The Final Score

Now I can officially cross a ride in a blimp off my bucket list.

It was fun, exciting, unique - and something I'll probably never want to do again. Not that I didn't feel safe. I just like not being able to open the windows on planes. I also never realized how much I like seatbelts.

When I got off the blimp and walked around, I felt my body swaying back and forth as if I just got off a boat.

Here's my story. And here's the video I shot (which was edited by Mario Gonzalez).

Jennie Finch, softball superstar and recently voted out of The Celebrity Apprentice for being too nice, passed along this Super Bowl prediction.

"You know I love perfection. It's such an amazing feat.

But my heart, I have to say on this one, it is truly with Eli Manning and the Giants.

I’m really rooting for the underdog. So the Giants will squeak out a win."

(In 2001 Finch led Arizona to a perfect 32-0 record.)

Borrowed is probably more accurate than stolen. But he didn't ask. He just took it.

This happened last night at the Gridiron Greats dinner while I was staring off into space waiting for Lawrence Taylor to (not) arrive.

To my surprise someone just took my notepad out of my hand. Next thing I know Sayers was testing his marker on it. He then handed it back and walked away. Pretty rude.

Maybe this was how Tyrone Wheatley felt getting snubbed by Jim Kelly (see below).

Or maybe I'll put the piece of paper that has Sayers' dabble marks on it on eBay.

For our Super Bowl special preview section - which hits newstands in mere hours (!) - I did a where-are-they-now story on Matt Bahr. Turns out Bahr had quite a lot to say about our troops, our children, obesity, Lawrence Tynes, etc. Here's the story.

For those of you who are new to this blog, I write a where-are-they-now feature every Friday on the Web. At the one-year anniversary I hope to sell Sam Zell on the idea of throwing a big bash and inviting all of our previous story subjects. Here's our constantly growing list: Matt Bahr, Jeff Hostetler, Leonard Marshall, Y.A. Tittle, Ottis Anderson, Barry Lyons, Bruce Harper, Mackey Sasser, Ken Phelps and Kenny "Sky" Walker.

LT was a no-show at the Gridiron Greats fundraising dinner tonight. A spokesman for the event kept insisting he would come, saying they even had arranged a car service for him. But by the time they asked everyone to take their seats, LT was nowhere to be found. Who knows? Maybe he didn't want to explain why he never e-mailed me back?

So the two hours standing there was a bit of a waste.

However, this being an event riddled with former NFL players, I did witness some funny exchanges. Such as Jim Kelly strolling in and all but snubbing Tyrone Wheatley. When Kelly walked through the door, Wheatley stuck out his hand and said, "Jim Kelly. Tyrone Wheatley." Kelly shook his hand but barely looked at him and never broke stride.

The 90 minute media session also served as a time for the people who paid lots of money for tickets to get autographs from the former players. That's why it's telling that Kelly arrived with 10 minutes left and Michael Irvin arrived even later. And the first thing Irvin asked when he got out of his car was, "Are they ready to eat yet?"

LT still hasn't responded to my original e-mail, or the follow-up e-mail I sent him. He also hasn't signed on AIM, in which case I would have badgered him with instant messages.

But tonight we might finally meet.

LT is supposed to be at some Gridiron Greats charity dinner held in some distant suburb of Phoenix. Or so the press release says.

But I have my doubts. I've e-mailed and called the publicist responsible for this event for two days asking for confirmation that Taylor will be there, and no response.

But I'll go, anyway. And if he's there, I want answers. Why didn't you answer my e-mails!

UPDATE: I'm told he will be there.

As I left the media center, Mike Ditka was right in front of me with a woman whom I presume is his wife/girlfriend/significant other.

"What a good chance to get another celebrity Super Bowl prediction," I thought.

But as I walked toward him, so were others, and these guys were presumably looking for a signature along with his prediction. (For the record, I would have only taken the prediction.) Ditka, however, wanted no part of us. He waved everyone off and walked inside the Grand Hyatt.

Oh well.

While on line for lunch, I noticed a familiar head of white hair behind me: horse trainer Bob Baffert.

So I did my job and asked for a prediction. He said he is rooting for the Patriots because he is friends with Bill Belichick. I pressed him to give a score. "Anything that adds up to more than 47," he said.

Finally, his friend suggested 37-31. Baffert agreed.

After that momentous exchange of Baumbach and Baffert, I ate lunch with Newsday's Bob Glauber and Tom Rock. When Glauber's sandwich was ready, they announced 'Bob.' But Baffert thought it was his and an awkward exchange seemed to occur between him and the cashier, until Glauber came to rescue his sandwich.

"They should have given out numbers," Glauber said.

You know what they say: sports is a business, so don't take it personally.

The players change, and so do the coaches, general managers and owners. Teams change their uniforms, their stadiums and even their cities.

But one thing through the years remains the same -- the Suns' mascot. Who's better than the Gorilla?

I attended tonight's Suns-Hawks game and seeing the Gorilla in action was a treat. So was watching Steve Nash, Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire run the floor. What a fun team.

PS -- I'm kicking myself. Doesn't Randy Johnson have Suns' season tickets? I forgot to look for him.

I was talking to former Jets coach (and Manhasset product) Al Groh the other day about how New York has taken to the Giants, and I mentioned how for the first time in a while baseball has taken a backseat (for two weeks, at least).

Then this happened.

Wow.

What timing.

The Giants are in the Super Bowl and they might be overshadowed from today until the game Sunday, assuming the Mets and Santana agree on a contract and hold a news conference this week.

Again, wow.

I better start thinking of a Santana angle I can report from out here in Phoenix.

I'm back at my hotel recharging after that media day frenzy. I'm all out of observations for the moment -- I posted everything I had here as the event was taking place. I also shot some video, which I am transmitting as I type.

There's a media party tonight that is being thrown by the NFL and is featuring the Gin Blossoms. But I'm passing so I can go to the Phoenix Suns game and interview this guy.