And he's still being treated like a third stringer despite a terrific playoff to this point. His name is JAKE ;-) . Not to be fussy, just pointing that out ;-). I like the under in a 19-16 win for... well, for someone. I'm cheerin hard for the Panthers, because I've grown to like them at least partially because of a cancer-stricken man from Carolina who married into my family. He's a great guy and because of him I learned to love Panther football. I've also taken a real liking to MLB Dan Morgan since his rookie year (before I met the Carolinian man. Carolinian?). I've never seen someone play so hard for 60 minutes, and he's a true manster. The biggest neck I've ever seen (and I'm a lifelong pro wrestling fan :-P )and one of the league's fastest linebackers. On the other hand, if I look obectively at this game, the Panthers don't look like they have a chance and 27-3 Pats seems more likely. I hope my heart is right, and my head is wrong this time! Hopefully, Stephen Davis gets to tell the world that he's going to Disney Land!

BTW my preseason Super Bowl pick was the Patriots...or Bills *eek*

I've been a Patriots fan since the dark days of Steve Grogan, Tony Collins and the star-crossed Mosi Tatupu, and all I can say is: these are very, very good times.

Patriots 34, Panthers 10.

I'm cheering for the Pats, not out of any real preference but because if they get a lead it will force the Panthers to go to the air. This has the most chance of being a 9-7 Super Bowl of any I've ever seen, and that worries me.

Yeah, 27-3 NEw England sounds about right. Super Bowls hardly ever live up to the hype, and we have been spoiled this year with three overtime playoff games, and nearly all the playoff games were good. I don't remember who I picked way back in September, but I think it was the Eagles - football's version of the Chokeland A's.

In other football news, Barry Sanders and John Elway have made the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

I can't think of much that was finer than watching Barry Sanders run.

Within ten years, there won't even be a Super Bowl game. Just a three-hour pre-game show, a boffo Star Spangled Banner, a thrilltastic halftime performance, and about two hours of commercials. No actual football unless you count "Bud Bowl." The game itself will be played on a Monday afternoon and shown on ESPN2, in between "NAIA Cheerleading Championships" and "Pro Bowling from Dayton."

Pats 24-13.

You're right to say the Super Bowl has dissapointed more often than not, Rob, it has been alright lately. The first Super Bowl I cared about was in 97 because of Brett Favre and that game had it's moments (Reggie White's second half, Howard's big return....) but to many was a dissapointment overall. The first game I was a real fan for was the following year when Elway won his first Ring in what has been heraladed by many (No less an 'expert' than NFL Films) as the msot exciting Super Bowl game ever. It also had one of my favorite sports moments of all-time when Elway made his 8 yard run, was crushed, and still got up pumping his fist. The following year, Elway crushed an overachieveing Falcons team that rode a hot Jamal Anderson (very nearly 2,000 yds rushing in the reg. season). That was followed by Rams vs. Titans which was as good as any sporting event, ever IMO. It had The Tackle, the 74 yd TD reception by Bruce, the cinderella story fo the Rams as a whole and more improtantly the story of Kurt Warner. Super Bowl XXXV wasn't that good a game but being the fan of defense that I am the chance to watch Ray Lewis et al on such a grand stage held my attention. Watching Ray in a Suuper Bowl is just like getting to watch Joe Montana in his prime with the 9ers in the big game, only without as much hype. Patriots over Rams the following year was yet another classic (put the Rams in the big game, and you're destined to have a great one it seems as they have partaken in 2 of the greatest ever these last few years). Vinatieri's kick was tremendous as was the Tom Brady story. Last year, we got a stinker. Unlike Elway's chance at a repeat and Lewis' greatness there wasn't even something that kept me watching. So, in the last 7 Super Bowls (31-37) I count 3 of the best championship games ever (32,34, and 36), 3 that had exciting storylines throughtout the game (Ravens' D in 35, Elway's repeat in 33, and Favre's legacy in 31), and one real stinker in SB 37 (unless the Gruden storyline actually interested you). I can see an argument that the Buc's D was as good as the Ravens' (though I disagree) but it certainly wasn't as interesting. Maybe it's my bias because of the respect I have for Ray Lewis' game, but I'll readily admit that this was littered with my opinion (of course).

