Homer Martinson was among the legendary golf pros in the Twin Cities in the 1950s and beyond. He spent 35 years in that role at Wayzata Country Club. Homer died at age 88 in 2013.

Paul Martinson, Homer's son, sent along this note on Homer's experience when he went to New Orleans for Super IX in January 1975.

The Vikings were making a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance and third overall. They would play in a fourth in January 1977, and 41 years later, the franchise awaits No. 5 and a chance for a first victory.

The 1975 Super Bowl was awarded to New Orleans with the idea that the Louisiana Superdome would be completed, but it fell behind schedule (where was Huey Long when they needed him?) and the game was played inside the drab surroundings of Tulane Stadium.

It was a cold, unappealing day and that fit the Steelers' 16-6 victory over the Vikings. All in all, it has to rank among the least-entertaining Super Bowls in history.

The 52nd Super Bowl is being played in our midst, as you might be aware. Fortunately, our new dome was finished on schedule in the summer of 2016 – and the freezing weather has done nothing to deter visitors from sending tickets on the secondary market into the stratosphere.

The price and ticket demands for the Eagles-Patriots contest on Sunday are what made Paul Martinson's small tale about his father worth a smile:

"My father attended Super Bowl IX in New Orleans in 1975. Homer had two extra tickets that he thought he could sell once he arrived at Tulane Stadium.

"Just before game time, Homer was still roarming the parking lot but could not find any buyers. He ran into two African-American boys around age 10, and offered them the tickets if they promised to cheer for the Vikings.

"There response was, 'No, way. We're Mean Joe Greene fans." After wandering around a bit more, Homer conceded the tickets to the two boys, even though they would be rooting for the Steelers and Mean Joe.

"Giving two tickets away free is a bit of change from the $4,000 tickets of today.''

Thanks for the note, Paul, although last I checked, $4,000 is a bit conservative as a ticket price.