rating in four starts, Gannon was released and out of the NFL at age 28.
In early 1995, he suffered what he called the most humiliating moment of his career - an all-comers tryout in a public park outside Dallas for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. After being offered a contract, Gannon turned it down.
"It didn't look good at that point," Gannon said.
 Jim Hummel / Special to DMN |
Even his resurrection - as a backup to Elvis Grbac in Kansas City in 1995 under Chiefs offensive coordinator and West Coast offense guru Paul Hackett - didn't end well. Gannon thrived under Hackett, whom Gannon says "taught him the game." In 1997, Gannon took over the Chiefs for an injured Grbac. He started the final six games and led Kansas City to a 13-3 record and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
But coach Marty Schottenheimer decided to start Grbac in the AFC divisional playoff game against Denver instead of Gannon, who had the hot hand, and the Chiefs lost, 14-10.
"It was frustrating. I thought I gave our team the best chance to win," Gannon said. "But I had to go with the decision."
Gannon started 10 games in Kansas City in 1998, and new Oakland coach Jon Gruden saw Gannon as the man to lead the Raiders' offense. Gruden convinced Al Davis to sign Gannon as a free agent in 1999. In the 12th year of his career, Gannon finally had a coach who wanted him as the undisputed starter.
QBs paths cross
Johnson remembers Gannon's grit and toughness from Johnson's rookie year in Minnesota. Johnson also has lived by some key advice Gannon gave him back in 1992.
"The quarterbacks have to stick together, no matter what," Johnson said of Gannon's decree. "He said to make the position better, you have to pull for the other guy no matter what - through a win or a loss. He was right."
Johnson's launch in Minnesota got off to a slow start, just like Gannon's. He barely played in his first four years, asking the Vikings to send him to NFL Europe in 1995, where he played for the London Monarchs just to get extended game action.
He started eight games in 1996 and 13 games in 1997 for Minnesota but broke his leg two games into the 1998 season. Johnson then watched Randall Cunningham lead the Vikings to a 15-1 record and the NFC championship game.
A few months later, Johnson was traded to Washington, where he joined Norv Turner. But even though Johnson led the Redskins to a playoff berth in 1999 - Daniel Snyder's first year as owner - Johnson was allowed to become a free agent after an 8-8 season in 2000 because Snyder wanted a stronger arm in Jeff George.
Johnson thought seriously of signing with the defending champion Baltimore Ravens in 2001 but opted instead to sign with Tony Dungy and Tampa Bay. Johnson helped lead the Bucs to the playoffs that season. But a first-round, 31-9 loss to the Eagles cemented Dungy's firing, and suddenly, it was Johnson's turn to be validated by Gruden. Although, it didn't happen immediately.
Gruden thought Johnson's arm strength and lack of mobility were a poor fit for his offense.
"I was just concerned about how he fit into the equation because he was different than maybe some of the visions I had coming to Tampa," Gruden said.
But as Gruden got to know Johnson, picking up on his toughness and love for the game, Gruden became convinced.
"I learned with Brad that details mattered," Gruden said. "And when I saw the ball spin out of his hand and the accuracy, I was excited about it."
A head coach
No one knows Gannon and Johnson better than Gruden.
"Gannon is obviously a live wire," Gruden said. "He is a very emotional guy in a positive way. Brad is more of a quiet, reserved type. They are different personalities but still very competitive and great quarterbacks."
No one knows how hard each has worked better than Gannon and Johnson.
"When I think about Rich, it's incredible where he's come from," Johnson said. "Everyone tried to convert him to defense. He beat all the odds and was very stubborn about what he could do. He's had some highs but probably more lows in his career."
"I think Brad's career says a lot about his character and toughness," Gannon said. "That's one thing I like about Brad. He's a tough-minded guy who doesn't take much for granted. He works hard and is a great leader. That's a big reason Tampa Bay is here in the Super Bowl."
|
Age: 37
College: Delaware
Drafted: Fourth round, 1987, New England Patriots
Years in NFL: 15
Teams played for: Minnesota 1987-92; Washington 1993; Kansas City 1995-98; Oakland 1999-present.
