Lang on NFL: Countdown to Super Bowl XLV

Dallas is home to J.R. Ewing, big oil, big money, big hair, skilled plastic surgeons, Dealey Plaza, the Cowboys and Super Bowl XLV.

This is the first time the NFL has held the Super Bowl in Dallas. The game has been staged twice in Houston, something that grates on the citizens of Dallas to no end.

But thanks to the shrewd business mind of Jerry Jones, Dallas is now home to a world class $1.3 Billion dollar stadium with a retractable roof.

It was once said that the Cowboys old home, Texas Stadium, had a hole in the roof so God could look down upon his football team.

Well Cowboys stadium has the best of both worlds and the largest high definition video screen on the planet.

True story, a Fox analyst told me that the sight of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders in high definition on that massive video screen was the most distracting thing he’s ever experienced at a football stadium.

I bet it was.

The powers that be at Sportsnet have assembled an eclectic mix of talent and experience to cover all of the angles of Super Bowl 45. Some might refer to us as a veritable rogue’s gallery, and I am okay with that.

First off there is yours truly: Sportsnet.ca football writer/blogger and Sportsnet Radio football insider. This is the fifth Super Bowl that I have covered in the last six years.

Claim to fame

My voiced cracked like a geeky 12-year-old going through puberty, when I went to ask Mike Holmgren a question during my first ever experience with media day at Super Bowl 40. Once he stopped laughing, Holmgren was kind enough to give me a great answer.

The MacGyver of our crew is Senior ENG Cameraman Mario Fontana. Mario could take some duct tape, a paper clip, some old chewing gum and find a way to feed a story back to Toronto.

This is the eleventh Super Bowl for Mario, who also doubles as my personal consigliere. Mario is under orders from my wife to keep me out of trouble while I am on the road. For the most part Mario has been very successful (Mons Venus).

Claim to fame

Far and away the most street smart person I have ever worked with, Mario is the guy everyone turns to with a question when you are on the road. Mario has traveled more with me for work than anyone else at Sportsnet and he’s a big reason why I still have a job.

Next we have our senior producer Brian Deschamps. Better known as Pepe, this is Brian’s second Super Bowl. Brian is in charge of making sure all the work gets done every day and that everyone adheres to Mario’s strict no farting rule in his pimped out Chrysler mini-van.

Claim to fame

Brian once paid $74.50 for four drinks at the Delano Beach hotel bar in Miami. He started laughing when the bartender told him how much his drinks would cost, but wasn’t laughing when the bartender told him to pay up. Welcome to South Beach boys.

The voice of reason among our crew is veteran ENG Cameraman Rick Houston, who is taking part in his third Super Bowl. Rick is the guy that does a lot of the grunt work that goes on at an event like this.

Claim to fame

Rick is one of the nicest guys I have ever worked with, but he also has the worst sense of direction of anyone I have ever worked with. I swear the GPS was invented, so Rick Houston wouldn’t get lost going from point A to point B.

This brings us to the rookies on our crew.

The first rookie we are breaking in this year is reporter Arash Madani. While he is a great guy, Arash is also a sick Vikings fan and the mere mention of Brett Favre causes him to twitch and foam at the mouth.

Claim to fame

Arash is one of the top reporters in Canadian sports television and has more air miles than anyone at Sportsnet. He has so many air miles that Air Canada basically throws rose pedals at his feet, as he walks through the airport.

Last, but certainly not least, we have the man hosting Sportsnet’s coverage all week, Brad Fay. Like Arash, this is Brad’s first Super Bowl.

Claim to fame

The George Clooney of Canadian sports television, Brad could make a checkers competition sound interesting and look good doing it.

Monday I will be checking in with Mike Tomlin and the Steelers when they arrive in Dallas, to get an update on centre Maurkice Pouncey. If the initial reports are true and he can’t play Sunday, it will be a big loss for the Steelers. That means back-up Doug Legursky will have to deal with BJ Raji for four quarters.

On Tuesday the rookies Arash and Brad, will get their first taste of media day.

Ah yes, the official countdown to Super Bowl 45 has begun.