Good morning from downtown Detroit, where the air outside is crisply autumnal and the air inside Ford Field is controlled and comfortable. As I write, it’s about two and a half hours from game time, and the Lions’ home stadium is virtually silent, save for a few scattered Broncos already limbering up for the game to come.
Clips from Super Bowls at least 29 years old silently play on the video-replay boards above each end zone. The national-anthem singer practices his rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, which sounds great until he decides to put his own flourish on the final word, singing “brave” in a manner that runs contrary to the sheet music. This isn’t unlike last week at the Giants-Dolphins game at Wembley Stadium in London, which proved frustrating for many Britons who joyously sang along with the anthem until singer Paul Potts took the final words, “the Queen,” to higher notes than normal. Call me a curmudgeon, but I just want to hear the anthem sung or played like it was written; that’s why I enjoy a marching band’s rendition.
Admittedly, we in the communications crew here in the press box are in a goofy mood. So far this morning, the conversation has touched upon Bill Callahan, the guy practicing the anthem, Festivus, and Milli Vanilli, Joe Kines, the myth of the film Rudy and the defensive coordinator from Coach, Luther Van Dam. Kyle Sonneman, fellow Web guru, is now quoting Balki Bartokomous. This is a function of electronics working normally as far as Web connections go — for the moment, at least.
This is a splendid, gleaming stadium except for one thing — the $30 charge for wireless Internet access and $300 for a hard-wired connection. Makes me want to reach for the Alka-Seltzer if I didn’t have an alternate connectivity option.
Back with inactives later.
Tags: Detroit Lions
I definitely agree about the anthem. Too many people think they need to fancy it up, and they end up ruining it. Just sing the song that was written please.
THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT, SING THE SONG THE ORIGINAL WAY IT WAS FIRST SONG. SO, PLEASE DON’T TRY TO RAP THE SONG IF YOU ARE A RAPPER.
AJ