Superbowl XXIX
Sunday January 29, 1995. Superbowl XXIX in Miami Florida. This blog is titled “A Picture Tells a Thousand Words”, I feel as though I should add, “- even bad ones!”.
To this day I am still angry at myself for the lack of quality photos I was able to take at one of the worlds most prestigious sporting events – The Superbowl. Most sport loving people can only dream of being able to attend it, much like a Football World Cup Final or a 100m Final at the Olympics, some things are just out of reach. So, when you do get to attend one, from a photographer’s perspective – you should have pictures to back it up! Then, when your best picture is that of your ticket! well….
Superbowl XXIX Pregame
Self-criticism aside, I still have some pictures, a couple of them are even worth looking at, but those blurry, washed out and underexposed pictures are still pride of place in my collection, if for no other reason as examples of what not to do next time.
So, this was the mother of all optimistic road trips. My late brother worked for QANTAS at the time and had developed numerous contacts within the NFL. ONE Week prior to leaving, one week, he asked if I wanted to join him on a trip to America and possibly go to the Superbowl? He had been speaking with his contacts about getting tickets but nothing was finalised and would not be final until the Saturday prior to game day. Through QANTAS I was able to get the hyped family discount ticket, which from memory was less than $200 return, so the decision was made we were going – or more so I was joining him.
Sydney to Los Angeles with a run to a connecting flight to Miami via St Louis. I can’t remember the specifics but I think we arrived in Miami on the Wednesday, the intention was to go to the NFL Experience, which is the fan orientated sideshow that is held each year with the Superbowl, each day. At the same time trying to confirm if we had secured game tickets. On the Saturday, the day before the Superbowl, we received confirmation that we had tickets, but we would not be able to collect them until the Sunday morning, game day, from the NFLs hotel. We’d rented a car and decided to go out to Superbowl party that night at a club. It was the stereotypical nightclub party from the 90’s – sectioned off areas for VIPs, bubble machines, toilet paper guns the works.. I though, left early..and by early it was still 2 or 3am, as I don’t drink, I drove the car back to the hotel including about 200 metres down the wrong side of the 8-lane highway – luckily it was the time it was.
The next morning, we had an early meeting with Nathan’s contact at the NFL to collect and pay for the tickets. I had at least had 4 hours sleep, Nathan though was about 2, and had spent the entire night drinking – so he was unshaven and stunk of a gin distilling plant – his drink of choice. A Coke and chewing gum in the foyer and “I’m right!, I will just keep my distance!”, was his solution.
When we arrived at the NFL Hotel, they had booked the entire hotel out, we were ushered into a suite, offered a drink, again Coke did the trick, as we waited. Maybe half an hour later the head of NFL International (I think) came in, made some small talk about our trip – mentioned the Sydney Kings cap I was wearing, and then proceeded to give us an envelope with 2x tickets. At $200 a ticket face value, this was and still remains the most expensive single ticket I have purchased. Handshakes and some more small talk and then we were off, we were locked in for the game that night.
After a mid-morning sleep (for Nathan), we left for the game at about 3pm. From there everything was a bit of a blur. I don’t think we ate at the game, if we did, I don’t remember what! Our seats were as nosebleed as you could get, we were in the very top section on the corner, but it was the Superbowl so there was no complaining.
From a photography side of things, I don’t think we could have been any further away, even using a teleconverter it was a challenge. In hindsight, more pictures in daylight, more pictures from within in the stadium and more pre game or out of game shots would have been wise.
And to tell the truth, I found myself watching the game more so than shooting the game – which is not such a bad thing!
As a 49ers fan from the Joe Montana days, seeing them dominate San Diego on this day, in a high scoring game was even more enjoyable. Half time was Tony Bennett, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine in a tribute to Indiana Jones, that in itself is ranked in the top 10 worst half time shows. After the game I ran into MC Hammer, said “GDay” and got an autograph!
For most, this will be One and Done, in terms of Superbowl’s – Nathan proceeded to go another 5 times. These photos, regardless of their quality, serve as my lasting memories of such a wild trip – which to be honest the game of football was just a side note to – we returned to LA to see Lakers vs Bulls too.
Too often, those bad photos are either destroyed, or these days deleted – take the time to salvage what you can from them, as they still evoke memories, tell a story and if nothing else give proof that it actually did happen – from this trip my 2 most cherished possessions are the actual ticket, and my 49ers Champions cap, which I still have and wear at this time of year. As well as memories.
