'Greatest sorrow': Tragic twist after 24-year Super Bowl mystery solved
The man behind a viral internet mystery surrounding the unusual appearance of an Australia A cricket jersey at the Super Bowl has died.
Last year, a decades-old photo from the 1996 Super Bowl went viral around Australia, with sporting fans stumped about one astonishing detail.
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Standing on the sideline as Larry Brown celebrates an intercept touchdown for the Dallas Cowboys against the Pittsburgh Steelers is a man wearing an Australia A one-day cricket shirt.
Also wearing white shorts and sneakers, the man can be seen wearing a headset and a bright orange sleeve while standing next to a cameraman.
The image went viral with fans around the world wondering who this mystery man was brandishing an Australia A shirt.
The image even reached veteran broadcaster David Hill who claimed the photo was a photoshop job.
“The worst photoshopped image piece of rubbish I’ve ever seen in my life,” Hill said.
When asked if it was him, Hill replied “Of course not. I’ve never seen it.”
“Some w***er standing there with a pair of shorts and a top badly photoshopped into what looks like the offensive line of the Cowboys.
“How anyone could believe it was anything at all is beyond me?”
Mystery man from Super Bowl XXX solved
But the image was confirmed as real, having been published by Getty Images, and the man was revealed to be Jimmy Hadder.
He also appeared in other photos from Super Bowls.
Hadder appeared on 'The Greatest Season That Was Presents...' after the revelation to explain how he came to wearing the very particular Australia A jersey.
Some very sad news, Jimmy Hadder the Australia A man at the SuperBowl, passed away last week. He was so generous with his chat with us last year, we quickly understood why he was loved by so many in US sports broadcasting. https://t.co/NPla0OQUd8
— The Greatest Season That Was Presents... (@TGSTW_Presents) April 25, 2021
“I think I bought it at a souvenir store there if I’m not mistaken,” he told the podcast.
“And also, I wore a different Australia top at the Super Bowl that was played in Tampa in 2001, the Giants and the Baltimore Ravens and if you can get video of that, I’m in the tunnel at pre-game where they’re calling all the players out of through tunnel and I’m queuing all the players and I’ve got another uniform top that’s darker like a forest green with yellow star on it.”
Unfortunately, his wife, Robin, took to social media on the weekend to announce Hadder's death.
“It is with the greatest sorrow to tell you all that my husband, Jimmy Hadder has passed away on 4-21-21," she wrote.
"He was larger than life. He was truly the most interesting man in the world. He was loved by many. Thank you to all the friends and family that have contacted me with their condolences and offers of help. You are appreciated more than you will ever know. I need all the friends I can get right now.
"Those of you that know me well can contact me by phone, email, or messenger. But please realise I may have trouble answering back quickly. I am devastated. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers at this time.”
Hadder worked for CBS, which included 500 NFL games and seven Super Bowls.
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