Super Bowl Week Flashbacks
By Jason Lisk
I used to do something called the Friday Flashbacks, which featured a look at the old newspaper archives for a given week. That went away this summer once Google made changes to their archive search features that made it too time-consuming.
However, I thought I would bust it out for a Flashback to Super Bowl weeks past. Peyton Manning has dominated the news this week in Indianapolis, but how uncommon is it for the big story to have nothing to do with X’s and O’s? After plowing through archives, I can tell you that you live in the golden age of coverage, regardless of what it is you seek. There is far more analysis today, and also far more stories about other things surrounding the game.
So let’s take a walk down memory lane with one story from each Super Bowl week leading into the game–some memorable, some forgotten, and some ridiculous.
The Real Showdown of Super Bowl I: CBS versus NBC as both broadcast the game . . . As the Super Bowl continues, colleges discuss having their own Super Bowl (II) . . . Before the Guarantee, Namath started firing shots at Earl Morrall (III) . . . Len Dawson deals with gambling allegations (IV) . . . Rozelle vs. Rubin over Super Bowl blackout (V) . . . Duane Thomas continues to give the silent treatment (VI) . . . Griese or Morrall? (VII) . . . The Vikings have bus issues (VIII) . . . Dumb Terry Bradshaw (IX) . . .
“Cowboys Ignore Shotgun Criticism” (X) . . . Joe Namath to the Rams? (XI) . . . Rozelle fines Al Davis for criticizing officials in AFC Championship Game, will NFL look at replay? (XII) . . . Mean Joe Greene’s Super Bowl diary (XIII) . . . Tape of Super Bowl game delivered to hostages in Iran (XIV) . . . The business-like Eagles versus the partying Raiders (XV) . . . Sports media don’t like being in Detroit (XVI) . . . . Bear Bryant’s death puts a damper on Super Bowl week (XVII) . . . Hey, a Super Bowl Stock Market article! (XVIII) . . .
ABC hopes for big ratings boost to follow up on The Thornbirds (XIX) . . . The Bears are talking Super Bowl shutout (XX) . . . Reagan gets ready for big State of Union address amidst “Iranscam” (XXI) . . . James Denby released by Sandanistas in time for Super Bowl (XXII) . . . Bob Costas set to broadcast Bud Bowl I (XXIII) . . . Montana and Elway deny a report about star quarterbacks who had positive drug tests (XXIV) . . . The post-Super Bowl slot will be used by ABC to preview its Randy Quaid/Jonathan Winter sitcom “Davis Rules” (XXV) . . . Bills think they have the advantage on the Metrodome turf (XXVI) . . . Bill Bellamy of MTV with the Dallas Cowboys (XXVII) . . .
Norv Turner is the hot assistant, and his departure to Washington is imminent (XXVIII) . . . Lawrence Taylor, Jell-O filled swimming pool, what could go wrong? (XXIX) . . . Baltimore sues over delay in moving the Browns from Cleveland (XXX) . . . Ditka to the Saints (XXXI) . . . Tagliabue discusses concern over the lack of black head coaches in the league (XXXII) . . . Eugene Robinson arrested for solicitation of a prostitute the night before the Super Bowl (XXXIII) . . . Derrick Thomas paralyzed after surgery following icy car crash (XXXIV) . . . Ex-Giant Mark Ingram faces counterfeiting and auto theft charges as New York prepares for the Super Bowl (XXXV) . . .
Brady or Bledsoe questions linger as Super Bowl week begins (XXXVI) . . . Raiders center Barrett Robbins disappears before the game (XXXVII) . . . Janet Jackson and a “mystery guest” set to perform at halftime (XXXVIII) . . . T.O.’s health was the big story (XXXIX) . . . According to Darren Rovell, Big Ben set to cash in (XL) . . . NFL doesn’t want churches hosting Super Bowl parties with big screens (XLI) . . . A report emerges about Spygate as the Patriots try for perfection (XLII) . . . PETA ad deemed too sexy for Super Bowl (XLIII) . . . Tim Tebow ad set to air (XLIV) . . . The Super Bowl Ticket Fiasco (XLV) . . .
[photo via Getty]