SUPER Super Bowl!

At the end of the day, that's the most you can ask for - one hell of a game. I admit I was very much rooting for the Cardinals to shock the world and hats off to them because they did play one hell of a game after a stinker of a first half and probably the most gut-wrenching play I've ever seen in a Super Bowl. But, give Big Ben and the Steelers credit because they certainly came to play and played very, very well.

Here are my gut reactions, thoughts and rants on this year's Super Bowl:

• Very, very solid game by Big Ben - he's not near as flashy as a lot of other QBs in this league, but he makes plays when his team needs him to. He still holds on to the ball too long, but his ability to make something happen on Sunday night was astonishing. Big, big kudos to BR - he's just won his second Super Bowl in 5 years and there aren't too many guys who can say that.
  
• James Harrison made one of the top 3 most amazing plays I've ever seen in a Super Bowl (Tryee's catch last year is still a bit more amazing simply because it was on fourth down and kept the drive alive) and in my opinion was the difference in the game. At worst, the Cardinals are going in at halftime tied and getting the ball.
  
• Unfortunately, Harrison then made the most ghetto, punk play I've ever seen in a Super Bowl with his personal foul gut-punch on the punt. He should have been tossed from the game right then and there - I lost all respect for him and his play after seeing that. Horrible play by a terrific player and Defensive POY. I won't be able to think of Harrison without thinking of this play - sorry, but it's true. Punk.
  
• Settle down Steelers fan, I also saw the haymaker the Cardinal player threw in the first half and he should have most definitely been tossed as well. Thankfully neither of those plays marred this fantastic game.
  
• Let me preface this next take with this -the officials did not determine the outcome of this game. BUT, they did over officiate the game, right up until the last play of the game where I found myself scratching my head, wondering how in the world they didn't at least review the play. Don't forget this, had they overturned it, there was an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Steelers which would have put the Cards on the 30 yard line - they ain't a hail mary. Nevertheless, I'm certainly not suggesting the Cards were going to convert a TD on that last play - chances would have been pretty low.
  
• Regarding the over officiating - roughing the passer horrible call; at least 2 holding calls on both teams throughout the game (the safety holding call was the right call - the Steeler lineman should have let go and he didn't); and I even felt the roughing the holder penalty was questionable.
  
• BUT, regardless, such a gutsy performance by the Cardinal defense - the Steelers had 6 plays in the red zone (3 inside the 5) to punch it in and couldn't do it. Great defensive stand.
• One more thing on the officiating, and I'm not a fan of these calls, but when Holmes used the ball as a prop doing his best Lebron impression on that last touchdown, is that not an automatic, given penalty? I promise you this - in any other game with any other teams, that call is made well over 95% of the time. Again, not at all the difference in the game, but that's a pretty big field position swing there if that call is made. I'm just saying...
• My whole point on the officials is they had a very bad night and thankfully, both teams played above it and the players determined the outcome of the game. It's always a shame to see the officials have such a bad night on the biggest stage (maybe it's only in Steelers' Super Bowls - remember their last one against the Seahawks???).
  
• Steelers defense did a great job on Fitzgerald most of the night, but in the fourth quarter his barrage of catches was something else. He is without question one of the premier receivers in this game - top 5 at least and maybe top 2 or 3.
  
• Great run defense by both teams in this game.
  
• I'm amazed at how many folks I've already heard who are claiming Roethlisberger has the luxury of a great defense and is not that great of a QB. Wha-wha-what??? If I'm picking teams he'd be one of the first 3-4 QBs I'd take. He took a huge step up in this game. HUGE step up.
  
• This is no exaggeration - I can recall only one commercial from this year's Super Bowl. Well, make that two as I was wondering when the stupid Sobo (or whatever it is) ad would run - you know the one, with the lizards doing the dancing? I'm curious to know what exec gave the final OK on that one? Those are some of the dumbest ads I've ever seen. The memorable one you ask? The one with the moose head on the wall and it pans to behind the wall with the whole moose standing over some guy's desk. I think it was for monster or career builder or something. Pretty funny.
  
• Thank you Peter King for this little tid bit: John Elway has played in 5 Super Bowls and Joe Montana has played in 4. Kurt Warner has played in 3 and he has more passing yards than either of those other guys in his 3.
  
• And if you think to Warner's three Super Bowls, what do they all have in common? They were some of the more exciting Super Bowls. All 3 came down to either the last play or the last few plays.
  
• I think both of these teams are going to be around for a long while - Arizona plays in a horrible division and should be a mainstay in the NFC playoffs for the next few years - I don't see the Seahawks, Rams or Niners making any major strides to compete for that division anytime soon.
  
• Big, BIG ups to both Whisenhunt and Tomlin - two young coaches whom I hope to see at the top of their respective games for a long time to come.
  
• I think when Dick Lebeau leaves the Steelers it's going to be a bigger deal than many folks think.
• Please come back Kurt Warner, please - too good and too much fun to watch.
  
• He'll never admit this, but Jerry Jones has to be a little concerned about what he saw last night: two *teams* who came together and played as a team. Dallas, in it's current form, is not even in the same ball park as either the Cardinals or the Steelers. And Romo is miles and miles away from being anywhere near as tough or as good of a leader as either Warner or Big Ben. Good luck Jerry, you'll need it.
  
• Finally, I've watched the last two Super Bowls at the Madeley's house and I can say without any exaggeration or doubt that they put on the best Super Bowl party - I think it's an omen that if they have the game on at their house and have friends over to watch it, it's going to be a great game. With a thrown out back and a baby in the over, those two still put on one hell of a party. Thanks guys, it's always a great time.

