It was a weather problem that caused Cowboys Stadium to look like it did below, and become the site of an accident caused by falling ice and snow from its roof, where six people were injured.
But it's thawing out, and all in time for the parties and Super Bowl XLV tomorrow. This is what sports agent Leigh Steinberg tweeted on Twitter:
SteinbergSports Leigh Steinberg
I have few talents,but controlling weather on my SB Party day is one of them,skies are gorgeous blue in Dallas,roads clear,time to partyM
And just in time for his 25th annual Super Bowl Party. This one different in that it's going from 1 PM to 1 AM - and it's just 9:18 PM CST as this is written.
Leigh's annual event, while not officially sanctioned by the NFL, is one of the premier soirees held during Super Bowl week. I've attended eight of them, or each time I've went to a Super Bowl. Had I not elected to come to Georgia - a plan I made last fall - this would have been my ninth time.
But this tweet by Leigh reminded me of why I'm not feeling bad:
SteinbergSports Leigh Steinberg
Just hit Dallas,on time,but it is freeezing for a Californian,brrrr,ice on ground
But, from this tweet from the NFL Commissioner's Party, Leigh's in his element: celebs and power players...
SteinbergSports Leigh Steinberg
Listened to Martina McBride@Commish Party,saw Mary Matalin+James Carville-my date was conserv+I am L...congratulated Amb Rooney
Ah, well, hell, that's my element, too! I guess that's why we get along so well.
Here's the description of Leigh's party (that's him in the middle from a photo taken tonight) at Eddie Deen's Ranch in Downtown Dallas, which, from one tweet, he's sharing with CBS:
The preeminent sports agent of our lifetime Leigh Steinberg is in the 25 year of hosting his annual Super Bowl party. Many people know Steinberg as the inspiration behind Tom Cruise's character in Jerry Maguire. His party consistently draws the top professional athletes, politicians, business leaders, NFL team owners, musicians and actors in town for the biggest pro football weekend of the year. Expect to see big names on the "Green Carpet" such as Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, Jerry Jones and President George W. Bush. New RSVPs include Jennifer Aniston, Adam Sandler, Serena Williams, Emmitt Smith and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Also look for a Jerry Maguire reunion as Jay Mohr, Cuba Gooding Jr and Regina King will be at the party. There is also an invite out to Tom Cruise.
"The Super Bowl is a convention of Americana," Steinberg says. "It is the largest meeting ground available. Our party gives us the ability to mix the world of business and entertainment with the world of sports. It's the Super Bowl of people-watching."
The party will be split up into an afternoon session from 1:00pm to 5:00pm and the evening session running from 7:30pm to 1:00am. A big highlight of this night is the Pro vs. GI Joe video game competition taking place during the party.
A major part of the evening will revolve around Steinberg honoring his friend Gabrielle Giffords, who is recovering from a gunshot wound to the head suffered in the Tucson shooting on January 8. In addition, Mike Sullivan will be doing a Gabby Giffords portrait that will be signed by all of the guests.
And of course, Leigh's got a lot of star power in the room. Here's another tweet:
@SteinbergSports Leigh Steinberg
SB Party RSVP's-Steve Carrell,Jennifer Aniston,Lil Wayne,Mike "Situation",Cuba Gooding,T.Boone Pickens,Colin Cowherd,Adam Sandler,Troy A
On top of that, former President George W. Bush is in the house as of 30 minutes ago and rumor has it that Tom Cruise is supposed to stop by. That's a good thing because my impression for a bit was that Cruise didn't really seem to be tight with Leigh.
I think Tom was a bit put off that the sports agent movie Jerry McGuire seemed to be all about Leigh, rather than about a person who was a mix of agents, including Drew Rosenhaus. But from Leigh's perspective, he can always say that of all the agents that were consulted, he was actually in the film.
But I digress...
The party description text should have included "U.S. Congresswoman," but details aside, I'm sure it is a fun party. The photos from it are coming in on Twitter and all over the social network platforms.
For example, Serena Williams was photographed at Leigh's party just a moment ago. And with it going on to 1 AM, anyone can arrive.
And by the looks of things, Serena's got a kind of designer cast on her right ankle. She's obviously still nursing the ankle she injured last August, and for which she's out of the Australian Open. (Ya think Jay Cutler could have worn something like that after the NFC Championship?)
Plus, the snow's thawing, it's easier to get around, the crowds are swelling, and all just in time to make Super Bowl XVL really super.
Stay tuned.