My fingers are still thawing out at my keyboard, so it's taking me longer to write this than it should. But after a frigid, Super Bowl weekend, here are some of the ideas swirling in my pre-caffeinated brain:
- The Bears still suck. OK, not really. However, just because they made it to the Super Bowl, they certainly didn't perform like NFC champions. Defense may win ball games, but having a competent offense doesn't hurt, either. The Bears should've been able to withstand some rain and make the adjustments, as they're not exactly a dome team that's never seen inclement weather. I couldn't believe how Chicago let the momentum slip away from the opening kickoff return for a touchdown. In case anyone was wondering if Rex Grossman was the real deal -- he's not. In my mind, he's a modern-day Trent Dilfer (without a Super Bowl ring). Anyway you slice it, I watched this year's game with the more enthusiasm than any non-Packers Super Bowl I can remember.
- How did Prince not electrocute himself in the rain? Maybe because he wasn't playing that guitar. But it sure seemed like he was actually singing, and that couldn't have been safe. More unusual was that Prince actually performed in those conditions. I was ready for The Symbol to stop in the middle the show and say, "Sorry, Prince doesn't play in the rain -- unless it's purple. Good night, Miami!"
- This year's Super Bowl commercials didn't blow me away, but a few did stick out. As usual, the Bud spots were great. My favorite was the "slap." I also liked the down-and-out dog commercial, and the "Lost" inspired Careerbuilder.com ads. The Michael Ian Black Sierra Mist spots were funny, but hardly inspired me to pick up their product. The Blockbuster mouse-torturing ad just made me dislike that chain even more. I thought the "user-generated" chips ads were quite good, as well.
- Where else on Earth encounters the kind of temperature swings Wisconsin sees each year? I plan on doing some research on this, but I can't imagine many other regions have a 110 degree temperature latitude. I mean, if it's 10 degrees below zero now, and 100 degrees in August, that's a pretty extreme swing. I could be totally off on this, but it seems unique to me.
- I'm not ashamed to admit that I like the "Puppy Bowl." Every year, Animal Planet runs a special called the "Puppy Bowl" alongside the Super Bowl. And like clockwork, I DVR it for future viewings. Basically, it's a few hours of puppies running around and wrestling. I think my own dog watches it more carefully than I do, but it's cute and ridiculous fun to have on in the background while paying bills.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
