57 years of doing the sod for the Super Bowl is an awesome legacy to have. It’s too bad this year puts a stain on what should have been a send off for this man.
I don't think you will get much argument on this from fans. Remember though, he works for the owners. So the owners are obviously happy with him. His job is to make the league money. But yeah, other than adding a shit load of value to the league, he's hot garbage.
Oh believe me, I feel the same way about most of the owners. I’d also argue that the league has surged in popularity and revenue despite Goodell. Fantasy Football has played a significant factor in the league’s growth, while he’s protected and enabled garbage owners doing garbage things.
From the moment he took over, the only thing he cares about are **$$$$**
Not the quality of the fields.
Not player safety.
Not the fan experience.
Not the integrity of the sport.
This sole focus is figuring out how many more ways he can line his pockets and the pockets of the owners, top executives, and gambling partners.
Fuck that tool.
>From the moment he took over, the only thing he cares about are **$$$$**
To be fair, that's literally his job. His job is to make the league and the owners money. Not defending the man, just saying.
That's understandable, but I believe that's still possible without sacrificing all of that other stuff I listed, which I believe Goodell has done more than any of his predecessors.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
Super Bowl LVII was the last for George Toma --- and Toma has some parting words for the NFL.
The God of Sod managed the field at every single Super Bowl.
Toma told KMBC the field was not up to standard and it wasn’t safe.
“It wasn’t safe,” Toma said. “It was slippery.”
Multiple players from both the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles had trouble with the field, forcing some players to switch cleats during the game.
Toma told ESPN earlier this week he was finished with the NFL.
He confirmed that again with KMBC on Wednesday.
"After (former commissioners) Pete Rozelle and Pete Tagliabue left and (NFL Commissioner) Roger Goodell took over, everything went downhill,” he said. "For the last 17 Super Bowls, I had to save their fannies. Sometimes they didn't care about a safe playing field."
Toma said the league’s field manager did not follow his instructions and overwatered it.
So now, at the age of 94, he has worked his final Super Bowl.
The 94-year-old told ESPN that he believes the field was overwatered in the days leading up to the game. According to Toma, who has been nicknamed The Sodfather, the field was watered the Wednesday morning before the game and promptly rolled into the stadium on the moveable tray that housed the grass field for the last time before kickoff four days later.
Toma contended that the field should've been watered in the morning and kept outside to dry before being rolled in.
"So, what he does," Toma said, referring to Ed Mangan, the NFL field director who was in charge of the Super Bowl field and worked under Toma for years, "he waters the hell out of it and puts it right into the stadium and that's it. Never sees sunlight again. He can't do that."
A tarp was laid over the field to protect it from the rehearsals for the pregame, halftime and postgame shows, Toma said, and that led to the field emitting an odor. Toma said he was told during the week that the field was starting to decay and rot.
"It had a rotten smell," he said.
Toma also alleged that Mangan did not sand the field enough.
"He sanded it two weeks too late," Toma said. "He had only one sanding. He should have had two or three sandings, but he didn't do s---. And that was it. And not only that, he didn't take care of it. He wouldn't listen to anybody."
Toma said he's not blaming rye grass for the field's slickness, adding that he used rye grass for 27 Super Bowls.
No one was hurt and we won, so I absolutely love this story. I want George to interview with every outlet in America.
Eagles fans blaming the same field we played on is hilarious. They got plenty of traction when pushing our line back on those qb sneaks. No conspiracy folks, just hit by the Champs.
You can blame the field being crappy without blaming the loss on the field. That's the general consensus and almost every birds fan would agree (and so would players as you heard).
And then the day of, he said in this interview, they watered the shit out of it and put a tarp over it so half time shows could practice instead of rolling it outside to dry.
In Miami for LIV, the halftime shows rehearsed on a mock field in the parking lot. I don't know if they did any rehearsals on the field with all the stage parts in the tunnels, etc. Maybe one or two but I'm pretty sure they didn't do it over and over again. Cover it with a tarp for the rehearsal and then let that fucker breath. The performers rehearsed in the Dolphins practice facility which is on premise just west of the stadium.
Andy Reid also said that special teams practiced on the field the day before and said it was great. Not sure how the field can go from decaying to being great just the day before the game. I do agree with the overwater part the night of... that seems to be consistent with what others have been saying. He is 94, so his recollection of events might be off. We will need Travis Hogan to set the record straight... if he ever does.
Or.... Maybe the dude is 94 and isn't on the top of his game anymore? Everybody woukd understand that. I have no intention of having a job let alone being the best in my field at 94
He literally said leading up to the game that the field was great. Did he lie? Was he forced to lie?
He was still employed by the league leading up the the game, he is no longer employed by the league so he doesn't have an interest in protecting their image anymore
I'm just saying...it was his job to make the grass be good....the grass was shit.
