New Orleans - The NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers arrived Sunday afternoon in the Crescent City looking to capture its first Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years. The AFC Champion Baltimore Ravens hit the town on Monday looking for their second Super Bowl victory since trouncing the New York Giants in 1990 in Tampa.
For the first time in the history of the Super Bowl, the game will be coached by brothers of the opposing teams. Jim Harbaugh and his fiery-style lead the 49ers while his low key brother John handles the Ravens.
The game will be the swan song for Baltimore's linebacker Ray Lewis who announced his retirement at the start of the playoffs. Many think his declaration has been the guiding force that has taken the team within one win of the Vince Lombardi trophy.
San Francisco has been spurred on by the play of rookie quarterback Colin (Tatoo Man) Kaepernick who took over the starting job from Alex Smith after he suffered a concussion. Smith was cleared to play the week after but Kaepernick played so well that Jim decided to stay with the rookie. Although at times he wasn't quite sure that was the right decision.
John, on the other hand, was dealing with the inconsistent play of his own quarterback Joe (Joe Cool) Flacco. For the fifth straight year since coming into the league, Flacco won a playoff game making him the only quarterback in NFL history to accomplish such a feat.
While the teams got settled at their individual hotels, Monday was more of a preparation day for the city that will host thousands of out-of-towners along with fans from both teams that will be descending on the Big Easy. The stories will be plenty leading up to the big game from how the city will receive NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (the penalties he dropped on the Saints as a result of "Bounty Gate" had a profound effect on the outcome of their season) to numerous player and coaches interviews to the worldwide media coverage (there will be more media attending media day on Tuesday than will actually cover the game) not to mention all of the parties that will take place and the celebrities that will attend them.
You will get an up-close and personal perspective from the city that needs no reason to get its party on! Soon after the 2013 Super Bowl Champions raise that golden trophy, the city will embrace the second biggest party that takes place every year: Mardi Gras!!!