Superbowl 2014 - Superb Owl

We had planned to have friends over today for a Super Bowl XLVIII (48) Party, but weather here has been so bad, we haven't been out to procure supplies for entertaining (booze and food) and did not wish folks to travel at risk on the roads. So instead, we are all holed up in our own little cubby holes watching the game on our own big screens.

Our two fave teams are the Lions and the 49ers. We grew up in the Detroit area and even though it is usually quite hopeless that they will be in the Super Bowl, we still root for them. And we lived 20 years in the Bay Area when Jerry Rice and Joe Montana ruled the field. SF won four SB's while we lived out there. The parties for just any ol' game were always fun, but for SB there were no holds barred. SUPER-DOOPER PARTAAAS. Really miss 'em and our out-west buddies, too.

We were not excited one way or another about who wins today's game. But if we had to pick, it would be Seattle over Denver. This is because we DO have friends from Seattle and their quarterback hasn't had the thrill of winning an Super Bowl yet, while Manning has had his turn. So might as well spread the agony of defeat over Denver.

We've done a lot of things through our travels and experiences, but have never been to a Super Bowl. The closest we came was in Detroit in 1982. That was SB XVI (16) and the game was played at the Pontiac (suburb of Detroit) Silverdome. The night before the game, in hopes of seeing Joe Montana, we drove over to the Hyatt Regency, where the players were housed. Mike took my photo by the XVI ice sculpture in front and it was a kick just to be that close. In that game SF won over Cincinnati 26-21.

We look forward to the SB commercials, but this year they were a snooze during the first half. But we got a kick out of a few in the second half. Audi had a weird but cute one using small dogs with big heads (like a chihuahua with a Great Dane head) doing crazy things. Guess you had to be there. We also liked Bob Dylan narrating for Chrysler as he walked about Detroit showing some epic places like Baker's Keyboard Lounge. Most of the commercials were more heartfelt this year, rather than funny or clever. Lots of car commercials--mostly US, but also Audi, Massarati and Jaguar. 

The best commercials came near the end--a little cowgirl galloping atop her big dog to beat her brother to the Doritos and then a bunch of over-muscled he-men and she-woman trying to get into a spray tan salon (which turned out to be a Go Daddy commercial). Not quite sure what the connection was there, but hysterical.

Two Budweiser Clydesdale commercials this year. One gave a salute and tribute to our military troops. Heartwarming. The other showed a friendship between a golden retriever puppy and a huge Clydesdale horse. Very cute. Although we enjoy Bell's Beer way more than Bud, we look forward to these majestic hours commercials every year.

The game was pretty much a snooze also. Score 43-8 Seattle winning. Turnovers ruled today. Although Denver got a pounding, at least it wasn't a shut-out. And the team we were rooting for won. It's not nearly as much fun though as when it is a close score and back-and-forth leads or a team you are really passionate about is competing. One interesting fact was that the first first-down of the game did not occur until well into the second quarter. This is the latest ever for a first down in any SB.

Although the game was played in East Rutherford, New Jersey (home of the NY Jets AND the NY Giants), the best part of the game show today for us was the fabulous shots of nearby New York City at night. What a town!! 

If you are keeping up with the weight loss challenge I have going, tomorrow will probably be a disappointment for both of us. I ate 900 calories in frozen pizza during the game. NOT GOOD!! Dang myself!