How many posts will be written today I wonder. Or if anything else gets done in North America? What if it's Sunday and everybody's watching Super Bowl LVIII? :)

I just watched hours of LVII. Now there's something like four hours of coverage and analysis before today's game even starts.

No wonder people need a beer, or three. :)

But it's fun. And makes a pleasant and welcome diversion from news coverage and chores and housework and the rather unexciting book I'm in the middle of.

I enjoy it more when I don't mind which team wins. Although I'm always a bit sad for the guys who don't win. Big letdown after all the advance hype and the long road to get there.

I played football for about 3 minutes in high school. It's fun when it's just a bit of a diversion. Deadly serious for the players and staff and owners in the big leagues.

As for me, my favourite part is the singing at the beginning. Go Reba! I even actually know who Usher is although I couldn't name one of his songs.

So my poll is: Do you care who wins? And why?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2024 03:14PM by Nightingale.

Watch it for the commercials or wait until tomorrow and watch them online.

TRADITION! (from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF)

Your comment about the "long road to get there" brought a smile.Sixteen regular season games and what three playoff games is only a long road in relative terms. There is an average of 11 minutes of ball movement in a typical NFL game. If you divide that equally between offense and defense players actually move only five and a half minutes per game, and then their involvement is determined by the play being run. Watched the highlights of the England v Wales rugby game played yesterday. Saw more action in the highlight film than will occurs in.the three hours it will take to play this game. As I said everything is relative. That said Go 49ers.

I love you kentish. You often make me smile. I enjoy your pithy analysis of things. Especially the footie. :)

Kentish Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Your comment about the "long road to get there"
> brought a smile.Sixteen regular season games and
> what three playoff games is only a long road in
> relative terms.

As I like to say/joke: Everything is relative. (Or was it Einstein who said that?) :)


> There is an average of 11 minutes
> of ball movement in a typical NFL game. If you
> divide that equally between offense and defense
> players actually move only five and a half minutes
> per game, and then their involvement is determined
> by the play being run.

As I said, good analysis. Interesting! Never thought of it that way. But those 5.5 minutes can be hellishly exciting though eh? :)


> Watched the highlights of
> the England v Wales rugby game played yesterday.
> Saw more action in the highlight film than will
> occurs in.the three hours it will take to play
> this game.

Hahahahaha. Yes, no doubt.

Re highlights: I saw some today where the QBs threw impossibly long bombs and the camera tracked the bomb, in slow mo, and it was artistry in motion.


> As I said everything is relative.

Astute observation. (see above, ha!)


> That said Go 49ers.

I enjoy it more when I don't mind who wins, as in today's case. What I like, apart from the long bombs (my favourite play) is all the analysis. The announcers get het up and talk fast and loud and it makes it all a bit exciting.

The nurse in me though cringes when helmets crack together as I worry about head and neck injuries. I try to shush her so I can just focus on enjoying time out of time as I call it when something compels all time and attention and the rest of one's little world is put on hold for a wee while. It's relaxing.

My only issue is that I wish everybody could win. But life doesn't go like that does it. Even in sports. Which a lot of people consider frivolous. But really, it's a big deal to a lot of people. And why not.

Thank you Nightingale. At my age I'll take all the love I can get...even from hundreds of miles away.

That's impressive Nightingale...I purposely didn't watch it. I watched golf (Canadian guy from BC won!( and then perused my PVR .

My only reservation is that both of these "contact" sports need to deal with the types of play that lead to brain damage. If you wonder why I, a nevermo from the UK but living in France, hang around a forum of exmormons who are almost all North Americans, it may be related to the five years of rugby (playing as an undersized, undertalented prop forward, during which I was concussed several times - not that it stopped me playing on...

Everything's so clear now. . .

Concussed and living in France but oh so English. Delightful.

Nah, it's not brain damage. You just like us :)

I'm rooting for San Francisco. No love lost for the Chiefs.

