XLV Hangover

I love football. I love marketing. Therefore, the Super Bowl is a little bit of a big deal for me each year, regardless of who is playing. But then comes today: welcome to the day-after-the-Super-Bowl. From time to time, there's a call from the populace to make this day a national holiday. It never goes far, but it's nice to have a dream. Even though I didn't even have a drink yesterday, I still feel the annual letdown, waking up and knowing football season is officially over.

In fact, this year might be a little bit worse because of the pending CBA negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA. Chatter persists about a looming lockout, a possible 18-game season, and all that these would entail: How will a lockout affect Free Agency strategies? Will we have a 'normal' Draft? What about training camp?

Uncertainty ain't fun. So today, I'll be reliving Super Bowl XLV memories one last time, deferring the off-season unpleasantness one more day. Here, my top 5 thoughts:

1. We Won. As Seahawks fans, we didn't want to see Brothelsburger* and his cronies win. And they didn't. Enough said.

2. Maybe It's Time to Class Up the Super Bowl Acts. Just a bit. Mis-singing the lyrics to our National Anthem is one thing. Adding vibrato** to every. single. note. is another thing. Looking morose until you find the camera on you is yet another. And the Black-Eyed Peas' audio...well, I'll just give them the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to bad audio. {but I think we all know better}.

3. Super Bowl, Sponsored by Doritos. Love the commercials, hate the commercials, but one thing's for sure: Doritos made their mark yesterday with memorable pitches each and every quarter. I loved that they WENT there and did what you need to do to get noticed. I still don't think I want to eat any Doritos, but I thought about them more in the last 24 hours than I have in all the years since 6th grade...and my ten year old wants them for the first time in her life.

4. Greg Jennings Made His Mark. I confess I probably didn't take such notice of him before now because I'm otherwise trying to beat this team, but yesterday Greg Jennings put in quite the performance and piqued my interest. From time to time, I'll find myself liking a non-Seahawk player...and Greg Jennings has made my list.

5. Green Bay Knows How to Celebrate. Officially calling it a school holiday today, Green Bay welcomed the Lombardi trophy home with festive fanfare. Well done, Pack, well done.

*Inspired by fellow G9er and Eagles Fan @sports_muse's spellcheck **I know about a lot of things, but singing isn't one of them. If vibrato isn't the actual term for what I mean, then whatever it was xtina was doing to her voice....it was annoying.

{Image Credits: Christina Aguilera and Greg Jennings TD: AP, Doritos Ad via YouTube}

Snow at Super Bowl. World Comes to End.

My twitter feed is full of comments and complaints about the snow and ice in Dallas, the city hosting tomorrow's Super Bowl XLV. Headlines like "Texas Needs Late Rally to Save Super Bowl Week" "Super Bowl Hit by Big Freeze" and "Super Bowl: Weather Woe in Texas" try to top each other. Flights were cancelled on Friday. Snow and ice has officially fallen off the Cowboys Stadium roof, sending 2 fans to the hospital.

And the comments and criticism peak with a rally call for the NFL to only consider cities like Miami and San Diego for future Super Bowls.

Talk about snowpocalypse. You'd think the world was about to end because of snow at the Super Bowl.

I don't remember any complaints when we Seahawk fans had to go to snowy and frigid DETROIT to support our team in 2006's Super Bowl XL. DETROIT. An economically-depressed, cold, snowy city in early February. I wore winter boots and a parka on the plane, but you know what? I had an AMAZING time in downtown Detroit. No one on our plane or bus complained about going to Detroit and getting around was easy, because you could walk anywhere. Waiting in the security line was like being part of a huge, moving party as you snaked through the gates. {see my pic, above} Even St##ler fans became our besties, with hugs and high fives among complete strangers.

Is Dallas a little bit different? Absolutely. We KNEW there would be snow and cold and everyone was prepared. But SERIOUSLY. You are going to the SUPER BOWL, people in and of Dallas! The most surreal experience of my entire life was the countdown to live air at Super Bowl XL. You'll be in one of the hugest, craziest, amazing stadiums in the world. Who would rather be working on their tan? And by the way, I know y'all can get around town...I've seen the twitpics from the black carpet and gifting suites ;) So let's all relax and get over the icy snowscape. Let the fans have their Super Bowl - they'll make it fun, regardless of snowmageddon.

{Image Credits: Top/USA Today Bottom/12theHardWay's Super Bowl XL Photo Album}

Honorary Packer Backer...for a day

I don't need to tell you all the reasons #12 doesn't want the St##lers to win on Sunday. In fact, I prefer not to speak of them at all.

So most of us in the Seattle area and Seahawks community will end up rooting for the Packers this weekend. I mean, we all know we can beat them any old time we want, and they don't generally cheat, so I don't feel too 'rivalrous' toward them. Do you?

I'm not suggesting you buy a cheesehead {I myself would never wear one - but at least we know their fans are as devoted as #12!}, but here are a few things we need to know about the Pack to fully enjoy Super Bowl Sunday:

1. Founded in 1919, the Green Bay Packers are the only non-profit, community-owned major league sports franchise in America. {that is awesomeness}

2. "Cheeseheads" originally came from a run-in at a baseball game in 1987. Initially meant as an insult from CHI White Sox fans to MIL Brewers fans, "cheeseheads" have been embraced by Wisconsin residents, particularly by Packer fans.

3. It is said that the waitlist for season tickets is now actually greater than the total seat capacity at Lambeau Field and that it would take 100 years to fulfill the requests.

4. Locally, the Northwest Packer Backers is a group of GB fans that has been meeting to watch games each Sunday for over 20 years. They raised $2,000 for local charities this year, which is amazing - and they'll meet at their regular spot {The Mustard Seed in Bellevue} for the Big Game. But don't cancel your Super Bowl party just yet - President Gary Fye assures me they are at capacity for Sunday's game.

5. An old Packers tradition is that kids can bring their bikes to training camp and have their favorite player ride their bike from the locker room to the practice field. {cute}

Lastly, come Sunday, you can show your {temporary} Green Bay support at a couple of local businesses, including:

Blue Moon Burgers, offering deep fried chees curds at their Fremont location
New York Cupcakes in Crossroads {Bellevue} has team cupcakes Satuday and Sunday - get in early before they sell out.

You'd think there'd be more supporters...but you know how Seattle is - we want Seahawks or nothing. ;)

Go, PACK, GO!

{shout out to fellow G9 Sports ladies at Bitter Orange & Brown for the method of writing the name of the team-which-shall-not-be-named without actually writing it!}

{Image Credit: All images courtesy Northwest Packer Backers Fan Club}