Halftime/Lunch: After two quarters of action, they're feeding us again. I leave Auxiliary Room #4, and head back to the buffet. This time, it's chili dogs, chips, cookies and cake. I marvel at how much more fun the game is when you only have to wait 60 seconds for food, and you don't have to pay for it.

Oh, and restrooms are easier to deal with when there are only about a hundred people with access to them.

Once I've gotten my grub on, I head back to the Auxiliary Room #4 to see the Lions honoring...

The Dad from "Webster." That's right, Alex Karras. Ol' George Papadapolis, himself. He's also the guy in "Blazing Saddles" who punches a horse. Also, notably, a former Detroit Lion.

Apparently this is the 40th anniversary of the book Paper Lions. It was written by George Plimpton, who is also on hand. (The author was a writer for Sports Illustrated, so in 1963, he went through training camp with the Lions. He got into four plays in an intrasquad scrimmage.) Plimpton also plays the psychologist in "Good Will Hunting" who Matt Damon accuses of being gay.

So players from that 1963 Lions team, who ended up in the book and later, the movie, line the field. (The movie starred Alan Alda as the book's author. Alda is a Second City alum, which will tie into this story a little later on.)

There is much rejoicing for the former Lions until...

The Second Half: I don't remember much of the second half, except Lara kept talking to that dope sitting next to her, and I watched the Lions implode.

Another cool thing about the press box - they have speakers facing downward that inform you of who threw to whom and how far, before the public address guy does. Also, we heard that Daunte Culpepper was done for the game about a quarter before it showed up on the JumboTron.

When Kelly Campell catches a long bomb right in front of us, I pretty much give up on the game. Lara's genius friend starts saying, "That guy was number 15. I'm pretty sure that was number 15 who caught that."

(Kelly Campbell is number 16, he did it right in front of us, and there's no Vikings player with the number 15, as noted by the media guides sitting in front of every person in the press box.)

As dopey continues swearing up and down that Mystery #15 caught the ball, I gently advise that it was actually number 16, Kelly Campbell. Lara thanks me, and I forgive her for spending the game with her moron of a coworker. She doesn't know any better, and our kids will laugh when they hear this story. - sigh -

The 2-minute Warning: At this point in the game, journalists with the press box pass are allowed on the field. I hit the elevators and head down to the bottom floor. It gets a wee bit confusing, as you have to wind through a series of tunnels until you get spit out on...

The Field: Unfortunately, by the time I arrive, the Lions are at the opposite end zone, and security is only letting photographers down to that side. So I take a look around and get as close as I can to the Lions bench. I also look up to see hordes of the Detroit faithful heading for the exits. Yeah, it was that kind of game. Jason Hanson is practicing field goals, and that's really the only Lion I can see, so I fire off a picture. (Below.)

Time eventually runs out and then things get really crazy.

The game from field level	Jason Hanson practices his craft
The view of the field from Aux Room #4