Commercials. No Jordan, no Bird, not even Peyton or Brees during the NFL Network commercial. Athletes pockets are empty this Super Bowl as the endorsement deals went elsewhere.
I was anticipating a long night squirreling together a blog post as the resident commercial critic, but I get to hit the sack early tonight.
Hollywood dominated the commercial space digging into Stan Lee's waste basket to find a blockbuster. Eminem's anti-endorsement mantra snags him two deals eclipsing the entire rosters of the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL combined.
Unless A-Rod was actually previewing a Rom-Com with Cameron Diaz about popcorn, commercial execs are wildly throwing their money at a new approach that leaves athletes having to actually be good at their sport to earn a paycheck.
Last night, Guinness hosted a party with pitchman and Steelers legend Jerome Bettis to crown the winner of its "Perfect Pour" campaign in North Texas during Super Bowl Week.
Bettis talks about the winning, family-like atmosphere that's been cultivated in Pittsburgh from ownership on town, as well as his feelings on being an observer of the big game rather than a participant.
Days after the big game, Super Bowl champions are still all smiles as they make the talk show rounds. Payton is a lot shorter off of the sideline than I expected. Rumor has it he is going to start judging on American Idol.
After each major sporting event, HHR takes a look at how it is portrayed in news print in some of the nation's leading dailies. Part out of curiosity, and part to preserve the dying medium.
For a long time making the playoffs was the dream, and then it was winning a playoff game, and then an NFC Championship, and then for nights like Sunday Night in Miami.
Years of losing and underachieving breed a cautious attitude. You see it in the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Clippers, and a host of other franchises. But something is very different about the New Orleans Saints. For anyone that was just introduced to the black and gold in the last two weeks, this is a city and a franchise of eternal optimism. Perhaps it took such an unfortunate event like Katrina to reveal what many have always seem to know in the Bayou, the best day might only be a day away. It's what the people seem to believe and it's surely what these fans believe. The all-too-often 3-13 seasons and the 8-8 ledgers marking a good year have given way to what happened in South Florida in Super Bowl 44.
The New Orleans Saints played like a true underdog on the road to their first title in franchise history. They were forced to overcome a 10 point deficit, amazingly a record for the largest overcome deficit in Super Bowl history. They were gutsy, they relied on a young kicker to pile up the points, their small college receivers to make big-man-on-campus plays, the redemption of Jeremy Shockey, the reclamation of Jonathan Vilma, the revelation of Tracy Porter and even some trickery. An onside kick had never happened before the fourth quarter in Super Bowl, until Sunday night when the Saints executed it to perfection to open the second half. Those are the risks that needed to be taken. Credit coach Sean Payton for pressing the right buttons on this magical machine.
They had to look right into the eyes of Peyton Manning, one of the game's elite, a man that had carved up the AFC en route to a Super Bowl berth, and topple this Goliath. Saints quarterback and game MVP Drew Brees, who turned in a night near flawless, hoisted a Super Bowl trophy and called upon fate to help describe what happened to this New Orleans franchise. That sounds about right to me.
A lot of dominoes had to fall into place to make a title a reality for the New Orleans Saints. The stories have been told, but the Dolphins had to pass on Brees, Saints owner Tom Benson had to keep the Saints in Louisiana, and Peyton Manning had to commit just one mistake. Perhaps that last part seemed so unlikely. Manning was one last drive away from ascending to the right hand of Joe Montana among the great postseason quarterbacks, until of course Tom Brady returns to the conversation. Like any good action movie has shown us where good overcomes evil, or in this case just less good, there is always a fatal flaw in the enemy. For this battle it was the Manning interception, a true pick six for the defensive back Porter, and the final sealant on a win for the Saints. In the interim the less talked about quarterback Drew Brees firmly planted his name in the conversation of the games greats at the quarterback position.
But more than Brees rights or Manning's wrongs was the resolution of this battle, a win for fate, a title for America's Team, America's New Team. Who Dat, you ask rhetorically? The New Orleans Saints of course. The kids in New Orleans have the day off from school on Monday, the fleur de lis flew in the Vatican on Super Bowl Sunday, the onside kick worked, the paper bags will return to the grocery store, this was fate, belief, and hardwork all rolled into one. Lastly,the "S" becomes permanently affixed to the left side of "AINTS" and never shall the two separate because lest we ever forget the New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl Champions.
Mr. Goodell, we think yous guys should very much consider Sen. Kean's suggestion a little bit.
