Only (blank) Shopping Days Left 'Til Superbowl

"What are you doing for Superbowl?" The question comes so often these days nobody even thinks about how crazy it really sounds.

But if you do think about it for even a few seconds, you realize the Superbowl--a football game-- has become like Christmas or July 4th--a real holiday. That's an incredible testament to the popularity of the NFL. Nobody ever says...whatcha doing for Stanley Cup? Or whatcha doin for the Brut Sunbowl?

Of course for us here in the news biz, "holiday" is another way of saying, "day you'd rather not be working 'cause everyone else is having a big party."

I am lucky enough to have weekends off right now, but for the first few years in the business I worked just about every Saturday and Sunday. That's how it is for most of us.

So, back in 1983, when the Redskins were playing the Raiders Superbowl XVIII, I was working at the now (mostly) defunct wire service known as United Press International. I was low man on the totem pole and, yup you guessed it, I had to work Super Bowl Sunday.

I couldn't freakin' believe it!!!

Remember, this was the year the 'Skins had rolled to 14 and 2 and they had already beaten the Raiders once that year. Joe Gibbs was in his heyday. The Fans were berserk!!!!!


Okay, maybe not that berserk. But you get the picture.

But I was determined not to miss the big game. I found a little black and white TV I could fit on my desk, and prayed no big news would happen while my Redskins were kickin' Raider booty!!

Of course, we all know how that worked out. The Redskins got smashed, 38-9. I missed nothing of importance. Somehow, I think there's a lesson in there about having a work ethic, or its just a game or something.

So then, why is this guy so mad? Oh. He's just a Dallas Cowboy fan....