It's the week before the Super Bowl, where America's beloved sportswriters love to squeeze every ounce of "hype" out of the word "hyperbole." In past years, I have been down with this. Two years ago, we had plenty of stories with favorite New England taking on the pesky, resilient, yet unknown Carolina Panthers. Last year, interest was high again, as the champs were back, reaching for dynasty level and preparing for battle against the TO/McNabb Eagles.
This year? I just won't buy in. Let it be noted this is the first time that I am agreeing with Skip Bayless (ugh ugh ugggggh), but there just aren't any exciting storylines about SUPER BOWL XL.
Steelers running back Jerome Bettis is from Detroit? And that's where they're playing the game? Cool, I guess.
Seattle has the rowdiest fans, the famed "12th man," that gives the sea birds a huge advantage? Too bad the Super Bowl is for celebrities, corporations and the few fans that can afford to make the trip.
Pittsburgh has the wackiest fans? I'll admit the stunts they have pulled throughout the playoffs (most notably, when a Pittsburgh-area high school teacher made a student take a midterm on the floor and instructed other kids to throw paper at him -- all because the kid wore a Broncos jersey to school) have been mildly entertaining, but that can't be a lead!
I'm sorry, but nothing about these two teams really piques my interest -- no matter how many Len Pasquarelli or Peter King articles I read. And I've got a feeling I'm not the only who feels this way.
However, there is a remedy for what ails those of us who won't drink the Kool-Aid of SUPER BOWL XL. The answer is simple: it's much more entertaining to make fun of this game than to actually invest in it.
Now, I am certainly not the first to figure this out, and there are writers out there that are doing a much better job of articulating what I mean. So, I figured it would be my job to direct people to different Web sites and sports blogs that have already added to my overall enjoyment of SUPER BOWL XL.
First, if you're a sports fan and a fan of satire and comedy, then you will already know about the must-see Web site "www.deadspin.com." But if you don't, then put down the paper, stop IMing in class, and go to it right now. Deadspin, which launched in September of last year, is "sports news without access, favor, or discretion" and is edited by a former editor from The Sporting News. It's a Web site that offers breaking news on anything in sports, but with a twist. No depth is too low to make a joke, and they concisely find what's funny about sports. So far, their coverage of SUPER BOWL XL has revolved around uncovering the ridiculous stories of Steelers fans and keeping up-to-the-minute blogs of each playoff game -- highly entertaining.
The next stop you need to make to keep SUPER BOWL XL entertaining is at Page 2 on ESPN.com. Columnist and pop culture connoisseur Chuck Klosterman has started the "best sports blog ever" and from what I've read from the first few days, that's not hyperbole. Klosterman's razor-sharp wit and completely different perspective than a John Clayton-type reporter provides a unique insight into what the Super Bowl really means to us all.
Finally, for a quick laugh, head to "cracked.com" for its hysterical parody of ESPN.com. The title of the Web site is "SPN.com: All the latest in sports ... so your friends won't think you're queer." I'm not even going to touch that, but believe me, that's only the beginning.
Of course, I say this week that there's no possible way the football of SUPER BOWL XL will be entertaining, and yet you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be watching ABC come Sunday at 6 p.m. And even if the game's a blowout, and the commercials are unoriginal, well, at least we've found some good writers to keep us entertained during this, week of the hyperbole.
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