Random Super Bowl thoughts

Just X observations from the couch from last night's Super Bowl XLIV:

I. When the greatest plays in Super Bowl history are shown, it may be a while before they get to an onside kick. But New Orleans' successful onside kick to start the second half will go down in history as one of the biggest ever.

Certainly it was the gutsiest call, courtesy of Sean Payton, in SB history. Saints trailed, 10-6, and if Indy recovers around the NO 40, it's likely going to be 17-6. And the game may not be over at that piont, but it's close. But the Saints recovered, and they used that momentum to dominate the second half.

Who would have thought that Payton and not Peyton might decide this Super Bowl?

II. Now every fan will want their coach to be more of a gambler. But look at the replay. The ball bounced right off the chest of a Colts' up-man. Gambles backfire too. That's why they're called gambles. But more power to Payton. The Saints were playing to win.

III. New Orleans, no doubt, was the better team. I was suprised. I thought Indy would win. But from the start of the second quarter, the Saints outscored the Colts, 31-7. As was pointed out by Phil Simms, Indy has not faced a passing team like the Saints in a long time. And it showed.

IV. Drew Brees was 29 of 32 over the last three quarters. One was to spike the ball to stop the clock. Another was a drop. His 32 completions tied an SB record. Hard to find a quarterback in this game's history who played better.

V. Peyton Manning got some criticism for running off the field immediately after the game. But in the chaos of setting up the stage, the winners celebrating, the media, there's no way he's going to get to Drew Brees to congratulate him. And if you heard his postgame comments, he handled himself in the classy way you would expect.

VI. The Tim Tebow commercial about pro-life from Focus on the Family? It was a controversial as ice cream.

VII. Commericals were fairly weak sauce. The Betty White/Abe Vigoda touch football game for Snickers was generally considered the best. Doritos must have spent a fortune. It seemed like every other commercial was for those chips.

VIII. Two stood out for me: One was the Bud Light commerical where plane passengers are wandering around on a deserted island after a crash. A girl finds a radio that works so they're able to contact the outside world. It's met with shoulder shrugs. But a guy finds the drink cooler floating in the water and it's full of beer. The passengers go crazy and have a party.

The other was a Casual Friday taken to the extreme where all but one guy was traipsing around in his/her underwear. I guess it wasn't that great a commercial because I can't remember what it was for. Was it careerbuilder.com?

IX. The Who wasn't bad at all. I don't know what people expected, vintage 1980? Stage was impressive, and Pete Townshend still has it. They played a montage of hits and sounded pretty good for what remained of a group that was formed in 1964. Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, was the drummer. He got plenty of air time. Some smart alecks reasoned it was because he was the only one not using an oxygen tank.

X. Next year when the Super Bowl is at Jerry's World in Arlington, if the NFL wants to keep up the theme of classic rockers, what better band than ZZ Top, "that little old band from Texas?" They would seem a natural.

Now, no football until late August. Oh, the withdrawals.