Dion Rich, the world’s greatest gate crasher, will arrive in New York next week from San Diego for Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium as he continues to live the dream.
This time he has a ticket, but he still plans to use his “crash’’ skills — just as he did at the first Super Bowl in 1967, when he wound up on the podium with Hall of Fame Packers coach Vince Lombardi, and in Super Bowl XII in 1978, when Rich helped carry Tom Landry off the field in New Orleans after a 27-10 Cowboys win over the Broncos, back when the Cowboys were America’s Team. He has the pictures to prove it.
This crash is going to be different, the 84-year-old Rich told The Post.
“My goal is to crash a luxury suite, just so I can stay warm,’’ the Southern California native said of this Polar Vortex Super Bowl.
In the ultimate compliment he can bestow on the NFL, he added, “There’s too much security now to crash the Super Bowl.’’
Like every crash, there are secrets to success.
“Be polite. Once you get in the area, get a name on the suite, so you have a name to drop,’’ Rich said, “and if you do get caught, you say, ‘Isn’t this so-and-so’s suite?’ When you do get in, grab a glass of wine first and look around to see if they trailed you. Then you eat as quickly as possible. This way, if you do get thrown out, it feels a lot better getting thrown out on a full stomach than an empty stomach.’’
Rich is single and has been doing this stuff his entire life.
“It keeps me young,” he said. “That and chasing young broads, even though I don’t catch them anymore.’’
Yes, he remains a character.
Rich has been to every Super Bowl except one — when Joe Namath’s Jets stunned the Colts, 16-7, in Super Bowl III.
“I went skiing instead,’’ Rich said.
Since Rich was first profiled by The Post in January 2001, he has written two books, the latest being “The Life of Dion Rich: Live like a Millionaire with No Money Down.’’
The cover photo is priceless: Rich with Landry on his shoulder.
In that game, Rich, who was friends with Broncos coach Red Miller, switched sidelines in the third quarter when it became evident the Broncos were going to lose. Gate crashers must go with the flow.
“Carrying off Landry was my greatest thrill,” Rich said. “As soon as the game ended, I lifted up Landry. Red Miller came over to congratulate Landry and he saw me there with Landry on my shoulder. Red was a good friend of mine, it was a little embarrassing, but Red knew what I was up to.’’
Rich still maintains his passion for sneaking into events like the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and all the after-parties, even if security has gotten much tighter in the post-9/11 world. Life always has been a party for the San Diego ticket broker, who owns 120 Chargers season tickets.
“They’re primo tickets,’’ said Rich, who first started to sneak into movie theaters as a kid.
I remember watching the Oscars a few years ago, and there was Rich, sitting on the aisle in the second row.
“Crashing the Oscars was always one of my favorites,’’ Rich said, “but I’ve done them all — the Kentucky Derby, the World Series, the Olympics, America’s Cup in Australia, All-Star Games, the NCAA Tournament, Super Bowls.”
Even at his age, Dion Rich always is up to something.
“I just hope this Super Bowl is a good game,’’ Rich said, “and I hope I’m watching it from a nice, warm luxury suite. Remember, if you can’t go in the front door, just go in the back door.’’
Like the great Super Bowl teams, Dion Rich finds a way to win.