Some Super Bowl Thoughts
by Tom Neven on 02/04/2008 at 8:02 AM
Tom Petty is living proof that you don't have to be a good singer to become a rock star.
Many people -- okay, my wife -- tune in only for the commercials. It was a disappointing year. Only the Doritos giant-mouse commercial delivered. The rest were either lame, not funny when they intended to be, or disgusting. GoDaddy.com and Victoria's Secret apparently forgot that a lot of families watch the Super Bowl. (True story: When my daughter was about 10, she walked with my wife past a Victoria's Secret store in the mall. About 50 paces past the store, she said nonchalantly, "There's not much secret in there.")
Fox TV used a lot of commercial time to push its own shows. Judging by this offering, how precisely do the Fox executives look at themselves in the mirror?
Oh yeah, they played a football game, too. There was something deeply satisfying in seeing the New York Giants upset the forces of darkness New England Patriots. I'm not a Giants fan, but I rooted for them tonight for a variety of reasons: I always go for the underdog, I like to see the "experts" confounded, but most important I like to see cheaters get their comeuppance. Seeing the shell-shocked look the face of the Patriot's head coach, Bill Belichick, was priceless. He didn't even have enough class to congratulate the winners. He just mumbled some excuses and slunk back into the locker room. We haven't gotten to the bottom of the Patriots' cheating scandal yet, but I believe that the 2007 NFL season will be remembered for the supposedly unstoppable team that couldn't close the deal and got their leg-up on competitors through underhanded means.
But it was a great football game, what the Super Bowl was intended to be. That was the most exciting fourth-quarter of football I've seen in a long time.
1. Andrew R. (aka Canadian Boy) said the following at 8:14 AM on Feb 4:
"Tom Petty is living proof that you don't have to be a good singer to become a rock star."
No way! I thought he was great! He played some classics, it was high energy and definitely better than some other halftime shows...
But, oh yeah, that was a football game. SOOOO good to see the Giants win. The Patriots- Bradey and Moss especially- looked stunned. I'm very glad they didn't have a perfect season. They didn't deserve it.
2. K said the following at 8:19 AM on Feb 4:
What I loved was how everyone, ESPECIALLY in the New York metro area said the Giants couldn't win.
When people in your own backyard say you can't win, you got problems.
But the Giants pulled it together, didn't really make too big a deal and spoke on the field.
Bravo to them!
3. Justin said the following at 8:32 AM on Feb 4:
Only the Doritos giant-mouse commercial delivered.
I now put aside all our differences. You sir, have a wonderful sense of humor.
4. John D. said the following at 9:04 AM on Feb 4:
I give high marks to the Doritos commercial, as well as the Bud Light ad where the guys sneak beer and a TV into the kitchen disguised as cheese and chablis.
The Justin Timerlake Pepsi commercial was amusing (you could quibble about the crotch humor), as was the other head-nodding Pepsi ad.
I found the Godfather-inspired Audi spot somewhat disturbing, and other ads just plain lame.
5. Eliza said the following at 9:17 AM on Feb 4:
As a HUGE Patriots fan, I was obviously very disappointed that a mind-boggling 19-0 record wasn't achieved, but more importantly that the Patriot's phenomenal record-breaking season is now going to be forgotten in light of "spygate". I'm annoyed that only the Patriots get fined for something that the Jets themselves have done. Of course, this does not make it right, and so they were fined. So why are we still talking about it?
Bill Belichick, as everyone knows, is not the bubbliest guy in the world. People count his smiles like they're diamonds. It was bad sportsmanship that he didn't even let the last play of the game happen before he went out to the field to meet the other coach and scooted. But no one can blame him for mumbling--that's his primary language!
Although I'm sad we lost the game, I personally am glad we lost it to the Giants. Their defense was phenomenal, Eli Manning connected where it counted, and Tom Brady just was not at his best. The game went the way it should have.
But man, does it ever stink to have your favorite team lose! It's like having a treasure fall to dust in your hands. I'll just have to dwell on the amazing record-setting season the Patriots put in. And there's always next year;).
6. NeedACatchyName said the following at 9:32 AM on Feb 4:
Personally, I thought the commercial that was least family friendly was the Will Ferrell Bud Light commercial. I usually don't mind risque Super Bowl commercials as much as I should, but the last bit of that one crossed the line and was too suggestive for family entertainment. Fox should have culled that one.