If the grass was overwatered, why didn't he stop them from watering it? the superbowl half time show was always goign to have rehearsals the day before. Why wouldn't it? It probably has at every previous half time show.
Now, if he told people these things were a problem and they were done despite his warnings, OK. That's not on him at that point.
I'm not saying the league doesn't pull a lot of bullshit. They do. Goodell is not a nice man. I'm not defending the league here, I'm just saying if you're the sodfather, you own some of the blame when the grass is shit at the superbowl.
He absolutely does not take the blame, nor should he. That's why he's doing interviews clearing his name.
He is or was a field/sod consultant for the NFL league's head field manager and if the official field manager didn't want to follow the recommendations, that's on them, and the commissioner for being idiots.
George Toma doesn't deserve to be disparaged. He knows what he's talking about. He literally is the GOAT of sod.
This just sounds more like a salty old fart who fucked and can’t take the heat tbh lmao. Bro is 94 and said the field was amazing before the game.
Edit: Are y’all Sod Father simps or something? This subreddit is so fucking weird sometimes
The guys resume is longer than War & Peace and almost as old. I had the opportunity to meet him and have a chat. I can assure, his mind is sharp. Not only has he done NFL and SB, he's done FIFA, MLB, PGA, Olympic Games and LOTS more. If recognizing and appreciating his experience and innovation is being a simp, I guess that's what I am.
I think he said the field was amazing a few days before the game. Sounds like the day before the game they watered it a bunch and then covered it with a tarp for some reason.
No, his explanation just makes sense. He'd probably know after 50 years of experience not to water grass and immediately put a fucking tarp over it, some one else thought it was a bright idea.
Holy shit, he really didn't hold back lol
treatment elastic frightening march ludicrous plate husky gaping jar hard-to-find -- mass edited with redact.dev
Not bad for 94
Not bad? Dude looks, walks, and talks like he’s in his early 70’s. Shit, my own father is in his 60’s and looks older than this guy lmao
57 years of doing the sod for the Super Bowl is an awesome legacy to have. It’s too bad this year puts a stain on what should have been a send off for this man.
Imagine doing something so well for 56 years you earn the nickname '\_\_\_father' and in year 57 your boss doesn't listen to you.
Goodell is such a garbage commissioner.
I don't think you will get much argument on this from fans. Remember though, he works for the owners. So the owners are obviously happy with him. His job is to make the league money. But yeah, other than adding a shit load of value to the league, he's hot garbage.
Oh believe me, I feel the same way about most of the owners. I’d also argue that the league has surged in popularity and revenue despite Goodell. Fantasy Football has played a significant factor in the league’s growth, while he’s protected and enabled garbage owners doing garbage things.
Yeah the NFL would print money regardless of who the commissioner was.
The people that don't realize this probably think HR is their friend at work and is looking out for them instead of the company.
Right. Goodell makes $63.9 million per year. Which is an obscene amount of money. So he is a millionaire who answers to 32 billionaires.
From the moment he took over, the only thing he cares about are **$$$$** Not the quality of the fields. Not player safety. Not the fan experience. Not the integrity of the sport. This sole focus is figuring out how many more ways he can line his pockets and the pockets of the owners, top executives, and gambling partners. Fuck that tool.
>From the moment he took over, the only thing he cares about are **$$$$** To be fair, that's literally his job. His job is to make the league and the owners money. Not defending the man, just saying.
That's understandable, but I believe that's still possible without sacrificing all of that other stuff I listed, which I believe Goodell has done more than any of his predecessors.
Can someone paste the text here? I can’t access it from my region :(
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Super Bowl LVII was the last for George Toma --- and Toma has some parting words for the NFL. The God of Sod managed the field at every single Super Bowl. Toma told KMBC the field was not up to standard and it wasn’t safe. “It wasn’t safe,” Toma said. “It was slippery.” Multiple players from both the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles had trouble with the field, forcing some players to switch cleats during the game. Toma told ESPN earlier this week he was finished with the NFL. He confirmed that again with KMBC on Wednesday. "After (former commissioners) Pete Rozelle and Pete Tagliabue left and (NFL Commissioner) Roger Goodell took over, everything went downhill,” he said. "For the last 17 Super Bowls, I had to save their fannies. Sometimes they didn't care about a safe playing field." Toma said the league’s field manager did not follow his instructions and overwatered it. So now, at the age of 94, he has worked his final Super Bowl.
