Story written February 6, 2019.
The game on the other hand gets a well, lets just say it could have been better.
But lets begin by talking about the city of Atlanta, the city in which I live, and Mercedes Benz Stadium, the home of my Atlanta Falcons. The city of Atlanta scored big time and they can also thank the beautiful weather the city had the week leading up to the big game. The city was decked out in all the Super Bowl logos from the Lombardi Trophy sticker pasted to the side of the Westin Hotel in Downtown Atlanta to the Bud Light Knight pasted on another glass skyscraper in downtown Atlanta. But throughout the entire week after the Pro Bowl in Orlando Fl up until the Super Bowl LIII kickoff, there were events throughout the entire city, and the city was able to showcase why the city has the nickname as “the city that is too busy to hate.” We bring that southern hospitality and respect for others that come to our city. Yes, even to New England Patriots fans. If you enjoy music you could catch the Foo Fighters or even one of my favorite bands growing up, Aerosmith. So many activities for the kids with the fan experience just outside the stadium to radio row and more fan experience in the Georgia World Congress Center adjacent to the stadium as well. Sports TV stations such as CBS (broadcast of game), NFL Network, and ESPN were also set up outside the stadium, inside the stadium, or in the Georgia World Congress Center.
The NFL finally got it right with the singing of the National Anthem by Gladys Knight. Sent chills down my back just like Whitney Houston did back in Super Bowl XXV with her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, when our country was at war in the Middle East. The flyover by the Air Force Thunderbirds was spectacular. The roof of Mercedes Benz Stadium was open for the pre game festivities including the flyover. Coming from an Air Force family the National Anthem and flyover meant everything, it was beautiful.
The actual game between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams was not as spectacular. The game was an offensive struggle where the defensive side of the ball shined for both teams. This tweet by Fox Sports Braves summed up the first half as the Patriots were leading 3-0.
FOX Sports: Braves Verified account @FOXSportsBraves Feb 3 MoreRonald Acuña Jr. needed just one swing to score more than these two Super Bowl teams combined. This of course was referring to the only win by the Braves in last year’s playoffs vs the Dodgers at home when RF Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a grand slam that put the Braves up 4-0. Now back to the game. Now I am a UGA fan, and I enjoyed nothing else about the Super Bowl than seeing former UGA running back Sony Michel score the games only TD. Final score 13-3 and a sixth Super Bowl Lombardi Trophy for the team from Boston.
Just after the game I tweeted this out:Mark A Kirkley @makirkley Feb 3MoreMark A Kirkley Retweeted Georgia FootballHappy for Sony Michel and that’s about it. #GoDawgs I would have been just as equally happy if the Rams won and former UGA running back Todd Gurley II would have put up a great game.
But this post is all about how the city of Atlanta scored an A+ in hosting Super Bowl LIII. I am going to close out this post by a tweet from former Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Braves great Deion Sanders.
This sums up Super Bowl LIII weekend. Deion SandersVerified account @DeionSanders Feb 4 MoreAll employees and persons at the airport in Atlanta. Thank u Thank u and Thank u for your wonderful service and commitment to excellence. Much Love and respect. God I love ATLANTA.
Kirkley's Sports Korner 