Continued: Even media crush is a joyride for Moss

GLENDALE, ARIZ. - Super Bowl, homeboy!

Finally.

After 10 seasons, 133 touchdowns, the "Randy Ratio," two disappointing NFC title games and a couple of trades to each end of the country, Randy Moss walked into Super Bowl XLII media day and climbed into the chair he thought he might never reach.

Dressed in his white No. 81 Patriots jersey and blue pants, and sporting a full beard, huge diamond stud earrings and a red bandana underneath his Patriots cap, the former Viking broke into laughter as he sat down. He took a breath and surveyed a media horde packed at least seven deep around the platform.

"What's happening?" Moss beamed.

Oh, not much. Just an NFL-record 23 touchdown receptions, the biggest stage in all of sports and the potential for an historic 19-0 season.

"This is my first Super Bowl experience, and I'm enjoying every second of it," Moss said. "Being able to become a New England Patriot, it's nothing I ever dreamed would happen. I've always said from the day I got here that I'm living the dream to be a part of this. As special as it is now, I'm still living the dream."

It's been quite a journey for the soon-to-be 31-year-old superstar. Some it has been good, some bad and some ugly. And Moss relived a little bit of each Monday night when just by chance he bumped into former Vikings teammate Randall Cunningham at a local movie theater.

"I gave him a hug, and he told me how proud he was of me," Moss said. "It was great to see Randall because I hadn't seen him in years. To be able to think about those guys [in Minnesota] who never had a chance to be on this stage, such as a Randall Cunningham and a Cris Carter, I would just like them to live this experience with me. ... I just hope they can enjoy this ride with me."

Cunningham was in his 13th NFL season and second as quarterback of the Vikings when Moss was a rookie in 1998. They combined on 17 touchdown passes as the Vikings scored 556 points, which was the NFL record until the Patriots scored 589 this season. The Vikings also went 15-1 and were a shoo-in to reach the Super Bowl right up to the point when the Falcons upset them 30-27 in overtime in the NFC Championship Game.

After that loss, a 21-year-old Moss made a promise that would cause him to decline "multiple" Super Bowl party invitations for nearly a decade.

"I told myself I don't want to come to a Super Bowl until we play in it," Moss said. "I never wanted to come."

The Vikings made it back to the NFC title game during Moss' third season, but lost 41-doughnut to the Giants. Afterward, Moss publicly questioned the Vikings' ability to ever reach a Super Bowl.

But seven months later, as the Vikings opened training camp and Moss was asked what his goals were for the 2001 season, his memorable response was, "Super Bowl, homeboy!" The Vikings, however, missed the playoffs the next three seasons.

Moss won only one more playoff game with the Vikings before he was dealt to the Raiders after the 2004 season. Moss spent two disgruntled seasons in Oakland before being traded to the Patriots for a fourth-round draft pick.

"I did want to retire as a Viking," Moss said. "I have some great memories in Minnesota. I have a few of them in Oakland. But here, in one season, the memories I have with the Patriots can just shatter all the memories I had in Minnesota and Oakland."

Asked what the Vikings lacked that the Patriots have, Moss said, "I think the overall team concept and everything that goes with being a team.

"I think the Vikings my rookie year had a lot of athletes out there. We were just out there basically playing a lot of street ball, and just going out there and making things happen. I think this year, the Patriots have come together and rely on our preparation and game-planning and our practicing to go out there and win games for us."

For Moss' detractors, hearing him talk about a team concept might sound strange. After all, there are many people whose perception of Moss is one of a selfish player.

"I've always been an unselfish player," Moss said. "I think early in my career people were a little disturbed about how I approach the game of football. I've always carried a chip on my shoulder to this game."

In 2002, then-Vikings coach Mike Tice created the "Randy Ratio." It was a public declaration that the Vikings' game plan would be designed around throwing 40 percent of the team's passes to Moss. It was a failed idea as the Vikings finished 6-10.

If there's one thing the Patriots don't have, it's a "ratio" for any one individual. Moss has one catch in each of the two playoff victories for a total of 32 yards.

Is Moss upset?

"No," he said.

Would he be happy if he catches no passes and the Patriots still beat the Giants on Sunday?

"Of course I would," Moss said. "To catch no passes, and win the game? Yeah, I can go ahead and ride off into the sunset with that."