BY JIM LANG
sportsnet.ca
FORTH WORTH, TX
Daniel-Meyer Coliseum at the campus of TCU
Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham
Two months ago, Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham was out of work. Now the Wallaceburg, ON native has the potential to play a key role in what could be the Steelers seventh Super Bowl title.
Following a 39-26 loss to the Patriots back in Week 10, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers decided they had enough of Jeff Reed and released him. Later that same day the Steelers signed Suisham to a contract.
Even Suisham marveled when he reflecting upon everything he had to go through to land his first NFL job back in 2005.
"I was at the Budget Suites of America (Dallas) here with my wife," he said. "It was an exciting time, trying to work to get on the practice roster. Being released, and then waiting for the opportunity to play. Then that happened and from that point I had some stability when I was in Washington. But certainly it has been quite a journey to get to this point."
Suisham added that despite of all his trials and tribulations, he has never struggled with his confidence as a kicker. That being said, Suisham is a little blown away that a kid from Wallaceburg is going to be in the Super Bowl.
"There’s an awful lot going on here this week and its okay with me," he said. "I’m not sure exactly how I ended up in this position as a kicker in the NFL, but now that I’m here, I embrace it and enjoy it."
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IRVING, TX
Omni Mandalay at Las Colinas
Green Bay Packers guard Daryn Colledge
If Brett Keisel has the best beard on the Steelers, than Packers guard Daryn Colledge has the best beard in Green Bay. A fifth-year player out of Boise State, Colledge feels a special responsibility with playing guard for the Packers.
Colledge told me that he wants to play at a high level to carry on the legacy of Jerry Kramer and (Hall of Famer) Fuzzy Thurston from the Vince Lombardi era of the 1960s. "Those guys are heroes to anyone who plays guard for the Packers," said Colledge.
Colledge also talked about the strong emotional attachment Packers fans have with the players in Green Bay. He said it’s not unusual for fans to sit down unannounced and join him at his table when he’s eating in a restaurant and start talking football.
In fact, fans in Green Bay have even come to his house to ask for an autograph or talk about a big win.
The first time it happened to Colledge, some crazy Packers fan knocked on his door looking for an autograph.
The only problem was that the fan was looking for Brett Favre’s autograph.
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DALLAS, TX
Dallas Convention Centre
Chicago Bears defensive end Israel Idonije
BRANDON, Manitoba’s Israel Idonije is one of three nominees for the Walter Payton Award for community service. The Bears’ defensive end spends a great deal of time and money giving back to the community in Chicago and back home in Manitoba.
Idonije is also coming off a breakout season in which he tied Julius Peppers for the team lead with eight sacks.
Idonijie said he was honoured to even be nominated for such a prestigious award.
"It’s been an incredible ride," he said. "You don’t wake up dreaming of being in this position."
One of the reasons Idonije is so respected for his work in the community is the fact he actually interacts with the people he’s helping. He’s not just a name on a foundation. Idonijie flies back to Winnipeg to help out troubled youth at the city’s toughest school, Sister MacNamara.
For good kids that show good attendance and stay out of trouble, Idonije rents out a bowling alley in Winnipeg and feeds them pizza and pop. He covers all of the costs.
This is on top of all the charity work he's involved in with his foundation in Chicago. Idonije hopes that other young Canadians are inspired by everything that he has achieved, both on and off the field.
"Why can’t a kid from a small city of 60,000 people in the coldest place in the world dream about achieving something, and continue to make the right decisions and continue to work hard and stay focused and achieved whatever goal he or she has set forth?" he asked.
Needless to say, Brandon, MB and Bears fans all over North America have good reason to be proud of Israel Idonije.
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DALLAS, TX
Without question, the unsung heroes this week in Dallas/Fort Worth have been the bus drivers.
These men and women deserve some sort of award for getting all the media busses safely to every destination, and they’ve never been late. While the rest of the drivers in North Texas were sliding all over roads causing mass confusion, our bus drivers were taking a safe and steady approach to get us where we needed to go.
And they did it in first-class fashion.
Walt Anderson will be the referee for Super Bowl.
Now in his 15th season, Anderson has officiated 13 playoff games during his career.
The 5,082 accredited media covering Super Bowl XLV and all of the related events are the most in the history of the event.
If you asked the players, Entertainment Tonight special correspondent Brooklyn Decker would win the award for the most popular media member this week.
Like it or not, the weather has been one of the major storylines in the Dallas/Fort Worth area this week. The game-day forecast in Irving is calling for a high of six degrees Celsius and a low of zero.
Fortunately for the 90,000 plus fans that will be going to the game, there is a retractable roof on Cowboys stadium.
Speaking to media members from Chicago and Milwaukee, none of us can understand why Jerry Jones didn’t import 10 tons of road salt to deal with the ice and the weather.
If you ever make a trip to Dallas/Fort Worth, you have to check out a local beer called Shiner Bock.
I have to say that as far as American beers go; this one could hold its own with our fine Canadian beer.
