SuperBowl XLIII

It seems to me that each SuperBowl is touted as “the most exciting!” or “the best!” or “the most memorable yet!”. I’m being perfectly honest when I say that I’m not a huge football fan. I do enjoy certain players, teams, etc., and I watch on very rare occasions. The SuperBowl, however, is totally different. I am one of those people that watch mainly for the commercials, but I don’t fast forward through the game itself. To me, the SuperBowl is a huge celebration. Why? Because football is OVER, and baseball season is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!!

I was for the Steelers all the way. Everyone in St. Louis seems to think Kurt Warner is the best thing since sliced bread. While he does seem like a genuine guy, and he has done (and continues to do) a lot for St. Louis, I refuse to like him just on principle. My brother completely agreed with me, in that, there is just something...I can’t put my finger on it…but I don’t like the guy. There. I said it.

It was a very exciting game, I must admit. Steelers scored first when Roethlisberger was met at the goal line and pulled into the end zone by his center…or so everyone thought. The play was reviewed, and replays showed his left knee down before he crossed the goal line. No touchdown. But they did kick an 18-year field goal. (3-0 Steelers.)

Fumbles and incomplete passes followed for the Cardinals in the second quarter, along with a touchdown for the Steelers. And one for Warner’s team. Roethlisberger committed a turnover, and the Cardinals ended up at the Steelers’ 34-yard-line.

What happened next was probably the most incredible football play I can recall seeing during a live game. (With things like this, replays just don’t count.) Eighteen seconds were left in the first half when one of Warner’s passes was intercepted by the Steelers’ Harrison and quickly…AMAZINGLY…ran 100 yards (the longest play in Super Bowl history) back for a Steelers touchdown. Let me repeat myself: A 100-yard interception return for a touchdown by Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison. He managed to shake off three different Cardinals players, including Warner, and never lost his footing. Harrison was hit just short of the goal line, but his knee landed on the Cardinals player and he tumbled head-first into the end zone. I am not ashamed to admit that I found myself screaming “Go, go, GO!!!” at the TV like a lunatic. (17-7 Steelers)

Bruce Springsteen, looking really…REALLY old, played the halftime show. Not bad, the man can still groove. And he’s kinda sexy. I mean, for an old guy and all. Wasn’t a big fan of the song he sang w/ the choir…thought he fell kinda flat.

Onto the third quarter! Nothing too exciting…21 yard field goal by Jeff Reed of the Steelers. (20-7 Steelers)

Victory is ours! Right! Right?? Suddenly all hell broke loose. The Cardinals rallied, pulling it out of their behinds, and THEY were on the way to winning SuperBowl XLIII. They proceeded to score 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. (23-20 Cardinals)

I felt my hopes for a Steelers victory being dashed. I knew the Warner “God speak” (yes, I am not a fan of that, sorry) was coming, so I started doing dishes. But suddenly…

Roethlisberger threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left to give Pittsburgh a 27-23 victory over Arizona!!! Yaaaaaaaahhoooooooooo!!!!!!!!
(Commercial reviews coming tomorrow…)