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Bringing The Super Bowl Back To California?

Written by Posted On Friday, 14 January 2022 00:00
Bringing The Super Bowl Back To California?

It has been six years since the Super Bowl was hosted in the Golden State. On Feb. 13, Super Bowl LVI will kick off at the SoFi Stadium located in Inglewood, just outside of Los Angeles. The stadium is home to two National Football League teams: the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams. However, the NFL, not surprisingly in the midst of a rise in COVID-19 cases, has looked into other potential sites for next month’s Super Bowl. According to the Associated Press, the league is already looking at AT&T stadium in Arlington, Texas as a possible replacement. AT&T Stadium is home to the Dallas Cowboys.

“We plan on playing Super Bowl 56 as scheduled at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 13,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Wednesday. “As part of our standard contingency planning process that we conduct for all regular and postseason games, we have contacted several clubs to inquire about stadium availability in the event we cannot play the Super Bowl as scheduled due to weather-related issues or unforeseen circumstances.” Unforeseen circumstances, meaning the omicron variant may throw a wrench in those plans.

There is no question that things will change and change swiftly as needed so making travel plans at this time may be unwise and costly.

Reminiscing … A few years ago I co-authored a book titled “Super Bowl Sunday: The Day America Stops,” presented by CBS Sports and edited by author and sports journalist Matt Fulks. My contribution was focused on Super Bowl XI played between the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders in the Pasadena Rose Bowl on Jan. 9, 1977. Oakland won 32-14. It was the first Super Bowl played in that iconic stadium and I was the referee. My friend the late great John Madden was the Oakland Raiders Head Coach.

It was special to me since my dad, Jim Sr. was the referee in the college Rose Bowl game on Jan. 1, 1947, between Illinois and UCLA – the latter won 45-14. Exactly 30 years later – to the month – I officiated Super Bowl XI in that same stadium as my dad.

I have been fortunate to be associated with the National Football League for 60 years as it celebrates its 102nd year!

How will you watch the Super Bowl this year?

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Dr. Jim Tunney

Jim Tunney had an exemplary career in sports. A former high school coach, teacher, principal and district superintendent, he had a 40-year career in officiating football and basketball.

Thirty-one of those years he was an NFL Referee working a record twenty-nine post-season games including four Super Bowls, ten NFC/AFC Championship games, six Pro Bowls and twenty-five Monday Night Games.

He officiated some of the most memorable games in NFL history. His book Impartial Judgment: “The Dean of NFL Referees” Calls Pro Football As He Sees It, chronicles his NFL career.

As a Professional Speaker, he is Past President of The National Speakers Association and a Charter Member of its most prestigious group – The CPAE Speakers Hall of Fame. Jim holds every professional designation of the NSA, including the Oscar of Professional Speaking – The Cavett. NSA named him Philanthropist of the Year in 2007.

Dr. Tunney (a doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California) continues to serve his community as  Trustee Emeritus of both Monterey Peninsula College and York School; where he once served as Headmaster. In 1993, he founded the Jim Tunney Youth Foundation to support local community programs that develop leadership, work skills, wellness and self-esteem in youth. He and his wife Linda live in Pebble Beach, California. They have six children and sixteen grandchildren.

As an author he has written and/or co-authored thirteen books: Impartial Judgment, Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan’s Soul, Speaking Secrets of the Masters, You Can Do It!, Super Bowl Sunday, Insights into Excellence, Lessons in Leadership, Build a Better You and his most recent book, It’s the Will, Not the Skill.

If you are looking for a keynote speaker who educates, motivates and entertains with a lifetime of stories about leadership, team building and sports 831-595-3258.

tunneysideofsports.com/

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