Getting ready to go on the air from Dolphin Stadium the Friday before Super Bowl XLI in Miami, Feb. 1, 2007. I was so happy to be covering a sporting event again, and was really looking forward to the show that day.
The Friday before the Super Bowl I got to hang out with my buddies Jim Nantz and Phil Simms of CBS Sports who were going to call the big game. I couldn't believe how relaxed they were. We were laughing and joking around the whole interview.
Harry throws the ball, with Dave Price, me, and Julie Chen clowning around the morning after Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. It was freezing and none of us had had any sleep, so we were pretty punchy! We had a great time.
The morning after the Super Bowl with stage manager Patty Ricardello. I had stayed up late doing post-game interviews and appearing on "The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson." Thankfully, Patty kept me on my toes that morning.
On the field with The Early Show Executive Producer Michael Bass, Monday Feb. 5, 2007. Michael was also my producer back at NBC when I hosted the late-night coverage for the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. We're both huge sports fans and had such a great time hanging out on the field. We were really proud of the work we had done in Miami.
Having a laugh with the cast of "The Rules of Engagement," David Spade, Patrick Warburton and Oliver Hudson, Monday morning, Feb. 5, 2007, at Dolphin Stadium. I've known David for quite awhile, I used to see him at Phoenix Suns games back when I was covering the NBA.
Messing around on the set between interviews with actors David Caruso and super hottie Adam Rodriguez of "CSI: Miami." One of the best parts of hanging out at a big event like the Super Bowl is getting to see folks from all the other shows that are on CBS.
One of my favorite things before a big game is to walk along the sidelines and check out the teams as they are warming up. At the Super Bowl, I ran into baseball legend Cal Ripken who was doing the same thing! I used to cover Cal when he was with the Baltimore Orioles.
The week before we headed to Miami for the Super Bowl, I stopped by the Chicago Bears' practice facility to chat with their coach, Lovie Smith. He shared his philosophy of treating his players with a great deal of respect and his excitement about making history as one of the first African American coaches to make it to the title game.