Reflections from Ross

SOUTH FLORIDA (WANE) - Monday, February 8, 2010: MIAMI - The New Orleans Saints are the Super Bowl champions.  As much as it pains me to write that, they deserved the title.  It was a great game last night in Sun Life Stadium.  Both teams played great and unfortunately the Colts made the one fatal mistake in the game as IU alum Tracy Porter ran back an interception of a Peyton Manning pass 74 yards to seal the deal.  Purdue alum Drew Brees being named MVP makes this Boilermaker proud, but I would've rather seen the confetti rain down on the Colts instead.  However, if there was one team I could've picked to win the championship other than the Colts, it would've been the Saints.  Talk about a great storyline.  From the devastation of Hurricane Katrina that still looms over the city to Super Bowl champs.  I'm glad we could provide live coverage throughout the Super Bowl for our viewers.  Running on just two hours sleep, I find it difficult to put thoughts into words.  The Colts won with class all season and last night they lost with class.  In the locker room after the game, players tipped their hat to Brees and the Saints knowing that New Orleans did what they needed to do to win the game.  It was heartwrenching talking to the team because they know that without a title, this season will be incomplete despite going 16-3.  This will be my final post as I'm about to board the plane here in Miami to head back to Fort Wayne.  I hope I've provided a little insight as to what it's like to cover a Super Bowl and everything that goes with it.  Thanks for reading. 

Sunday, February 7, 2010:  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla - Super Bowl Sunday.  Game day is finally here.  I apologize for not having an entry yesterday, but it was a busy day.  I was on South Beach in case anyone missed my reports and it was crazy!  Saints fans outnumbered Colts fans easily by ten to one.  Ocean Drive looked like Bourbon Street for Mardi Gras. 

Now it's Super Bowl Sunday.  It always seems like it takes forever for the game to get here, but we'll find out just who will hoist the Lombardi trophy in a few hours.  Perfect sunny day here in South Florida.  According to forecasts, the weather should not play a factor like it did three years ago.  The ankle injury heard 'round the world didn't change yesterday.  Dwight Freeney was supposed to test the ankle in practice, but sat out yet again so if he is to play today, which I think he will, it will have been two weeks since Freeney's seen any action on the field.  After missing some time at the end of practice Friday, Reggie Wayne was back at 100% yesterday, so he'll be a go for the game.

I'm really looking forward to the atmosphere.  It will be electric and dry.  I can't wait for the flyover.  Gives me chills every time.  I can only hope that I'll be on the field as the confetti rains down on the Super Bowl Champion Colts at the end of the day.  We'll find out soon.  Enjoy the game everyone.  I know I will!

Friday, February 5, 2010:  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Two days until the Super Bowl.  It's kind of a dreary day here in South Florida today.  Pretty cloudy with some sprinkles coming down.  Hopefully this weather moves out in time for Sunday's big game.  Today, both coaches met with the media for the final time, so there are no more media sessions available to the press with either the coaches or the players so it's really time to get down to business now.  Today at five o'clock, hear from the NFL's most fanatical family, the McCoy's from Marion, IN.  They won a contest earlier this season and are now here in South Florida for FREE to attend the Super Bowl.  Tonight at six hear what the Colts have to say about being the possible spoilers this year since many of the fans would rather see the Saints win with everything that has happened in New Orleans since Katrina.  Those reports coming to you LIVE tonight at five and six.  See you then.

Thursday, February 4, 2010:  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - What an incredible day.  First, I start my day by talking with the Colts and I finish up the day with a free concert from The Who's Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend, (kudos to Pete for picking the Colts!) The two sang three songs - Behind Blue Eyes, Pinball Wizard and a third song that the name is eluding me.  A great acoustic set.  I also got some sound with Carrie Underwood and Queen Latifah.  Underwood will sing the National Anthem.  I think it'll be a great performance.  She's an amazing live singer.  Queen Latifah will sing American The Beautiful.  I misspoke live at five today and said she would sing God Bless America.  Unfortunately both picked the Saints as well.  It's been a whirlwind the past few days and things will slow down just a little bit now that the players from both teams are finished with media availability.  Both coaches will meet with the media for the final time on Friday.  Hear some final thoughts from coach Jim Caldwell at six o'clock on Friday.  I'll have some extra time to work on some

other things like catching up with the NFL's most fanatical family from Marion, the McCoy's.  Hopefully we'll be able to connect tomorrow.  The buzz is definitely starting to increase now that we're just three days away from the big game.  I still have yet to make it to South Beach, but that will happen on Saturday when things should really be crazy.  Time to wind down tonight and watch the Purdue/IU game!  Until tomorrow...