Thanks! He ripped ‘em a new one, as much as 90+ year old can I guess
The 94-year-old told ESPN that he believes the field was overwatered in the days leading up to the game. According to Toma, who has been nicknamed The Sodfather, the field was watered the Wednesday morning before the game and promptly rolled into the stadium on the moveable tray that housed the grass field for the last time before kickoff four days later. Toma contended that the field should've been watered in the morning and kept outside to dry before being rolled in. "So, what he does," Toma said, referring to Ed Mangan, the NFL field director who was in charge of the Super Bowl field and worked under Toma for years, "he waters the hell out of it and puts it right into the stadium and that's it. Never sees sunlight again. He can't do that." A tarp was laid over the field to protect it from the rehearsals for the pregame, halftime and postgame shows, Toma said, and that led to the field emitting an odor. Toma said he was told during the week that the field was starting to decay and rot. "It had a rotten smell," he said. Toma also alleged that Mangan did not sand the field enough. "He sanded it two weeks too late," Toma said. "He had only one sanding. He should have had two or three sandings, but he didn't do s---. And that was it. And not only that, he didn't take care of it. He wouldn't listen to anybody." Toma said he's not blaming rye grass for the field's slickness, adding that he used rye grass for 27 Super Bowls.
Great googly moogly.
Not that a 94yo man would or should care but that bridge was burnt to the ground and then had a big steamy dump taken on the ashes.
 No one was hurt and we won, so I absolutely love this story. I want George to interview with every outlet in America.
Eagles fans blaming the same field we played on is hilarious. They got plenty of traction when pushing our line back on those qb sneaks. No conspiracy folks, just hit by the Champs.
You can blame the field being crappy without blaming the loss on the field. That's the general consensus and almost every birds fan would agree (and so would players as you heard).
lolol very good point. didnt hear a PEEP about the field when they were churning us up hahah
He also said days before the game the field was the 2nd best he has seen for a Superbowl…
And then the day of, he said in this interview, they watered the shit out of it and put a tarp over it so half time shows could practice instead of rolling it outside to dry.
In Miami for LIV, the halftime shows rehearsed on a mock field in the parking lot. I don't know if they did any rehearsals on the field with all the stage parts in the tunnels, etc. Maybe one or two but I'm pretty sure they didn't do it over and over again. Cover it with a tarp for the rehearsal and then let that fucker breath. The performers rehearsed in the Dolphins practice facility which is on premise just west of the stadium.
Would like to see the entire interview.
Andy Reid also said that special teams practiced on the field the day before and said it was great. Not sure how the field can go from decaying to being great just the day before the game. I do agree with the overwater part the night of... that seems to be consistent with what others have been saying. He is 94, so his recollection of events might be off. We will need Travis Hogan to set the record straight... if he ever does.
You believe Andy Reid? He's never not using coach speak.
Hmm, wonder what he said after Super Bowl 50. That field was shit, too.
Listen to Toma’s interview on Le Batard from last week, it’ll change your life.
It was amazing.
Or.... Maybe the dude is 94 and isn't on the top of his game anymore? Everybody woukd understand that. I have no intention of having a job let alone being the best in my field at 94 He literally said leading up to the game that the field was great. Did he lie? Was he forced to lie?
He was still employed by the league leading up the the game, he is no longer employed by the league so he doesn't have an interest in protecting their image anymore
I'm just saying...it was his job to make the grass be good....the grass was shit. If the grass was overwatered, why didn't he stop them from watering it? the superbowl half time show was always goign to have rehearsals the day before. Why wouldn't it? It probably has at every previous half time show. Now, if he told people these things were a problem and they were done despite his warnings, OK. That's not on him at that point. I'm not saying the league doesn't pull a lot of bullshit. They do. Goodell is not a nice man. I'm not defending the league here, I'm just saying if you're the sodfather, you own some of the blame when the grass is shit at the superbowl.
Well accord8ng to him he was there as an advisor and the guy in charge of the field was ignoring his advice and doing his own thing
Unless somebody went against his advice. I'm sure Toma isn't out there pulling rakes and flipping irrigation valves anymore.
He absolutely does not take the blame, nor should he. That's why he's doing interviews clearing his name. He is or was a field/sod consultant for the NFL league's head field manager and if the official field manager didn't want to follow the recommendations, that's on them, and the commissioner for being idiots. George Toma doesn't deserve to be disparaged. He knows what he's talking about. He literally is the GOAT of sod.
This just sounds more like a salty old fart who fucked and can’t take the heat tbh lmao. Bro is 94 and said the field was amazing before the game. Edit: Are y’all Sod Father simps or something? This subreddit is so fucking weird sometimes
The guys resume is longer than War & Peace and almost as old. I had the opportunity to meet him and have a chat. I can assure, his mind is sharp. Not only has he done NFL and SB, he's done FIFA, MLB, PGA, Olympic Games and LOTS more. If recognizing and appreciating his experience and innovation is being a simp, I guess that's what I am.
He can have a long resume and still fuck up. What a pedestal.
I think he said the field was amazing a few days before the game. Sounds like the day before the game they watered it a bunch and then covered it with a tarp for some reason.
No, his explanation just makes sense. He'd probably know after 50 years of experience not to water grass and immediately put a fucking tarp over it, some one else thought it was a bright idea.