If I never hear that word again, I'll be happy - 'Super', not 'this'. Living in New York means being bombarded by the superlative. Oh, here's another word that won't be missed, 'Giants', as in 'Big Blue', two more words to add to the kitty. You would think the Giants were the team that's about to become the first team in history to run the table and finish undefeated at 19-0. Enough already. The good news is that come Sunday night, the word 'Super' will be gone or will it ???
We still have 'Super Tuesday' to deal with. We have five more days of Obama/Hillary/McCain shout-outs to endure and by then Lenox Hill Hospital will have an overflow of bleeding ears to treat. By Wednesday morning, relief will be spelled s-u-p-e-r-i-s-g-o-n-e...
One of the many benefits derived from the big game on Sunday is an increase in record sales following artist appearances. This year, entertainment is provided by last season's 'American Idol', Jordin Sparks who will sing the national anthem. Alicia Keys, who has the number one album, will provide the pregame entertainment and Tom Petty & his Heartbreakers headline the halftime show. Prince's album sales more than doubled following his appearance at last year's game and this year, Petty will reap the rewards...
More than 93 million will watch and listen to Super Bowl XLII, once again making it the highest-rated show of the year. The most watched SB of all-time, in 1982 (SBXVI: San Francisco 26 Cincinnati 21) had a 49.1% rating. It was the 4th highest-rated TV show since the final episodes of 'M*A*S*H', 'Dallas' and 'Roots Part VIII'. Finally, one other statistic to note, Super Bowl advertisers saw a 50% increase in Web traffic on the day after the game. Enjoy the game. Enjoy the show...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1653] Start spreading the news: New Amsterdam, now known as New York City is incorporated (2/2)...
- 1876] Senor circuit: Baseball's National League is formed in New York with these original franchises: New York, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Hartford, Louisville, Philadelphia and St. Louis (2/2)...
- 1886] They say we're young and we don't know: The first 'Groundhog Day' is celebrated in Punxsutawney (PA) (2/2). The 1993 movie starring Bill Murray immortalizes the day and Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe" wakes Murray up 33 times. It's like deja vu all over again: http://youtube.com/watch?v=T_yDWQsrajA ...
- 1913] All aboard: Grand Central Station opens in New York City (2/1). The largest train station in the world is still beautiful. Watch this recent mini-tour: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CQWd_cXgXCc ...
- 1946] Debuted on this date: Mutual Broadcasting airs "Twenty Questions" for the first time on radio (2/2). The show moves to TV three years later...1953] "Private Secretary" starring Ann Sothern debuts on CBS-TV for a 4-year run (2/1)...1982] David Letterman debuts on NBC-TV with his own show. His first guest is Bill Murray (2/1)...
- 1959] The day the music died: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson ('The Big Bopper') perish when their small plane goes down in Iowa (2/3): http://youtube.com/watch?v=QmyGZ64J9yg ...
- 1968] Frozen in time: South Vietnamese National Police Chief, Brig. Gen. Nguyen Ngoc Loan, executes a Viet Cong officer with a pistol shot to the head, a scene captured on video and in stills and seen worldwide as a lasting image of the war (2/1)...
- 1979] 'Happy Trails': Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols dies of a drug overdose at 21, less than 4 months after fatally stabbing girlfriend Nancy Spungen at the Chelsea Hotel (2/2)...1996] The great Gene Kelly dies at 83 after suffering two strokes (2/2). One of the greatest dance scenes of all-time is seen here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=rmCpOKtN8ME ...
- 2002] Super Bowl Sunday: Britney Spears sings the national anthem before SBXXXVI, won on a 48-yard field goal by the Patriots' Adam Vinatieri, 20-17 over the St. Louis Rams. Tom Brady is the MVP of the game (2/3)...2004] The only SB I've ever attended turns out to be a winner for my Patriots thanks to Adam Vinatieri who kicks a winning field goal with 4 seconds remaining. Final score: Patriots 32 Carolina 29 as Janet Jackson takes it off at halftime (2/2). Highlights? You bet: http://youtube.com/watch?v=GSrIBZMcRaA ...
- 2003] Tragedy in space: The space shuttle Columbia explodes during re-entry, killing all 7 astronauts aboard (2/1)...
Music Memories:
- 1956] Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Coasters sign with Atco, an Atlantic Records subsidiary (2/2)...
- 1959] Released on this date: "Venus" - Frankie Avalon (2/2)...1959] "Charlie Brown" - Coasters (2/2)...
- 1966] Number One on this date: "My Love" - Petula Clark (2/2)...1973] "Crocodile Rock" - Elton John (2/3)...1982] "Centerfold" - J. Geils Band (2/3). Great video, introduced by MTV-VJ Martha Quinn: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ea8fOOwfBEs ...1983] "Africa" - Toto (2/2) which dominates the Grammy's by winning in 6 categories, including 'Record of the Year' and 'LP of the Year' ('Toto IV')...
Commentary:
In order to avoid all of the inherent hype connected to the Super Bowl, do what we do. Listen to radio or your favorite music, watch any TV not covering the SB until 6:17 and then tune to Fox for the kick-off. It's the only way you'll still have your senses by the time the game ends, should you get that far...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
(2/1) Pauly Shore (40), Lisa Marie Presley (40), Monaco's Princess Stephanie (43), Bill Mumy (54), Sherman Hemsley (70), Ray ('Dr. Hook') Sawyer (71), Garrett Morris (71), Don Everly (71) and Stuart Whitman (80)...
(2/2) Shakira (31), Christie Brinkley (54), Farrah Fawcett (61), Barry Diller (66), Graham Nash (66), Tom Smothers (71), Elaine Stritch (83) and Liz Smith (85)...
(2/3) Maura Tierney (43), Ri and Phil Vettor (51st anny), Nathan Lane (52), Morgan Fairchild (58), Melanie (Safka) (61), Bob Griese (61), Dave Davies (Kinks) (61) seen here with Bro. and lead singer, Ray Davies: http://youtube.com/watch?v=4WsmSgBRUe4 , Dennis Edwards (65) seen here swapping Temptations vocals with Eddie Kendricks: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CO_BqysPCyQ , Blythe Danner (65), Fran Tarkenton (68), Emile Griffith (70) and Shelley Berman (82)...
Timeline Countdown for Friday, February 1, 2008: 2 days until Super Bowl XLII, 13 days until pitchers & catchers report voluntarily to spring training, 18 down and 1 to go for the Patriots and 49 days until spring arrives...