BTW, I was actually surprised at the quality of the big games. I bought into the hype about the Super Bowl not living up to the hype, I guess.

BTW again, the three 'storyline' games are considered poor games by many, but I just know that they held my interest and didn't leave me looking for more. I have said on here before that I'm as much a fan of following sports as watching, so these games could be different for others. So the final tally definitely has 3 goods (well, good is an undertsatement), 1 stinker, and three that could go either way. That sounds like what you could expect from 7 consecutive sporting events. Anybody care to chime in on the last 7 WS? Stanley Cup Finals? NBA Finals?

Good points there Donkit. I remember that GB-NE one since it was the main reason I became a Packers fan. (Yeah, it's a bandwagon thing but I was only 10 years old then :) I agree that those "3 good ones" were good, and I guess I "bought into the hype" too. I'm just predicting that today's game will be bad, since the playoffs were so amazing. Of course, it is the NFL, so anything will happen.

With the NFL's uber-parity, Super Bowl XXXIX will feature two teams that lost 10 or more games this year. How about San Diego versus Chicago?

As for the past seven World Series:
Marlins/Yanks: didn't match the level of play in the playoffs (see Game 7, Red Sox-Yankees) but a good series Loria notwithstanding
Angels/Giants: great series: K-Rod, the Game 6 comeback, Barry Bonds, Troy Glaus
DBacks/Yankees: I think it mostly unmemorable, except for the last play
Yankees/Mets: come on, really, Jeter was the MVP
Yankees/Braves: are 4-0 series ever great?
Yankees/Padres: maybe the worst one
Marlins/Indians: don't remember that one except for the firesale

So I count 1 great one, 1 good one, 4 below-average ones, and 1 I don't remember. So, I guess the NFL is better than MLB in this regard.

And no, I didn't just say the Yankees three-peat was bad because I don't like them. Didn't a game in the Subway Series end at 1:30 one night?

One more thing: You're right to say the Super Bowl has dissapointed more often than not, Rob

I assume you meant to say that I wasn't right :)

DBacks/Yankees: I think it mostly unmemorable, except for the last play
Wow, that's my favourite series ever. I thought it was so emotionally charged, right after September 11th, Yankee Stadium was crazy. BY Kim blows it twice and you think the Yankees are actually gonna win one for the New Yorkers who had gone through so much recently, and then Mariano Rivera of all people blows it. So many down to the wire finishes, I thought it was just wonderful.

Rob,

How can you say the DBacks/Yankees series was mostly unmemorable? That series is full of great memories. Who can forget Byung Kim imploding twice, Randy and Curt pitching on short rest, Randy relieving Curt out of the bullpen in Game 7 after dominating the Yankees in Game 6, the DBacks having to get by Mariano Rivera in Game 7. And most memorably (proving that sports isn't written by Hollywood writers) the DBacks winning the Championship that poetically deserved to go to New York which was still reeling from the Sept 11 attacks. The 2001 series is the best series of those you listed.

Patriots 31
Panthers 13

Tassle beats me to the 'Post This Comment' button in what I feel will start a minor flaming of Rob's comment by other posters.

Pats, 21-9. My cousin Ty gets at least one pick.

Carolina faced some pretty weak defenses this year, with six of its games coming against teams that finished in the bottom quartile in pts allowed per game. They also faced thoroughly mediocre *running* defenses: They lost to Tennessee (#1 against the run), beat Jacksonville by one point (#2), and lost to Dallas (#3). The next-best run defense they faced this year was Tampa Bay, #13. New England was 4th in the league in run defense and obviously tops in pts allowed per game.

All of this may mean nothing, but that's my logic, and the Pats are my adopted hometown team anyway.

BTW, guys, congratulations on rolling out the new look.

All Panthers. 21-6.

24-14 Panthers.

