Thoughts on the Game...

I thought I'd take the opportunity to share some of my Super Bowl XL2 thoughts with everyone...you know, since no one asked. Fair warning, this is quite long...but then again, its not every day that you get to watch America's biggest sporting even in a city that calls a giant ferris wheel as its finest architectural and technological accomplishment of the past 50 years.

- Game was broadcast on BBC as well as SkySports here in London. Rounding out the crack studio crew for Sky Sports were former Patriots receiver (and London native) Scott McCready (or, "who?" as I liked to call him), and...I swear on my life I'm not making this up...the fucking special teams coach for the SMU football team. Yes, you read that correctly. Unfortunately his name escapes me (shocking, I know). But this was the best that Sky Sports could do. A coach...not even a head coach...for a second tier division 1 college football team! Which begs the question...why wasn't I hired?

-After the first half, the bar I was at actually changed the channel to the BBC telecast. This was an even more odd, since it was essentially the NFL Network broadcast minus commercial interruption. Think about that...a Super Bowl without commercials. Something was just missing. So instead of the commercials, viewers were treated to in game analysis from two british dudes and...former all pro safety Rod Woodson?? What the heck is he doing here? Has he fired his agent yet? Actually, I theorized that Sky Sports and BBC actually made a pregame trade- the SMU special teams coach for Rod Woodson. Thats the only explanation for how out of place both of them appeared in their respective roles.

-the bar I was at, called the Walkabout, actually featured a team of London cheerleaders, called "The London Rockets" (they even have a website! complete with a review and breakdown of the cinematic classic Bring it On: In It to Win It!). These gals, while not completely wretched looking, certainly weren't the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders, either. Unfortunately, their routines consisted of zero stunts, and the most elaborate move was when they waved their hands in the air, and waved them like they just didn't care. At one point in the evening, they strutted around the bar trying to raise money for some tour. One of the guys I was watching the game with actually turned and said to me, "if we tip them, will they go away?" Probably not a strong endorsement for your cheerleading squad. The fact that they looked like they stepped off the set of the "Mickey" video didn't help either.

-I thought it was worth mentioning...had I organized this party, I would've skipped the cheerleaders and hired the dude that sings the Glasgow Diamonds song (his name is Paul Birchard, in case you were curious). His mustache alone would've been worth the price of admission. And yes, I just wanted an excuse to link to the greatest song ever written.

-Another interesting subplot from the SkySports broadcast was the interactive options, like the "beginners guide to American Football" option. I never thought this was a complicated game until the cab ride home when my scottish cabby was bemoaning the confusing nature of american football. If only every sport was as simple as "kick orb into net" and "fall down and writhe around in faux pain at the slightest hint of physical contact"

-Ahmad Bradshaw needs a nickname, and I think I have the perfect solution: Farooq. Ahmad gets a cool nickname, and the WWF's Acolytes get 15 more minutes of fame. Everybody wins!

-Ok, by the third quarter I was sufficiently hammered (which is what happens when you watch a game with a New Englander, an Aussie and a Hungarian), and these cheerleaders were not getting any better looking. I was having a really hard time talking myself into even the asian one.

-Tom Petty is pretty much awesome. I'll admit I've never owned any of his albums, but like everyone else around me, I knew every word to every song, and by the start of the third quarter, I was plenty fired up...this after nearly falling asleep during the second quarter, a combination of too much Carlsberg, putrid, lackadaisical play on the gridiron, and uninspiring cheerleaders (boy I'm really harshing on these gals). Then Tom Petty comes in and recharged us all with his halftime set. Can we all agree that the first 5 seconds of "I Won't Back Down" is the coolest 5 seconds in rock music?