Notable: Gannon's wife, Shelley, is the daughter of Minnesota Vikings legend Bill Brown. Shelley was an All-America gymnast at Minnesota and a member of the Vikings sideline tumbling team when she met Gannon in the early 1990s. ... Gannon is known for having a short temper with teammates who don't share the same passion he has for football. ... On Gannon's first day with the Raiders, he found the team's facility doors locked at 6 a.m. and threw pebbles against then-coach Jon Gruden's window to get his attention. Later that day, Gannon had a key to the facility hanging in his locker.
|
Age: 34
College: Florida State
Drafted: Ninth round, 1992, Minnesota Vikings
Years in NFL: 11
Teams played for: Minnesota 1992-98; Washington 1999-2000; Tampa Bay 2001-present
Notable: Johnson grew up in Black Mountain, N.C., and his first love was basketball. He was a high school teammate of former NBA player Brad Daugherty. ... Johnson went to Florida State on a football scholarship but also played basketball his freshman year. ... Johnson attributes his work ethic to growing up in a blue collar, small town. ... Johnson's wife, Nikki, was a star volleyball player at South Florida from 1985-89. ... Johnson is manic about changing his socks, shoes, shoulder pads, jersey, headbands and wrist bands during a game. He does it because he sweats a lot and likes to keep his uniform fresh.
Earlier this month, Robbins was named to The Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team for the first time.
Also according to sources, in Raiders coach Bill Callahan's speech to his team Saturday night, he said that one of the reasons Jon Gruden left the Raiders was because Gruden did not believe this Raiders team could win a Super Bowl.
The sources said the speech was well-received, drawing applause from quarterback Rich Gannon.
Companies buy into big game for one reason: to be remembered
01/26/2003
Back as a Super Bowl advertiser after a nine-year hiatus, Reebok International Inc. on Sunday will introduce 88 million American viewers to Terry Tate, office linebacker.
In a 60-second, third-quarter spot, the 6-foot-6, 300-pound Tate wreaks Dick Butkus-like havoc on fellow workers who skulk away from a paper jam in the copying machine or don't refill the coffee pot.
"In the Super Bowl of advertising, humor wins," said Brian Povinelli, the shoe and apparel company's director of global advertising. "We've got a great piece of brand communication that we feel people will find entertaining."
Anheuser-Busch Co., PepsiCo and FedEx Corp. are stalwarts returning for Super Bowl XXXVII, but each year a few new players elbow their way into advertising's most closely watched four hours.
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
In addition to Reebok, newcomers on the advertising roster for the National Football League's marquee event include the makers of Trident sugarless gum and Gatorade sports drink.
Getting into advertising's most elaborate game isn't an easy decision. Times are tight for ad budgets, so companies think long and hard before paying top dollar for a few seconds between touchdowns and the risk that somebody else's celebrity-studded commercial will generate most of the buzz.
"In many of these ads, there's so much emphasis on the creativity – will the ad stand out? – that these companies might not be getting into it for the right reason," said Rob Duboff, who teaches marketing at Boston College.
This year, ABC is getting $2 million to $2.2 million for 30 seconds of airtime during the battle between the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in San Diego.
The network will sell 61 half-minute slots during the game, with Anheuser-Busch taking 10 of them, more than any other advertiser. A handful of spots remained toward the end of the week, but ABC can look forward to a $200 million event including pre- and post-game shows.
Rising price
The higher price for airtime represents a comeback after two years of soft prices due in 2001 to the dot-com bust and in 2002 to Olympic competition and the economic aftershocks of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Last year, Fox pocketed an average of $1.9 million for 30 seconds.
Companies pull out all the stops – big names, special effects and humor. Making it pay involves making an impression. Surveys show that viewers remember only a handful of commercials, so the Super Bowl might not be ad dollars well-spent.
"You've got to ask yourself, 'How am I going to make the $2 million back?' " Duboff said.
As in Super Bowls past, this year's game offers megawatt star power. Celine Dion will sing the praises of Chrysler's Pacifica sport wagon. The dysfunctional Osbournes of reality TV fame will replace Britney Spears as Pepsi's top act. Willie Nelson spoofs his run-in with the Internal Revenue Service in H&R Block's spot.