The son of the former Governnor introduced a Senate resolution (SR35) in the NJ Legislature on Thursday "urging the NFL to select New Jersey as the location for Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014." According to a press release from his office, "the NFL owners’ Super Bowl Advisory Committee allowed the Meadowlands Stadium Co. to place a bid, waiving the traditional requirement that host stadiums have a minimum outdoor temperature of 50 degrees or an indoor stadium."
Said Senator Kean:
"New Jersey offers the best venue for the Super Bowl, period. We have the image, logistics and ambiance that is unparalleled in the world and the millions of diehard fans in this region would do everything in their power to make Super Bowl XLVIII the biggest, most talked about game in the history of the NFL.
"The NFL championship of 1958 is known as the ‘Greatest Game Ever Played’ and it was decided at Yankee Stadium. It’s time to bring the game of American football back to its roots in the Northeast.
"New Jersey has a new state-of-the-art stadium, easy access to airports, and thousands of hotel rooms, restaurants and other attractions near and in New York City, the most renowned and admired city in the world.
"Having the Super Bowl in New Jersey would not only be great for the league but it would be great for the region. The Super Bowl would provide a unique promotional opportunity for our state’s tourism industry and help spur the regional economy. Studies have shown that cities who host the Super Bowl experience a significant economic impact into the hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Plus, East Rutherford is only about an hour up the Parkway from Belmar.
I'm confident in the Saints too, but six points is all the Colts will score, Hulkster? I hope that Saints secondary has been saying their prayers, taking their vitamins, and believing in themselves.
HULK HOGAN, Wrestler New Orleans, 35-6. New Orleans has an amazing new energy this year, both as a team and a city. They survived Hurricane Katrina, and if they could survive that, they can survive anything.
Unsure of which articles to read about the Super Bowl or perhaps tired of the hype?
Here is an easy Cliff's Notes on what you've missed, but you don't have to take my word for it.
I've got news for you! Archie Mannie served as quarterback for the New Orleans Saints for a decade during their heyday of losing! This man should be conflicted about who to root for in the big game coming up. You see, Archie's son, Peyton Manning is the starting quarterback for the Saints' opponent, the Indianapolis Colts.
Get this...Archie is going to side with his family and root for the Colts, in the words of another New Orleans legend that is a "numba one stunna." Not quite. With all due respect to Baby, and the rest of the Cash Money Millionaires, it's no surprise a father will side with his son and that this storyline is just one of the many that has been drummed up in the two week lead-up to the Super Bowl, which will finally kick off this Sunday in Miami.
The newspapers, websites, and blogs have given us interviews with the Manning's legendary housekeeper, Archie's next door neighbors, the other brother Cooper, Peyton's high school coach, college friends, and everyone short of his general practitioner to give us a better idea in how much the Manning's love New Orleans.
The other brother.
But this week they must support the Colts. Or better yet, what can these people tell us about what makes Peyton tick. We've learned that Reggie Bush has still a ways to go before he can catch the same spotlight created by backside of the girl by his side, to which I can see no downside. We've kept up with the Kardashians while finding the heartwarming story of Saints lineman Anthony Hargrove who has battled back from addiction to be a key component of the Saints Super Bowl game plan.
Pleas try to keep up.
It was let on that Saints Head Man Sean Payton, no relation to the other Peyton, ponied up some of his own salary to lure in defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Williams, the man who has spearheaded the Saints resilient defense, one I fear will be put to the ultimate test against the Colts. However, it's the Saints offense everyone expects great things out of. If you hadn't heard, the San Diego Chargers left Drew Brees for dead and he has repaid the Saints faith ten-fold. In fact, we now know Brees is so well liked in New Orleans and not just by the secret society of well connected business man he meets with to better the community, but by the whole city who, win, lose, or draw in Miami will name their savior "Breesus" the Bacchus in 2010. This means he will reign as the 42nd King of the Krewe in the annual Carnival parade. A privilege somewhere between the Pro Bowl and eternal salvation.
A privilege somewhere between the Pro Bowl and eternal salvation.
Not to be outdone, it's evident Jim Caldwell has done just fine replacing Tony Dungy, a savior in his own right. The bond between the Colts is a strong one for a team that has a Super Bowl ring not too far removed from their rear view mirror. We know Manning is demanding, he may cuss out an offensive lineman, but rewards them with dream vacations in the off-season. Pierre Garcon took a sloppy high school work ethic, parlayed it into all-star career in Division 3 college football, and has hit the football lottery becoming part of the answer to who will replace Marvin Harrison. Keep in mind Garcon does all of this while keeping his homeland Haiti close to his heart and helping with what has been a tremendous outpouring of relief efforts across all sports.
