First up, The Super Bowl: The Game
Over the years I've watched the Superbowl and have chosen sides over arbitrary reasons. I chose to support Kurt Warner this time, because he's such a great guy -- a good husband, father, and Christian. Even though he's won before, it would be nice to see him give it a good fight. Besides, the Steelers have had enough wins over the years.
Then I have to admit it took another turn. I heard that Obama was rooting for the Steelers. And the Pittsburgh coach had been a big supporter of his. Well now, the Cardinals had to win.
All right, it was a bit petty. But it was hard not to draw parallels. Warner was the older guy who had worked his backside off to get where he is today and he was representing Arizona. Roethlisberger was the punk who has had everything go his way and won a ring in only his second season. (And, although not a parallel, he was so cocky that he almost died because he refused to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle -- I hate those kinda guys.)
So, yeah, it was a good game and Warner came oh-so-close to closing out his career on a high note. But it would have been nice to see the good guy win for once these days.
The Super Bowl: The Other Stuff
Jennifer Hudson kicked it right through the uprights. But why did they have to have her lip-synch? (Totally had me fooled.) Okay, so Yo-Yo Ma was playing in the cold at the inaugural, I got that. But why do we demand perfection and shy away from the possibility of glitches arising? Hudson would have been inspiring no matter what -- let the girl sing!
Springsteen -- if ever there was a need for the line "Shut up and sing!"... I'm afraid it's become difficult for me to enjoy The Boss-y Cow now that he's turned to assuaging his guilt by preaching to his audience. When he sells his mansion and moves next door to the Average Joes he feels he is the voice of, then I may give a listen again.
Where are the women announcers? Sure we get a token woman on the sidelines discussing the wind gusts, but at the end of the game when they were doing the wrap-up -- I think there were seven or eight guys all lined up giving their two cents. Do women have anything to add? I think so.
Of course that wasn't the only beef I had with NBC -- they show the Doritos and Go Daddy ads with exploitative images of scantily clad women (all 3 companies will be getting letters of protest from me) but they don't show this ad (they cited they don't allow "issue" ads -- but they were willing to show that PETA ad if it had been edited so they need to redress this wrong):
Just think what a difference such a powerful ad could have made.
And lastly, Michael Phelps:
Good kid. Dumb behavior. First drunk driving and now a bong. Can't imagine the pressure he's been under, and perhaps both times he just wanted to kick back. But why can't he choose to be the guy who says his body is a temple and therefore will not desecrate it with drugs or too much alcohol?
In my mind, not too much should be made of judging the person, but everything should be said about judging the behavior. You're a giant role model, like it or not, asked to be or not -- it's up to you what image you present to the world's youth. Respect that and make wiser choices.
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