The commercials were way too lame this year. It seems like they all fall into three categories these days: celebrity cameo, expensive special effects (it seems like there were a lot more of these than usual this year), or suggestive humor. I miss the creativity that the ads used to have. That having been said, I liked the Fedex pigeons ad.
But wow, what a game! Usually the actual game is a snoozefest, but I was on the edge of my seat the whole second half, and my favorite team wasn't even in the game.
7. NeedACatchyName said the following at 9:35 AM on Feb 4:
Oh, and I have to say that the halftime show was great. The opening song wasn't too much, but "Free Falling" was amazing. It made up for any other shortcomings in the show.
8. Joy W. said the following at 10:07 AM on Feb 4:
I was really excited for the Giants...they deserved to win! I watched two weeks ago as they beat my own beloved Packers in the NFC championship game (another nailbiter), and I knew after that game that the Superbowl wasn't going to be the "gimme" for the Patriots that everyone was saying it was.
Yes, the Giants were a wildcard team, but their playing throughout the post season has been phenomenal. You gotta love the underdog!!!
9. Diana said the following at 10:56 AM on Feb 4:
My favorite commercial was the FedEx ad with the giant pigeons causing mayhem.
I'm not into football, but I can't resist a little trash talk no matter what the sport, just for fun. I made the mistake of making too many pro-Patriots comments to my 10 year old brother in the past few weeks. He's never been much of a football fan before, but I think I accidently changed that. I had to babysit him last night. As I was enjoying the amazing upset, he was just upset. It took awhile to get him calmed down enough to go to bed.
10. Andrew R. (aka Canadian Boy) said the following at 11:17 AM on Feb 4:
Budweiser was not bad: "Bottle opener suck!"
I could watch that several times.
11. Gina Dalfonzo said the following at 11:29 AM on Feb 4:
Nobody else enjoyed Hank the Clydesdale and his Dalmatian trainer? That was far and away my favorite! :-)
12. Paul said the following at 11:55 AM on Feb 4:
Hey, how about the baby trader? "and... I really underestimated the creepiness..."
13. jess said the following at 12:04 PM on Feb 4:
I agree, I jumped on the Giants bandwagon last night approx. 5 minutes before kickoff amidst a room full of Patriots fans, or people who wanted to "witness history." I was so pleased the Giants pulled it out, and the fourth quarter was so exciting! Man I was really reminded why I love football after that guy made that crazy catch against his helmet.
Also, I liked the halftime show too! I am a big Tom Petty fan (man did he look old though), and enjoyed his music selection. I only wish they played a couple more! What annoyed me more was the Jordin Sparks lip synced the national anthem! It was totally obvious, and a real letdown!
And finally, I thought the best commercials were the E*trade ones...the baby was hilarious! I found myself wanting to watch them again, hoping they'd air them twice, etc. Also I liked the NFL players stories, I think Matt Hasselbeck did one, and two other guys, it's escaping me now. Hasselbeck was so funny, "When fans started writing me asking to get Brett Favre's autograph...that's when I knew I hadn't made it, yet." Good times.
14. Amir Larijani said the following at 12:12 PM on Feb 4:
Go Tom! I've been rooting against the Pats all year, and practically raised the roof in my house when the Giants got that last touchdown.
I have no use for cheaters, and Belicheat is the master of them. He is to the NFL what Barry Bonds is to baseball. The Giants played great football, took the fight to the Pats, and punched them in the mouth.
And yes...I loved the mouse commercial!
As for Danica Patrick, would someone please remind her that, like tennis non-star Anna Kournikova, she still hasn't won a race and is in danger of leaving a legacy of being nothing more than a pinup model who couldn't excel at a real profession.
And your daughter's words about VS are priceless.
Of course, my favorite all-time commercial is EDS's "Herding Cats" spot.
15. Steve Watters said the following at 12:29 PM on Feb 4:
Does anyone know if two brothers have ever been back-to-back Super Bowl winners as quarterbacks like the Manning brothers? That was a nice story line--especially for people who were expecting to see Peyton in the Super Bowl again this year.
16. Jo said the following at 12:51 PM on Feb 4:
people watch the super bowl for the commercials?
i can't imagine watching anything for the commercials...
maybe british commercials just aren't up to scratch?
