The Phoenix Saga – Part II

TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Stadium. The Minnesota Golden Gophers versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders. This is one of those extracurricular extracurriculars. I watch wild birds. Sit in the box, the pressbox about 100 rows above the 8-yard line, my line of sight so distant. The 747s go straight over the field. The pregame show is like a blooming onion, but more like a technical Texas hangover.

The Arizona State University campus idles over to my right. Somewhere ’round here I got myself a press pass to the world’s largest block party New Year’s Eve. It pays to be a writer (I told you mom!).

I have been amazed by the massive amount of free stuff we have scored this week. We got free luggage and free drinks, free rides and now a press pass to see some game I really couldn’t care less about, other than the fact that it is another bowl game, my first to cover outside the healthy domain of the City of Trees.

The crowds mill in. Technically we’re here to cover the Broncos watching the game . yeah, we are watching others watch others play football. Being a writer can also be confusing, like whether or not you should go to Hooters, because you need to know how the wings are in the Southwest.

Or why on earth the founders of Scottsdale Community College chose to make the mascot the “Fighting Artichokes.” . ahem . them kids got heart.

Or how the girl at the In-N-Out Burger drive-through asked us if we wanted to eat in our car. We were like, ‘no, our favorite song was on so we decided to stay in the car.’

Or how the drinks at the hospitality suite were so stiff they’d make your dead grandpa look verile.

Then the complete lack of sleep, the interviews, the conferences, the hot tub we have yet to explore, the miniature golf course and learning how our chief sucks at pool.

This week is about tracing a team through destiny. It is a path we most gladly and blindly take. We are finding stories and angles and deriving some sort of message. I got on TV yesterday. I felt flashbacks of “Anchorman” and want to drink scotch and smoke cigars during the show. How I wore a tie yesterday and a sweatshirt today. How I am covering a game wearing a Broncos Hat (orange with blue lettering).

“The Star Spangled Banner.”

The eagle, bald, named Challenger for the NASA shuttle and its doomed crew, flying from end to end of the stadium.

Fireworks. Americana. Listening to Dierks Bently, the “Modern Day Drifter.” Drifting along myself. Kickoff. Play the game. Live it. Now.

Dustin Lapray

Related Posts:

1. The Phoenix Saga
2. The Phoenix Saga – Part III
3. Thoughts from the Bench
4. Broncos’ Forsey gallops over Chippewas
5. Steelheads continue Phoenix battle