I remember the excitement when the 1996 Green Bay Packers were the team that had the chance to make a run in the playoffs. Players like Brett Favre, Antonio Freeman, Andre Rison and a defense led by the great Reggie White (and Gilbert Brown, Sean Jones and Santana Dotson). They got the 49ers in the first round and like the previous year beat them. The NFC Championship game was a cold game in Green Bay and behind Dorsey Levens running beat the Carolina Panthers.
It was then on to New Orleans and Super Bowl XXXI. I don't remember who discovered tickets, but Andy Bader at ADC and I decided we should go. The cost was $2,000, which included flight, hotel, and game ticket. It was a difficult sell to get permission and the money to go, but in the end I was able to go.
The Flight
For the flight a Kalitta Air charter 747 (the first and only time got to fly on a 747) came into Green Bay. Andy and I sat in the last row of the airplane, and I still remember seeing grass with the wheels still on the ground taking off, was the runway not long enough. Well we did take-off and were told that a tornado had passed through our flight path, but never had a rough flight. We got to New Orleans Thursday, January 23rd and had 2 and a half days to roam arond, AND EAT
Kalitta Air 747
The Hotel
The hotel was another story. We were assigned to the Scottish Inn (WH. Heron) and as soon as we entered the room, we knew it was not a good hotel. The stench was overpowering, it smelled like death. I took a bottle of hairspray I had and emptied on all the walls trying to mask the smell. The room was horrible, but may not of had the worst. Heard about water, bugs and even mice. In the end we all complained about the hotel and the tour company gave us all $100 back, so in total $1,900 for the trip.
Bourbon Street
The craziest part of the trip was Bourbon Street. It was a mass of people and the mass moved in powerful currents. I remember walking along and getting to a cross street and practically getting swept away. Another thing about Bourbon Street and a product of Mardi Gras, beads. It was like a competion, especially for girls to collect as many bead necklaces as possible. To do this, many girls would flash their boobs to get guys to throw them their beads. The balconies had girls taunting guys below in the street and then lifting their shirts after getting more beads.
Food, cajun food, was another thing to deal with. I was told by several people, don't eat on Bourbon Street, too commercial. Go down Bourbon Street and take a turn down a side street and find the dingiest restaurant and eat there. Well, that was great advice and I had some of the best cajun food ever, especially seafood gumbo. There also was an NFL Experience building and we watched a informal flag football game of which Ray Nitschke was a coach. I remember hes was so intense and thought he was going to have a heart attack over this random game.
I actually got in trouble for taking pictures of Drew Carey!!!
What's wrong with the pictures?
Crowds on Bourbon Street
The Game
Walking the Superdome for the start of the game, found a sporting store and they had awesome Super Bowl 31 leather jacket that I really wanted. However I didn't feel like carrying it thoughout the game. Luckily I ran into my brother who only flew into New Orleans that day and was flying out right after the game. So he agreed to take it with him. I still have the jacket and enjoy wearing it to cooler games.
Once in the stadium we found our seats, which were nosebleed, but we didn't care. Each team had an endzone painted and unfortunately were in the Patriot endzone, but we did have a lot of Packer fans around us. On the second offensive play for the Packers, Favre threw a tounchdown to Andre Rison in our endzone of course we all went bonkers. I went to celebrate with Andy and found out he had been sickish all day and was having a difficult time. I know he had some alcohol but didn't think he was drunk or hungover. Whatever was wrong, I don't think he enjoyed the game as much as I did. The halftime show was forgettable, James Brown, The Blues Brothers (Jim not John Belushi) and ZZ Top.
At the Super Bowl
Picture before the game/Halftime
The Packers played a good game, but allowed the Patriots to stay close. Then the famous Desmond Howard kickoff return for a touchdown happened and it felt like a sure win after that. Of course, they did win and I always thought it was cool that I made it to s Super Bowl and my team (the Packers) won. After the game as we left the stadium I bought a Super Bowl winning hat and t-shirt.
