There was a bit of a role reversal backstage at Super Bowl LVI on Sunday (February 13) when Eminem was able to meet legendary sports commentator Al Michaels. Visibly in awe standing next to the 77-year-old sports icon, Eminem acted like someone meeting him for the first time.
On Tuesday (February 15), Snoop Dogg — who performed alongside Eminem, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige for the historic Pepsi Halftime Show — shared a clip of their interaction to his Instagram account.
“The Rams are in this home stadium and then you’re doing the game,” Slim Shady says to Michaels. “That’s crazy.”
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Eminem then seems blown away when Michales tells him, “You’re the best in show.” Shady takes a step back and say, “Ah, thank you. You’re the G.O.A.T., man. You’re the G.O.A.T. I’m telling you, I was telling your wife like since I was a little kid all the way till now. I watched shit games when you’re doing them just because, right, and there’s a rumor that you might retire. I’ll be sad, OK.”
In an interview with Shade 45 radio personality Sway Calloway ahead of The Big Game, Eminem predicted Al Michaels’ involvement would be one of the highlights of the entire experience.
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“The stars are aligning and I’m going to tell you why else,” he said. “Al Michaels is doing the game and I’m a huge fan of Al Michaels.”
Al Michaels has been a sports commentator since 1967 when he was hired to do public relations for the Los Angeles Lakers and serve as a color commentator on the team’s radio broadcasts alongside Chick Hearn. He was employed by NBC Sports in 2006 after nearly three decades with ABC Sports.
The Pepsi Halftime Show appeared to go off without a hitch. Dr. Dre, who produced the show, kicked off the performance and was soon joined by his longtime collaborator Snoop Dogg for “The Next Episode” from the 1999 album 2001 before going into Tupac Shakur’s 1995 West Coast anthem “California Love” featuring Dr. Dre, the late Nate Dogg and Roger Troutman from Zapp & Roger.
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After a surprise performance from 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar performed for a few minute before Eminem eventually took the stage. Beginning with a few notes from “Forgot About Dre,” the 46-year-old rap icon went into the 2003 Academy Award-winning single “Lose Yourself” from the film 8 Mile.
As the roughly 12-minute performance came to an end, all six artists stood on the stage together as “Still D.R.E.” blared through the speakers and JAY-Z (who wrote the song) rapped along in the crowd.
