The American tradition of watching the Super Bowl is more than just a football game, more than the start-studded after parties and more (but not by much) than the commercials. My version of the "highlights" will most certainly not be the same ones you see of the game on SportsCenter, but they definitely aim to please. 2:30 PM - The Pepsi pre-game show begins on CBS. This means four hours of overdone analysis by supposed football experts. Not to mention, Pepsi has paid CBS to utter their company's name every time they go in and out of commercial for four hours. I bet they're really going to feel the effects of that advertising tactic.
6:00 PM - I tear myself away from the MSJ to run home. Festivities have begun at my house where I enjoy the first of many root beers (I'm almost 21), plenty of pizza, baked salami, and a variety of homemade goodies.
6:30 PM - Billy Joel sings the national anthem. He looks sober, which makes him less of a man in my book. I get another beverage and hope that he gets a few cocktails to warm up. After all, he is the piano man.
6:42 PM - Devin Hester runs back the opening kickoff for a touchdown for the first time in Super Bowl history. I acknowledge that history has been made before my eyes; I then refill my foamy beverage in the hopes that Indianapolis will bounce back quickly.
6:58 PM - Reggie Wayne is wide open for a 53-yard pass. He scores to put Indianapolis within one. A botched snap makes Vinatieri miss the point after. This mistake is made possible by the weather in Miami, where it is raining pretty hard and the wind looks horrendous. First reason why Detroit is a better Super Bowl city than Miami: Ford Field is indoors.
7:11 PM - My drinking has hit a plateau. I can no longer chug but I am still able to hypothesize that Chicago will not score an offensive touchdown this game. Peyton fumbles the football, the Bears get a long running play, and Sexy Rexy throws a 6-yard touchdown pass to quickly kill my theory. 14-6 Bears.
7:23 PM - Although Pepsi is sponsoring much of the Super Bowl, Coke's commercials are far better. First, they come up with a great knock-off Grand Theft Auto ad. Then, they pay tribute to Black History Month by showing events impacting equal rights throughout history. They're marketing strategies are far-reaching and target the right topics, especially during the groundbreaking "Soul Bowl" (two African-American head coaches).
7:41 PM - The Colts begin to dominate. They hit a field goal, followed by some smash mouth football, running the ball straight up the middle to finally score a Dominic Rhodes touchdown.
7:44 PM - My favorite commercial so far. It shows the personification of an assembly line machine at GM. The machine kills itself in a dream because it can't find a job. I'm pretty sure it's like a metaphor for Detroit's auto workers, they must be proud.
7:49 PM - Despite the Colts moving the chains, the Bears' Brian Urlacher is everywhere. It seems like he finishes every play near the line of scrimmage. He has great range and is the best linebacker in the NFL, plus he hits hard.
7:58 - Adam Vinatieri misses his first ever playoff field goal to end the first half. I'd be upset, but the score is 16-14 with Indianapolis leading. This should set up a close second half and for sure a finish to remember.
8:07 PM - The halftime show begins, produced by the NFL Network with a three-second delay so Prince's nipple doesn't accidentally pop out. Second reason why Detroit is a better SuperBowl city than Miami: Rolling Stones over Prince.
8:26 PM - The second half begins. The Colts immediately take over and drive the field. Tony Dungy issues the first challenge of the game, saying there were too many Bears players on the field. He's a good coach but this is a dumb call. I pour another drink hoping it will help Indy's chances; Vinatieri just barely makes another field goal.
8:35 PM - My roommates start throwing empty bottles into the trash from across the room. One in particular makes three out of four shots. I'm impressed because the beer commercials are sub par (one with monkey's arguing over stealing a Bud Light shipment).
8:46 PM - Rex Grossman is blowing the game! He takes an 11-yard sack and then fumbles the next snap on 3rd and 12 for two consecutive losses and a resulting punt.
9:01 PM - Kevin Federline does a great job of degrading the fast food industry in a commercial. His music video while working in some sort of burger shack is sure to bother some group of people, but I'm happy to have a laugh at their expense.
9:12 PM - Tony Dungy makes a gutsy challenge to rectify a Marvin Harrison reception. Dungy should be the MVP of this team; it is obvious why he is such a great leader and an elite NFL coach (now that he's won the Big One).
9:17 PM - The 3rd quarter ends uneventfully. The teams exchange field goals to make the score 22-17 Indy. Going into the fourth quarter, three things are clear: 1) Close SuperBowls make the day much more worthwhile (and help the ratings), 2) It would have been a lot better if the Colts had just put them away early, and 3) It's a good thing we got a fresh keg (of root beer still) before the day began.
9:25 PM - Rex Grossman literally throws the game away. There is still plenty of time left but the interception returned for a touchdown by Kelvin Hayden could seal the fate of the Indianapolis Colts. That throw was so bad; you pretty much have to place all of the blame on Rex for losing the game of a lifetime; sleep on that. Nice try though.
9:34 PM - Sexy Rexy throws one more pick to completely soil his name. The score is 29-17. With 10 minutes remaining in the game, Chicago should definitely pull him for their backup, Brian Griese. Clearly it will take a Michigan quarterback to engineer this comeback. Third reason why Detroit is a better SuperBowl city than Miami: afterwards the Steelers got to party amongst the lavish Detroit nightlife, the poor Colts are stuck in Miami.
is a member of the 
