Then as a 21-year-old rookie, I only had thoughts of how I would make it through 120-degree practices. Now as a representative of Lombardo Custom Apparel, my thoughts were on business and talking to as many possible clients as possible.
After checking into the hotel on Wednesday, I went to the lobby where hundreds of people were hanging out. After chillin' for a while, I went back to the room, put on my three-piece suit and get ready for Matt Leinhert's party.
Before going to the party, I hooked up with former Wildcat Shane Boyd so people would know Kentucky was in the building.
The party was crazy. Everybody who was somebody was there. Throughout the night I got a chance to talk to a lot of current and former players like Shawn Merriman, Keith Bullock, Adrian Peterson and Steven Jackson. I was surprised with the amount of people that still remembered me.
I picked when to approach these people because I wanted to talk business and give them a business card.
On Thursday, I got up and went to the NFL Experience. It was a lot of fun. I got to see some of the guys with their kids. They were taking them through all the drills.
If there is one thing I suggest you do if you ever go to a Super Bowl, it would be take the kids and go to the NFL Experience. I think some of the men were trying to relive their youthful days while doing the drills.
Caved on bidding war
Thursday night, I went to the Michael Bowley show for autism. It was a nice event and a lot of people came out. There I hooked up with former teammates Lorenzo Diamond and Martey Jenkins. We eventually got into a silent auction bidding match for a Jerry Rice jersey.
I couldn't speak for them, but I'm not playing anymore, so the price got too high for my pockets. If I had brought the jersey, I would be living outside.
After leaving that event, we went to Axis /Radius for the P Diddy concert. For me, this was the thrill of the week because I got to walk on the red carpet and act like a celeb. I was taking pictures and doing interviews, like people wanted my opinion on life, which I didn't mind giving.
The concert was cool, because we got to watch it from a sky box that was directly besides P Diddy's.
I learned one thing about parties. There are two VIP areas. One for the people who will pay lots of money to be on the second level, and the real VIP where the celebs hang out at.
I was lucky, because I got to chill with the celebs. There were so many people trying to get to the third level VIP.
Needed a day of relaxation
On Friday, I relaxed all day because I was worn out. I hadn't been out two nights in a row for years. I'm an old man now, not a 21-year-old kid with lots of energy.
Friday night I attended the NFL Players party. Every player in the league was there, so I was on a mission. Everybody I talked to, I gave a business card and told them I wanted to do their clothes. Saturday, I went to the players' lounges where there were venders showing off new equipment, clothes and items that would be coming out soon.
That night I went to Michael Jordan's party at SKYE Restaurant in Peoria. Approaching the front I saw two Bentleys and a Maybock. I knew then I was at Jordan's party. After getting my bracelets, the publicist walked me down the red carpet. When I walked in, the party was jumping and it was packed.
After leaving Jordan's party, I hooked up with Keenan Burton, who was working out in Arizona, and Shane Boyd. We went to Club Mist where T Payne, Ice-T and Fabalous were performing. The party was nice and Keenan got to see what he has to look forward to after he gets in the league (NFL).
Every place I went was packed and people jammed the streets until all hours of the night. It was fun going back to Arizona and seeing people I haven't seen in three of four years. I got a chance to mix business with pleasure.
I don't know where the Super Bowl is next year, but I plan on going. Hopefully by then, my business will be off and running and I can take my wife and kids and we can go and have some more fun.
