Super Bowl

You know that Big League spring training has to be lurking in the wings when Super Bowl Week arrives.
Unless you've been in a cave or are still wrapped up in the Inaugural celebrations and all the hoopla marking the departure of George Bush, you have to know that Sunday is the sports day that practically everyone looks forward to, even those who don't watch any other football game all season.

Super Bowl Sunday isn't just about football. It isn't strictly sports. It's a great excuse for a party, get together, foods you get once a year, drinks of all kinds, kitchen and barbecue show-off times, home theaters, 67-inch HD, surround-sound, 11-scene split-screen televisions, new drapes, carpeting and fancy couches, look-like bone China paper plates and plastic forks, and even some fashion flashes.

While outright betting on football or other activities is basically illegal in California, I'd wager a pile of bucks that 90 percent of Super Bowl get-togethers, including office staffs, have at least one game pool. It's just part of the event and serves as an excellent way to break the ice and get those who couldn't care less about the game to get involved.
Combined with watching the Super Bowl commercials, pools keep pholks awake and provide an emotional injection of interest, especially when the game turns out to be a dud.

Over the years, I've put some good dollars in Super Bowl pools and actually have won a couple. I'm probably close to the break-even point over all, but in recent years have downsized my wagering to about five bucks. I never really was a high roller with the biggest pool probably about $25 or so. I think I split a $500 pool several decades ago and won $50 to $25 half a dozen times during the XXIV to XXXII era. Of course, the statute of limitations has expired and evidence is long gone.

One of my main passions, the TV commercials, however, remains strong. With our economy so far out-of-bounds (a gridiron term, of course) it will be interesting to track this year's offerings. There hasn't been the normal pre-game commercial hoopla in the media but there surely will be some. It will be interesting to see the trend in this year's ads. General Motors and FedEx may be missing completely. With the $3 million for 30 second price tag, some of the major players will be left sitting on the bench (another football term).

Budweiser will certainly be strong and Doritos, Bridgestone tires, Pepsi, Coors and Miller Brewing will probably have a couple good ones. There likely will be a couple sleepers which will generate some exposure in the media and the morning-after coffee sessions and around the office water coolers.

One of my concerns is that there will be two or maybe three which will escape me regarding the newest iPhone or other new communication system or gimmick which I won't understand or appreciate.
Even though I don't drink, use iPods, plan on buying a new car or changing insurance companies, I will try and review the advertising fare of Super Bowl XLIII.

I haven't made a decision on where I will watch “the game” but I'll figure out something. If you have a giant HD television and some real special food and snacks planned, I would entertain an invitation. I will bring a dessert. Just as long as I can have a tiny space to take a few notes while chatting with pholks and be available to monitor a Super Bowl pool I would be glad to spend Sunday afternoon and early evening with you.

And in case who can't remember, the Arizona Cardinals are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. I predict a good game. Pittsburgh, one of my favorites, is probably one of the best teams but the Cardinals are on a roll and are the better story if they win. The score will be 24-17.

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com