I wouldn't go back to church for all the poop in San Francisco.

I'm pretty sure all Superbowls are rigged. This is America, after all.

summer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm rooting for San Francisco. No love lost for
> the Chiefs.

I don't care who wins in this case. I enjoy the game more that way. No dog in the fight this time.

PS to my post. And sports like world football and rugby don't need a phalanx of six analysts to interpret and speculate on those eleven minutes.

Kentish Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PS to my post. And sports like world football and
> rugby don't need a phalanx of six analysts to
> interpret and speculate on those eleven minutes.

Haha, kentish. True enough. I was trying to calculate the cost of having all those announcers and analysts and various cameos of more famous people I don't know. It's gotta be well into the millions.

So yes. Life is not fair or just or equitable in this world, as we know and often concede. It is fun though, and necessary even, to kick back for a while every now and then, at least for me, and just enjoy the moment. If and when possible. Because otherwise, you know what they say about all work and no play. For the players and coaches and allied workers though this *is* their work. At least, win or lose, they still get paid. Lucky.

We must not be watching the same soccer games. ;)

Agreed. When American teams play, you need at least six experts to explain how what they are doing on the field still counts as soccer.

Don't mind me. Just being "ornery" today. I think that's a Utah word.

The whole thing is so over hyped, IMO.

The food (chicken wings) push, store displays, gambling, drinking and news coverage already has me tired of it all. I'm just glad I don't have a bunch of people at my house this year watching it.

My idea of watching sports is mostly seeing the highlights in 20 seconds on the news that night. I always feel bad that someone has to lose.

I will probably check in periodically to see what is happening. I usually like Usher, so I might watch some of that. The commercials are going to bombard us for months, so I don't need to sit on the edge of my chair to see what junk people are being sold.

You never know. Maybe there will be a wardrobe malfunction, or someone kneeling, or someone blowing kisses to keep the media busy for months.

Go your team!

American football: 15 seconds of running around followed by a committee meeting. Repeat for several hours.

This is the 40th anniversary of the Apple "1984" ad, an ad which neither mentioned nor showed the product being plugged. And it was done by a young Ridley Scott.

FOREVER FAITHFUL! I have been a huge 49er fan since 1977 when I moved to SF. My great aunt had been a huge fan for years by then. My kid was born in SF so he had no choice but to be a 49er :). He is off with his club watching. He is wearing one of his jerseys and I am wearing my Tom Rathman 44.

GO BOYS GO!!!!!!!!!

They look amazing! I just hope that they settle down and stop making mistakes. Purdy is incredible.

Purdy and the 49ers have nothing to be ashamed of. They fought every inch of the way. Great game, but I was not happy about the Chief's win.

One bit of.luck in the game (a punt bouncing off a heal) and the game went to KC. But wow...more than four hours for a one-hour game.

Depression :(

Is it too late for me to bet on KC?

I wish it could have ended in a tie. Both teams deserved to win!

I saw the "Jesus" Super Bowl ad. Apparently the donor is the billionaire behind Hobby Lobby. (Surprise!)

Really, are there so many people who haven't heard of Jesus that they needed to bring that to a football game?
Really, that's how Jesus would want money spent? On proselytizing at such a gaudy event that costs thousands just to get in to see a testosterone war?

Do religions focus on helping the poor at all nowadays? I'm beginning to wonder. OK, I'm exaggerating, but sheesh.

Then of course the players thanked God for the win, because God likes to pick the winners in sports. That's maybe because He can advertise at the sporting event (sarcastic smirk).

If I were Christian, I don't think I would be thrilled about what Christian politicians and billionaires are doing to the Christian image.

>> I saw the "Jesus" Super Bowl ad. Apparently the donor is the billionaire behind Hobby Lobby. (Surprise!)

Oh yeah, Hobby Lobby. That company that did not want to provide birth control as a part of their government-mandated health care package. I'll bet they provide Viagra, though.

