Inaspect a workday on the greatest sport on earth

9 a.m. — San Francisco

I left the resort in downtown San Francisco full of nervous vitality, attempting to power the butterflies to fly in formation. Five blocks on foot by way of the historic streets of an iconic American West metropolis took me previous the Powell Street cable automobile line and towards the primary media bus of the day.

Onboard have been journalists from across the globe, all right here to cowl the most important spectacle in sports activities. The bus crawled by way of metropolis streets, then rolled onto I-5 S. towards Santa Clara and Levi’s Stadium.

My thoughts stayed locked on my gear. Too late to run again to the resort, so I checked many times: telephones, laptop computer, charging cables, video digital camera, microphones, earbuds. No Seahawks gear. Just a inexperienced polo shirt, one of the best I might do. In the media field, cheering is frowned upon. That’s a part of the job.

10 a.m. — Arrival

After navigating a maze of roadblocks, police checkpoints, and closed intersections, we stepped off the bus right into a sunny, heat day. Temperatures would climb to round 70 levels by kickoff.

The stadium was wrapped in Super Bowl branding, together with an enormous scrim of quarterback Sam Darnold at one entrance. My ideas shifted to a different guidelines —the workload. The night time earlier than, I’d written all of it down. Three drafts, radio tales, internet tales, social posts, community hits, and no matter tales would possibly pop up in between.

Being here’s a rush, however it’s additionally work. In reality, extra work than anything. It’s one of the best task, the type journalists dwell for. Fast-moving, generally uncontrollable, however fueled by adrenaline.

Security screening felt like boarding a flight. Metal detectors, luggage tagged, and media credentials scanned. A tiny display confirmed my face subsequent to the picture on my go. They matched, and I used to be in.

10:30 a.m. — Fan expertise

The NFL’s Super Bowl fan expertise outdoors Levi’s Stadium was practically empty at first, with staff placing on the ultimate touches. Moments later, the gates opened, and followers poured in.

Thousands of soccer followers from throughout the nation descended on the Bay Area this week for Super Bowl LX, and early scenes at official NFL occasions have been awash in blue and inexperienced.

The fan zone remodeled a sprawling car parking zone right into a celebration of interactive reveals, video games, and memorabilia. When the gates opened, Seahawks followers — the 12s — vastly outnumbered Patriots followers, erupting again and again into chants of “SEA … HAWKS.”

Seattle followers dominated autograph strains and shows. Former Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan was noticed within the crowd.

“I’m a huge Seahawks fan — went to the first game in 1976,” Durkan mentioned. “We’re here to win, and I’m wearing my redemption T-shirt. Marshawn Lynch, we remember you. The guys are going to do it.”

Patriots followers have been current too, with organized rallies and watch events deliberate in San Francisco. But the quantity and vitality of Seahawks supporters stood out throughout official Super Bowl areas, fan zones, and in San Jose, the place the crew had stayed and practiced all week.

For many, the journey was as a lot about neighborhood as the sport.

“Coming through the gate, we were jumping up and down,” mentioned one fan sporting Seahawks overalls, no shirt, and tattoos masking his arms and chest. “This is our first Super Bowl, and we’re so excited the Hawks are here.”

12:30 p.m. — Media tent

After days of strolling and standing, no sitting in any respect, I tracked down probably the most environment friendly path to the NFL’s media work tent simply outdoors the stadium. Lunch got here in a field. A turkey-and-pesto sandwich, an apple, and numerous water. Warmer than the damp Seattle climate I’d left days earlier.

I wrote two internet tales, together with components of this one, and edited a number of movies whereas watching the clock. I wished a minimum of 90 minutes to settle into the auxiliary media heart: the final rows of a number of sections on the 200 stage, proper in entrance of the suites. Tables, energy strips, Super Bowl packages, and extra sandwiches. The media are handled effectively on today.

3 p.m. — Kickoff approaches

The nationwide anthem and flyover hit on schedule.

Social media turned livid. As a lot as I might get out, I did. One guiding thought stayed with me: find out how to share probably the most memorable moments in actual time. Those moments shifted backwards and forwards from what was taking place on the sector or throughout the stadium from my view and the lenses on my two cell phones, a small transportable video digital camera, and what and the way followers proper subsequent to me have been experiencing themselves.

From the 200 stage, my view couldn’t compete with TV angles, however that’s by no means the objective. The hope is to point out a unique perspective. Maybe for somebody who can’t watch, or who needs to really feel what it was like contained in the constructing. I reminded myself to inform my world, identical to this diary.

