Not a fan of the Patriots? Not a fan of the New York football Giants? Maybe football is just not your thing? Surely you know by now that there are other reasons that people tune in to the ‘big game,’ which airs Sunday on Fox at precisely 6:17 pm. Here is a sampling of some of my faves:
– First and foremost, I have to tell you about one of the greatest days that my husband, Neil, and I shared together. We were fortunate enough to be at the dance when the Baltimore Ravens beat the New York Giants in Tampa at Super Bowl XXXV. Let me tell you something: watching the half-time show was impressive. The performances were good, yes, but what I am really referring to is the construction and deconstruction of the stage on the field and how quickly they got it done.
That year MTV was responsible. After the first half convened and the players went to their locker rooms, the mammoth stadium screens came on and Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler and Chris Rock did pre-recorded skits with some of the musicians featured in the show. This bought time for the stage to get set. The field was dark. We could see all kinds of goings-on (when we weren’t watching the skits). It was amazing because once the show started: lights, camera, action! It was a full-scale production going on. Those girls and guys who worked diligently behind the scenes deserve major props.
This year’s half-time show features Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I am not a huge fan, but I guess he’ll do. MTV of course is no longer involved in the half-time show. I think after the Janet Jackson “wardrobe malfunction” the NFL backed away from that relationship and the Federal Communications Commission fallout.
– Celebrity spotting: it’s not necessarily what you see on the field, but who is in the stands. Celebrities of all kinds flock to this premium event. You can expect to see pigskin prognostications from people who you wouldn’t think have a lick of football knowledge in their brains.
For instance, I ran into Tyne Daly (“Judging Amy”). I quite literally ran into her when she was coming out of a smoking lounge. She’s a Giants fan (I asked) and I wonder if she will be making an appearance this game? Also, I saw Roma Downey, the “Touched by an Angel” star. She was surrounded by photographers and fans. Her petite frame is even smaller than on television. I couldn’t get anywhere near her to ask who she was hoping would win.
Another person I saw that I expected to know a thing or two about the game was Brad Garrett (“Everybody Loves Raymond”). He too was in the smoking section (not smoking) while I anxiously puffed away. This giant of a man was rooting for New York as well. When I recognized him and begin speaking he joked with me that he had smoked all the cigarettes in the ashtray. It was overflowing.
Sure there were others, but I didn’t get close to them. That was before I ever had any exposure with the media and I was just walking around to see who I could catch a glimpse of. Tony Danza, Adam Sandler, Cal and Kelly Ripken. I was celebrity struck.
I’ve heard a rumor that Michael Jackson may be making an appearance Sunday also. In the stands? As a performer? I cannot verify. Jackson is looking to call attention to the 25-year anniversary of a Thriller remake. It’s been that long already? Damn.
– Commercials … Ah yes, the infamous advertising world has rubbed some scratch together to give their products/services exposure to the 90 million viewers plus (United States). Those numbers are likely going to go up since both the Patriots and Giants are big-market teams. According to Fox (carrying the broadcast) a 30-second spot during the dance is averaging $2.7 million. That is a lot of scratch.
The commercials, to me, over the past few years have not been memorable.
One thing is for certain, we’ve got a reason to pay attention during the first-quarter. Our own local figure-skating star from Bel Air, Kimmie Meissner will be stepping into the spotlight. She will be one of several athletes promoting Under Armour. This ad is supposed to feature different sports personalities training under extreme conditions.
I believe it was Tiki Barber who said on the Today Show Friday morning about planning your trips to the restroom, “Go to the bathroom during a punt.” AYE! The coverage that this event gets is monstrous.
– The food (and this has nothing to do with the televised event). I recall hearing on the Food Networkthat Superbowl Sunday is second only to Thanksgiving for entertaining. That is big business for chicken wings, avocados and pizza. Finger foods, appetizer-style, are key for a successful game day. Junk food, American-style, that’s how we like it and the big game seems to give us one more reason to indulge.
Aside from all the hoopla, there is a football game going on this Sunday. The Patriots are looking to make their mark in history and with a win will go undefeated. Their record would move to a stunning 19-0. This would give the only other NFL team, the 1972 Dolphins, a run for their money in who is the greatest undefeated NFL team of all time.
My money is on the Patriots, they are favored big and Brady and company should be able to bring it home.
