SAN FRANCISCO — A man set himself on fire. A woman ran around naked. Giant hot-air balloons crashed toward fans. The old days weren't always so good to the Super Bowl.
The NFL's ultimate game is now one of America's last remaining unifiers, crossing demographic lines to reach an estimated 168 million people on television in this country.
But just 16 people have attended all 49 Super Bowls. That group of fans, reporters, photographers and a widow met here Friday to spin a yarn about past games before their 50th Super Bowl.
"Sometimes I feel like a survivor of the Normandy invasion," said Walter Iooss, a Sports Illustrated photographer who has worked every NFL title game.