Da Supabowl

Due to overwhelming demand (SB posted once), here is my post on the Superbowl. Please bear with me (lol, you will get it later) as I may have to recount some information that will of course be patently obvious to all of you, but this is the price we must pay to cater to the vast and diverse multicultural and socio-economic melange that is my readership.

The Superbowl was played between 2 teams that each have claims to underdog status, the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. A little background on each...

The Colts

For the last few years, the Colts have been consistent in not quite making it first past the post. While certainly thoroughbreds, they have struggled to clinch playoff victories - often falling at the feet of their nemesis, the New England Patriots. They have been more your Andalusians than your Arabians - all very well in the fancy footwork department and the looking good, but when it came down to it, not quite your Lawrence of Arabia battling types.

This year was different. They took the bit between their teeth and overcame the Patriots in a playoff upset with a late victory 38 to 34 to make it to the Superbowl. This was the race between 2 quarterback posterboys - Tom Brady of the Pats and Peyton Manning of the Colts. Manning has a reputation as something of a choker in playoff games, but here he responded to the whip and carried them to victory.

Da Beeahs

The Bears play in the NFC North division, the same division as my beloved Minnesota Vikings. This may imply some hidden bias on my part, but I beg to differ. I openly don't like the Bears, there is no hiding about it. I fondly remember the days when they were the laughing stock of the division, and were completely hopeless. Sadly ever cub must one day grow and so the Bears have developed into a formidable force - poles apart from the Vikes, who now suck the big one. Anyway, enough about the Vikes....

Bears fans have had a black time of it, and while the sun has come out from behind the clouds this year, there have been reasons to avoid creating a spectacle. They defeated the New Orleans Saints, who were anointed as ‘America’s Team’ after the Hurricane that decimated the area not so long ago, to make it to the Bowl game. However this was a narrow victory. The Bears quarterback, Rex Grossman, has been both woeful and wonderful – polar performances during the season. If he had a good game, so would the Bears, if not, it seemed the game would pander to recent history…

The Game

This was touted as a game of contrasting styles – the Bears play tough defence, the Colts a spectacular offence based on Manning throwing the ball a lot.

I took the day off (as one does) to watch the game with my mate Greg. He lived in NY for a while, and loves the NFL. Mind you he supports the Miami Dolphins, and this year they were if anything even worse than the Vikings, which is saying something. Anyway, enough about the Vikes…

It was a sunny day in Sydney but raining cats and dogs in Miami, where the Superbowl was held. This made it an ideal day for us to spend in front of the TV watching a game that manages to take about 3 and a half hours to complete one hour of playing time.

After a relatively civilized kick off time of around 10.30 am (for us, not them), the first touch of the ball resulted in a touchdown kick-off return by Chicago, and we settled in for a wild game. Sadly, as it was as wet as last Saturday night over there, the first half saw a whole lot of fumbles and interceptions, and by half time the Colts were up 16 to 14. The good news is that being a close scoreline, there wasn’t a clear favourite, even though the Colts were probably preferred if leading. The better news is that Greg had proper hot dogs for lunch for us, complete with sweet mustard, onions and tomato sauce (no Mel, it isn’t ketchup). I had of course supplied various munchies including pretzels etc. It is hungry work watching all that sport. For the record I did not for a moment think of all those poor people actually working that day. Oh, except for the 6 times I received calls from said people with whom I work. I was most receptive to those calls.

The second half commenced and we settled in as the rain got heavier in Miami. The all too infrequent shots of the Colts Cheerleaders were even disheartening as their normally perfect presentation was more a congregation of completely drenched, flawlessly tanned, incredibly lithe and scantily clad rats. Their hair stylists must have been beside themselves…

Rex Grossman was just that, and played worse and worse to the point where the Colts ran out comfortable winners 29 to 17. Peyton Manning, after so many years of question marks, finally had a Superbowl ring. His mum must be so proud.

Filled with inspiration, we then jumped on the Playstation to battle it out at Madden. I am pleased to say that I inflicted a sound drubbing to the tune of 60 to 27. If only I could coach the Vikes…