Super football; not so great commercials

Last night’s Super Bowl was super. I’m not saying that because I rooted for New Orleans. It was perhaps the best football game out of maybe a handful of Super Bowls I have watched since SB No.I.

The way I came to that decision was realizing that the game was just flying by. I’d look up and all of a sudden it was the 2nd quarter. It was the half. The Who, I don’t care what anyone says, they are great — even for 12 minutes. Then came that fabulous onside kick by the Saints at the start of the 3rd quarter. When cornerback Tracy Porter snatched away a pass from the Colts’ spectacular quarterback, Peyton Manning, and ran it 74 yards for the end zone, the deal was sealed.

The TV commercials, for which all those years I would watch a Super Bowl that sucked, were not all that great during this one. Probably the most memorable one will be the Snickers ad with ancient actors Betty White and Abe Vigoda. Like someone once observed, just saying “Abe Vigoda” does something to you.

I am happy the Saints won for the people of New Orleans, for the Saints fans and for me. That joy is kind of tempered by learning later in the night in a text from my good friend in Arkansas that her dad passed away after a long bout with cancer. I didn’t know him that well but when your friends hurt, well, I can empathize since I lost both of my parents within nine months of each other.

I don’t know how to end this. Sometimes you can do it. If I was under deadline I could do it. But I’m not and and I can’t. So I’ll just say bye for now or something similar as this.

(Sorry, the latter phrase is from a song by Traffic called “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys.” It was written by the late Jim Capaldi and Steve Winwood when they played with the group in 1971. Winwood — who sang the song — also performed his 1986 solo hit “Higher Love” at the Super Bowl VIP Pre-Show Sunday. The performance was broadcast during one of the CBS pre-game shows. Here is the MTV video — Warning: May be short commercial before the video, but it’s worth it. Trust me. I never lie. And I’m always right.)