Photo from Google Images
First, I’d like to clear all the rumors surrounding Aaron Rodgers MVP acceptance speech at the NFL Honors last night. I do NOT have a ring on my finger. Therefore, Aaron Rodger is NOT engaged. Aaron’s dry sense of humor and sarcasm are often misleading for entertainment purposes. When he does hand me a Tiffany diamond, trust me, you all will know and we will have pictures to prove that it really happened. Please respect our privacy at this time. I’m still processing the humor about this fake news.
Super Bowl 55 (I hate Roman numerals) is finally here! Can we just say thank you to the NFL for giving us a full season of football? The measures they had to put in place to keep the players, coaches, staff and crews safe was nothing short of remarkable. No fans or only some fans was weird, but for some teams, no fans in the stands is all they know. The NFL was proof that life can still go on during a pandemic all while Andy Reid is still trying to figure out how to wear a mask properly.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be the first team to ever host and play in a Super Bowl as they take on the defending Super Bowl Champs; the Kansas City Chiefs. Tom freaking Brady vs. Patrick Mahomes has so many story lines. The GOAT vs. a baby goat, old man vs. a young kid, 10 Super Bowl appearances vs. 2 Super Bowl appearances, going for this 7th Lombardi Trophy vs. going for his 2nd Lombardi Trophy and that’s just getting started with the quarterbacks.
Both teams are dangerous and can put points on the board in a hurry. Both teams are stacked with talent. Both QBs have won both league MVP and Super Bowl MVP awards. Both teams are really good.
The Super Bowl has something for everyone and this year is no exception. In what some say as the greatest matchup in Super Bowl history, the game is expected to one of the best ever played. The Weekend is performing at halftime and he allegedly spent millions of his own money to put on a show for us. Anything will be better than Maroon 5. The commercials, even the ones already leaked. (I’ll never understand why you would pay millions of dollars for a SB commercial spot and intentionally leak it before.) And then there’s the food. Nachos was the winner on the TODAY Show’s SB food bracket. I personally think buffalo chicken dip and wings are game day and everyday winners in a food bracket, but queso is a first time Hall of Fame ballot selection for me. Even if you don’t care about the game you can still enjoy the festivities with good friends/family/strangers, entertainment and food. Unless you’re the CDC.
Now, the CDC warns of watching the game with others as it will be a ‘super spreader’ event. And when they say super spreader, they are not referring the amazing food bracket laid out on a table for you. The CDC sounds like a bitter Jets fan by encouraging “no cheering” to prevent droplets from leaving your mouth. If you don’t feel well, stay home. Be smart, wash your hands and send me any leftovers.
One day, females working in sports won’t headline news. But since it’s still new, let’s celebrate the ponytail! Sarah Thomas is the NFL’s only female official and she will be the first female to officiate a Super Bowl game. Thomas started her NFL career in 2015 as a line judge and has been a down judge since 2017. (A line judge means her job is at the line of scrimmage. She is looking for offsides, encroachment, number of players on the field, the passer is behind the line of scrimmage when the ball is thrown and more. The down judge is like the boss of the line judge plus she directs the chain crew and keeps the other referees in line and in the know.) Thomas will also make history with female coaches Lori Locust (defensive line assistant coach) and Maral Javadifar (assistant strength and conditioning coach) for Tampa Bay. Rock those ponytail ladies!
Sports betting JUST became legal in the state of Virginia and FanDuel has no cap on their marketing budget. FanDuel is full on cyber stalking me on every page I go to. I hear their commercials on podcast and see them on TV. And this was before I placed the 55:1 bet. (Bet $5 to win $275. Refer a friend and you both $50 in credits to bet with.) A random stat for you betters: In the coin toss, tails has won the Super Bowl coin toss 4 more times than heads (Thank you FOX Sports: NFL for that info).
Tomorrow when the alarm goes off and it hurts to get out of bed, remember that Tom Brady is 43-years old and he just played in his 10th Super Bowl.