Trials & Tribulations of Super Bowl 50

Well, Super Bowl 50 is officially in the books. Denver fans are ecstatic while Carolina fans are still feeling a bit stunned. Although the Panthers were only favored by a few points, many people predicted that they would blow out the Broncos. But, in the end, the Denver proved that great defenses do indeed win championships.

So, what was everyone talking about this morning?

First off, how about that performance of the National Anthem by Lady Gaga? I knew the woman had talent, but she blew it out of the park last night! With the exception of the Whitney Houston version, it was probably the best Super Bowl anthem that I've ever heard. I was so impressed that I hit the rewind button on my DVR and watched it again. I got even more goosebumps the second time around. Absolutely stellar!

Once the game started, the Denver defense quickly set the tone. Carolina's MVP quarterback, Cam Newton, was pressured the whole game as his usually high-powered offense was knocked out of rhythm. The key for a Denver victory was contingent on their ability to contain Newton. Their game plan couldn't have played out any better. Newton never looked comfortable as he was sacked, hurried and buried time and time again.

Regarding Cam Newton, I think he's a remarkable athlete. He had an awesome year and there was no one more deserving of the Most Valuable Player award. With this being said, I do not like all of his showboating. Watching him this season, I often found him to be abrasively cocky. As he rolled through the post-season, he head grew bigger by the minute. By the time he reached the San Francisco area last week, he had practically lost his mind, Did you see those pants he was wearing?

Anyway, I really think he was in dire need of some humble pie. And the Broncos definitely gave him an extra helping of it. Perhaps still shell-shocked over what had just happened, Newton headed to the post-game press interview. There, with his hoodie pulled over his head, he pouted and acted like spoiled 5-year-old. His answers were limited to just a few words as his body language confirmed that he was very irritated. Newton abruptly ended the interview by walking off the stage. He certainly didn't show a whole lot of class. But sometimes when emotions are running on full steam, we say and do things that are so flattering. Hopefully, he'll learn from the experience and act a little more mature the next time he's in a similar situation.

On the contrary, Peyton Manning has always carried himself with class. It was good to see the future Hall-of-Famer go out on a high note. Although he hasn't officially announced his retirement, it's highly likely that Super Bowl 50 was Manning's last hurrah. He's had a story-book career and has been a true ambassador to the sport.

By the way, what was up with Eli Manning? Late in the 4th quarter when it was obvious that Denver would win the game, the rest of the Manning family were shown celebrating in their skybox. However, Eli just stood there with a stoic look on his face. He looked more confused than Cam Newton. Maybe he was upset that his big brother now had as many Super Bowl rings as he did?

Of course, there's always talk about the Super Bowl commercials. I usually don't pay much attention to them. I usually use the commercial breaks as on opportunity to grab another round of chicken wings or to discharge some spent beer. But a lot of people have mentioned the Michael & Sons commercial. It definitely caught me off guard as well. First off, Michael and Sons is a local Maryland/Virginia plumbing company. So, to see them shelling out the mega-bucks for a national Super Bowl commercial was unexpected. And Mike Tyson as a spokesman for your company? Really? It will be interesting to see how it plays out for them.

I can't end this piece without talking about the halftime show. When I first heard that Coldplay would be heading this year's Super Bowl, I couldn't help but scratch my head. I have nothing personal against them, but I find them about as exciting as watching paint dry. And the NFL thought that Coldplay was the best choice to fire up the crowd at halftime? Were they the only band available on this particular Sunday?

Beyonce and Bruno Mars eventually showed up to take some of the spotlight off of the headliners. Bruno Mars is always entertaining and full of energy. So, he was certainly appreciated on this given Sunday. However, Beyonce entered the  under a blanket of controversy...

Beyonce certainly has the ability to ignite a crowd, in more ways than one. Most recently, she has ruffled a few feathers with her latest video for her song "Formation". The song is basically an anti-cop rant. During the performance of the song last night, Beyonce and her posse of dancers were suggestively dressed to represent the Black Panthers. Do we really need this kind of racially-charged  bullshit at the Super Bowl? Many people, understandably, found it inappropriate and even racist. Although Beyonce has a right to her beliefs, she should not have been allowed to use the Super Bowl as her political soapbox. Ironically, I understand that Beyonce needed a police escort to get to/from the stadium. Hmm....

Ok, enough of that......

The worst thing about the Super Bowl from a fan's perspective is that we know that it's the last game of the season. We will now have to wait a long seven months before next opening day kick-off. But nonetheless. it's been a another fun season (yes, even for this Raven fan).

kw