SBR Sunday Week in Review

Super Bowl XLVI

For years the big game never lived up to its monumental expectations but recently we have had our share of compelling games.  If the rematch between the Patriots and the Giants is anything like their previous game four years ago, then NBC will have a barnburner on their hands.  However, my job is not to dissect the game and render a prediction (I can’t resist, Patriots 27-23), rather I am here to disseminate information concerning all things Super Bowl.  Without further ado, let’s take a look at some interesting facts about the big game.

Who’s Broadcasting and Where? – The game will kick at 6:30 PM ET on NBC with the great Al Michaels and the oft-annoying Chris Collinsworth doing the play by play and the color commentary perched high above Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the site of Super Bowl 46.

Who watches this anyway? – Only 111 million people last year and the odds are there will be even more this year with two major markets, Boston and New York, as the participants.  Because of all those eyeballs glued to the set, advertisers will be shelling beau coup bucks for the privilege of shilling a vast array of products to an ungodly amount of potential buyers.  Nielsen Media Research concludes the commercials during Super Bowl are allegedly 58% more memorable than the standard ads.  Oh and by the way, if you want to tap into this audience and sell that old rod and reel you can’t seem to get rid of on Craigslist, it will only cost you $116,000…per second!

Musical Patriotism – “America the Beautiful” will be sung by country superstars Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton while pop princess Kelly Clarkson will belt out the Star Spangled Banner in 95 seconds give or take.  Yes, the oddsmakers are giving you the opportunity to bet over or under that total and will either give you the cash or take it away from you.

What’s a few bucks? – The resale value of the average ticket, not the luxury box seats surrounded by the beautiful people mind you, is only $4000.  Such a bargain!  Oh and if you’re bringing Billy Bob and Bubba along in the old RV they’ve got a nice spot for you good old boys right in the parking lot next to the stadium.  And for only $900 for the parking spot, how can you go wrong?

Restaurants are the big winners – According to the people that know such things, 48 million Americans will be ordering takeout or delivery while they watch Tom Terrific and Eli the Magnificent.  Chips, dips and spreads are the number one item on the menu but chicken wings come in a close second with well over a billion being served. 

Entertain us! – Super Bowl halftime shows are usually the best part of the entire game according to the fairer sex but even the guys watch with one eye, pretending not to notice.  This year, Madonna will own the stage as she is scheduled to perform Vogue by herself, Music with LMFAO, Give Me All Your Luvin’ with Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. and finally Like a Prayer with Cee Lo Green.

Bonus Time Baby! – At least we know these poor athletes won’t be playing for nothing.  After all, they get paid the same amount whether they play past Week 17 or not.  Well to compensate for this injustice, the good folks at the NFL have decided to reward the working man and give an $88,000 bonus to every member of the winning team while $44,000 goes to the members of the losing club.

It’s a coin flip – Amazingly enough the NFC entrant has won the coin flip the last 14 years in a row!  Will the Giants defer?

The Lombardi Trophy – Who else but Tiffany would create and design the most prestigious trophy on the planet.  It takes 4 months from start to finish and weighs 7 pounds.  Total cost on this little number adorning your mantle?  Twenty-five thousand dollars.

Just say no – There has never been a shutout or an overtime in Super Bowl history.  Perhaps the due factor is at work on Sunday?

No TV, no problem – For the first time ever, the NFL will broadcast their biggest event on the worldwide web with live streaming on NFL.com. 

Déjà vu – Only seven Patriots remain from the squad that went to the Super Bowl four years ago while the Giants are returning 16 players from their team’s title winning season over the Pats.

Tight ends rule…or maybe not – Obviously the status of Rob Gronkowski has tongues wagging everywhere but if he’s healthy would anyone be surprised if he winds up going to Disney as the game’s MVP?  If not Gronk, how about his talented colleague Aaron Hernandez who not only plays a dynamite tight end but is now coming out of the backfield blocking, catching and even carrying the ball.  You would think both have at least a shot to be the big man on the big stage.  But not so fast.  No tight end has ever won the Super Bowl MVP and if Gronk pulls up lame, the streak will probably continue.

Bombs away – In what must be good news for the New England Patriots, two of the four most prolific passing performances in Super Bowl History came against the Patriots.  Kurt Warner torched the Pats for 365 yards back in 2001 and Donovan McNabb put on a laser show with 357 yards against New England in 2004.  The Patriots won both games.

Debut Indy – Indianapolis hosts the Super Bowl for the first time this year.  Miami leads the list with a record 10 while New Orleans will tie that in knots when they too will host for the tenth time in 2013.

All alone – Only 5% of the audience will watch the big game alone.  It is rumored that of that five percent, greater than 90 percent are current members of SBR.

Vegas Baby! – Over 90 million dollars are estimated to be gambled on Super Bowl Sunday in Las Vegas.  Not so coincidentally, Gamblers Anonymous reports a spike in calls the following day.

Well that just about does it from here.  There’s no other day like it in the year so make sure you play hard but be safe.  Oh and one last fact.  Don’t play too hard or you will be among the more than 7 million who are no-shows for work the day after the Super Bowl.