17. TN1 said the following at 12:59 PM on Feb 4:
I liked the Audi commercial (pretty sure that's what it was) with the stupid squirrel and the rest of the little fuzzy forrest animals all screaming. I liked it because it was pure nonsense.
18. John said the following at 1:09 PM on Feb 4:
I like Tom Petty, but he is definitely proof that you don't have to be a good singer to be a rock star. (Or young, or good looking or well dressed, or...etc., etc., etc.)
19. Jeni said the following at 1:16 PM on Feb 4:
I liked the commercial with Hank! I was rather inspired by it.
20. BB said the following at 1:29 PM on Feb 4:
All teams do it... just the patriots got caught. That's why they always put a card over their mouth when they tell the plays.
The etrade commercials were good.
I'm glad the patriots lost because of how the coaches reacted to losing. Lose with grace buddy! Congratulate the other coach before you go off and pout.
21. Elizabeth said the following at 2:06 PM on Feb 4:
The baby one with the clown in the background was a good one.
The second half of the game was incredible!
22. Eliza said the following at 2:46 PM on Feb 4:
Jo:
The reason everyone watches for the commercials is that they cost $2.7 million each for a 30 second spot (!!!!). This is the only televised event in the US where people actually watch for the commercials;).
I feel so alone in this blog in my Patriots fandom.... I suppose it's like being a Yankees fan on a Red Sox blog;).
23. K said the following at 2:47 PM on Feb 4:
TN1: The squirrel spot was actually for Bridgestone tires.
Yeah, dun worry, we all were like, huh?!? Bridgestone?!?!
24. Glenise said the following at 2:48 PM on Feb 4:
My Dad's friend's son plays for the Giants, and so I was super estatic when they won. Plus, I love cheering for the underdog (at least when they are not playing against my home team). Besides, the Patriots have won enough. Go Giants!!!
Personally, I don't think a Victoria's Secret add should ever play during the Super Bowl. I don't think those two mix at all. But I suppose I feel that way because I was anything but lady-like last night.
25. Sheri said the following at 2:56 PM on Feb 4:
I think that maybe the Victoria's secret add was supposed to be a hint to all the men in our lives. I honestly think it failed. I wasn't in the mood for anything but manly-like screaming, cheering, and enjoying delicious chip dip either!
26. Tami said the following at 3:08 PM on Feb 4:
I watch for the commercials, too. But this year I flipped back and forth. I kept seeing state Indian casino initiative ads. That, or the game itself was on. Drat!
I saw Coke's Thanksgiving-day-parade-balloon ad online. Loved it. Someone on another site made a good point: that it was a great ending for a Super Bowl where the "underdog" finally wins in an upset victory. (I won't ruin the ad's ending for those of you who haven't seen it yet.)
27. Sara said the following at 5:10 PM on Feb 4:
A 'foreigner' here who just watched the Superbowl for the first time: that was so cool! It's like a monarchy or something, all the pomp. I was at home with my overly-cynical Dad, who's disgusted by all things patriotic and all professional sports: someone was passionately singing the national anthem and he was scoffing at that, and *then* six jets swooped over in formation and I thought "uh-oh"...he almost fell out of his chair for all the exaggerated eye-rolling. It was annoying but funny.
28. jess said the following at 5:37 PM on Feb 4:
Steve,
According to ESPN, this is the first back-to-back brothers victory in the Super Bowl. Yay Manning family :)
29. DannieA said the following at 5:44 PM on Feb 4:
Oh come on guys...the last few years the commercials really sucked big time...this year they were better. My favorites.
Bud light--guy breathing fire and then lighting the place up....(lol, I don't like cats...DOGS ARE THE BEST)
Clydesdales--Hank and the dalmation
The freaky Michael Jackson music dancing lizards
I thought they were better this year...and can I say I was sooooo excited that the Giants won. This was a great super bowl.
30. Andrew R. (aka Canadian Boy) said the following at 8:32 PM on Feb 4:
There's a third Manning brother.
He must feel so inferior at family reunions.
31. Leah said the following at 11:14 PM on Feb 4:
I love budweiser ads.. unfortunately, being in australia, i can only watch them on youtube! (Why is it alcohol ads are always the best?? Even Australian ones are hilarious).