I noticed that as a part of the "He gets us" foot-washing commercial, one of the scenes was set in front of a birth-control clinic. How kind of them to include us "sinners."

When God becomes just a TV advert. . .

SF pulled a BYU!

I figure CBS got about 8 million female viewers and KC added about the same number to their fan base, thanks to Taylor Swift, and they don't even have to pay her anything. The fact that the game was a nail-biter means they will probably tune in next year too.

Pro football had a late Christmas present this year. :)

Taylor's fans got the fairy tale ending they wanted. The Super Bowl may be the closest thing to the Truman Show we have.

Congrats on finally finding a conspiracy theory that won’t get deleted. ;)

True that!

Taylor did look slightly mortified at the end when Travis started sing-screaming Viva Las Vegas on the award stand.

I realize I'm an old bat and all, but both Travis and Taylor seem a tad immature for their ages. Their affection looks sweet and genuine. I hope they have happy trails ahead.

OTOH, can you imagine how a song about a breakup would sell? LOL.

I was a little mortified by the sing-scream myself. As for immature, a critique I read from a cranky old guy was “Taylor Swift is a middle-aged 14 year old. ‘I’m so happy you’re so happy I’m so happy.’ Who talks like that?”

Of course cranky old guys are not her target demographic, and with her target demo, those 14 year olds and recently former 14 year olds, she is extremely successful. She may be the only person in my lifetime who has a legitimate claim to having eclipsed the Beatles. [I’m sure opinions vary on that.]

"with her target demo, those 14 year olds and recently former 14 year olds, she is extremely successful"

That explains her popularity among Mormons. They are perpetual 14 year olds.

True that. That also explains why Donny and Marie were apparent 14 year olds for about 25 years.

I don't know about Donny, but Marie is still 14 years old.

That reminds me. Not too long ago on Jeopardy! (see, I don't talk about ALL the dumb show stuff here) there was a category about collectors.

Out of all the important collections of things in the world, one of the questions was about the dolls that Marie Osmond collected. I thought it was weird after all this time, she's still about dolls. This kind of fits the childish mentality mentioned above.

Yeah, it's Mormon infantilization.

There are dolls and then again there are DOLLS. I don't know what Marie collects but she sells cheap crap. Anne Rice collected dolls and DOLLS. She had some fantastic pieces and were included in her books. France and Germany made the best ones. I WISH I could afford one but they are 10s of $1000s. Once in a while I will check out RubyLane.com just to moon over them. You have to be very careful because there are a lot of scammers.

True. I had second thoughts about that comment and stand corrected. There are some great and important collections of dolls, toys and things with fascinating doll history.

I think I was remembering back when she used to hawk them on QVC. A bunch of the ladies in my mom's ward were going gaga like a bunch of 10 year olds buying them for who knows what. I thought it was strange that Jeopardy! would use her as an example in the collector's category.

Yeah, why anyone would "collect" hers is beyond me. The fact that some see them as "investments" makes me LMAO.

I agree with Susan. Dolls are just another collectable, right up there with stamps, coins, and Star Wars memorabilia.

Well, if it something you love and get enjoyment from it's one thing. Collecting because you think it is an "investment" is another. As you guys know I have an extensive collection of Build a Bear, many of the outfits were limited editions and from other countries. I also have a collection of American Sweetheart Depression Glass, other Depression glass, Queen Elizabeth items. I have dolls from different countries, I especially love my Motanka dolls from Ukraine because of the history and tradition behind them, lovely little bits of magic. I have collected tarot cards for many years and then of course there are my books. Many many many many many books that I read over and over and over lol.

We will not discuss my dog clothes :P The pup has a booster shot appointment later and she will be wearing an appropriate Valentines dress. White satin and organza set off with red satin and organza bows and red satin roses. It's a shame I don't still have a place to post pics because it is faaaabulous. You may all laugh yourselves sick now

You do have all kinds of interesting stuff! I'm a bit of a pack rat with antiques mostly but not a dedicated collector of anything.

