Monday night football....

Can I just tell you about Suzy Kolber?! Ok MOST of you have heard my story about Monday Night Football but it could be one of my favorites so here we go.

My friend Luisa got me a gig working at the Monday night football game last Oct. So of course I said Hell yeah and I was on my way. Luisa used to work for ESPN before coming to the MTN. so she knew everyone and she knew what to do. So I got up early that morning, put on a cute outfit together and Luisa honked her horn outside my house to get me. We go downtown and met all the people we would be working with and headed over to Invesco Field. I have never been to invesco field....so it was going to be a treat for me!

We get there at 9:30 in the morning and I just follow Luisa- I do whatever she does! By lunchtime- I was starving so we grabbed a bite in the cafeteria where all the media people ate. Once we were done, one of my jobs was to go to home depot and get 4 large heaters. Why you ask? First of all it was raining all day and it was freezing. I had to get the heaters for Joe Theisman (rhymes with Heisman) since the career ending leg break (please watch- its gross- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i_bJv_0z-k) his leg gets really cold and uncomfortable- so ESPN has been supplying heaters from him in the booth so they won't hurt. It was my job to hunt some down!

So I go to the nearest Home Depot- (which I had to call my mom to see where the nearest one is....good gift idea for me- GPS!) I could not find any at Home Depot- but I did find my gardening gloves on my list for the director of the show (his hands get too cold- bunch of babies if you ask me) so I proceeded to wal-mart were I thought for sure they would have heaters....AND THEY DID! so I grabbed those along with a jacket for myself (remember I had a cute outfit on and I was COLD!) and some of those hand warmers that you take skiing with you. I needed those for all of the camera men. (again, babies)

So I got back with all of the stuff-went to the booth to drop off the heaters and went back down. The head guy tells me that I would probably assisting the guys upstairs! That means I get to hang out with Joe Theisman, Tony Kornheiser, and Mike Tirico!
Funny side note story: I went to the bathroom at one point that was at the SAME time that the Baltimore Ravens were coming off the bus, I turned the corner after leaving the bathroom and physically ran into number 75, which is Jonathan Ogden from UCLA- he is 6'9 and 345 pounds....so of course my face came up to his belly....I might as well gave him a raspberry saying, whose a good football player??!? yes, you are-you good boy!!!

So we are all just standing there, watching the crowd come slowly come in, we can see everyones breath- it was COLD! I was standing there thinking, thank god I got this jacket b/c I am freezing. And I was glad that I got to be up in the booth so I can plant myself my the heaters I just bought. So the main guy comes up to us and was like, "Ok, the guys upstairs brought a freelance person on their own to help them out, so Andrea- come with me." so I look at Luisa and was like, see you later! I had NO idea where I was going, but I was NOT happy when I realized we were walking out onto the football field were it was even colder. I kept following him till he paired me up with a field producer that was working with Suzy Kolber. All he was doing is following her around telling the upstairs on when she wanted to say something so they could fit her in. I met the other two freelancers, one was in charge of holding the light, the other was in charge of holding her little screen so she could see the replays and what was going on air, and me- well I was in charge of holding her UMBRELLA. Are you F'ing kidding me?! I had NO gloves, I actually got the hand warmers people were passing out, that I bought at wal-mart, and my shoes were soaking wet and the game has not even started. The field producer looked at me and said, "Suzy is not supposed to have this umbrella b/c it is too big, so when the NFL tells her to get rid of it, give her this one." great. now I have TWO umbrellas to hold. fan-freaking-tastic.

We go on air once before the game, the fans cheered, "SUZY! OVER HERE!" and she did not give them the time of day- she was just mean. OR maybe in a bad mood b/c her $500 pair of boots are now getting soaked. I am holding the umbrella over her head- its kickoff and I am looking around me. We were on the Ravens side, there were the biggest men I have ever seen all around us. I am probably on the 40 yard line, inches away from the field, and inches away from all the action. I cannot feel my hands, though I am ok with that at this point. I am in awe. I have never experienced something so cool...."Put the umbrella over ME not YOU!" Suzy yells. Do I dare tell her that I cannot hold the umbrella against the gust of winds- or do I tell her to pound sand like my dad would've said. Instead I just grabbed the umbrella tighter and thought what I funny story this would be. Once I got some feeling in my hands- I grabbed my phone and texted Steve- who was at the game and my family to tell them what I was doing. Steve noticed the umbrella right away, he said it was huge, and nobody else had that kind of an umbrella. My mom texted back saying that she saw that umbrella on TV. Every time that they went to Suzy they would cue me off, but I had to go quickly back in so her hair and makeup would not wash away. I wish it would have.
Half time hits and THANK GOD. I went under the stands and saw Luisa who has been warm all game. She grabbed me some hot coco and I told her that I was holding an umbrella. Not too long after my story to Luisa- the field producer game running up, telling me that Suzy was already out there doing interviews for half time!! I ran out so hard looking for Suzy....another freelancer told me- She is that way, and she is mad that she is getting wet! Great. Cannot wait to deal with her now. I am soaked from head to foot, do not have any feeling- anywhere and she is bitching. Cool. Sure enough, there she was tapping her foot grabbing the umbrella from me. but I still followed her.
It was the end of the game and after running up and down the sidelines after Suzy I was tired. But whats this....Broncos won and Suzy telling people in her mic that she wants to go get somebody. So she starts running onto the field where these 300 pound men are all over the place congratulating each other, giving the good game hand shake. so I am running after Suzy-with the umbrella fully cocked and ready to shade anyone. Why did I not put the umbrella down? Why was it still up?! I felt like an idiot. I was dodging everyone with this huge ass umbrella!! we finally get to Champ Bailey. Man he is short I thought. I need to get a pic of this....NO ONE is going to believe me! so I take my phone and out SNAP! got one! She wraps up the interview with Champ and we go to the other side of the field.
Finally after all the chaos and what not, we get to Michelle Tafoya and she just looks nice. She even said hello to me. Man I hate Suzy.
We cleaned up the place and finally went home. All in a days work right? I was so tired. It was midnight when I got home and I worked all day. To hold a stupid ass umbrella.