In other news, you should watch some real football, like Rugby union. (I would say Rugby league, but no-one outside of the southern hemisphere and England knows what that is). None of this running round in ridiculous padding and switching players depending on whether you're offending or defending.
32. Liz said the following at 12:26 AM on Feb 5:
good thoughts. although i disagree with you thinking that the only good one was the doritos commercial.
the best ones was "Tide Stick" talking stain, baby with the clown for the "etrade", family guy/underdog/charlie brown "coke" commrecial, and BOTH bridgestone commercials with (1) richard simmons and alice cooper and (2) screaming rodents/animals. PRICELESS.
and interesting thought: i spoke with a friend who has played football and even college football, and asked him what he thought about the "spygate" of the NE Pats... and he said, "well everyone does it...". Apparently quite a few people do it. How interested would it be if everyone was videotaping everyone else's signals? Not that I condone it... just an interesting thought. haha
but indeed...VERY good game.
33. James said the following at 12:27 AM on Feb 5:
Gotta say that I didn't care enough to get tickets to the game like everyone else who lives in Phoenix (b/c, that's when anyone really cares about football, b/c frankly the Cardinals SUCK). I went and played paintball for the first half.
Watched the 2nd half at a friend's house and DEFINITELY rooted for the Giants. I didn't care about either team really, but I was pretty sure that the Patriots would win. I'm glad I was wrong. What an AMAZING game, especially the T-minus 2 minute miracle interception/reversal-pass/reception, and then of course the T-minus 0:35 TD pass. Amazing. Great game of football. The Ads sucked. The Justin Timberlake pepsi ad, budweisser horse ad, and the underdog vs. stewie coke ad were pretty darn creative (as was the e-trade baby commercial). But that was it. I watched it for the football game.
All hail the Manning dynasty!
34. John said the following at 8:12 AM on Feb 5:
I don't think Cooper has an inferiority problems.
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/11/07/Sports/The_other_Manning.shtml
It's a shame what happened to him, but, as far as I know, his family has a solid faith in the Lord, which, hopefully is more important than rings.
They seem like an awesome family that have worked hard for what they have.
It's awesome to see good men be successful without cutting corners or being immoral off the field.
35. Justice said the following at 8:48 AM on Feb 5:
Cheaters?
They were filming their signs, like they do in baseball, like the Jets and Dolphina had done to the Pats. There was a reason why so many NFL teams did not speak out, they are cehating too.
All in all, the Patriots lost it rather than the Giants winning. Two missed interceptions and a lost tackle and the Pats are champs and the annoying 72 Dolphins are history
36. Madison said the following at 10:45 AM on Feb 5:
I completely disagree about the commercials. Did you not see the Coke commercial with the Stewie and Underdog floats? What about the mineral water (or something) commercial with the dancing lizards?
37. Tom Neven said the following at 10:57 AM on Feb 5:
Leah
I used to live in South Africa, and I really became a big fan of SA Rugby and the Springboks. I still wear my Springboks jersey from time to time. Unfortunately, it's pretty snug around the middle now. It must have shrunk or, ahem ... something else must have happened.
As for the "everyone else does it" defense for the Pats: It's explicitly against league rules (never mind good sportsmanship), so that defense doesn't wash.
38. Tami said the following at 11:03 AM on Feb 5:
Yup, that's the Coke ad I referred to above. I had to go watch it again!
As someone else brilliantly pointed out elsewhere, the Charlie Brown victory foreshadowed the NY Giants victory. Hooray for "underdogs"!
Now I look forward to seeing that ad a million times during American Idol.
39. Talia said the following at 11:51 AM on Feb 5:
Just to clarify, Cooper Manning was nearly paralyzed due to some illness/injury (spinal stenosis). He had to relearn how to walk. He was on his way, but his health took precedence.
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/11/07/Sports/The_other_Manning.shtml
40. Autumn said the following at 3:08 PM on Feb 5:
even though i've been cheering for the packers throughout the playoffs, (i'm from missouri, so it wasn't like i could cheer for either of my teams), I'm very glad that the Giants won, mainly because I didn't want to see the pats go 19-0. don't really know why, probably because i'm not a huge brady fan.
but as for the commercials, the budweiser dalmation training one was my favorite. they always have the best commercials!