Why the 5 most important words an athlete can say after the big game are: "WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!"

"WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!"

Of course you are. It's a great paying gig for any BM/WOC (Big man/woman on campus) that almost everyone knows. Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player usually gets an offer to make a quick buck by promoting Disney World. This year, it was Q.B. Tom Brady and his buddy, tight end Rob Gronkowski who pocketed big dollars. Rumor has it Brady got quite a bit, possibly as much as $300,000... plus half price on all tickets (kidding).

Here's something you may not know: It was quarterback Phil Simms of the New York Giants who won Super Bowl XXI in 1987 that was the first paid to say that phrase. He received $75,000... and so did loosing quarterback John Elway of the Denver Broncos, because when the Disney contract was signed before the game, the winning team was not known, so Disney was ready either way. The one exception is that Elway, as the loser, was not committed to go. That's what I call easy money.

However the first to actually say that phrase was Dick Rutan, who, with Jeana Yeager in December of 1986, piloted the first aircraft to circle the globe without stopping or refueling, in 9 days. While dining with Michael Eisner, CEO of Disney  and his wife, Jane, Yeager was asked what he was going to do next. He said, "I'm going to Disney World." It was Jane Eisner who suggested to her husband, that comment would make a great commercial. Thus, one of the best marketing ideas in the world was born. That gem, all for the price of a dinner.

All in all, that phrase, "I'm going to Disney World," has sent more than 100 speakers and counting to see Mickey Mouse and all that mouse represents, in Orlando or Anaheim. It has been spoken mostly by NFL players, perhaps because the Super Bowl has a super large audience, and there is not any other commercial playing during the game that is less expensive ($5.6 million for 30 seconds this year) or better remembered than "I'm going to Disney World." 

Miss America said it commercially in 1988 as did two American Idol winners later. A few Olympians, several race car drivers, the entire US Women's National Soccer team, and a few NBA, MLB and NHL players have made the trip. So also have four worthy college graduates. 

Who is next? We'll see.

Extra stuff and forced relevance, but ego satisfying: So why am I filled with angst about all this? I guess I was just born too soon. You see, even before there was a Disney World (but there was a Disneyland) I had my chance. When I won the National Collegiate Bowling Championship (really) at the American Bowling Congress tournament held in Toledo that year, I was ready.  After the trophy was awarded I was being interviewed on radio by Bill Stern (Who? Never mind.) who had a national syndicated sports show. I quite remember, when asked what was next for me, I said "I'm going to Steak 'n Shake." Walt Disney probably couldn't get a hold of me but he should have. (True story of that follows.) so I took the next best thing, two steak burgers (pickle and onion) with french fries and a chocolate malt. No Mickey, Minnie or Donald Duck. Beside the honor and trophy, I got a new bowling ball. Did you ever try to fly home with a bowling ball that won't quite fit under the seat? 

I was on the All America first collegiate bowling team that year and actually had my name in the National Bowling Hall of Fame at one time. I actually spent much of my youth in my dad's bowing alley. But no one wants to grow old smelling of sweat and smoke of that day. Love, marriage and wonderful children far outpace any 300 game. I don't do that any more but it was great in my youth.

Now, why should Walt Disney seek me out? Well, my dad was one of few people there when Mickey Mouse was created. That was in a small, one-time strip-mining town, Toluca, Illinois, where my dad was born. And, as the story goes, when Disney was traveling by rail from Hollywood to Chicago, that train made a water stop--what trains of that day did--early one Sunday morning. Disney, who had been up all night sketching a new character, peeked out his window and saw the water tower with 'Toluca' painted across its side. Looking back at his sketch, he knew what he had drawn was some charactered mouse with a high pitched voice named Mickey, who would be the star of his new black and white cartoon, Steamboat Willy.

TaDah!