New BERNing on Sports Podcast Available

In this week's BERNing on Sports Podcast, Scott and I discuss Super Bowl Sunday, from the game, to the halftime show, to the commercials. We'll also give you some TV tips for the rest of the month.

To listen to this week's podcast, click here.

Or, as always, visit the red right tab to access any of the BERNing podcasts. The newest one is always on top. Enjoy!

Ratings Down From Last Year's Big Game

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said yesterday in his presentation of the Vince Lombardi Trophy that while many thought last year's Super Bowl couldn't be topped, yesterday's did.

According to the ratings, the commissioner was wrong.

Yesterday's Super Bowl XLIII match up between the Steelers and Cardinals recorded a 42.1 rating according to the overnight Nielsen research. And it earned a 65-percent share in America's major markets. By comparison, last year's match-up between the Patriots and Giants earned a 44.7 rating.

Reasons for this? Well, while this year's game had the Steeler fan base locked in, the Cardinals aren't as big of a draw. Furthermore, last year's game featured two big markets, as New York/New Jersey was in for the Giants, and the greater New England area that claims Boston as its home town was in it. Of course, the Patriots were going for a perfect season too, which added intrigue to the casual viewer.

Great game last night, but as good as last year's Mr. Goodell? Apparently not.

Super Porn?

Tucson cable customers got more out of last night's Super Bowl than just seeing their Cardinals in the game for the first time in history.

The Arizona Daily Star reported this morning that certain cable customers in the Tucson area had their feed of the Super Bowl interrupted by a pornographic film that showed frontal male nudity.

Tucson's area Comcast cable company believes the incident was an "isolated malicious act", and they admitted to being "mortified" by what happened.

The porn clip lasted roughly 30 seconds, and appeared after Larry Fitzgerald's touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter.

It is not yet known just how many households this reached. Comcast reaches the second most homes in Southern Arizona. There are more than 80,000 subscribers. However, in talking to some area residents yesterday they reported that they did not see the clip on their broadcast of the game.

The porn clip only appeared on TVs broadcasting standard definition, and not those in high-definition, however.

Thanks to the Purist Bleeds Pinstripes Blog for the tip.

Monday Morning Longsnapper

Not Every Story Has A Happy Ending Edition

In this last edition of the Monday Morning Longsnapper, I'm not going to break down the game at all.  You guys all watched it, and you at least (if only accidentally) heard a bit someone far more qualified than me analyze the hell out of this game.  What I will say is, I picked the Steelers to win, and even I wanted the Cards to pull it out.  They were the team to root for, no doubt.  Unless you're a Steelers fan or truly hate Jesus-freaks to the point of obsession (in which case you have larger issues than Kurt Warner), the Cardinals were the feel-good story. 

I'm not saying anything new, I know that.  The Cardinals, what with their Cub-esque championship drought and rediscovered journeyman quarterback and lovable long haired wideout, were easy to root for.  Unfortunately for them, the storybook season came to a more realistic (albeit uninteresting) conclusion.

I think it's also worth mentioning in this space that this marks the second game in as many years where you really couldn't ask for much more in the way of entertainment value in the final quarter of a football game.  Now, most people will look back on this and last year's Super Bowls and say that the entire game of each was great.  That just isn't true.  And, that's ok.  The last quarter of both games had enough intrigue to pack a full game.  

What does everyone say regarding the Super Bowl that isn't rooting for one of the teams or have a ton of money on it?  They always say, "I just want a good game."  Well, "they" got what "they" asked for.  Twice in a row now.  So, I say, good deal.  I couldn't really ask for too much more.

