×
×
homepage logo
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE

Longtime Telegraph sports writer reflects on covering 10 Super Bowls

By Tom King - Sports Writer | Feb 6, 2021

Then-Patriots quarterback Tom Brady recieves the Super Bowl MVP trophy from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell just months after Goodell suspended him for the first four games of the 2016 season. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

There is nothing like a Super Bowl, 10 times over.

The running joke the last couple of years from another media member to this writer was, “Hey, you’ve been to more Super Bowls than Tom Brady.”

Well, no longer. Brady this weekend is playing in his 10th Super Bowl, albeit in a Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniform, rather than with the New England Patriots.

So, now that personal record is tossed.

There have been so many anecdotes, memories, and history in covering 10 of the New England Patriots’ 11 Super Bowls, beginning with the loss to Green Bay that marked the end of the Bill Parcells era.

So here are just a few personal recollections from each Super Bowl and the week leading up to them; nine of which Brady played in for New England:

SUPER BOWL XXXI

JAN. 27, 1997

LOUISIANNA SUPERDOME

GREEN BAY 35, NEW ENGLAND 21

Ahhh, the first Super Bowl for yours truly, who never envisioned going at all. When you cover a Super Bowl, the idea is to get to the venue’s city by Monday.

The NFL assigns hotel rooms, and home for the week was the Superdome Hyatt Regency, attached to the mall that, underground, leads you right to the SuperDome entrance.

Press conferences for each team during the day on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with the old hyped Super Bowl Media Day at the Superdome (used to always be at the stadium where the game would be played).

New Orleans certainly had its trappings, with Bourbon Street, etc., but usually the mob doesn’t begin to arrive until Thursday. Monday was a chat with a local policeman about the crime atmosphere of the city and the trappings for tourists, etc. Tuesday media day – nowhere near as mobbed as future years – didn’t really have anything crazy. Most memorable was Patriots owner Robert Kraft, sitting in the stands, talking about how the Patriots were hoping to model their franchise after the Dallas Cowboys.

By Thursday night, the rumors of Parcells’ imminent departure had reached their peak, because the Patriots’ choice of successor was leaking out. “Did you hear who they’re going to hire,” a reporter in the Hyatt elevator said. “Pete Carroll.” Heads were shaking.

A couple of other fun notes: Late every weekday afternoon, 5ish, off the media workroom was the media lounge, and free food – lifeblood of any sports scribe – would be wheeled out. Oysters for the first time. Not bad. The other food treat is for several years, the NFL would host a huge media brunch and after the game, lasting well into the night, a huge media/corporate buffet.

Also, believe it or not, yours truly had plenty of hair back in 1997 and at times would be told of a Parcells resemblance. Before your eyes roll, late Friday night at an outdoor cafe in the French Quarter, a group at a nearby table began to shout in our table’s direction, “Tuna! Tuna!,” Parcells’ nickname. Truth.

The game obviously did not go the way Patriot fans wanted. The Patriots had a 14-10 lead after the fist quarter, but MVP Desmond Howard killed them with a 99-yard kickoff return that sealed the deal for Drew Bledsoe & Co.

Post game interviews are done in a warehouse type area in the Dome at field level, and it’s a rush to get down, get a few interviews, then back up to the press box. Easier to set up in the media workroom on the same level, and keep in mind the time change with regard to deadline.

One other Super Bowl habit was to not leave the day after the game, but rather that Tuesday. A couple of reasons: one, attend the morning after (bleary eyed as one may be) press onference for the winning coach and MVP, and two, avoid the airport crunch. Still a good idea in the pre-9/11 time.

On the ride back from Logan on Tuesday, the news had broken that Parcells was heading to the Jets.

SUPER BOWL XXXV

FEB. 3, 2002,

LOUISIANA SUPERDOME

NEW ENGLAND 20,

ST. LOUIS 17

The beginning of the Brady-Bill Belichick Era. This time, a late trip down for yours truly, who didn’t arrive in New Orleans – who would have thought a return trip? – until Wednesday afternoon, in summer- like weather.

Thanks to the week of mourning in September due to 9/11, there was no week off in between the Conference championships and the Super Bowl, so things were condensed. Every week of the game the host city holds a media party, and it was held in the mall at the Superdome, with restaurant stations for samples of the local cuisine. But that night the news broke that Brady would indeed be healthy enough to start after injuring his ankle in the AFC title game, shifting Bledsoe back to being a backup.

We all remember the rest. The few days leading up to the game were work filled, and a lot of walking – the media hotels for many were away from the Superdome and the media center would be at the city’s convention center.

Game day, the vivid memory was of the 9/11 security protocols, similar to what is done in airports now, and is a staple at all future Super Bowls. Also seeing the players arrive, walking from the entrance at one end of the stadium to the opposite end where the locker rooms were. Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi had a huge smile on his face. As for the game, we all know what happened, the big drive at the end to give the Patriots an incredible win. But I got lost in the bowels of the Dome, believe it or not, and went all the way around the facility from post-game to the media workroom. Luckily still made deadline.