In addition to a Gatorade gig, Michael Jordan will team up with action-film star Jackie Chan for Hanes underwear. Rising Houston Rockets star Yao Ming will appear in only his second commercial, the latest version of the Visa International Inc. campaign promoting its cards as identification for cashing a check.
Technical wizardry is just as important as celebrity names. Levi Strauss & Co., introducing its new Type 1 jeans, juxtaposes a modern-day city street with an Old West buffalo stampede. The thundering beasts part for a young couple – wearing Levi's, of course.
"The buzz and glitz is coming back this year," said David Carter, principal in the Los Angeles-based Sports Business Group, a consultant. "These ads seem to be the equivalent of an awards show."
New advertisers this year all have their reasons for joining the Super Bowl ad sweepstakes.
Reebok's interest in the game grew because the company is in the first year of a long-term deal as apparel supplier to the NFL.
Drugmaker Pfizer Inc. will push its Trident gum.
The ad puts a light-hearted twist on a 30-year Trident slogan proclaiming that four out of five dentists recommend the sugarless gum. It reveals what happened to that fifth dentist.
"The campaign appeals to consumers because it presents a serious message with a smile," said Tom McPartlin, Trident's marketing director.
And Gatorade took its Super Bowl shot because it's now part of the Pepsi-Cola family, a brand with a long tradition of splurging on Super Bowl ads.
Michael Jordan(s)
In the Gatorade spot, the contemporary Jordan, now in the twilight of his career as a Washington Wizard, encounters earlier Michael Jordans from his glory years with the Chicago Bulls and University of North Carolina.
Newcomers strive to make an immediate impact in a crowded field. If they don't measure up, they're likely to find themselves relegated to the basket of Super Bowl duds.
Reebok is taking a wait-and-see attitude on future Super Bowls. "We'll evaluate it and see what response there is," Povinelli said.
| Super Bowl commercials | |
|
Quiznos Corp., the Denver-based sandwich-shop franchiser, said it had a good rookie showing last year, so it's back for its second Super Bowl. Stacie Lange, a company spokeswoman, said sales doubled in the three weeks after last year's game.
"Many people didn't know who Quiznos was. They couldn't even pronounce it," she said. "We were able to stand out against all the glitzy beer commercials. It put us on the map."
This year, Quiznos is offering Chef Jimmy, the real Jimmy Lambatos, who founded the chain in 1981. Chef Jimmy, it seems, is so fixated on making good sandwiches that he forgets the necessities of every day – including, in the parting scene, his pants.
H&R Block returns for its sophomore shot, too.
The story line of its commercial involves the hirsute Nelson failing to get good tax advice, so his troubles with the IRS force him to appear in a cheesy shaving-cream commercial.
Addison-based Pizza Hut Inc. is a Super Bowl veteran.
The unit of Yum Brands Inc. is making its seventh straight appearance, buying the final spot in the pre-game show to introduce its Stuffed Crust Gold Pizza.
But not everybody comes back.
Plano-based Electronic Data Services Corp., a high-profile Super Bowl advertiser in 2000 and 2001, is sitting on the sidelines for the second year in a row. Last year, the company chose the Winter Olympics over the Super Bowl. Now it plans to concentrate on May's EDS Byron Nelson Championship golf event in Irving.
"You want to focus on something and do it right," said Kevin Lightfoot, a company spokesman.
In 2002, Super Bowl advertisers took a cautious approach. With the Sept. 11 tragedy fresh in Americans' minds, most companies shied away from the hype and humor historically associated with Super Bowl advertising.
This year, they're loosening up.
"Anything goes," Duboff said. "If you have a good commercial you've shown before, it will lose out in this competition."
The Osbournes ad for Pepsi Twist, for example, shows rocker Ozzy with kids Kelly and Jack, who unzip to reveal their true identities as squeaky-clean Donnie and Marie Osmond. Ozzy sits up in bed screaming, only to find it wasn't a dream when his wife Sharon turns out to be Florence Henderson, a.k.a. super-mom Carol Brady on television.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
