|
|
|
Wellington, Kan. —
I'm a simple guy (small pause to allow your jaw to hit the floor). If you want to shut me up for three hours, set me in front of the TV and turn on a football game (preferably an NFL game).
Inversely, if you want me to talk your ear off, ask me what I think a particular team's chances are to win it all next year. If you don't want to hear about football, I can make something up about something else, but let's get real. Super Bowl weekend is coming up. It's my last chance to talk about football for several months! So please allow me to get this out of my system.
Okay, fine, I won't break down the X's and O's, but here are some tips from the Bureau for Better Bowl Game Get-togethers (BBBGG, I'm the president of this fictitious group).
The party
Super Bowls, I find are more enjoyable with company. Close friends, neighbors, family members, etc. all make pretty good Super Bowl party guests. So huddle up, and make it happen!
The Super Bowl is that rare time when even your friends who don't really care for football, or sports in general (yes, those people are out there, and yes, I have a few on my guest list), set down to watch the game — the "We just like the commercials..." people. Those people are good to have, any good Super Bowl party needs them. If you know you have good chemistry with your guests, sports fans or not, you're golden.
Now, in my Moundbuilder days at Southwestern, the Communication division used to throw one heck of a Super Bowl party. These Super Bowl parties were more beautiful than a Tom Brady touchdown pass to Wes Welker (which there will be at least two of next Sunday). There were tables and tables of food, the hall ways were filled with games and activities before kick-off, and then there were prize give-a-aways after the final whistle.
A party of that magnitude will be tougher to duplicate than beating the Patriots twice for the World Championship (Eli Manning, I'm lookin' at you, we both have our work cut out for us).
The point is, the more elements you can add to your Super Bowl party, the more legendary it will be no matter how the game turns out.
I'm a simple guy (small pause to allow your jaw to hit the floor). If you want to shut me up for three hours, set me in front of the TV and turn on a football game (preferably an NFL game).
Inversely, if you want me to talk your ear off, ask me what I think a particular team's chances are to win it all next year. If you don't want to hear about football, I can make something up about something else, but let's get real. Super Bowl weekend is coming up. It's my last chance to talk about football for several months! So please allow me to get this out of my system.
Okay, fine, I won't break down the X's and O's, but here are some tips from the Bureau for Better Bowl Game Get-togethers (BBBGG, I'm the president of this fictitious group).
The party
Super Bowls, I find are more enjoyable with company. Close friends, neighbors, family members, etc. all make pretty good Super Bowl party guests. So huddle up, and make it happen!
The Super Bowl is that rare time when even your friends who don't really care for football, or sports in general (yes, those people are out there, and yes, I have a few on my guest list), set down to watch the game — the "We just like the commercials..." people. Those people are good to have, any good Super Bowl party needs them. If you know you have good chemistry with your guests, sports fans or not, you're golden.
Now, in my Moundbuilder days at Southwestern, the Communication division used to throw one heck of a Super Bowl party. These Super Bowl parties were more beautiful than a Tom Brady touchdown pass to Wes Welker (which there will be at least two of next Sunday). There were tables and tables of food, the hall ways were filled with games and activities before kick-off, and then there were prize give-a-aways after the final whistle.
A party of that magnitude will be tougher to duplicate than beating the Patriots twice for the World Championship (Eli Manning, I'm lookin' at you, we both have our work cut out for us).
The point is, the more elements you can add to your Super Bowl party, the more legendary it will be no matter how the game turns out.
The food
Having a theme for the food is always a good idea, center your theme around one or both of the teams, or even the host city. Last year, there was an ice cream bar at my party (Green Bay, frozen tundra, ice bowl, see how that works?). My best friend made a seven-layer dip that really stole the show, just outstanding stuff (Pittsburgh, going for their seventh Super Bowl title).
This year, I guess your options are New England clam chowder and/or a New York style pizza (do they still make that around these parts?)
Keep in mind, some party guests will have an appetite stingier than that Giants defense (that can propel New York to victory if they get at least three turnovers). The best Super Bowl snacks are 1. plentiful and 2. creative. And always plan ahead, so you don't have to run a hurry-up offense as your guests are arriving.
The games
In a house, options can be limited. See what your favorite party supply store has to offer. Or, call an audible and pack your pre-game festivities with board games (Last year there was a make-shift checkers tournament that took place at my house, an absolute blast).
Now, what I'm about to write only applies if Feb. 5 is as nice as the past few days have been (mid to high 50's, no wind, rain, snow, etc.). Go outside! Play horse shoes, flag football, toss some washers, play some croquet. Enjoy the weather, enjoy time with your guests.
THE game
Okay, I've been dropping some not-so-subtle hints as to how I think the game might go. It's true, we've seen this movie before, folks. And at first, I wasn't excited. San Francisco vs. New England would have been an amazing match-up when you consider each team's make-up, and the history of the game. San Fran. vs. Baltimore would have been my next choice. Seeing two brothers pitted against one another would have been priceless.
And even though I've heard Peyton Manning (Colts quarterback...for now) mentioned more so far than Eli Manning (Super Bowl bound QB for New York), I managed to find excitement in this Super Bowl re-match. It could be argued that it's not a re-match considering both teams look almost completely different from when they played FOUR years ago.
It's history in the making. That's what made me excited. Tom Brady is in his fifth super bowl, I don't know if we'll ever see that happen again. He could win his fourth ring, even more rare than going to five super bowls.
And the Giants? They're on a mission, history seems bent on repeating itself when you look at their 2007 season compared to this season.
So how will this game shake-down? Despite the offensive fire-power in this year's playoffs, the defensive-oriented teams went the deepest. Three of the four teams last weekend were among tops in the league, with the Patriots being that odd ball.
I say defense wins again. I'll take New York. They beat New England earlier this season, and that was before the Giants were playing as well as they have been. It's football-blasphemy to say the Patriots can lose two straight Super Bowls. But that's why these things are fun, right?
New York 27, New England 24 (Told you I could talk a lot about football...).
Until next time, you can keep up with me on Facebook (and Twitter, if you're into that kind of thing, follow me @TheJonesTracker). Look back to www.wellingtondailynews.com next week for the next edition of Keeping up with The Jones.