Matt Stover has proved kickers are football's fountain of youth. This is a man that was a teammate of Phil Simms and remains a key to the Colts. But what you really need to know is that Dwight Freeney's ankle is getting better, or is it? Injury reports are often as accurate as my completed sudokus so take Freeney's self proclamations of improvement with a grain of salt. No worries. The Saints will prepare for this man and anyone else the Colts may send their way. They have Scott Fujita who isn't afraid to speak his mind, and Darren Sharper, remember nobody wanted him, not the Packers, nor the Vikings, turns out the while the city rebuilt itself, the Saints continue to rebuild careers. Cut to Jeremy Shockey smiling at the Super Bowl ring he has, but dreaming of the one he is going to get an actual chance to play for. A bigger smile might come from Manning, who know he's getting paid after this game, that's perhaps the only guarantee we have.
Oh yeah, and Madden NFL '10 has picked the Saints to win 35-31. I always did like that video game.
Kickoff is set for 6:25pm eastern, creeping ever closer to primetime. Commercials are up to 2.6 million per 30 seconds. While The Who will handle the halftime, who knew they first tried to retire in 1982? Speaking of which, Brett Favre...
Today marks the triumphant return of the Ballsy Blog of the Week, which fittingly goes to the quartet of Chad Ochocinco, Chris Cooley, Ray Rice and Darnell Docket for their unprecedented news team coverage along with Jake & Amir during Super Bowl week. we highlight it for the fact that not only is the group (collectively known as the OCNN News Team) downright hilarious, but the project's sponsor - Motoblur - does an amazing job integrating their product into the viral videos in a manner that compliments, rather than takes away, from the videos' entertainment value.
I have seen the future. Take note, advertisers.
Staying in Miami, we bring on on-location guest Joe Fortenbaugh of National Football Post to talk Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, trade rumors, McNabb/Favre speculation and how the site and its unique staff have quickly become an inside source for pro football news, analysis and insight.
Prior to joining on with NFP full-time and focusing on fantasy football posts, Joe worked as an NFL agent at JB Sports for three years while earning his degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego.
In the weeks leading up to the last three major high-profile statewide elections, President Obama made public pitches for Democrats Creigh Deeds in Virginia, Jon Corzine in New Jersey and Martha Coakley in Massachusetts - each went on to stunning defeats.
"I think both teams are terrific. I guess I'm rooting a little bit for the Saints as the underdog. Partly just because, you know, when I think what's happened in New Orleans over the last several years and how much that team means to them, I'm pretty sympathetic."
Just prior to the playoffs, nola.com posted an embedded list with downloadable Saints-inspired songs including such hits as Sick Like Sinatra's "About the Saints," BlackCa$h and Vankese's "Hi-5 Saints Song" and my personal favorite, Dee 1's "Drew Brees." The list, updated yesterday, now boasts over 75 tracks.
A sports dream was realized on Sunday evening when the New Orleans Saints clinched a spot in their first ever Super Bowl with an overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The resiliency of an area ravaged not long ago by Hurricane Katrina finally cemented in the sports world with a legitimate victory. A true trophy to go along with all the moral and inspirational victories that have been piled up in recent years, and it's wonderful. Of all my teams, including the Knicks and the Mets, it was the Saints that seemed forever doomed to achieve something in the postseason. This year started off tremendously with a 13-0 beginning, but then three straight losses prior to the playoffs had the "Who Dat" nation a bit nervous.
After dispatching of the Arizona Cardinals, the Saints were in a spot similar to 2006, only this time, they won that NFC Title game and the impossible has been realized. Often cited as the worst team of all time in the NFL the Saints have gotten out of the proverbial cellar. They are no longer part of the trivia question of teams that have never been to a Super Bowl or those that never hosted an NFC Championship Game.
Anyone that has rooted for a team through thick and thin can truly appreciate what it is when a team finally gets over a huge hurdle. I know this isn't a Super Bowl Championship but for those that have rooted for teams that were mired in years of losing, it's all the more enjoyable. Nothing against what franchises like the Cowboys and Yankees have done, but there is just something extra special about getting to the promised land when it's been anything but your birthright.
