Cannon Firing Line
Beginning of the End
By Ellis G. Cannon
PSR Publisher

In hindsight, the beginning was right at the end. Perhaps that's why folks smarter than me originated the phrase "beginning of the end." Regardless of what words are used, the moment I arrived at the Super Bowl's Media Day, it was over. It was time to begin another part of the day, another chapter in the frenzied trip to Detroit.

Let's reset. Every fan knows about Super Bowl Media Day, which has become its own moment in time. It's when the bizarre meets pro football, unlike anything else associated with the NFL.

Moments before the proceedings began, the public address announcer notified security it was time to allow the media to descend onto the assigned areas to interview, photograph and otherwise ogle the Pittsburgh Steelers. Those weren't his words, but that's what happens. Suddenly, you look up and see thousands of media making their way down to the field area. Imagine the droves leaving a stadium when there's five minutes left in a blowout, but in reverse.

And from that moment, it's on. No pretense. Pretty much attack anybody dressed as a player or associated with the organization. That doesn't characterize everyone, but it's a free for all, and you get what you can.

The "models" holding microphones, playing reporter, are soon noticed. So are all the big name NFL media types you see and hear all season.

Then, finally, the outrageous: a film crew from Denmark asking Verron Haynes to transcribe details of a flea-flicker; the soccer-media all over Jeff Reed; the kid from Weekly Reader interrogating Steelers.

But that was nothing compared to the Puppet. The one attached to a man who appeared to of Latino descent. The Puppet was dressed like Troy Polamalu, right down to the hair. The Puppet was making game predictions for an Asian film crew.

Yeah, that was the beginning of the end.

Ellis Cannon's SportsLine Pittsburgh" airs weeknights, 6-8 p.m., on FM NewsTalk 104.7. Ellis is also a regular contributor on the "#1 Cochran Sports Showdown" aired Sundays at 11:35 on KDKA-TV.