Is it just me, or does this Super Bowl have all the makings of a snoozer? No disrespect to the two teams involved, but I can’t remember a Super Bowl I had less interest in. For each of the last seven years, I feel we’ve been blessed with great storylines, heroes and villains headed into the big game. Players and teams to cheer for, players and teams to cheer against. But this year, nada. No one to hate, no one to love (unless you’re a fan of the specific teams). And the game is going to be an ugly blowout.
People talk about how great parity in the NFL is, but this is the kind of matchup we get with parity. No Patriots, no Cowboys, no Colts, no Eagles. The Steelers have the history, but this team just feels like a JV squad to the great Steeler champions of the past. I’ll be watching the game like millions of others, just with a lot less interest than any in the last seven years. And I’m sorry, but “The Cowher Assistant Bowl” just doesn’t grab me.
on Jan 28th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Are you kidding me?! I’m curious…is this what you thought last year when the underdog NY Giants were expected to lose against the undefeated Patriots? No disrespect intended, but this has the makings of a great game! The Cardinals are coming into this with fire under their belts, and a determination that has been fueled by winning every post-season game that they were “suppose” to lose. Sure the Steelers may be a tougher team, more experienced with Media Day, and the Super Bowl hype. But I believe this is going to be another upset. I don’t know, maybe you’re just looking to elicite some strong responses here, but you’ve got it all wrong.
on Jan 28th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Lol. I said I thought it would be an ugly blowout, but you assume I mean the Cardinals will be on the losing end. I didn’t say that. Lol. Typical Cardinals fan.
on Jan 28th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Save for Colts-Bears two years ago (I’m a Colts fan), all the games this decade have left me cold in the run-up. Doesn’t mean it will be a bad game (Colts-Bears was barely average even though I followed the buildup closely).
Last year, for the first time in years, I did not go to a Super Bowl party. All my friends hated the Pats and we did not want to watch them at a party go 19-0, so we all stayed home … and promptly watched one of the great SB’s ever. So the lack of pregame anticipation means little in how I will actually enjoy the game.
on Jan 28th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Welcome to the world of parity. In any sport, parity begets trouble for the championship game. The best build-up to a championship games occurs when there is a real sense that the best teams have made it to the game. Instead, with parity one gets the sense that the teams who just happened to get “hot” or got a couple key breaks or favorable bounces of the ball are the teams that make it to the Super Bowl.
Does anyone really believe the Cardinals are one of the two best teams in football? Consider it this way - if the same exact 12 teams were to replay the playoffs again do you really think we’d end up with a Cardinals vs. Steelers Super Bowl. My guess is that neither team would make it again. And unless you are a fan of one of the two teams it really kills some of the enthusiasm that neither team is a dominant or great team.
Cindarella making a great run is a wonderful story when it’s the exception rather than the rule. But we just had Cindarella last year.
on Jan 28th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
No Patriots, no Cowboys, no Colts, no Eagles. blah, blah, blah!!
The Steelers have the history, but this team just feels like a JV squad to the great Steeler champions of the past. lol… the #1 defense in the NFL with numbers compared to the 70’s defense. your a tool dude
Now clearly to me you sound like someone that doesn’t know anything about football. Also I can say there are many storylines to this game and you really don’t have to look hard for them.
Ex…Steelers first team to six superbowl wins, Cardinals coaches revenge factor and etc..
Get a clue buddy just because there is no drama or teams that bring drama doesn’t mean this will be a snoozer of a super bowl.
on Jan 28th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Wow, I was just waiting for this write up and I got it. Every time, no matter what sport, this same story comes out how the championship game is going to be boring because the “top teams” aren’t playing. There will be articles afterward too, “Lowest ratings ever” or close to that. It’s true. Well, you are a real fan of the game since you will still going watch it - so hats off!
On a side note, I think this may be a good argument not to have a playoff system in college “throwball”. If the top teams don’t make it to the championship game, these same stories will be written up. At least now there is the drama and controversy surrounding the bcs.
on Jan 28th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I have no problem with the top teams not making it! Baltimore-Philadelphia would have had more pizazz. Falcons-Chargers would have piqued my interest. This one just doesn’t do it for me. I like the Cardinals and many of the Cardinals players. The Steelers are fine - I don’t love or hate them. Steelers go for No. 6? Eh. No. 6 just doesn’t have the umph that other recent Super Bowls (first to 19-0, Peyton’s first Super Bowl, the Gruden Bowl v. Al Davis) have had. And yeah, I think it’s going to be a convincing win by one team.
on Jan 28th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Hmmm….storylines:(to go along with others mentioned above)
Warner, coming back from the dead to try to win a super bowl with his second team. Guy was tossed aside by the Rams, Giants, and was all set up to be likewise with the Cardinals until Leinhart flopped. Biggest story of the game this year.
Will Hines Ward play?(remindss me of TO a couple years ago)
The Cardinals playing in their first Super Bowl ever, and in a title game for the first time in SIXTY years. I mean, seriously? Can anyone name a franchise in any pro sport that’s gone that long without an appearance? And going up against a traditional winner like Pittsburgh in doing so?
I’m watching, don’t care who wins.
on Jan 29th, 2009 at 12:47 am
There are always storylines. The question is, are they interesting? Not to me, they’re not.
As for a franchise not being in their championship game(s) in 60 years…ummm, Chicago Cubs ring a bell? 63 years and counting since they’ve been in the World Series. And they’ve stayed in Chicago. The Cardinals have been in THREE different cities. They’ve only been in Arizona for about 20 years, and almost no one in Arizona even cared about them until now. I remember being in Sun Devil Stadium for their game vs. the Eagles on Christmas Eve 2005, when an Eagles team that was 5-9 going into that game had nearly as many fans in attendance as the Cardinals. Over 2,000 miles away on Christmas Eve with a losing team! Now they have a new stadium and the team makes the Super Bowl, and NOW they care. This is a textbook example of people who are frontrunners.
I’m pretty sure I’ll watch the game. I don’t expect it to be competitive for long unless Pittsburgh finds itself utterly unable to score.
on Jan 29th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I think the fact that the Cardinals are traditionally a horrible team, are in their first super Bowl ever, with the least amount of wins in the regular season (only 9) makes for a nice David vs. Goalith storyline. Go Cards!
on Jan 30th, 2009 at 11:59 am
A true sports fan shouldnt require “pizazz”.
Is there anyone in Tampa reporting for OS?
on Feb 2nd, 2009 at 10:15 am
I am THRILLED the Steelers won the Super Bowl! What a game! I am especially glad Pittsburgh won; in that the Steelers’ coach supported Obama - while the Cardinals’ coach supported McRACIST. The State of Arizona is 0-2! THIS comparison showed just how crude the Cards are when Kurt Warner - the self-righteous “Christian” said: “That other team…..”. Kurt Warner, a REAL “Christian”? NO REAL Christian acts like that.”That OTHER team”? McSame did the crap when he debated Obama: “That guy (pointing to Obama)….”. How LAME and disrepectful. TYPICAL pseudo-Christian, UNevolved, right winged idiot. Go STEELERS! Great WIN Pittsburgh! AGAIN, the GOOD GUY won!