This year’s Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, set to take place Sunday, is gearing up to be one for the history books. The 49ers, led by their quarterback, Brock Purdy, is an inspiring story that we rarely get to see. Formerly known as Mr. Irrelevant, as he was the final pick of the 2022 draft, everyone expected him to go nowhere. But now he’s leading one of the best teams in the NFL to the Super Bowl. He’ll be up against superstar Patrick Mahomes, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. In his seventh year, Patrick Mahomes shows no signs of slowing down, leading his team to three Super Bowls, and winning twice.
Amid the backdrop of this momentous Super Bowl, I had the pleasure of attending the Washington Commanders Cocktail Party at Kusa Nori Japanese Restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s one of many cocktail parties going on in Vegas leading up to the game, as each team hosts their own Super Bowl weekend event.
In attendance were all-stars, legends, owners and royalty in both business, sports and media. One would believe they were in Maryland or D.C. considering the number of D.C. and Maryland-based people in attendance.
One man in attendance was Josh Harris, who had recently acquired the majority stake ownership in the Washington Commanders. It was a delight to learn about Harris’ perspective on his newly acquired team. He was enthusiastic and is fully prepared to lead the Maryland-based Washington Commanders to the Super Bowl next year. In his own words, “It’s great to be here, but I want to be here playing.”
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In attendance as well were MDE Sports and Washington City Paper owner Mark Ein; 1988 Super Bowl MVP, quarterback Doug Williams, who’s now a senior advisor to the Commanders’ president; star quarterback turned NFL analyst, Joe Theismann, who led the Washington team to two consecutive Super Bowls, including one win; Chef Geoff Tracy, founder of the D.C.-based Chef Geoff’s restaurant group; Nora O’Donnell, anchor and managing editor of “CBS News Evening News”; Jan Adams, president JMA Solutions management services firm; Mashea Ashton, CEO of Digital Pioneers Academy; and Jason Williams, president of the Commanders.
Despite the Washington Commanders’ failure to advance to the final stretch of the season, there was an atmosphere of anticipation and delight. It was conveyed to me that although the Commanders were unable to make it to the Super Bowl, they still had been rooting for another Maryland team, the Baltimore Ravens, to advance to the end.
Having the opportunity to participate in the conversations of attendees at these events was a delight. It provided extraordinary insight into the upcoming season and the determination that these owners and players possess to accomplish greatness in the coming year.
Armstrong Williams (www.armstrongwilliams.com; @arightside) is a political analyst, syndicated columnist and owner of the broadcasting company, Howard Stirk Holdings. He is also part owner of The Baltimore Sun.