I agree with Molly–it’s not about the game at all. My husband was fortunate enough to get a ticket to SBXXXV when the Ravens played the Giants. This was a once in a lifetime perfect storm for him, being born and raised in New York and a Giants fan all his life, then relocating to Baltimore with his family and holding a PSL/season tickets with the Ravens, combined with the fact that the game was being played in Tampa, close enough to get to from Baltimore, made him downright delirious. He was in a win/win situation. Sure, half his heart would be broken but the other half would be going to Disney World with the game’s MVP. It was a whirlwind trip for him, all over the course of less than 24 hours. Fly from BWI to Tampa, take in the atmosphere, watch the game, be whisked to the airport, arrive back at BWI and be home in bed by 3:00 a.m. I was off to work at 7, but extremely anxious to hear about the game, so he promised to call me as soon as he woke up. Around 1 p.m. or so, I finally got the phone call. Would he be ecstatic that the Ravens won? Torn because the Giants lost? Not even know where to begin to describe the experience? It turns out that one memory stood out above all the rest. Actually being present when the Ravens team scored their first ever Super Bowl touchdown? Swelling with pride during the National Anthem? Not quite. He blissfully announced that the greatest part of his day was when he spotted Hulk Hogan in the crowd and was close enough to touch him. Hulk Hogan? Hulk Hogan with the bleached blonde hair and bandanna, reminding Americans to remember their prayers, training and vitamins and to believe in yourself? Yup, that Hulk Hogan. With that proclamation, my husband said goodbye and went back to sleep, no doubt drifting back to being in the stands with tens of thousand of other fans and the Hulkster. Giants 24 – Patriots 21!
I dont care who wins this game. I only watch it for the commercials and so far, I havent seen a funny one. I think if they had one of me; itd be better =] and who is tom petty? i like how u wrote this though…you make it descriptive enough that i can picture it in my head. <3 you
MommieDearest- your hubby is happy tonight.
And I have to admit, I am too for the Giants fans.
Eli “manned up” in the end.
My prediction was wrong, isn’t the first and won’t be the last!
Do I love seeing cheaters lose. Mmm, boy, that was great.
And since you mentioned it, anyone else think the whole Janet Jackson thing was a big deal only because she was black? That it bought into some wierd “voodoo woman” magic paranoia archtype, especially because the gist of the performance was her seducing a white guy?
Which begs the larger question, is the entire superbowl a mass magic/fertility ritual that determines who the strongest warrior totem is for the coming season?
Maybe it’s just me….
josh, to be honest, I don’t think race played that big of a role in that situation. Some of the voodoo vibe my be more because of her family (specifically her brother, no, not tito). I think if it was britney spears instead, there still would have been outrage.
There might have been some anger, but I don’t think it would have gone as far as having hearings on public decency. I mean, who hasn’t seen Britney’s junk yet, and yet the republic still stands.
C’mon, josh… the whole Janet Jackson episode played out infront of one of the single most watched sporting events of the year (even though most people tune out the DREADFUL halftime shows. I mean really… did they re-animate Tom Petty’s lifeless corpse so he could ROCK Glendale? Ninety percent of those screaming “paid” extras who stormed the field to get up close and personal with the “Pacemakers”—I mean “Heartbreakers” weren’t even born when Petty was charting. But I digress).
Justin Timberlake could have been up there dancing with Bea Arthur, and if she had a wardrobe malfunction, there’d be the same level of outrage. The reason the Britney stuff hasn’t caused the same level of anger is because she hasn’t decided to have a pap smear during the seventh inning stretch at the All Star Game. THAT might signal the crumbling of the Republic…
I have to agree with Dell on the race issue. Through that whole saga I never once heard anyone say anything about being black, and I listen to a lot of talk radio.
Does that mean they weren’t? Dunno. Don’t care really.
I don’t think race played any issue at all. It was simply the boob thing during prime-time (multiplied).
Seeing how the media is covering Spears now, I’d venture to say that had she had the “wardrobe malfunction” a similar outcry would have spawned.
Imagine if she’d have been performing with JT and they were a couple?
Hey Molly
Great article, I am wondering how you and husband scored tickets to the big dance? They are incredibly hard to get, nearly impossible and I have yet to get them. It was either an amazing miracle or it was a connection like no other…
I am sure it was a connection like no other and that person will forever be held in high esteem right???
Keep writing, it’s great to have a woman’s spin on sports.