Super Bowl not so much about football
Please, that’s enough Super Bowl hype already!
How many times do we have to hear about Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh, Ray Lewis’ last stand or how Alex Smith is handling his second-string role?
If I was a big fan of either the San Francisco 49ers or the Baltimore Ravens, perhaps, I would tolerate the hoopla. Can we just get on with the game?
Actually, at times, it seems the game is secondary. This year’s Super Bowl XLVII is one big party originating in New Orleans and transcending to every other part of North America from Prince George, B.C. to Waterloo, Ontario to Waterloo, Wisconsin to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, plus every city, town and village in between. From 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, well over 100 million people will tune in, just to catch a glimpse of what the so-called excitement is about.
Imagine, for a moment, one of 12 TV viewers admits they only tuned to watch the commercials which have become an entity of their own. The PVR became popular because one could fast forward through the advertising, but with this event, some may fast forward through the football to watch the newest zany commercial on the block. Now, that’s bizarre!
It seems like one is an outcast by not huddling with friends and acquaintances to catch the action. Only five per cent of people will watch the game alone while the average number of people attending a Super Bowl party is 17.
Yes, it’s eat, drink and be merry on game day and pay for it the next day. Super Bowl Sunday is second in food consumption (behind Thanksgiving Day) and the Monday after the game, an average of six per cent of the workforce calls in sick.
Of course, if money did not change hands, then what would be the point of getting charged up for this match-up? Legal betting for last year’s Giants 21-17 victory over the Patriots added up to $93,899,840, second all-time behind the $94,534,372 wagered in 2006 on the Pittsburgh-Seattle Super Bowl won by the Steelers 21-10. Those numbers likely pale in comparison to illegal gambling and side bets.
Oh, yes, I nearly forgot the matter at hand – Baltimore and San Francisco. The 49ers were initially favored by 4 ½ but that number is now reduced to 3 ½. Unfortunately, one Harbaugh has to win but there is no mistaking that these two teams are in the pinnacle of all games because of a punishing intimidating style that has worn down their opponents.
My intention is to not wager but if I did I would take the Ravens and the points. I suspect Baltimore is destined to win outright.
The Ravens remind me of the NY Giants last season, a 4 seed peaking at the right time. They are 3-0 in the playoffs, including two road victories as a massive underdog. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco has not received his due respect, much like Eli Manning last year. Flacco has outplayed Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady and in those three games has thrown eight touchdown passes without an interception while averaging 284 yards per game. Flacco is not your average everyday Joe.
The difference for Baltimore in this game is the 49ers QB, Colin Kaepernick, can also run. In addition to having the legs to worry the defence, Kaepernick is very accurate for a strong-armed second-year player making just $600,000. Only 12.5 per cent of Kaepernick’s attempts fall incomplete due to an over- or underthrown pass.
Fans want a game decided in the last few seconds, but the odds are the Ravens-49ers game will not live up to its advanced billing, since it is the biggest extravaganza in North American sports. Yes, double digit outcomes have decided 28 of the 46 Super Bowls and 35 of the games have been decided by five or more points. However, four or less points have decided six of the last 11 games.
OK, that’s it. I am at my boiling “point” with these facts and figures. Kickoff cannot come soon enough.
From The Quote Rack:
A shortage of chicken wings is expected for Super Bowl weekend. What am I going to do with my five-gallon Costco size Frank’s Hot Sauce?
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver (alwaysfunny.com/)
And in case you missed it:
The Royal Canadian Mint begins melting pennies this month with almost 200,000 expected to be cashed in during the first week. And that’s just from CFL players.
Comedy writer RJ Currie (www.Sportsdeke.com?
Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com.
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller
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