One factor was instantly clear: this felt like a house sport.

When the Seahawks took the sector after warmups, the noise was deafening. Not fairly Lumen Field, however shut. The stadium was a sea of blue and motion inexperienced in every single place besides the smaller part behind the Patriots’ bench. The 12s got here to be heard, they usually have been.

Halftime

A couple of minutes earlier than halftime, starvation hit once more. The NFL feeds media all through Super Bowl Sunday — a thank-you for masking the present.

Down the steps and round a nook: field sandwiches, Pepsi (a Super Bowl sponsor), and sizzling meals — hamburgers and sizzling canines. I grabbed a burger and a Pepsi.

Bad Bunny’s halftime present performed otherwise from our seats. We couldn’t see lots of the TV digital camera angles contained in the maze of the set. One factor we did discover: each “plant” on the sector was really an individual dressed as a plant. The motive, we have been informed, was that the NFL limits the variety of strong set items allowed on the sector to guard the grass.

Always attempting to find a singular angle, I observed one thing else — everybody was dancing. Fans and reporters. That was a narrative, even when just for a number of social posts.

Second half

If the sport ever slipped into cruise management, this was it. My task wasn’t X’s and O’s. It was individuals. I knew their tales would arrive whether or not the Seahawks received or misplaced.

More social media adopted, together with a video of a streaker that by no means appeared on TV.

End of sport

One of the toughest disciplines in journalism is sticking to the task as an alternative of the second.

With 1:30 left within the fourth quarter, I walked down the steps in my part and turned my digital camera and microphone towards Mike and John, who’re associates and lifelong Seahawks followers. I watched them wrestle with each delayed second of victory. They had waited greater than a decade for this.

As a lot as my coronary heart wished to look at the ultimate whistle, my journalist thoughts satisfied me to remain the course. I pointed my digital camera, my radio microphone, and my full consideration towards them. I acquired the shot and the audio. That’s the job. Capture the second, protect it, and share it so others can really feel the tears, the embraces, the cheers. And if meaning you miss it, effectively, you miss it.

As an instance, what number of occasions have you ever recorded one thing in your cellphone digital camera, however as an alternative of remaining locked in on the viewfinder, you regarded up? And while you went again to look at what you recorded, heads have been minimize off, out of focus, otherwise you simply missed it altogether. Been there, accomplished that. But that’s the self-discipline. The wretched, unforgiving, not good, at occasions, self-discipline.

I informed myself I might at all times go house and watch the sport from begin to end later — a unique option to relive it.

Postgame

The second the sport ended, I ping-ponged from fan to fan within the stands.

How do you’re feeling proper now? Can we lastly overlook that interception in Super Bowl XLIX? What do you need to say to the 12s again house?

Same and comparable questions on the concourse. Same once more within the decrease bowl. I shared the second as Coach Mike Macdonald hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.

When interviews ended, I pulled out a yellow authorized pad and began jotting notes on high of a now-covered meals stand, barely damp, sadly. Arrows, numbers, and fragments. A roadmap for what to say first and the place to drop in sound.

I turned on my microphone and recorded my narration proper there. It’s at all times higher the place the story occurs. A clear voice monitor towards noisy interviews would sound fallacious. This manner, the second lived contained in the audio.

CBS News and KIRO Newsradio. Short variations or lengthy variations. The sooner, the higher. Producers, bosses, and listeners have been ready.

Go, go, go.

Bus experience again

On the practically hour-long experience again to San Francisco, there wasn’t a second to lose. I minimize the sound on my cellphone. Next to me, print reporters typed. TV crews edited video. No one wasted a second.

Between soundbites, I known as house. My spouse was at a Super Bowl occasion and fired off a number of texts. Even on deadline, you attempt to share the second like another fan.

Back on the resort

A colleague and I promised one another an ice-cold beer on the resort bar whereas we edited and filed. But final name got here early — 11 p.m.

Judging by half-eaten plates of rooster wings, lipstick-stained glassware, and the exhausted workers, the bar’s Super Bowl had already peaked.

You don’t need to go house, however you possibly can’t keep right here.

Up in my room, I transcribed interview audio I’d edited on the bus, turning sound into quotes, quotes into construction. An hour later, a draft turned a completed story for MyNorthwest.com. The sound bites turned tales for Monday morning’s Seattle’s Morning News.

Off to mattress for a 4:30 a.m. wake-up to shine the morning’s information hits and get espresso, plenty of espresso.

Another Super Bowl within the books. Another day chasing moments. And I hope the Seahawks repeat, as a result of I’d like to do it over again.

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