Running Horns:
Or should I say limping horns. Terrible, terrible home loss on Saturday afternoon for Texas. I'm going out on a limb here, but I think this may very well be one of Rick Barnes most frustrating seasons on the 40 acres. I said this coming into this season and it's probably the most "correct" I've ever been about anything - the fact that we have zero point guards is killing this team. About the only amount of credit I can give this team (at least before Saturday) was that they had some quality losses. Yea, I know, it's a bad year when you're making statements like that. Losses include Michigan State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame (although the golden domers have now lost 4 or 5 straight I think) and Arkansas. And yes, Arkansas is a stretch, but this is the same Razorback team that beat OU so that's worth something.

As good and as important as Damion James has been, this team centers around the productivity and efficiency of AJ Abrams - as Abrams goes, so goes these Horns. And boy has he been inconsistent...at best. Pittman has broken my heart one too many times (and has eaten one too many ho-hos), I'm about done with his jug butt. Look, this team still has 10 conference games left including a rematch with OU at home, two against Okie State, etc., etc. - so there's time for them to make a big run and regroup...BUT, I'd be lying if I felt like they were going to do it. I'll say this - I don't care what seed they get and I don't care who they pull in the tournament, they'll be one and done at best. They just don't seem as hungry as past Barnes' teams. We'll see.

Other Random Thoughts from the Sports World:

• I was able to see the last part of the fourth set and a good chunk of the fifth set of the Australian Open (thank you Ella for getting up at the ass crack of dawn) - I really, REALLY thought Federer was going to get over the hump after the fourth set, I really did. But sh*t man, what the hell happened in that last set? And were you freaking crying? Really? Crying? That was a damn shame.
  
• UUUUGGGGGGHHHHH - so long Andrew Bynum, we barely knew you. I swear, just when they were starting to gel, and I mean just in the last week to 10 days. Prognosis is out 8-12 weeks - I'll go out on a limb and say IF he comes back, it's when playoffs start.
  
• This will get real interesting - do you try and deal Odom to get some more toughness and size in the middle, or do you go back to last year's lineup....which got you to the finals by the way. Will be interesting.
• Lakers are looking good on this road trip, but we'll see how they look when they play at Boston and at Cleveland later this week without Bynum.
  
• I'm going to be honest with you guys - I could really care less about Phelps taking hitz from the bong. I actually thought it was funny - only because I'm guessing about 80+% of athletes have or will smoke the hippie lettuce. Memo to Mikey though - when you're positioned as America's Golden Boy, you may want to be sure there are no camera phones or digital cameras around next time you hit the herb. I'm just saying....
• The two craziest NBA All Star snubs: Kevin Durant and Al Harrington. Those guys are playing ridiculously well right now. You'll never hear about Durant because he's on a team that likely won't win 20 games this year, but the dude is a bona fide superstar in this league and has improved his game DRASTICALLY from last year.
  
• Lost in the hub-bub of T-Mac's ongoing injuries (pause for laughter, heavy sighs and eye rolling) is the fact that Artest is having a very, very nice year. I said it coming into the year, he's going to make a big difference for this team.
  
• Jesus Springsteen, did you have to play Glory Days? Loved it when he broke out Born to Run, but that was pretty much all I liked. I still say Prince had the best halftime show of all time a couple of years back in Miami.
  

Non-Sports Thoughts for the Week:

• My following of the Democrat-led stimulus package this past week reaffirmed something for me - politicians are all alike, they just work for different lobbies. I sure hope this thing goes through some more scrutiny before WE fit the bill for this sorry excuse for a "stimulus package". Seriously, go and search (not CNN or MSNBC) for the details of it - there's A LOT of crap that has absolutely nothing to do with jobs/tax cuts. I'm talking tens of millions of dollars.
  
• So I've noticed a couple of things on "Ella's shows" recently. First, not sure if any of you remember Peter Pan too well, but man, Tinkerbelle is a huge bitch. That's the meanest fairy I've ever seen. Second, Baby Bear on Sesame Street - freaking hilarious. When he comes on the television, I'll stop what I'm doing and watch the segment and more times than not I'm laughing out loud. Good stuff....for a kid's show.
  
• My wonderful wife surprised me with a nice dinner date on Friday and then we got a room at the Stephen F. Austin hotel downtown. Great dinner: good food, good drinks, had a blast - and the hotel is old school and historic so it's cool....until you actually want to sleep. You could hear a prius driving by on the streets below. And the cherry on top was the trash trucks coming at 5am to empty the (count 'em) 14 dumpsters in the alley across from our room. Literally got no sleep. Had a great time with the wife, but will NEVER stay at that hotel again.
  
• Way to go Obama - nominating two cabinet members (Daschle and Geithner) who decided they didn't feel like paying taxes for a while. How in the world does that work? And did you see how much they "forgot" to pay? Holy cow. Being a rich politician must rock....unless you happen to find yourself as the Governor of Illinois where the conviction rate is higher than most mass murderers.
  
• Soooo, the 3D television shows? Really? I had those glasses on for the two minutes of the super bowl ads and I must say - no chance in hell I'm sitting through a 30-minute TV show must less a 2 hour movie with those things on.
  
• Finally, I grew up in the golden years of the Friday the 13th movie series (and they're great by the way) and I'll admit, when they got up to part 11, 12, 13, etc. (especially part 10 in space, c'mon) it was a little ridiculous. Now, they're coming out with Friday the 13th and I can't tell if it's a remake or what, but I find it sacrilegious that they're just randomly making a Jason Vorhees flick and calling it that without continuing the series. I mean, in the original, it wasn't even Jason whacking everyone, it was his mom. Sheesh - lazy ass Hollywood going and ruining a perfectly legitimate slasher series like that....I'll probably go see it though. Damnit.
  

That's what I got gang - have a great week. No clue when I'll have another post.....so make sure you hold your breath.