Sirens, Trucks, & Running, Running, Running: Super Bowl Extravaganza!

As many of you know, Indianapolis hosted the Super Bowl this year. The news stations have had a countdown to the big day for probably the last 6 months and it is always the first story on the news. In the week leading up to it, I had to wait about 15 minutes into the newscast to get a story other than how Indy was ready for the big game.

Several streets were closed downtown and a Super Bowl Village was created. We planned to go down on Friday (Roger's birthday) to check it all out. Unfortunately Beckett came down with the stomach flu, so he and I stayed behind and Roger and Grant braved the crowds.

Grant was also fighting a cold and so he fell asleep on the way downtown...of course with only about 15 minutes left in the ride. When Roger woke him up he sleepily said, "Can I bring my pillow? Maybe I can just lay down somewhere for a little while." Roger was a little worried. :-) But in true Grant style, he rallied.

Along the outside wall of the convention center, helmets representing each of the teams were posted. GO SAINTS! GO DREW BREES!

On the streets were lots of venders. The big attraction was a zip line that went the length of the street...about 100 feet in the air. I heard people began waiting in line at 9 am (it didn't even open until 3). CRAZY!

The big attraction was the NFL Experience. Most of the new convention center was taken over for this "come be a football player" event. Roger said there was lots of memorabilia in the beginning. Wax hand prints of some big players (I can't remember who now). Roger's big news was that his hands were bigger than all of them...not surprising if you have ever measured your hands with his. Players giving interviews to ESPN and several news desks. The good stuff was in the back.

You can kind of see an ESPN newscaster behind the scaffolding.

ESPN interviewing players.

NFL Play 60 set up several obstacle courses, punting stations, hiking stations, and passing stations. Grant LOVED it.

Players were helping with most of the stations. Grant met Sterling Sharpe and could have met Cam Newton but decided he didn't want to do the course again. The big disappointment was when someone complimented Grant's Brees jersey and then said, "did you meet him?" WHAT? Turns out that when they got in line for one of the courses, Roger chose the shorter of the 2 lines. Who wouldn't? Well, Brees was helping at the longer line. By the time they made it over to the other line he was gone. DOH!