Thursday, February 4, 2010:  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Three days until the Super Bowl.  I just got back from the Colts final media session this morning.  It's pretty obvious the guys are ready to stop talking and start focusing on the game.  I can't imagine what it's like to answer the same questions over and over for four straight days. Dwight Freeney did say that his ankle feels fine to walk on, but he hasn't been able to test it so he's hopeful to play in the Super Bowl.  It's another beautiful day in paradise.  Sunny with highs in the mid-70's.  I'm working on a couple of different stories today.  Carrie Underwood who will be singing the national anthem and halftime performers The Who have some media availability today, so I'll catch up with them.  Hear from them at five o'clock.  Then at six, four players with direct ties to Indiana in the game - Purdue's Drew Brees and IU's Tracy Porter and also Vincennes native and Purdue grad Curtis Painter as well as Indy's own Courtney Roby of the Saints.  Hear from them LIVE at six o'clock.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010: SOUTH FLORIDA, Fla. - Four days until the Super Bowl. Today was a busy day. From picking up credentials in the morning to interviewing the Colts players to hitting up the Saints media availability, I was burning up the roads in South Florida. I also stopped by Sun Life Stadium for some scenic shots of Super Bowl 44. The weather was perfect for most of the day. Sunny and mid-70's. Finally it feels like South Florida for both teams. I battled some equipment issues, but a good team effort helped get some of my material on the air. Tomorrow is the last day of media availability for both teams, so I'll get some final thoughts from the Colts before Sunday's big game. The good news is it sounds like Dwight Freeney is healing slowly but surely and should be available for the game. I would anticipate him playing a more reserved role though. Thursday, the musical acts also have some media availability so look to hear from Carrie Underwood and The Who in my LIVE report at five from Fort Lauderdale.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Unfortunately I wasn't able to post from Detroit because I ran out of time.  The distance from Concourse B to Concourse A at DTW is the equivalent of WANE-TV to Price Elementary.  I should've used the tram!  That was quite a walk with all of my equipment.  After getting in about an hour late to Miami, I got in after the Media Center closed which is where I need to pick up my credentials so I'm not able to get into events yet like the media party that took place at South Beach tonight.  Wednesday is going to be a busy day.  Both teams will have media availability, so I plan on visiting with both the Colts and the Saints.  After the circus that was Media Day today, I'm sure both teams are ready to get down to business.  Hopefully the rain that hit today will be the last of the wet stuff, but I think there's another possibility later in the week.  Regardless, it's still about 75 degrees...

Tuesday, February 2, 2010:  FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Five Days Until the Super Bowl.  OK, so I've successfully made it through security at the Fort Wayne International Airport and my bags are checked, at a price that is.  Little did I know, or probably the travel agent for that matter, that on Delta you can only carry on luggage for free.  Passengers are charged for every piece of checked baggage.  So two bags for me = $60.  Good thing I shipped some items down using FedEx or my plane ticket could've been extremely expensive!  Just something to keep in mind for all of you who plan on flying out of FWA using Delta. 

I'm not sad to be leaving this weather.  As I look outside and see the planes being de-iced in the falling snow, I can only hope that I don't run into any delays since I will connect in Detroit en route to Miami.  I am sad to leave my girls and wife.  Dropped the girls off at school and they were super happy.  I can't wait to see their faces when I return.  Talk to you from DTW in a little bit.

Monday, February 1, 2010:  FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Six Days Until the Super Bowl.  On the eve of my departure for South Florida, the preparation is a most important factor.  I will be travelling to Miami by myself to cover the biggest game of the year.  I wanted to give you, the reader, some insight as to just what it takes to make a trip of such magnitude, alone. 

Just like with Peyton Manning, it all starts with preparation.  After the Colts won the AFC championship and our company decided we needed a presence