The Day After

When they're taking down tables around you, workers are throwing a foam football above your head and the NFL wireless network just got turned off -- it's probably a good sign that it's time to leave.

So my time in Tampa has come to an end, and I might be able to actually reflect on it after catching up from about 12 hours of sleep in the last seven days. I think I might be ready for a Special Ops mission with this type of training, Uncle Sam, if you're listening ...

This morning's only press conferences were with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes, who will be here-on known as the Toe-Touch-Catch-Kid.

Holmes became the first-ever Super Bowl winner from Glades Central Community High -- remember them, Naples High? -- and he did it in remarkable fashion, catching the gamewinner in the corner of the end zone with 35 seconds left.

"I'm just really excited about getting back to Pittsburgh for this parade," the 24-year-old said today, white teeth gleaming in a wide smile.

Not bad for the South Florida kid from the swamp who used to help his grandfather skin and sell rabbits for extra money -- not to mention selling drugs on the corner. Pretty remarkable transformation, but that's what sports can do -- they're one of the few ways out for kids like Holmes -- and Immokalee's own Edgerrin James, whose name I've mentioned so many times this week I might need some withdrawal medication.