Why do I say this? Every year, two current members of each team square off in a game of NFL Gameday right before the Super Bowl. And for 8 years the victor of this game has won the actual game. So rather than spit in the face of the supernatural force deciding the outcome of this game, I'm going with the Panthers.

Or I could just say that I'm playing devil's advocate.

Rob, I really did mean that you were right but I was looking at the entire history of the Super Bowl.

AND I agree that today's game likely won't be too exciting. I just wanted to point out that there was hope based on the Super Bowl's that I could remember and make the point that other sports' finals are similarly iffy for entertainment value.

And I , also, disagree aboutt he D Backs Yankees series. That was definitely a great one.

Was that THE Keith Law? It's nice of you to stop by ;-)

Hey Brent, read Bills Simmons by any chance ;-) ?

I echo the sentiments about the 2001 World Series, but also want to say that the 1997 World Series between the Indians and Marlins was a hell of a series. The teams involved are mostly unmemorable, and the seem largely undeserving in retrospect, but it was an incredibly entertaining series.

Ominous statistic for the day: the last eight Super Bowls with a two-week rest period before them have been pretty bad. The average margin of victory in those games has been 22.

Yikes.

I'll take the Patriots 20-13.

A member of the Jays front office visits the Box, and the only comment he makes is in a football thread? Say it ain't so, Keith ;)

And Keith is really Ty's cousin? That's cool.

One of the first guys they showed in the pregame was Dan Morgan! I love that guy!

A member of the Jays front office visits the Box, and the only comment he makes is in a football thread?

Even if Keith wanted to comment on some of the baseball threads, there are several restrictions on what he could say. If he mentioned how many AB the team expects Josh Phelps to get, or who they expect to be the fourth outfielder, that could be taken as giving advice to fantasy players, which MLB does not allow team personnel to do. He also can't say much about players under contract to other teams.

I think the reference to his "cousin" Ty was a joke, something like all my "cousins" in the NBA. I'm sure Junk Yard Dog would be a howl at family reunions.

This will be the first football game I've watched all year, so take my prediction with a grain of salt. I think the Panthers are just happy to be here, and they'll get blown out 28-10 by the better team.

Oh My Good Lord

Vinatieri missed an uncontested, 31 yd, chip shot!

Just before the missed FG, they showed a stat that said he'd made 31 of his last 33 FG attempts and both of the missed ones were in Houston. I said "So what!" out loud. Uprights are all the same right?

Obviously not.

He missed ANOTHER one (well, it was blocked). Anyone know if they count as a missed FG?

D'oh - big run by brady

Counts as a miss.

The way the 2nd Quarter ended, my prediction of NE winning 24-17 could go up in flames (NE will still win but there could be a few more points on the board). I've been impressed with Brady's ability to scramble and complete passes. Generally (all empiracle evidence) he seems to be more successful standing in the pocket to make a good clean pass but this evening's been much different. With something like 7 of his first 8 completions going to Troy Brown, it seems he realized standing in the pocket and waiting for his backs to get to the middle of the field just wouldn't cut it. No matter what Vinatieri's done so far, if this comes down to a field goal the Pat's will win

Best commercials so far: Budweiser (donkey) and Doritos (matching chips)

Hey Brent, read Bills Simmons by any chance ;-) ?
Bill Simmons is a fantastic writer...For the past week I've gone out of my way to keep up with his blog entries from Houston that constitute commic gienus.

OK, this is pretty entertaining. Just as New England appeared to be going in for the kill, the Panthers come up with the enormous pick on an ill-advised pass by Brady.

This is why sports betting can make you crazy. Imagine if you had the Patriots and the "over" in a big parlay. If they get the field goal there, you're looking absolutely golden, but no-o-o-o-o-o!

To make matters much worse, they give up the bomb on a third-and-10 blown coverage, and now it's not a matter of covering the spread, they might lose the game.

With the Carolina TD putting them ahead 22-21, I win big money on the Over...it also means that absolutely no one can be right, or even close, with their predictions.

29-22 but a biiig play by Delhomme to Ricky Proehl (remember him?) to within the 15 has them right on the cusp...

