Not just because Malcolm Gladwell demonstrated in David and Goliath that underdogs often possess more strengths than their adversaries realize; but also because you can usually count on the Groundhog to predict the opposite of what will actually happen.
And, for the record, despite the media hovering over trash-talking cornerback Richard Sherman like flies over shit, the leader of the Seahawks is smooth-talking quarterback Russell Wilson. More to the point, here’s to Wilson finally getting the media attention he deserves for the talent his displays on the field as well as the sportsmanship he displays off it.
(“I’m Picking the Seahawks in Upset Over the Broncos,” The iPINIONS Journal, February 1, 2014)
‘America the Beautiful’ and the National Anthem
Queen Latifah should have rested on the laurels she earned for officiating that Moonie-pansexual wedding at the Grammys last Sunday. Because, in trying to sing “America the Beautiful” tonight, she only succeeded in reminding people that she made her name as a rapper, not a singer.
This was brought into glaring relief when opera star Renée Fleming followed her with a truly hair-raising rendition of the National Anthem. Interestingly enough, Fleming became the first opera singer to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner.” But she soared over all of its purportedly difficult notes with such ease that I doubt she’ll be the last.
Incidentally, apropos of pre-game activities, play-by-play announcer Joe Buck deserves honorable mention for the way he dismissed Broadway Joe Namath after Namath appeared at midfield for the coin toss wearing a ridiculous, desperate-for-attention-looking fur coat. Buck mocked, “Namath is probably the only person who wishes it were colder.” In fact, despite snowpocalypse fears about winter weather wreaking havoc on this game, it was a balmy 50 degrees at kick-off time.
The Game
I was already feeling vindicated when the Seahawks scored on the very first play, even though the Broncos had the ball.
This is because a mix up caused the center to snap the ball over star quarterback Peyton Manning’s head and into the end zone, giving the Seahawks a two-point safety. My underdog spirits were then buoyed when the Broncos followed up their disastrous first possession by failing on several subsequent possessions to move the ball just 10 yards for one first down. By contrast, the Seahawks were moving the ball down the field, well, the way the Broncos usually do.
But just imagine the revelry that ensued when:
- Manning ended his team’s first-promising drive with an interception, only to have unsung quarterback Russell Wilson take advantage of this first turnover by leading the Seahawks down the field for the first touchdown of the game;
- Manning ended his team’s second-promising drive with an interception, which Seahawk Malcolm Smith returned for a 69-yard touchdown, earning him the game’s MVP award; and
- Manning ended his team’s third-promising drive by having his pass blocked to the ground on a desperate and clearly despairing 4th-and-2 play.
There were only seconds left before halftime at this point, and the Seahawks were not only leading 22-0; they were looking positively invincible!
Incidentally, Richard Sherman made a mockery of all the pre-game media attention he got by failing to make a single play worth mentioning. There was also the irony of an ankle injury forcing him to the sidelines and punctuating how irrelevant he was to the outcome of this game.
Then, and I kid you not, I believe so strongly in “the mercy rule” that when the Seahawks opened the second half with Percy Harvin returning the Broncos’ kickoff for a touchdown and a 29-0 lead, and when the Broncos responded with Demaryius Thomas ending his team’s fourth-promising drive by fumbling a catch from Manning, I switched the channel to Masterpiece Classic. They were only midway through the third quarter.
When I switched back I was hardly surprised to see that the Seahawks had won their first Super Bowl Championship in franchise history with an historic rout 43 to 8.
However, I was pleasantly surprised to see Wilson giving a post-game interview, during which he showed not only why he is his team’s true leader, but also why he’s the anti-Sherman with his poised and thoughtful reflections on the biggest moment of his life.
Congratulations Hawks!
Game Epilogue
I stand by the reasons I gave in my opening quote for picking the Seahawks in an upset. But, given all of the pre-game hype about the epic matchup between the Broncos, with the NFL’s top-ranked offense, and the Seahawks, with its top-ranked defense, I would be remiss not to share this for your edification:
The Seattle Seahawks will beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII because a great defense usually beats a great offense. Four Super Bowls matched the top-ranked offense and defense, and three times the defense prevailed — Pittsburgh (1978), San Francisco (1984) and New York Giants (1990). Only San Francisco’s top-rated offense (1989) triumphed.
(The Washington Post, January 30, 2014)
Which only reinforces the herd-like, ass-backwards folly of so many sports analysts picking Denver’s great offense to beat Seattle’s great defense. To be fair, though, this Super Bowl trend dates back to 1978 and spans 12 years to 1990. And if it isn’t trending on social networks, we really shouldn’t expect the Twitter-brained fools who populate all media these days to have any regard for it.
In any case, this trend might explain why defensive players are beginning to command higher-paying contracts than offensive ones, no?
- Manning has had a terrific career, and it would be a shame for him to go out on such a sour note. Nonetheless, given his relatively advanced age (37) and persistent neck injuries, he’d be wise to rest on his laurels and not tempt fate by returning for another season. He had a dream season that ended in a nightmare Super Bowl tonight. But it would take a miracle for him to lead the Broncos back to another berth, let alone to avenge this loss, even if he avoids a career-ending neck injury.
The Commercials
If the best commercial is the one everybody’s talking about, the hands-down winner is Budweiser’s “Puppy Love,” which chronicled the friendship between a puppy and a Clydesdale that simply could not be denied. Never mind that more people (like me) probably saw it in so-called TV previews than those who saw it for the first time tonight. I actually missed it during the game.
Too bad its Bud-Light commercial featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger was as pathetic and stupid as this one featuring a dog and horse was dramatic and sentimental. It speaks volumes about Arnold’s career that he has been reduced to appearing as a bit player in commercials wearing a Björn-Borg wig and playing ping-pong.
I also missed what I suspect would have been my choice for the best commercial. I’m reliably informed that it featured Bob Dylan narrating and starring in a commercial exhorting Americans to buy American cars. If anyone can emulate a similar Super Bowl XLVI commercial featuring Clint Eastwood, it’s Dylan. I’m looking forward to seeing it.
The weirdest commercial had to have been Maserati’s – with its warlike tag line:
We Have Prepared. Now We Strike.
It showed off the new Ghibli model doing on the highway what cars are only meant to do on the racetrack. Even worse, though, it featured 10-year-old Oscar-nominated actress Quvenzhane Wallis, who clearly cannot drive, boasting (in Shakespearean prose with imagery straight out of The Hunger Games) about its sleek features and lightning speed. Whatever.
The Halftime Show
Bruno Mars, with an assist from the Red Hot Chili Peppers…? I grant you, he’s a cute kid; but puhleeese. And would it have been too much for them to perform live instead of jumping around the stage like a bunch of lip-synching air guitarists?
Frankly, they were upstaged by that Seinfeld bit, which probably had most viewers talking through their songs about how good Jerry, George, and Newman were, and wishing they had given us more.
Come to think of it, Bruno was even upstaged by Prince being featured in promos for his first-ever appearance in a TV sitcom, FOX’s New Girl, which was scheduled to air right after the Super Bowl. Talk about wishing for more….
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* This commentary was originally published yesterday, Sunday, at 10:48 pm