Super Bowl XLVII: Highs and Lows

The 2013 Superbowl between the Ravens and 49ers was no disappointment as these two teams played to their different strengths for a close game. The 49ers continued their signature slow start and roaring finish to almost clinch a record 6th Superbowl win. We gathered around a pot of my slow-cooked steak chili and a pitcher of wasabi Bloody Marys with friends. Now, to facilitate discussion, time for my highs and lows.

Highs:

1. Without question my favorite play was Jacoby Jones’ 108 return on a kickoff. Truly a thing of beauty.

2. Best commercials: In my view, the top prize is a tie. I liked the Doritos “Goat 4 Sale” commercial.

However, I also liked Toyota’s “Wish Granted”:

The two runner-ups was the Doritos “Fashionista Daddy” commercial:

and the Car.com commercial:

Lows:

1. My least favorite (overhyped) commercial was the Go Daddy Kissing commercial. It seemed like the close up on the French kiss was intentionally done to drawn criticism and produce attention.

I just thought it got far more attention than it justified. As usual, I did not like any of the “non-funny” commercials. It was not that they were bad but everyone has come to expect a competition in the use of humor in advertisements as opposed to commercials like the Calvin Klein’s “Concept.” We all just sat there with a collective “Huh?” The exception is the Dodge “God Made a Farmer” commercial which was serious but still powerful:

2. Blackout — I lived in New Orleans so I was not particularly surprised by the blackout, but it is astonishing that a stadium management cannot guarantee electricity for one of the most watched events in the country. Frankly, it was tough on those of us with kids who wanted to stay up for the game. We had to push them into bed before the final quarter.

3. The Harbaugh brothers. I have long disliked how 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh yells and screams during games at the slightest provocation. It is not a particularly good role model for kids and simply boorish behavior. His brother Ravens Coach John Harbaugh showed the same lack of judgment in yelling at a stadium official over the blackout. I can understand the anger at the incompetence shown by New Orleans officials, but yelling at the guy is a lot like screaming at storm clouds because you wanted a sunny day. This is not the first blackout in a game or other unexpected occurrence. I thought Harbaugh looked like . . . well . . . his brother. I know that everyone cannot maintain our civility rule on the blog but I expect sports officials to try harder to maintain some level of composure.

4. Beyoncé. I admit that I have little respect for Beyoncé after her lip-sincing at the Presidential Inauguration. However, putting that aside, I actually thought her half-show performance was pretty lame. I understand that all of these divas make concerts a celebration of themselves, but this seemed even more ego-centric than usual. I also simply did not think the music was that great. It was a view shared by everyone at our party — young and old.

5. Ray Lewis. As discussed in a separate blog today, I found Lewis’s pre-game claim of divine acquittal of his prior double murder charge to be distasteful and a bit unhinged.