Mushin let one through his fingers... high pass

2nd and 10 from the 15, to Proehl to the 7 yd line.

TOUCHDOWN! RICKY PROEHL! Delhomme has been amazing since a very shaky start. I love this Cajun kid. 1:08 left!

After a slack beginning, this game is getting great!

Slack? You're being kind. The first 20 minutes were horrible.

Pats start at their own 40.... INC to Branch

Complete to Troy Brown, to the Carolina 47... I would be comfortable , as Bill belichick, if I drove to the 31 (for a 48 yarder) with Vinatieri on my sideline.

It looked like Brown to the 30 or so, but Offensive pass interference was called! 1st and 20 now.

This is really getting good.

Troy Brown to the 45 on a great catch.

3rd and 3 with 0:18 left!!!

:08 seconds left, Pats to Brown to around the 28.

Nail-biter!

Here comes Adam for another huuuuge kick!

From 41 yds... What would it like to be Vinatieri right now!

BALL GAME Over. Rod Smart was tackled pretty quick on the kickoff. I can't udnerstand why there was no set-up for a lateral....

awesome, awesome game and a lot closer than I expected, the kickoff out of bounds by Kasey was the mistake that cost them

The real killer was the timeout that Carolina called with 1:38 left when they got the first down at about the 15. Why did they call that?

Hey Brent, read Bills Simmons by any chance ;-) ?

Actually, I've never read Simmons before, but thanks to you and A, I have found his Page2 blog page. He has a pretty sharp wit.

I must admit that I have not seen many Superbowls in the past, but this one has certainly garnered my attention. I might have to catch a couple NFL games next year. That should fill in the gaping hole in my schedule post-World Series. :)

http://news.google.com/news?q=janet+jackson+breast&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&scoring=d
Today fun post-Super Bowl Google News search. COMN

Man, the first and third quarters were ass, but the second and fourth quarters... best half of a Super Bowl ever. :)

I was wondering at the time if she exposed herself (or I guess, Timberlake exposed her). Oh well, I guess it covered up the fact that none of the performers could lip-sync their own songs very well.

Vrabel MVP; Vrabel MVP; Vrabel MVP
I am finshed now, can`t wait for spring training. I don`t post here cause there aren't any baseball news from Germany ( I can post about European Football as long as anyone cares !). But I love to read the posts on this site. I feel like I am up to date with my beloved Jays. Thanks to everyone and All the Best,
Thomas

So they actually let the president pick the Super Bowl MVP? Thank God, he doesn't have enough to do.

As unpleseant as Tmehl's post was, I don't understand the decision either. Brady looked average at best and the versatility/timely plays of Vrabel were much more impressive and important to the result of the game.

Everyone loves a quarterback. Nobody cares about a mucker of a linebacker like Vrabel (though he is a personal fave). Mike Vrabel 9(well, anybody but Brady and maybe Vinatierie) proclaiming "I'm going to Disnet World" simply isn't that appealing to your average Super Bowl watcher.

Brady was simply the most well-known player in this game, and he has a 'big-game' reputation. Add in the terrific drive he led at the end of the game (much like 2002) and there you have it.
Bringing race into it is simply irrelevant.

Tmehl, I agree racism occurs and has occured in the game of football when it comes to selecting players for QB but I'm skeptical of the accusations you're throwing around because of the tendancy of those who vote in these popularity contests to select the visable leaders on a team. The only way a definsive player will get the award is if they get credit for a large number of sacks and/or timely interceptions that are run back for TDs.

As happens in baseball with HoF and awards voting, you'll see that there are many who don't necessarily deserve to be there due to inflated reputations or over emphasised statistical categories (see: RBI). In this evening's game Brady threw for 3TDs and was the leader of an offense that put up more points than expected against a strong defense...in some people's mind that constitutes an MVP trophy plus the car.

Can someone explain to me how the commercials thing works? My dad was trying to tell me that if you watch an American feed of the game, you get the commercials. I didn't think that was right, but there were lots of new, interesting commercials (Budweiser, Pepsi, Coke, etc). Is this just because they also bought airtime in Canada?