• Because I haven't mentioned it in this space prior, wow to Brenda Warner.  She went from looking like a 55 year old man to a 45 year old woman in just a short move from St. Louis to Arizona.  Not bad.
• Both Jordan and I have already slobbered over Larry Fitzgerald, but I'll do it one last time this season.  Not only is the guy a great player (do you ever see him out of position on a catch?) but he has not a trace of an attitude.  Catch, run, toss ball to nearest official, back to huddle.  That's it.  How rare?  A great athlete and a modest personality.  Wow.
• Favorite Commercial?  I'd say, toss up between Pepsuber and this Career Builder spot.
• As you may or may not know, I work at Sirius Radio.  Last night, I worked the BBC feed of the Super Bowl, and I feel it's an absolute necessity to share some of the things I heard during the broadcast.  First, to start the game, one of the opening lines from the PBP announcer:  "Well folks, there's an offense, a defense, and a special teams, so that is a start."  Second, Santonio Holmes repeatedly referred to as San Antonio Holmes.  Finally, they were reading e-mails from local listeners back in the UK, and one asked, "At the end of halftime, why was the crowd booing Bruce Springsteen?"  "No, ma'am, they weren't booing, they were chanting Bruuuuuuuce."  And we're supposed to be the ignorant ones...
• Interested to see what the Cardinals do after this year, with Boldin and Edge both supposedly wanting out and Warner needing a new contract.  Wouldn't be the worst idea to bring back Warner at some rate/amount of time, but shoring up the defense wouldn't be a terrible thought either.  Strange as it seems, this Super Bowl team could and should get way better for next year.

Super Bowl Results

For the final time this football season, here are the results:

I covered the spread, but Scott's pick of the Steelers was ultimately correct.  It has been well documented that Scott completely outclassed me by record in our picks throughout the season, so no reason to rehash it.  The Steelers 27-23 win made for a very interesting and fun Super Bowl.  Was it better than last year as Roger Goodell suggested?  I don't think so.  But it was a great game to watch, no doubt.

And Springsteen was great at halftime, even though his act was fairly short.

Six Super Bowl titles for the Steelers.  Pretty cool,  and an exciting end to a compelling NFL Season.  I would have liked to see the Cardinals pull the upset, but you have to like Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

Now let's get ready for some college hoops, at least, to tide us over until baseball season.

Super Bowl Picks

Just for the record:

Scott:  Steelers 31, Cardinals 17

Jordan: Cardinals 24, Steelers 19

Since You've Already Been Inundated With Super Bowl Coverage...

I won't be putting a full-blown preview of the game up here.  No point.  If you haven't already heard two hundred analysts and hosts discuss this game over the last two weeks, the only thing I could conclude is that you're on the Island in ABC's Lost.

Assuming you're not there, and you haven't been speared by John Locke, you probably have seen the wall-to-wall coverage on ESPN, or any of the other sports networks previewing the game.  So instead of giving the whole rundown, here's what I'm excited for in tonight's Super Bowl: (and by the way, the Steelers are favored by 7 points, for those of you who haven't yet wagered on the game)

• I'm excited to watch the teams come out of the tunnel before the game.  Doesn't even matter which team it is.  It gives me goose bumps because I feel their excitement sitting in front of the TV.
• I'm excited to watch Larry Fitzgerald leap for a couple of big catches.  He's great.  I'm also excited to hear how many references to his father covering the game there will be.
• I'm excited to see Hines Ward play, and interested to see how truly healthy both he and his quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, are.  I like Ward.  He's a consummate professional.  So is Big Ben, so long as he's not near a motorcycle.
• I'm excited to watch Kurt Warner in another Super Bowl.  I've always liked the guy, even though he's a little too religious for my taste.  He's a stand-up guy, he's got great belief in himself and his teammates, and he's a born leader.
• I'm excited to watch Bruce Springsteen as the half-time show.  Honestly, of all things, I'm most excited for that.  He's definitely going to play some hits, like Born to Run and Glory Days, but I'm hoping for a Rosalita, Lonesome Day, Radio Nowhere.  Eh, screw the game.  Just let him play a couple hours.
• I'm excited to see how many references to Ken Whisenhunt's former job with the Steelers are mentioned.
• I'm excited to see if the team that loses almost as often as my Cubs, the Cardinals, can finally hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
• I'm excited to see how many athletes ESPN personalities kiss up to after the game.
• I'm excited to hear how many references to the "Terrible Towels" there are.
• I'm excited that football season is over.  It's time to get ready for March Madness and Major League Baseball.