I think the thing that pushed my buttons was the fact that Marie's dolls were considered such an important collection that they were on a national game show question. (It couldn't be the Mormon/Utah thing, as people have pointed out.) She does strike me as naïve and childish in a Mormony goodie goodie way which I wrongly associated with dolls.

As an aside, I think Barbara Streisand has a nationally known collection of stuff that also includes dolls. I was fascinated to see recently that she basically has a museum at her house. Museums are one of my most favorite things.

I think we should be allowed to play with Queen Mary’s dollhouse.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/11/world/europe/uk-royal-dolls-house-windsor.html?unlocked_article_code=1.VE0.FLmh.X795FnD6BsTv&smid=url-share

Wow. That's magnificent!

I feel bad now that my daughter had to make do with a Barbie Dream House.

Man. All I got was Skipper.

I did not watch one second of it, peruse any articles, ignored the Taylor Swift drama, and could care less who did what and\or who won.

I had a nice quiet relaxing Sunday!

And you read this thread on Monday.

I want to add that I am truly appalled by Travis Kelce's behavior towards his 65 year old coach (yelling/raging at him and shoving him around.) I don't care how upset you are, that just isn't done. And it's a huge red flag for Taylor. I'd like to see a public apology to Coach Andy Reid and his team, but I won't hold my breath.

summer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I want to add that I am truly appalled by Travis
> Kelce's behavior towards his 65 year old coach
> (yelling/raging at him and shoving him around.) I
> don't care how upset you are, that just isn't
> done. And it's a huge red flag for Taylor.

Absolutely.

I get that the adrenaline is flooding one's system but civility should be the minimum expected no matter the situation. He's the coach. You're not. There's a hierarchy of power there, not to mention respect and basic decency.

I don't give a pass (no pun intended) to people acting like jerks. Not to mention that if you'd act like that in a wildly public arena what on earth are you like behind the scenes?

Lucky for him the coach put him back in at all. He would have deserved to be benched. Of course, the coach has competing interests - gotta win the game above all, or most, other considerations. That goal (another unintended pun) can eclipse reason, obviously. Too bad. He owes a few heartfelt apologies. At least.

The coach made a statement about it on the news tonight. Apparently they "love" each other and act that way (shrug). Kelsey just wanted the coach to know he was ready to fight for the team or whatever. Yeah, it was weird.

I'm not buying it. I don't care what Coach Reid says. It's not okay.

summer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm not buying it. I don't care what Coach Reid
> says. It's not okay.

"Victory covers a multitude of sins."

They won, so all is forgiven. Had KC lost, there would be a plethora of discussion and analysis: "Was Reid hurt or traumatized? "Did it upset KC momentum?" "Should Kelce have been sidelined? If so, for how long?" And of course, "What does Taylor's backup jet pilot have to say about this?" And did we get a statement from James Taylor? How about Livingston?

But they won, so the entire matter will be soon (or already is) forgotten.

> "Was Reid hurt or traumatized? "Did it upset KC
> momentum?" "Should Kelce have been sidelined? If
> so, for how long?" And of course, "What does
> Taylor's backup jet pilot have to say about this?"
> And did we get a statement from James Taylor? How
> about Livingston?

No, it's only the right wing that obsesses over pop stars like that.

If this was remotely true then Rage Against the Machine and Christina Aguilera would have no fans.

Who?

So I looked it up. Rage against the Machine was a prominent band in the 1990s.

And you're using it as evidence that liberals are infatuated with pop stars now, 30 years later???

Thanks, yet again, for proving my point.

summer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I want to add that I am truly appalled by Travis
> Kelce's behavior towards his 65 year old coach
> (yelling/raging at him and shoving him around.) I
> don't care how upset you are, that just isn't
> done. And it's a huge red flag for Taylor. I'd
> like to see a public apology to Coach Andy Reid
> and his team, but I won't hold my breath.

