Yes, we know that 40-year-old Tom Brady and 65-year-old Bill Belichick are the greatest quarterback/coach combination in NFL history.
In addition, we’ve heard many times Rob Gronkowski is preparing to play despite suffering a concussion in his last game.
Yes, the 15-3 (including playoffs) Philadelphia Eagles are playing up the underdog role so that even some of their players have worn dog masks.
Please, we’ve had enough Super Bowl Hype, can we just get on with the game?
After two weeks of hoopla, Super Bowl 52 kicks off on Sunday (3:30PM PST).
On this day, millions of North Americans will be partying, eating food, sitting in front of large screen TV’s, and of course, enjoying the most anticipated football game of the year.
Whether one lives in Prince George, BC; Waterloo, Ontario; Waterloo, Wisconsin; Pottsville, Pennsylvania, or any other city, this four-hour spectacle (including the lengthy half-time show) has evolved into a North American tradition.
Indeed, this is a time when fans and non-fans alike will tune in, some just to catch a glimpse and experience the excitement of the biggest extravaganza in North American sports.
Other leagues shut down to a game that will be seen by a bigger audience than any other event in North America.
#SBLII week is here—check out how @jtimberlake and @THETNKIDS are getting ready to rock #PepsiHalftime on February 4th! pic.twitter.com/UvMzKVk6lh
— Pepsi™ (@pepsi) February 1, 2018
Last year’s Super Bowl drew 111.9 million viewers on FOX Sports TV and another 4.47 million viewers on the Canadian networks that carried the game.
When the NFL championship game for the Vince Lombardi Trophy is taking place, there will be no action in the NBA, NHL, WHL, or BCHL to name a few.
Of course, the NBA and NHL games on Sunday are scheduled to be completed before kickoff.
It is nearly impossible for this New England-Philadelphia match-up to live up to its advanced billing, although the Patriots-Atlanta Falcons game a year ago, saw the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history (Patriots down 28-3 in the third quarter) and the first time overtime was needed to determine a winner.
Double-digit outcomes have decided 30 of the 51 Super Bowls, however when New England is involved, down to the wire games have become the norm.
The Patriots have won five Super Bowls, with the biggest margin of victory six points, and that was in 2017, the unforgettable 34-28 (OT) decision.
As strange as it may seem, New England has not scored a first quarter point in the seven Super Bowls in the Brady/Belichick era.
The Patriots bring out passion unlike any other NFL team with the possible exception of the Dallas Cowboys.
You love them or hate them; there is very little in between.
“That’s all we got. We love you. #Patriots out.”
Watch all the speakers at the send-off rally, including one epic mic drop: pic.twitter.com/O2N9DUro0N
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 29, 2018
The Eagles may not be the most popular team in the NFL, but more casual fans will be cheering for them, for no other reason than being the four-and-a-half point underdogs.
Most of the pundits are suggesting this will be an outstanding game decided in the final minute.
Hearing all this makes one believe there is a better chance of a lopsided game, or perhaps one similar to 2016 when Denver whipped Carolina 24-10.
There seems to be a common belief that the Eagles have the better overall roster with more talent, but is that enough to overcome the advantages the Patriots dynamic duo bring?
One game is all we got. One game is all we need.#SBLII | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/ykbgOt5vBf
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 1, 2018
For the fan looking to consume much more, here’s 52 things to know about the participants.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/super-bowl-2018-preview-the-52-things-you-need-to-know-about-patriots-vs-eagles/
Many non-football fans will join the party, but not necessarily to intently watch the Patriots and Eagles.
POLLFISH.COM SUPER BOWL SUNDAY SURVEY ***
(Survey of 1,000 Americans, conducted last year)
ONLY ONE IN FIVE AMERICANS (1/5) WATCH THE SUPER BOWL FOR THE FOOTBALL:
While 59% of Americans are interested in both the game and the commercials, only 21% tune in for the game alone. 15% are in it just for the commercials, and another six percent are forced to suffer through the Super Bowl against their will.
AMERICA’S TOP 10 FAVORITE SUPER BOWL FOODS:
(Based on the percentage of Americans who eat certain foods during the game)
#1: Chicken wings (33%)
#2: Pizza (22%)
#3: Chips & Dip (17%)
#4: Nachos (14%)
#5: Chili (6%)
#6: Hot dogs (4%)
#7: Sliders (3%)
#8: Cupcakes (1%)
#9: Macaroni & Cheese (1%)
#10: Cookies (1%)
Here are some more “out of the ordinary” Super Bowl facts:
- The average number of people at a Super Bowl party is 17
- 35% of people who attend the game write it off as a corporate expense
- 80% of all Super Bowl tickets sold go to corporate sponsors of the NFL and of the Super Bowl
- Super Bowl Sunday is second in food consumption behind only Thanksgiving Day
- The amount of food consumed includes an estimated one billion number of chicken wings and 28 million pounds of potato chips
- On the Monday following the Super Bowl, an average of six percent of the workforce calls in sick
- On the same Monday, antacid sales show a 20% increase
- More drivers are involved in alcohol-related accidents on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of the year (except St. Patrick’s Day)
- Of the top 10 most watched television programs of all time, nine of them are Super Bowls
- Over 700,000 footballs are produced annually for official NFL use, 72 of them are used for the Super Bowl
SOURCE:
http://www.yumsugar.com/Super-Bowl-Fun-Facts-125068
There’s still time to dissect, analyze, scrutinize, study, evaluate and examine every little detail about ‘THE GAME,’ but I’m sure you will agree that kickoff cannot come soon enough.
THE PICK: New England to win by 10.
FROM THE QUOTE RACK:
A report says the average price of a Super Bowl ticket this year is $5,415. Mostly because it’s in Minnesota and people are willing to pay that much just to be inside a heated dome.
*Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va., http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.ca/
Police in Philadelphia have announced they will not grease light poles ahead of the Super Bowl because the grease did not deter people from climbing poles following the NFC championship game. In fact, all it did was make them impossible to arrest.
*Seth Meyers of Late Night
A man placed a multi-million dollar bet at the MGM Grand in Vegas on The Eagles to cover +4.5 points on the Super Bowl. The unnamed person is a known regular to the Casino and management said he will receive a complimentary “$1.99 All You Can Eat Buffet” if he loses.
*Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver
USC has sold naming rights for Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to United Airlines for $69 million. So expect Trojan tickets to have a base price, a cushion fee, a stadium entrance fee, a concession fee.
(And how much will the Trojans now charge for extra legroom aisle seats and being able to enter early?)
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
The Cleveland Indians announced that they will no longer use Chief Wahoo as their logo beginning in 2019. They admitted that the logo is extremely offensive, so they’re only going to wear it for 162 more games.
*Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon
Professional race car driver Danica Patrick is dating again, after breaking up with her previous boyfriend, a NASCAR driver. When asked why that relationship didn’t work out, Patrick explained, “We were just going in circles.”
*Conan O’Brien of TBS
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
A Philadelphia Eagles fan faces charges for punching a police horse and rider. It follows a recent attack in Boston of a mounted officer, but that was a horse of a different collar.
*Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
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Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT.
He also is the 94.3 radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games.
His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com.
Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @Hartley_Miller