There have been wonderful highs and great memories of Saints football over the last 15 years that I think of fondly. From a Jim Everett jersey on Christmas morning to the excitement of Ricky Williams on draft day, Mario Bates and Michael Haynes to the toppling of the then champion Rams and the fumble recovery of Brian Milne, the mobility of Aaron Brooks, the consistency of Joe Horn, and powering runs of Deuce McAllister. Reggie Bush's somersault TD against the Bears and Brees record setting 2008, all leading up to this past Sunday. Finally this New Orleans franchise and this city that's forever been waiting to have a hometown sporting event to compliment their endless party atmosphere has their day in the sun.
I'm routinely asked to explain my fanhood of the New Orleans Saints. In the lean years it was answering "why?" and in seasons like this, it's been fighting off "frontrunner" talk. Where did the Saints come from, living in the Northeast? It was a chance when teams were being decided to root for the underdog and for the team nobody cared about. The Jets, Giants, Bills, and Eagles were all spoken for among my friends, and the Saints were the equivalent of buying low, with the hopes of one day selling high.
Well, years removed from receiving that #17 jersey (which I still have), today we are offered the chance to sell very high, I think I'll hang tight, besides there is still some work to be done. Geaux Saints!
After the poopstorm that the infamous Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake titty show at Super Bowl XXXVIII caused, the NFL has done very little to clean up its halftime acts.
Since the 2004 performance, the Super Bowl has featured, among others:
An ambiguous gender bender who entertained football fans with a phallic silhouette.
A skeletal rocker best known for folksy pot songs.
And a guy from Jersey who used the show to shove his crotch in America's face.
Three trophies marking three recent titles won by Pennsylvania teams were on display together, for the first time, today at the Capitol: the tall, silvery Stanley Cup, won by the Penguins last month; the silvery football of the Vince Lombardi trophy, won by the Steelers in February; and the gold-colored Major League Baseball World Series trophy, won by the Philadelphia Phillies in October
UPDATE 11:40 AM
One little problem pointed out by @davelozo: "Gov. Ed Rendell. Not a reliable source."
Parents say they were just 10 minutes late for their scheduled tour. School officials say White House staff said they needed to get ready for the president's event with the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, so they couldn't come in.
Parent Barbara Stine: "Here we have President Obama and his administration saying, 'Here we are for the common, middle class people,' and here he is not letting 150 5- and 6-year-olds into the White House because he’s throwing a lunch for a bunch of grown millionaires."
Actual NBC Local caption on this photo: "President Obama enjoys his new Steelers jersey after making children cry."
Yesterday, the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers followed the tradition of championship sports teams meeting with the President of the United States.
Fat Willard raises an interesting question as he was perusing ceremony pictures, "If you serve 8 years you are looking at 32 jerseys JUST from NFL/MLB not counting basketball NBA/college/womens, etc. What happens to the jerseys the Pres gets from each team?"
Anyone? Bueller?
I would love to get my hands on one of Barry's, Bush's or any other President's for that matter. Ford, being a former UofM star, would be solid. Did they do that way back in the 70's?
This doesn't include jerseys POTUS might pick up along the campaign trail...
The President asks, "Where's Dick?" (LeBeau not Cheney). Be much funnier if he asked "Where's James?" ala Dubya's "Manny Ramirez isn't here, I guess his grandmother died again'?
Well done by the White House and the Steelers with the charitible tie-in:
"After a pivotal speech this morning, the President took a moment this afternoon to welcome the Superbowl Champions to the White House, along with approximately 50 Wounded Warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center and their families. Afterwards they all joined up to work with USO to assemble 3,000 care packages for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Sporting his lucky black and yellow "Super Bowl" tie, the Guv demonstrates how much better the Steelers are than the Eagles.
In announcing the winner to the essay contest "Why I love the Pittsburgh Steelers" (a twist on the traditonal state vs. state Super Bowl wager Governor Ed Rendell had with Arizona Gov. Janice Brewer in which "The state with the losing team had to put together a vacation for a resident of the state with the winning team,") the Guv took a slap at his hometown Eagles:
"It was a fun contest. We got very few smart-aleck responses. And many of [the essays] were very poignant. One common theme of all of them ... was the love of the town for the Steelers and the fact that the Steelers, probably more than any other NFL franchise, embody the heart and soul of the town."
This from a guy who made his name pelting snowballs on the the field at the Vet as the Cowboys headed the hell out of Dodge.
He did stop short of changing his name to "Ed Rendsteeler."
Commercials. No Jordan, no Bird, not even Peyton or Brees during the NFL Network commercial. Athletes pockets are empty this Super Bowl as the endorsement deals went elsewhere.
