SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — There were smiles all around at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn on Wednesday morning, not just among the players gathered for media day but also among the reporters who had finally made it to suburban Phoenix and were ready to put travel woes behind them.
I was certainly one of them. A bumpy one-hour flight to Phoenix from Albuquerque, N.M. capped off the day of travel for me, marking 35 hours between the time I left home and arrived in Arizona. It was much worse for Desmond Conner, who left his home Sunday morning and spent 59 hours traveling before his arrival. We met a couple from Fayetteville, Mo. who were trying to get to Phoenix for the Insight Bowl, which was held at Sun Devil Stadium last night. They accidentally booked a flight for 9 p.m. yesterday instead of 9 a.m. and flew standby all day with the hope of getting to the game. Other reporters from around the state showed up as well, and several of us shared our tales of horror and tried to compete with regards to who had the most difficult time to get here. I’m certain there will be fans, parents and supporters coming from the Northeast who can top it.
The media day event is always a bit hectic. You’ve certainly seen the highlights of the Super Bowl media day, when players are assigned a table and reporters make their rounds from table to table, talking to whoever you want, whenever you want. There are always a few yahoos who somehow sneak into events like these, and plenty of people were asking questions of the players that made your eyes roll. Who’s your favorite team? What’s the weather like back home? What is the airspeed of an unladen swallow? The players try to have fun with it. Before leaving, Oklahoma linebacker Travis Lewis was asking his own questions of defensive back Jonathan Nelson, backing him into professing a desire to work as a Chippendale’s dancer after college.
The two teams will practice later today. I’ve got responsibilities writing, blogging and working on the web all afternoon before a tour of University of Phoenix Stadium later this afternoon. After two days of uncertainty, having a schedule and a routine for the next four is welcome.