From what I understand, Global, as the Canadian distributor/exhibitor of the game has the right to simulcast over the CBS broadcast on cable/satellite. Since they're paying for the rights to air the game, they need some way to recover the high expense the rights cost them, and subsequently advertisers have to go through them to broadcasts their spots.

As you said, some companies do decide to show their commercials in both countries, because the brands are available in both. Products like Sierra Mist, which aren't available here, have no reason to spend on promoting their stuff here. Personally it annoys me that they simulcast (especially all those annoying virtual ads Global use), but unless you live in a border city with a CBS affiliate nearby (Buffalo, Detroit, Seattle) you're SOL on seeing these great ads.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1075677008986&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064
Garth Woolsey from the Star talks about the commercials we get compared to those a few kilometers south. David is essentially right but COMN for the entire article.

"Signal substitution is done to bring millions of advertising dollars back into the Canadian broadcasting system," states the CRTC. "Advertising revenues are also what enable Canadian broadcasters to bring you programming such as the Super Bowl." So there. Be thankful you get to see the damn game at all. Let alone the fancy-dan ads.

I think this one was deserving of the "Super" tag.

It always amazes me that people make such a fuss over commercials. I hate 'em... hate 'em all.

The best thing about halftime was that Teletoon was showing Looney Tunes, so our party got some Bugs Bunny thrown into the football mix and skipped the Janet Jackson silliness!

This is one cocky Patriots fan who was humbled by the Panthers. I was really impressed with Delhomme -- to start off a Super Bowl 1-for-9 for 1 yard, and to end up with over 300 yards and almost the comeback of the young century, is just amazing. I didn't think he had it in him, and I was wrong. Congratulations to the Panthers for a great game and a stirring comeback -- and thanks to them for falling short at the end! A few more New England seasons like this, and I can start to forget the 46-10 thrashing by the Bears and countless other Patriot indignities. It's good to be a Pats fan....

If the head of the FCC thinks Janet Jackson's breast is the most offensive thing he's seen lately, he clearly doesn't watch much TV, aside from the Disney Channel.

It always amazes me that people make such a fuss over commercials

me too. Remember that adcritic.com website? That success of that was one of the most mystifying things ever to me.

Sadly, commercials are now some of the funniest things on American TV. I couldn't care less about Pepsi commercials and Britney but tell me you didn't laugh at the donkey wanting to be a Clydesdale.

I appreciate the humour, albeit twisted in many cases, that come out of 30 second spots...I also enjoyed going through Adcritic.com on occasion but ironically it's now a pay site.

If the head of the FCC thinks Janet Jackson's breast is the most offensive thing he's seen lately, he clearly doesn't watch much TV, aside from the Disney Channel.

Well, it may not be her breast that he found offensive. He might have found the specter of a man tearing off a woman's clothes in public offensive. As I do.

I have nothing against breasts (damn straight, Spanky!), or breasts on TV for that matter (hoo-wah!), but that stunt was cheap, tawdry and classless. Especially in the context of a Super Bowl halftime show, where millions of kids are watching. We're going to tell kids that ripping women's clothes off is acceptable behaviour? Ugh. TV for adults should be labelled for adults.

I didn't watch the halftime show (and mysteriously the clip has not been in any highlight reels) but how on earth can Justin Timberlake claim that he tore a woman's shirt off ACCIDENTALLY? What exactly was he attempting? To merely rip it a little, you know, as a joke, haha, look at me, I almost ripped her shirt off... oops, it came off! Those are the breaks.

Timberlake has always seemed like a standup guy up to this point... I wouldn't say that I respect him, exactly, but he comes closest out of anyone in this generation of entertainers. But this.. baffling.

Wow. A lot has happened since my last post and I stand corrected on the DBacks vs Yankees in 2001. It was an uninformed opinion based on maybe three seconds' consideration. In the future, I will certainly look into the games before making such a unfair assessment. And now, back to the topic of the thread:

This game was one of the best I've seen, no questions asked. It's the first time since SB 31 or 32 that I have watched all of the game, and it was four hours well spent.