SUPER BOWL XXXVIII

Feb. 1, 2004

RELIANT STADIUM, HOUSTON

NEW ENGLAND 32,

CAROLINA 29

Houston was a little bit of a different city than in the past, its downtown going through a redevlopment and the city was spread out. Food of the week was barbecue, and the entertainment was a Houston-New Jersey Nets NBA game that the late Nick Cafardo – back then a Patriots beat writer – had secured for yours truly.

But the highlight of the back and forth game was the Janet Jackson Wardrobe Malfunction. The thing is, I missed it, heading down to the ground floor from the media press box to set up a writing spot as it would be a quicker trip from the postgame press conference area. Heading back up to the box, an NFL official was in the elevator with a couple of other suits, saying, “They promised me nothing like this would happen.” Ooopsie. Of course, I had no idea what they were talking about, until a press release was handed out in the press box with an NFL statement on the mishap.

The game of course was spectacular, after a slow start as the offense was aplenty, and Adam Vinatieri was once again the hero with the game-winning field goal. But what was memorable later was a scary open air escalator ride back down from the press box long after the game had ended. Heights are not the favorite of this scribe.

SUPER BOWL XXXIX

FEB. 6, 2005

ALLTEL STADIUM,

JACKSONVILLE, FLA.

NEW ENGLAND 24,

PHILADELPHIA 21

The most vivid memory of this Super Bowl Week was the long cruise ship parked right near shore on the St. John’s River in front of the hotel near Jacksonville Landing. You see, the city didn’t have enough hotel space and had to have corporates stay on cruise ships instead. The city never should have gotten a bid, but the NFL’s lure to get cities to build new stadiums would be to award a Super Bowl. Jackonville Landing, meanwhile, was a min-Fanuel Hall with restaurants, bars, shops, etc.

It was really the only spot to be during the week because downtown Jacksonville had way too many empty storefronts, etc., some of which were being used to sell Super Bowl merchandise.

The other vivid memory of an unseasonably cold Florida week was Tuesday Media Day, when Terrell Owens claimed that God had healed his bad ankle. It made for a great column, written sitting on the floor in the lobby of AllTell- the only spot where some of us could find an electric outlet. And that night, hitting a five-wood at the famed 17th tee at Sawgrass in a close to the pin contest at the media party. Splash, in the water.

Of course the game was famous for Eagle QB Donovan McNabb’s failure down the stretch as the Patriots held on for their third title in four years. The next morning Brady, in receiving his MVP award, wrote on a white board the type of vehicle he wanted. Fun stuff.

But right after the game I got lost again. Followed the wrong color line to the press conferences, which took me right outside the stadium. Oopsie again.

SUPER BOWL XLII

FEB. 3, 2008

UNIV. OF PHOENIX STADIUM, GLENDALE, ARIZ.

N.Y. GIANTS 17,

NEW ENGLAND 14

History. As I said to someone the day of the game, either this scribe would see his favorite childhood team, the Giants, win a Super Bowl, or see the Patriots go 19-0.

Well, we all know what happened. The Land of the Rising Sun was abuzz with everyone wanting to see history. In reality, the work was so intense that week the game was the entire focus, save for the open bar that was a welcome respite just outside the media workroom every night at 6ish, and a great sandwich-dinner spot just across the street from the media center which was waaaaay down below ground in the bottom floor of the Phoenix convention center. Oh, and a minor league hockey game the night befor the Super Bowl, then a Phoenix Suns NBA game the following Monday.

But the shock of seeing the Patriots suffer their first loss, thanks to a staggering New York pass rush and David Tyree’s miracle catch, stands out. The Patriots, to their credit, were quick to talk at the podiums set up for them after the game.

SUPER BOWL XLVI

FEB. 5, 2012

LUCAS OIL STADIUM,

INDIANAPOLIS

NY GIANTS 21,

NEW ENGLAND 17

A Wednesday arrival – missed the Tuesday media gathering at The Brickyard and chance to drive a racecar – but all set for a Patriots-Giants reunion. Indianapolis, believe it or not, was a great spot for the media to be able to cover a Super Bowl, as you could walk to just about everything, including the team hotels and Lucas Oil. No shuttles needed.

The fun part of the week was the Madonna press conference – they always have a presser for the halftime show performers. The funniest anecdote of the week was seeing Patriots Devin McCourty, or so a couple of us thought, near radio row during a practice day and chatting with him. Finally, one of us said, “What time did you guys practice today?”

Answer: “Oh, I’m not Devin, I’m Jason.” Jason McCourty, Devin’s twin, who of course eventually would become a Patriot as well and win a Super Bowl alongside his brother.

