"Scary" Barry Rodriguez Productions (BRP): NFC CRUSHES AFC 62-35 IN 2013 PRO BOWL

Scary Barry

Rodriguez

January 27, 2013

Welcoming

Aloha stadium, Honolulu , HI - Finally the day arrived ! The object of my journey , the Pro Bowl ! This what the Hawaii Five O media group toiled for all week. Fearing big time traffic , the Scary one and Justin headed out at 7:00 am in the direction of Aloha stadium. We arrived very early and had to wait until 9:30 am but it was very necessary to beat the traffic jams everyone experienced later ! The rest of the crew Daniel and Wayne on cameras and Brent Curry as a reporter would meet us on site. Today I scored a very good parking space . One close to the access gates because of my Handicapped placard. Which is legitimate due my bad knees.

No Idleness Here

Prior to our entry to the parking lot Me and Justin spent some time in the parking lot of a nearby McDonalds dozing off ! Justin had stayed up late the night before partying ! The Scary one was still tired from a hot Saturday. So while waiting at the stadium for the rest of the crew we kicked back some more. The media wouldn't be badged with game day credentials until 11:00 am anyway. Daniel arrived soon after we did and we all cooled ours heels together . At 11:00 am we all went to the media entrance and received our game day credentials. I took Justin and Daniel up to the top level where the press boxes are located and showed them around. Then we went down to the field level.

Anticipation

Once on the field level Daniel started filming the crowds , the NFL cheerleaders and later both the NFC and AFC players warming up. The sky was very overcast. It seemed that rain was imminent. The game was scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm. Even though the parking lots seemed crowded the stadium seemed to be only half full. Justin was taking pictures and checking everything out with new eyes. This was the first time he was a full fledged media reporter. Me and Daniel hit the parking areas and interviewed fans of every stripe ! I tried to interview folks from all the participating teams. Everyone was in good spirits. One time I interviewed a scalper sporting full Oakland Raider colors named Ernie. I figured it out a few minutes after the interview. We interview two very attractive and buxom ladies from Mexico. It turned out that they weren't into football as much as partying. One of them complained of not being able to find more Tequila to drink !

DJ Steve Aoki with Class

Brent Curry arrived on site after noon. I brought him up to speed on the situation. Security advised me that the media would be allowed to do their pre-game work up until 1:30 pm. Brent , Daniel and Justin went around the stadium filming the fans. I interviewed a diehard Washington Redskin fan and the famous DJ Steve Aoki . VIPs were all about. A mixed squad of players were warming up on the field at this time. Not all the players left the locker room to go to the field. Media from all across the country was present.

Fans Swag Fest

At 1:30 pm the Hawaii Five O crew went up to their seats in the Auxiliary Press box. The main Press box was serving food and beverages. In prior years all the seats in the Press sections had Pro Bowl seat cushions and other souvenirs. Not this year. There was no swag to be found ! It was bare bones ! Down on the field traditional Hawaiian dancers , dressed in colorful costumes were entertaining the fans. It was beautiful for the eyes to behold. This type of pageantry only happens in Hawaii ! A stage had been set up on the field with Hawaiian decorations and entertainers sang traditional Hawaiian songs. Soothing to the ears.

Brian McKnight

Russell Wilson

Peyton & Eli Manning

Drew Brees

The field was cleared and the NFC and AFC squads went through organized stretching exercises. Then Hawaiian state anthem was sang followed by the National anthem. Brian McKnight sang the National anthem as two military helicopters made an overflight and fireworks burst skyward ! In early part of the game the AFC dominated but by halftime the NFC was leading by a score of 31-14. The AFC squad seemed to lack the fire required to make it a competitive game. Between play stoppages DJ Aoki and the NFL cheerleaders entertained the fans. The second half was more of the same as the AFC squad turned the ball over or just couldn't get on track. The NFC quarterbacks Drew Brees , Eli Manning and later Russell Wilson had no difficulty in solving the AFC defense. So many receivers were scoring touchdowns that it was hard to keep track of it !

Kyle Rudolp

After awhile in was a yawner for the fans. It was a totally lopsided affair for the entire second half. The final score was an astounding 62-35 victory for the NFC. The total offense for the NFC was 478 yards almost all through the air ! I'm not sure that this contest validated continuing the Pro Bowl. The stands were only three quarters full. After the game ended the crew was on the field grabbing interviews. The players didn't run off and getting interview wasn't that difficult. Brent and camera man Daniel were out tracking players down and Justin was collecting audio interviews. The MVP for the game was TE Kyle Rudolph of the Minnesota Vikings. He caught 5 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown.

Aim High

The future of the Pro Bowl is still in doubt ! Even though the game was a lopsided affair the players did there part ! The support of the NFL for this year's Pro Bowl seemed halfhearted . The game time promotion was on a par with a highly touted high school game not a major NFL event ! In the past there was more souvenirs , more military participation like the Leap Frogs parachute team and higher profile entertainers.

No Goodbyes

With these thoughts as a backdrop the Hawaii Five O reporters Brent , Scary Barry and Justin did their Pro Bowl wrap up . It wasn't raining but something was missing ! If the state of Hawaii could somehow find the resources to build a modern stadium up to NFL standards then retaining the Pro Bowl would be a slam dunk ! Just hoping won't make it happen ! The Pro Bowl experience in Hawaii is always unique !

The Hawaii Five O media crew was spent. We said our goodbyes and parted company. Same time next year I hope. Justin was a gas to work with and the rest the crew took care of business. Daniel is editing the film as I am writing this article !