Kenya Insights

Tag: New Orleans.

  • Randy Moss Returns to ESPN Set Amid Cancer Battle

    Randy Moss Returns to ESPN Set Amid Cancer Battle

    Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss made his return to ESPN on Sunday, joining the “Sunday NFL Countdown” crew in New Orleans amid his battle with cancer.

    Moss had been on leave from the weekly pregame show since announcing Dec. 6 that he was taking time away to address a health issue. A week later, he said in an Instagram Live post that he had undergone major surgery to address a cancerous mass found in his bile duct between his liver and pancreas, adding he would follow up with radiation and chemotherapy.

    He was welcomed back on Sunday, ahead of Super Bowl LIX, with a video featuring faces from throughout the NFL. Former teammate Tom Brady, wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Jerry Rice, Steve Smith Sr. and Malik Nabers, and ex-coach Bill Belichick were among those wishing him well.

    Moss fought off tears after the video as he sat on the ESPN set at the Superdome, flanked by host Mike Greenberg and fellow analysts Rex Ryan, Alex Smith and Tedy Bruschi.

    “I couldn’t do it alone,” Moss said after viewing the video.

    “It’s been hard, but I got a lot of love and a lot of people believing in me, man, so I’m happy to be here.”

    Moss, who turns 48 next week, has been part of ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” crew since 2016.

    “For nearly a decade, Randy has been an invaluable member of the team, consistently elevating ‘Countdown’ with his insight and passion,” the network said in a statement when Moss took his leave of absence. “He has ESPN’s full support, and we look forward to welcoming him back when he is ready.”

    Moss was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 with 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns in 218 games with the Minnesota Vikings (1998-2004, 2010), Oakland Raiders (2005-06), New England Patriots (2007-10), Tennessee Titans (2010) and San Francisco 49ers (2012).

    The four-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl selection led the NFL in receiving touchdowns five times, including a single-season record 23 scores with the Patriots in 2007.

    (Reuters)

  • Super Bowl Secondary-Ticket Prices High But Much Less Than Last Year’s Game

    Super Bowl Secondary-Ticket Prices High But Much Less Than Last Year’s Game

    Prices on the secondary-ticket market for Sunday’s Super Bowl in New Orleans are much less than last year’s big game and declining, but still high by historical standards.

    The average price for the Kansas City Chiefs-Philadelphia Eagles game at TickPick was $6,552 as of Tuesday. If that amount holds, it would be that website’s third highest for a Super Bowl.

    Last year’s game between the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers had an average price at that site of $9,136. The only other Super Bowl to attract a higher average price was four years ago when the amount was $7,046 for Chiefs’ game against the hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers when the crowd was limited to 25,000 fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The lowest price for this year’s game was just less than $4,000, which has declined about 30% since the matchup was set.

    Gametime reports a similar trend, also noting last year’s game had a minimum price of $8,764 shortly before kickoff.

    “With last year’s Vegas hype and 49ers fan frenzy behind us, prices are seeing a natural market correction,” Gametime said in a statement. “Plus, with no major ‘pent-up’ demand from either fan base, tickets are looking better than ever.”

    The lowest tickets prices at Vivid Seats and StubHub also were less than $4,000.

    TickPick co-CEO Brett Goldberg said there were a number of reasons why ticket prices are notably lower than last year.

    That game was the first in Las Vegas, creating even more fan interest than usual. The close proximity of Allegiant Stadium to the nation’s eighth-busiest airport and Las Vegas Strip entertainment corrider that includes many of the world’s largest hotels contributed to record prices.

    Hotel capacity in New Orleans is more limited with about 26,000 rooms in the city center, and even home rentals are at a premium.

    “If you try to go book a hotel right now, it’s very challenging,” Goldberg said.

    Another problem is the matchup.

    This is the third Super Bowl in a row for the Chiefs and the second in three years for the Eagles.

    “I think if the Bills won, you would’ve seen a very different dynamic here,” Goldberg said. “There’s a part of that (Chiefs) fan base that can afford to go to the Super Bowl three times, but that’s a very small (segment of the) fan base that could do that.

    “Even the Eagles have a little bit of a fatigue from being at a Super Bowl two years ago. We’re hearing directly from fans, ‘I went two years ago. I’m not sure I could pull this off.’ Would they love to go? Sure, but the impracticality on it’s a $10,000 trip for two becomes very limiting.”

    Goldberg said he hasn’t received feedback that the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in which 14 people were killed by a motorist on Bourbon Street played a significant part in the price decline.

    New Orleans is about to host its 11th Super Bowl, though first in 12 years.

    But the been-there, done-that feel is another factor, Goldberg said, and one Las Vegas could eventually face as well at one point.

    “By the time you do it a third time, the stadium won’t be as new,” Goldberg said. “I do think it could lose some of its appeal.”

  • Trump Set To Make History As First Sitting President To Attend Super Bowl

    Trump Set To Make History As First Sitting President To Attend Super Bowl

    Donald Trump will make history this weekend by becoming the first sitting president of the United States of America to attend the Super Bowl.

    The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

    The city was devastated by a terror attack on New Year’s Day when 14 people were killed on Bourbon Street.

    Trump, who was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States in January, is serving

    Though previous presidents such as Ronald Reagan have performed the pre-match coin toss from the White House, no sitting president has ever attended the event.

    “Security measures have been further enhanced this year, given that this will be the first time a sitting president of the United States will attend the event,” Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.

    Earlier this week, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Super Bowl is “the biggest homeland security event that we do every year”.

    Trump’s attendance is likely to be controversial given his comments about the NFL throughout his political career.

    Trump, an outspoken critic of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, has questioned the patriotism of NFL players who kneel during the playing of the US national anthem.

    The taking of the knee was a movement designed to draw attention to the issues of racial injustice in the United States.

    Sunday’s Super Bowl will be the first in four years that will not display an “End Racism” message in the end zone, a “Choose Love” message will be used instead.

    Since taking office, Trump has criticised non-discriminatory hiring practices aimed at improving workplace diversity.

    The NFL denies the decision to remove the banners calling to end racism is connected to the current political climate.

    “The Super Bowl is often a snapshot in time and the NFL is in a unique position to capture and lift the imagination of the country,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told AFP.

    “Choose love is appropriate to use as our country has endured in recent weeks wildfires in southern California, the terrorist attack here in New Orleans, the plane and helicopter crash near our nation’s capital and the plane crash in Philadelphia.”

    Goodell, meanwhile, says the NFL remains fully committed to promoting diversity through its inclusive hiring practices.

    “I think we’ve proven to ourselves that it does make the NFL better,” Goodell said.

    “We’re not in this because it’s a trend to get into it or a trend to get out of it. Our efforts are fundamental in trying to attract the best possible talent into the NFL both on and off the field.”

    American presidents and the Super Bowl

    Since starting in 1967, the Super Bowl has become the biggest event in the

    Last year’s Super Bowl, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs defend their crown, was the biggest US TV broadcast since the moon landing in 1969 with 123.4 million viewers.

    Given the influence of the event on American culture, it is no surprise that politicians have become increasingly visible in its staging.

    George Bush became the first former president to appear in person for the pre-match coin toss before Super Bowl 51 in Houston in 2017.

    In 1985, President Ronald Reagan performed the coin toss via satellite from the White House.

    Former President George W Bush started a Super Bowl tradition in 2004 by granting a pre-game interview to the official broadcaster.

    Barack Obama continued the tradition but Joe Biden declined to give an interview two years in a row before leaving office in 2025.

    (BBC)