The first chance for average Minnesotans to see Super Bowl participants occurred Monday night at Xcel Energy Center, in an event that has ballooned over the years like a badly-sprained ankle.
They shot off fireworks indoors and lined up players on a stage as if they were weighing in for a heavyweight fight. They showed highlights of the Eagles obliterating the Vikings in front of Vikings fans whose only solace this week was paying $32 to sit in hockey seats and watch other teams being interviewed.
They called it Super Bowl LII Opening Night, fueled by Gatorade, the grandiosity of the title befitting what the occasion has tried to become.