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| | Thursday, January 25
A busy Thursday in Tampa
By Joe Theismann
Special to ESPN.com
TAMPA, Fla. -- Even though I played in two Super Bowls, Thursday was the
busiest day I have ever experienced at Super Bowl. Historically, it's
the day of the week when most of the NFL's former and current players
arrive and things really start to heat up. It's now beginning to feel like a Super
Bowl will be played on Sunday.
|  | | Shannon Sharpe helped Charles Schwab score big with his commercial with Jason Sehorn. |
I did more than 30 interviews today, talking about the Super Bowl
and
promoting a contest for Just For Men, the hair-coloring company. The
contest
is called the Most Colorful Commentator Sweepstakes, in which Keith
Hernandez, Bill Clement, Walt Frazier and Quinn Buckner are taking
part.
People can log onto justformen.com and vote for one of them. With each
vote,
Just For Men will donate $5 to St. Jude's Research Hospital.
I got up at 5:30 a.m. and was out the door by 6 a.m. to do my first
radio
interview. I did interviews Thursday from my hotel room, from the
media
hotel lobby and from the Tampa Convention Center across the street. I
barely
even dented radio row, probably doing only 10 interviews over there. I
spoke
to radio stations in St. Louis, Chicago, Atlanta, San Diego, Tampa and
a few
syndicated radio stations.
The hottest topic was Ray Lewis. I found that interesting because,
looking
at the Ravens and the Giants, you can't really name a star. People know
more
about Lewis from the murder case than they do of him as a football
player.
Past Super Bowls have had players like John Elway, Troy Aikman, Emmitt
Smith, Dan Marino and Joe Montana -- all household names to football
fans.
Other than in Baltimore or New York, no one has nationwide recognition
as a
football star. It's funny when you think of the Charles Schwab
commercial
with Shannon Sharpe and Jason Sehorn. Who knew they would meet in the
Super
Bowl? The ad agency for that commercial must feel like it scored a
touchdown. Plus, those are two of the most recognizable names in
Sunday's
matchup.
Getting Thursday's press conferences out of the way was significant for
the
players. Now, they can get down to the business of the Super Bowl and
playing the game. No matter what the players do now, they won't be held
accountable. They can relax, enjoy themselves and continue to prepare
without media interference.
In 1984, I chose not to talk to the media all season because I was
going
through some personal issues. I didn't want to have to deal with those
questions everyday. I only spoke to the media after games. And compared
to
my other years in football, the 1984 season was a dream. I didn't have
to
worry about staying for a press conference, doing interviews or having
somebody drag me places. A player doesn't understand how much media
pressure
there is until it is no longer there. Then, there is a sense of relief.
Not a Giant concern
I may have practiced with the Ravens on Wednesday and addressed them
afterward, but I don't expect the Giants to have any ill feelings about
it
or even care.
If it takes a Joe Theismann speech to motivate any team to win a Super
Bowl,
then God knows how it got to the Super Bowl in the first place. I have
friendships with the Giants; both teams recognize I have a job to do --
and
so do they. I picked the Ravens at the beginning of the year and
believed in
them when no one else did. If I felt differently and thought the Giants
were
going to win, I would say so. But I think the Ravens have a little edge
with
their defense.
The Ravens are a more hardened team than the Giants. The Giants played
the
Vikings' defense, which didn't present much of a challenge. The Giants
have
my respect and could do the same thing to the Ravens' defense. The
close
spread indicates the game could go either way.
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When I saw the Giants at Media Day on Tuesday, they never said anything to me about my predictions. We did three Giants games this season on ESPN, and I've watched them grow through the year. ” |
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When I saw the Giants at Media Day on Tuesday, they never said anything
to
me about my predictions. We did three Giants games this season on ESPN,
and
I've watched them grow through the year.
New York coach Jim Fassel and I have spoken quite a few times this season. During Media
Day, he
asked me to join him for dinner Thursday night. I call Fassel my
"little
brother." When he and I were in Lake Tahoe two years ago playing in a
celebrity golf tournament, people confused us. They were calling him
"Joe,"
and we laughed about it. He introduced himself as Joe Theismann, and I
was
Jim Fassel. I started kidding him about being my little brother because
he's
younger than I am. I said, "I never had a brother, but if I had one,
I'd
love one like you."
I can take the stance I did for the Ravens and maintain the friendship
because Fassel and Brian Billick know I would never do anything to
betray
the trust they have put in me. That's what friends are all about --
trust. I
can go watch a practice and candidly sit down and ask coaches questions
about the innermost secrets of the game plan. I have spent 15 years
gaining
the trust of the men I work with.
No matter what happens Sunday, no predictions or analysis can
diminish
what the Giants have accomplished and the coaching job Fassel has done
this
season.
Former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann works as a game analyst for ESPN's Sunday Night Football. He will give his thoughts each day from Tampa in the Super Bowl version of his "Cup o' Joe" feature.
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