Budget cuts have us getting together every other week, but I promise to try and get two weeks’ worth of adventure into one column. No extra cup of coffee to get to the end.
It will come as no surprise to you (it sure wasn’t to me) that the first weekend of the NFL playoffs had my crew going to Dallas.
Yes, we were the Cowboy’s Crew this season.
In fact. The playoff game was our ninth of the year covering the ‘boys, which turned out to be exactly half of their games since they lost in Week 18.
At home, to the Packers.
Yes, lots of wailing and gnashing of teeth in Big D after the game, and the football-crazy fans down there, and around the nation, wanted the coach’s head as a price for losing.
This isn’t a sports talk show as much as seeing which airport I get stuck in, so I won’t jump down the rabbit hole on that deal. There are others who will happily do that.
What I do know, is that the Green Bay win will change my destination a few times next season.
Historically, the Fox A crew has a healthy dose of Cowboys and Packers games every year. They are always good TV draws, and historically they are good teams.
This year, we never went to Green Bay. We covered the Packers a couple times, but both on the road.
That will change next year. I can tell you our crew will be at Lambeau Field, probably on some cold Sundays, next season. The Packers will be good again next year.
I’ll stock up on cold weather gear during the offseason.
With so many games in Dallas, and with making so many connections through the airport there, I figure I was at DFW at least 20 times in the last year, and that will continue, as I know the first spring league game (the UFL) will be in Dallas at the end of March. Maybe not as much Birmingham with spring football as in the past, but there is always Dallas. I am figuring a few trips back to California for that league too.
Speaking of California, it is back-to-back trips to the San Francisco area last weekend and this next weekend for the last NFL games of my season.
We had the Packers at the 49ers last Saturday, and we have the Lions heading out to play the Niners this next Sunday. The winner heads to the Super Bowl.
I actually never get into San Francisco to cover the San Francisco team. They play in Santa Clara, about 30 miles south. It would be like Purdue games being played in Crawfordsville. Our hotel is not too far from the stadium, and I actually fly to San Jose, which is another 20 miles south.
So yes, I know the way to San Jose like in the song.
Going out last week, we had that ice and winter thing on Thursday, so I went to the airport nice and early to catch a nice and early flight to -guess where- yep, Dallas, to connect through to San Jose.
We sat for an hour waiting to get de-iced, and yes indeed, I was supposed to have an hour and a few minutes connect time.
It was get off the plane at D something, make a beeline for the train, head to the B concourse and of course have to walk all the way to the last gate to be the next to last person on the flight.
I am so glad I have experience doing this…
The good part of going to California last weekend is that it was about 50 degrees warmer than you guys had here, and about 70 degrees warmer than family and friends back in South Dakota and Minnesota.
We had rain most of the weekend, but you don’t have to shovel much of the rain off the sidewalk.
The game was really good, and the Packers had their chances, but at the end, the better team did win, and I think they are a better team than Detroit. But hey, they play these games for a reason.
Yeah, right, it’s more about money, but it is still fun to watch and cover.
My trip home Sunday was not through Dallas, but instead through Phoenix, and while there was no ice on any wing in San Jose, they were still an hour late getting us in the air, and it was another long walk on deadline at another airport. I promise, you always have to cover a mile of gates changing planes in Phoenix.
But I made it just in time again, and even had an open seat next to me for the four hours to Indy,
The problem was ahead, however, as the WIFI and entertainment system was not working, or would not work with my phone. I was planning to watch the Chiefs and Bills game on the plane, and even boarded right at kickoff.
Nothing worked however, so I had to wait until I landed to find out who won!
How old-fashioned…
Good thing I had a good book along to read.
I’m mirroring last weekend into this next one. I’m out early on Saturday morning after a Pacers game Friday night, through Dallas and to San Jose.
The game is Sunday afternoon, and I’m back through Phoenix and then to Indy on Monday. Trust me that Dallas on a Monday is not a good airport to be at. Just a little crowded.
That will also end the NFL season for me. CBS has the Super Bowl this season. You guys are going to have me around for a bit the next few weekends, at least until spring football starts.
I hope all cars are back to starting after the cold, and that all water is running in unfrozen pipes.
Safe travels.
Jeff Nelson is a frequent contributor to the Journal Review and works professionally for Fox Sports assisting with NFL broadcasts and the Indiana Pacers.
