Pooper Bowl XL - More of the same ol crap

Ok, here's my takes on the Super Bowl.

The Game
An okay game, more of a chess match then a wide open offensive slugfest. The Seahawks blew it. I don't want to take away from Pittsburgs accomplishment, but Seattle created all the oppurtunities, but couldn't capatalize. Pittsburg won on three big plays (Rothlisberger scrambles and completes to Ward to the 1 yard line, Fast Willie Parkers 75 yard rumble, and the most beautiful reverse pass ever executed). Besides that, they did zippy. And yes, the refs blew some calls (DJackson's push-off to call back a TD, Rothlisberger's TD, the phantom holding call in the 4th quarter), almost entirely against Seattle, but they played well enough to win despite bad calls. But they blew it, and it's gotta go on the coaches. They couldn't run a two minute offense, TWICE! So hooray for Black and Gold, for Cowher, and for Bettis. It was a good game, but a great story.

The Entertainment
HALF-TIME: God, this was painful. Yes, the NFL blew it by invinting the Stones instead of a Monster Mowtown Love-fest. And the Stone flat-out SUCKED! A bunch of Friggin' skeletons shambling around playing their 40 year old songs, led by a 60+ year old bag of bones in a belly shirt. Seemd like Keith Richard could still hold down the rhythm guitar chores, but Ron Wood played some sorry-ass solos. And way to go not showing any close ups of the mysterious Stones bassist (Bill Wyman's replacement. By the way, he was black!) Their weakest link was Mick himself, who couldn't raise his vocals above the band, regulerly looked lost in the songs, and finally decided to focus on prancing around and grunting. Paul McCartney is just as old, but he KILLED during last years half-time.

PRE-GAME SHOW: Stevie Wonder's all star jam was just confusing. Too many people trying to sing, to many clipped microphones, too many snipetts of songs crammed into 10 minutes. It was a major FusterCluck. I guess everyone sounded fine, but it was far from impressive. And Joss Stone looked like the whitest of white chicks on that stage.

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM: I love the concept. Love Dr. John and Aaron Neville. Aretha's got pipes (and looks like she dropped some lbs.) But it just wasn't together. First the sound crew took about 10 seconds to get Neville's mic up to level which seemed like an eternity. Then the choir started grooving with Aretha, and I kinda listened with a confused look on my face. It was ok, but I want a NATIONAL ANTHEM. Not this nouveaux soul interpretation crap. I want to be inspired, like Whitney Houston in 92 (or was it 93?). This didn't do it for me. A former military man I was watching the game with called it "disgraceful."

The Commercials
Not a lot of blockbusters, but here's my top 5:
5. Fed Ex Caveman. nuff said!
4. Bud Light. MAGIC FRIDGE! MAGIC FRIDGE!
3. Michalobe, the hot chick playing flag-football. "I'm Open!" SMASH! "You were open, but NOW YOUR CLOSED!"
2. Careerbuilder.com - Chimps running wild in the office, lighting stoogies with dollas!
1. The Cell phone guys in the lockeroom, with the theft deturrant phone. HILLARIOUS!!!

Overall a below average night. But Super Bowls are like sex. Even when it's not real good, it's still SEX!