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Jerseys are a sign of respect -- and they look good
By Keyshawn Johnson
Special to ESPN.com

Keyshawn Johnson is filing a daily diary during Super Bowl week.
Grass never looked so good. For real.

Finally, we got to do something that will have a direct impact on what happens Sunday. All this "Jon vs. Al" and "Al vs. Tags" and "Sapp vs. Me" (just kidding -- get a grip -- there is nothing wrong between me and Warren) -- none of that has anything to do with what happens on Sunday.

So talk all you want -- that's y'all's job in the media -- build hype, sell tickets, boost ratings. That's fine. But none of it (and none of you by the way) are going to line up on one side or the other of the ball on Sunday. That's all we can control. We know that and you could tell by the way we went at it on the field today. Everyone got focused real fast and the work was good. Really good. Of course, the midnight curfew might have had a little something to do with that, too.

I don't sleep much as it is because I'm always doing something, trying to figure something out, seeing what's going on in the world. So having to be in my room by midnight -- that's our curfew -- just didn't feel right. But oh well. If that's what it takes to win this thing I've got no problem, believe me.

A lot of people are starting to come into town. Most of my friends and family won't get here until Friday or so, but a lot of families from out of town are flying in early to hang with us and soak up the atmosphere. Frankly, I've had all the atmosphere I need. I don't need to be out in the mix, partying, having fun, seeing all the so-called celebrities and the real celebrities. I've done all that before when I went to Super Bowls in the past -- always as a spectator. I realize now that I'm on the other side and everyone else is looking in.

And let me tell you, the inside is a hell of a lot better than the outside.

“ Yeah, I know Elway beat me and the Jets in the 1999 AFC championship game that would have gotten us to the Super Bowl, but I like Elway. Elway's a Hall of Fame quarterback with more determination and talent in one arm than just about anyone I've seen. I liked Elway. I didn't like Dan Marino, so I don't have Dan Marino's jerseys. ”
— Keyshawn Johnson

It's funny, but just about everyone I run into who doesn't really know me wants to know about the jerseys I've been wearing. And actually I am sick of having to explain why I wore Terry Bradshaw's jersey after we beat the Eagles, or John Elway's jersey when I was on the sidelines watching USC tear up Iowa at the Orange Bowl.

So I'll say it here and hope that enough people read ESPN.com: Young African American men are into collecting and wearing retro jerseys of great athletes. It's fashion.
Yeah, I know Elway beat me and the Jets in the 1999 AFC championship game that would have gotten us to the Super Bowl, but I like Elway. Elway's a Hall of Fame quarterback with more determination and talent in one arm than just about anyone I've seen. I liked Elway. I didn't like Dan Marino, so I don't have Dan Marino's jerseys.

I have a bunch of other jerseys at home that I've collected over the years, too: Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott, Julius Erving. I wore a George Gervin jersey on the plane here. I brought some others, too, that I'll probably break out before the week is over.

As for the Bradshaw jersey and all the wild-ass speculation that I was trying to get on TV (like that's ever a problem) or steal the spotlight from my teammates (obviously that ain't gonna happen, not with the talent I'm playing alongside), here's the real reason I wore it: Bradshaw won four Super Bowls, but mainly he picked us against the Eagles. Smart man.

Besides, Kobe Bryant wore different jerseys during the Lakers run to their third straight NBA Championship and I figure if it worked for him.

And besides, I like paying tribute to the guys who helped pave the way for the rest of us to be here and making so much money doing something we all love.

Every night's gonna be mellow, too -- not that I have a choice with that midnight fun cutoff. But hey, Jon Gruden's gotten us this far, he must know a little something about preparation -- or a little something about us. We're getting our game plan in place and we've got a heck of a lot of confidence in our coaching staff.

That showed Wednesday in practice. Damn, it felt good to be out there knowing that we were preparing to play on the last and biggest Sunday of the season.

Keyshawn Johnson is filing a daily diary during Super Bowl week exclusively for ESPN.com





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