Super Bowl XLII: Tuesday Notebook

By Tom Torrisi and Jim Ralabate
SportsTicker Staff Writers

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Move over, Joe Namath and Mark Messier? If the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII on Sunday, Plaxico Burress likely will join Namath and Messier as New York legends who guaranteed a victory on a national stage. Ok, maybe Burress' "guarantee" was a little soft in contrast to the aforementioned duo, particularly the swashbuckling Namath, who guaranteed a victory by the New York Jets over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in what stands as the greatest upset in Super Bowl history. In response to a reporter's question asking for a prediction earlier in the week, Burress said: "23-17, Giants." It hardly seems like bravado on the surface, but with more than 4,500 media members searching for any scrap of a story in the Arizona desert, Burress' prediction has taken on a life of its own. Not that the Giants' wide receiver was backing down from his statement when pressed on the issue at Media Day on Tuesday. "Are predictions guarantees?" Burress asked. "We want to win the game. It's OK to want to win, think big, and dream. We're going to take this thing back to New York."

MEDIA DAY OBSERVATIONS: It isn't often when Brady or Eli Manning are not at the center of attention. But that was the case Tuesday at Media Day, where the sideshows frequently became the main attraction. One "journalist" conducted most of his interviews via a hand-puppet that resembled a horribly disfigured monkey. Another character donned a gold turban and long-flowing cape while meandering from podium to podium and making Super Bowl predictions that left much to be desired. Then there was Ines Gomez-Mont, a TV Azteca reporter who showed up wearing a white wedding mini gown and offered her hand in marriage to just about anyone who would listen. Perhaps more of the eligible bachelors would have accepted the proposals had they come from Veronica Grabowski, the reigning Miss Nevada who wore a beauty pageant sash while sporting a revealing tank top. Pop singer Kellie Pickler, a former contestant on "American Idol," and Claudia Jordan, one of the briefcase-toting models on "Deal or No Deal," also made the rounds at the University of Phoenix Stadium. But no one turned more heads than Ines Sainz, another TV Azteca reporter who has made an annual habit of drawing prolonged stares at Media Day.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker on the difference between playing in New England and Miami - "Weather. Women. Wins."

WEATHER: Sunny with temperature in the mid-60s.