Prelude To Super Bowl LI

With Super Bowl 51 (or is it LI?) just hours away, football fans across the country are standing in grocery store lines with bags of Doritos, French onion dip and other heart-healthy snacks. The only item of business left before heading home is a quick stop at the local liquor store to secure a few 30-packs of cheap beer (and perhaps one 6-pack of quality IPA). As kick-off approaches, there will be a race to the finish line between the blood-alcohol and cholesterol levels.

I used to really get into Super Bowl Sunday. I would invite the boys over around mid-afternoon and we would shoot pool, play cards and whatever else boys. When we heard the National Anthem coming from the TV, we knew it was time to scope out our individual seats in the man cave. This is where we would cheer and spew out random profanity for the next few hours.

Nowadays, unless my home team is playing, the Super bowl is just another Sunday to me. I don't know, maybe it's just a sign of getting old. But the thought of partying late into Sunday night and having to get up early for work Monday morning doesn't appeal to me so much any more. I might venture out for the game, but more than likely, I'll just watch the game alone and be in bed shortly thereafter. (When did this happen to me??).

Of course, the Patriots are playing the Falcons in this year's contest. Yeah, yeah, I know, f*&k the Patriots. But love them or hate, they have walked the walk over the past 10-15 years. They have effectively become the NY Yankees of football. So, while there's no denying that they've been a great team, it's still perfectly acceptable to hate them. The Pats are a 3-point favorite in today's game but I expect the margin of victory to be greater than that. As much as it pains me to say it, expect to see Tom Brady win his 5th Super Bowl ring tonight.

There will, no doubt,  be some kind of political grandstanding at today's event. Lady Gaga, who is no stranger to controversy, will be the main attraction at the halftime show. After last year's racially charged and polarizing performance by Beyonce, expect Lady Gaga to try to one-up her this year with some type of anti-Trump message. I think it's inevitable...

I'm not sure why politics has to be a part of a football game. Some people will claim that the athletes have a big stage and should use the opportunity to promote their beliefs/causes. Personally, I think it's bullshit. I want to watch a football game. Unless it relates to the game, I really don't give a rat's ass what a performer or athlete has to say. So, just shut up and and sing/play! And if any of these ungrateful pricks "takes a knee" during the National Anthem, I'm going to hurl a beer can at the TV.  And if it happens to be one of my quality IPA's, I'm really going to be pissed!

Ok, I'm taking a deep breath now......

Whatever you choose to do tonight or wherever you choose to do it, please be safe out there. Hopefully, we'll witness a great game with a minimal amount of controversy. Cheers, my friends!

kw