-Seriously I can't get over these cheerleaders! This reminds me of the Chris Rock bit where he chastises America for "falling for a trickless magician!" (David Blaine). Are we really being entertained by a group of "cheerleaders" that are not only failing at "cheering" but failing to incorporate standard cheerleading maneuvers and practices (like spelling out words, and standing on each others shoulders). This wasn't cheerleading...this was dancing around a bar looking like an idiot. Somewhere, Skurny is collecting royalties. Zing!

Jim Sorgi Fan Club

1) I'd just like to go ahead and thank the Indianapolis Colts for barely trying tonight. Midway through the first quarter, and their prevent defense is showing no signs of stopping Vince Young and his negative QB rating. Oh, and Reggie Wayne just fumbled. It also doesn't help that Al Michaels keeps twisting the knife in the side of Browns fans everywhere. There's only so many "that groan you just heard is coming from the shores of Lake Erie" jokes I can take before I put my fist through the TV.

2) In spite of everything, I'm not so quick to become spoiled. The day I complain about a 10-6 season is the day I need to walk away from fandom forever. It was an unforgettable season that reignited my interest in the NFL...if only for one season. The Derek Anderson jersey I got for Christmas will be a permanent keepsake from this year (since this is probably the only year he'll start for Cleveland).

3) It just dawned upon me that the Colts may very well go to their #3 quarterback...none other than the immortal Josh Betts. Yes, the same Josh Betts that backed up Ben Roethlisberger at Miami. The same Josh Betts that was routinely kicked out of the bar I worked at. I'm haunted by the prospect of Josh Betts controlling the Browns destiny...this could have kept me up every night this week.

4) Anyone else excited for Celebrity Apprentice? No...? Anyone? Well I'm mildly intrigued...since I was one of four people to watch every episode last season (when some woman who was barely featured in any of the episodes, and whom the audience knew almost nothing about ended up winning).

5) Vince Young just limped off the field...you can hear the collective groan in Nashville.

Back From Blog Vaca - by J.O.B.

1) Game one of "The Year Grossman Proves It's Not His Fault" is in the books, and I'm real frigging worried about the running game. Try and say Sexy Rexy wasn't able to bring the Bears back through the air all you want, but this is a team who's running game sets up the passing game. Benson managed a best run of 11 yard against a defense that often didn't put more than 6 or 7 in the box. Grossman took multiple big shots from the Charger D including the big hit on the second offensive play of the game, and continued to stay gutsy in the pocket. Yes, he had the odd fumble but didn't lose it and that wasn't what cost them by a long shot. Maybe I should change it to "The Year Benson Proves It's His Fault." Can we get Tiki out of retirement?

2) I'll be guest-hosting tomorrow on a new radio station that NPR has started called Vocalo. The show will be live on 89.5 FM and simultaneously webcast live on http://www.vocalo.org/ from 2-5 tomorrow and then repeated after that. If all goes well, I'm looking into either being the full-time guest host or maybe snagging a show of my own.

3) In what some may see as a rare sidestep for me, I love U. of Michigan football. I know I'm a homer for nearly all Chicago sports teams, but I think college sports should get a pass. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Northwestern or Illinois win the Big Ten and challenge for a National Title, and I cheer for them to do so, but let's be real. When either does have a shot at doing so - which has only been Northwestern two times in the last 15 years, I cheer for them over UofM. Otherwise - it's go Blue. My only comment is a prayer for the retirement of Lloyd Carr.

4) Who's the tool that convinced MTV execs that having a bunch of the best talent present perform in hotel suites to be aired in 5 second snippets instead of the main stage? Like him or not, Kanye shouldn't be in a suite being seen by 100 people when there's a whole audience, both live and at home, that should be watching. I've never seen an award show give a bigger "F-U" to a larger percentage of people. Britney's lame drug-hazed looking performance opens a show and Fall Out Boy is stuck playing in some hotel room? At least give me some type of graphic so I know who all these people are singing and playing in these random rooms. The show is more about performances than it is about awards and when you isolate performances to an effing hotel room, the show is doomed. Eff MTV in the pooper with a sledgehammer.