Sometimes it is important to assert dominance over another to persuade individuals to do your bidding. But in this case, That is how real life power structures work. However Reid should have asserted his dominance over Kelce and not vice versa in this instance. Who does Kelce think he is?

The Superbowl is the perfect example of how a once great sport has trashed by junk television. It would make more sense for the ads to be written on the players' jerseys than constantly interrupting the flow of events. Now it is also being infected by the worst kind of political co-ercion and bullying.

I am surprised that in a thread like this no one has reminded us that Reid played his college football at BYU.

I went snowmobiling. I no longer find the NFL interesting. I liked it in the 70’s.

Super Bowl viewership was 123.7 million Sunday. Last year's was 115 million. The most watched television broadcast ever.

I said upthread that Taylor Swift probably brought them about 8 million viewers. So what do I win? :)

Brother Of Jerry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Super Bowl viewership was 123.7 million Sunday.
> Last year's was 115 million. The most watched
> television broadcast ever.
>
> I said upthread that Taylor Swift probably brought
> them about 8 million viewers. So what do I win? :)

Events like the Super Bowl definitely have a big impact, and it's amazing how they bring people together for some shared excitement. Whether it's the Super Bowl Sunday or another major event, it's interesting to think about how these moments fit into our lives.While it is disappointing that so many viewers indulged in the male gaze, events like the Super Bowl are exciting and a lot of fun to watch. It's all about balance and making choices that align with our values and commitments.

Do you have wings and a wand?

>so many viewers indulged in the male gaze

What is the male gaze?

I admit I gazed at a few male tight ends in their tight spandex pants.

dagny Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >so many viewers indulged in the male gaze
>
> What is the male gaze?
>
> I admit I gazed at a few male tight ends in their
> tight spandex pants.

The concept of the "male gaze" hails from film theory and feminist thought, describing how visual arts and literature often portray the world and women from a masculine point of view, presenting nubile women such as Tayĺor Swift as objects of male pleasure. It's a very important topic in discussions about gender, representation, and media. This can help us navigate and critique cultural practices and norms, including those related to gender and representation.

Somehow I don't think that fits what feminists meant.
They showed Taylor all of a combined 54 seconds just standing there, out of a 4 hour game.

Maybe he means 'male glaze'?

The most watched American broadcast ever.

Wow. This is the longest thread I've ever had here. I should have switched to sports eons ago!

Thanks for the input, everyone. It's great to have a little fun every now and then in between the serious side of life that is often too much with us as they say.

Nightingale Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow. This is the longest thread I've ever had
> here. I should have switched to sports eons ago!
>
> Thanks for the input, everyone. It's great to have
> a little fun every now and then in between the
> serious side of life that is often too much with
> us as they say.

This thread isn't yet another sermon, that's why.

"At least 10 people were shot in Kansas City, Missouri, after a rally Wednesday celebrating the Chiefs Super Bowl victory, authorities said.

"Kansas City Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins said the victims were hospitalized."



Life is weird and then people start shooting...

There are

TOO

MANY

GUNS

AND

BULLETS

IN

THIS

COUNTRY

And no will to change.

There's a ton of will to change; the vast majority of American citizens want the laws tightened. The problem is that a vocal minority have disproportionate political influence and use that to block reform.

The fundamental problem with the US constitution is its anti-democratic provisions, including the electoral college. In 1800 that might not have mattered (if you were a white man), but now the system is profoundly harmful.

It's sad. People were simply trying to enjoy the celebration.

I saw the game, and it was clear to me what they were doing. CIA operative Taylor Swift distracted us while the big steal was rolling out. At the end there was a points dump, and Taylor created more voters somehow. Now she can get pregnant and give birth to the Anti-Christ. Or I might have dreamed some of that during my nap.

The whole thing is about as convincing as a WWF/RAW match.