Too funny. Of course, for Patriots fans, the result wasn’t.

SUPER BOWL XLIX

FEB. 1, 2015

UNIV. PHOENIX STADIUM, GLENDALE, ARIZ.

NEW ENGLAND 28,

SEATTLE 24

A return to Phoenix, and some of the familiarity was recognizable.

The most memorable moments of the week are easy. First was just getting there, as a mega 30-inch snowstorm threatened yours truly’s scheduled mid-week departure to Phoenix. What to do? Get out of Dodge as quickly as possible, so hastily at 7:30 a.m. on Monday of Super Bowl week, and got the last seat on 12:30 p.m. plane out of Manchester to Baltimore with the connection to Phoenix. Hotel also secured for two extra nights. Success.

The assignment was to get as much off-beat, even local, stories as possible this time. First, on Media Day Tuesday, this time held at the arena just down from the media center, there was a site to behold – a mascot for a local radio station, topless in a barrell with suspenders – Barrel Boy. Strange, but true, but made for a good column. The next day, after an early morning visit to the Patriots hotel for press conferences, the bus took us back to the media center, which had a nice courtyard outside. Sitting there were two guys in lawn chairs, just waiting for celebrity sightings. One wore Patriots garb, and that was always the best way to find locals at the event.

So, the question was asked him, “Where are you from?” Answer: “Well, I live in the Phoenix area, but I’m originally from Nashua, New Hampshire.”

A columnist’s gold. His name was Chris Ledoux, and he had moved out with his parents to – surprise – Arizona, about 25 years earlier.

Of course the game was incredible, and Malcolm Butler’s big interception near the goal line cemented his place in Patriots history and proved what a moron Seahawks coach Pete Carroll could sometimes be.

SUPER BOWL LI

FEB. 5, 2017

NRG STADIUM, HOUSTON

NEW ENGLAND 34,

ATLANTA 28

Perhaps my favorite Super Bowl. It was the big Patriots comeback, as all of us in the press box were watching and basically deleting our previously written stories of a Patriots demise.

The return to Houston showed a more vibrant area than 13 years earlier, and more of a Patriots fan presence. The hotel had a view of the FanFest in downtown Houston, which even included a hockey rink. In the grounds beyond it the day before the game was a Patriots rally with an injured Rob Gronkowski the star. And later that night an outdoor ZZ Top concert, completely free (the charge was to get into the park for all the different fan activities, but the week’s press pass did the trick).

Of course, the game was another notch in history, the biggest Super Bowl comeback ever.

After the game, the media bus dropped us off at the Convention Center, which one would walk through to get to the hotel. But during that walk, we made a stop into a conference room that they were setting up for the following morning’s MVP presser. Of course, that was the long awaited one with Brady and the man who had suspended him earlier that year, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Video preview tweeted.

SUPER BOWL LII

FEB. 4, 2018

U.S. BANK STADIUM,

MINNEAPOLIS

PHILADELPHIA 41,

NEW ENGLAND 33

BRRRRRR. Mark this down for future reference: It will be a cold day in hell before the NFL returns to Minneapolis for a Super Bowl, you bet your corporate sponsor.

Basically the entire week was spent in the Mall of America, where the media and teams were set up with hotels nearby. Forget seeing the ice sculptures in downtown Minneapolis in freezing temps.

The “fun” was walking back to the hotel through the Mall parking lot with the wind whipping around (shuttles stopped at 6, and it usually took longer to get the work done for a slow, aging scribe).

The Mall was certainly quite the place, with an amusement park inside. It was also the spot to find local fans, and we managed to bump into Merrimack Ten Pin Bowling Center – the haven for the local high school bowling teams – owner Crystal Grover. That was her sixth Super Bowl.

And it was also a loss for the Patriots, most memorable for now former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson’s “Philly Special” call that resulted in QB Nick Foles catching a TD pass. Funny now that Pederson and the defensive coordinator he outfoxed, Matt Patricia, are no longer head coaches.

SUPER BOWL LIII

FEB. 3, 2019

MERCEDES BENZ STADIUM, ATLANTA

NEW ENGLAND 13,

L.A. RAMS 3

The final Super Bowl of the Belichick-Brady Era, and who knows, could be yours truly’s last.

The funny thing about arrival day was Atlanta was on near lockdown due to a forecast of two – yes, just two– inches of snow. It rained.

The big story of the week was whether this was Rob Gronkowski’s last game as a Patriot, as his body was banged up. And it turned out he made the biggest play, a reception to set up the clinching field goal.

The hotel had a dish that this writer could not get enough of – grilled brussel sprouts, an appetizer. Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.

The game was a boring finish to an otherwise pretty quiet week, spent between hotel and media center across from the CNN building. And at the fan rally Saturday at Atlanta’s Olympic Centennial Park on the first warm day of the week just down from the hotel.

But it marked perhaps the end of a dynasty.