Loading ...Cheers & Boos 2-4-13
For a 20 year stretch, the Super Bowl was anything but super. From 1984-2003, the average margin of victory was 19 points, with just five close games. But in the last decade the Super Bowl has lived up to its name. Seven games have been decided by less than a touchdown, four by a mere three points, including the Ravens 34-31 victory predicted perfectly by yours truly right here in last week’s column (and when I say perfectly, I mean ignore that I said the game would go to overtime).
CHEERS for Ravens QB Joe Flacco winning the game’s MVP award after throwing for 287 yards and three touchdowns. It capped off a brilliant playoff run in which Flacco tossed 11 TDs without a single interception. His contract expired at the end of the game, but I think it’s safe to say some team will probably sign him to a big fat deal.
CHEERS for Ravens WR and New Orleans native Jacoby Jones producing two of the biggest moments of the game. Jones caught a 56-yard touchdown late in the first half and returned the 2nd half kickoff for a 108-yard touchdown. Hurricane Katrina destroyed his family’s home and the high school he attended, but his mother stayed in the city and even cooked dinner for Jones and some of his teammates last Monday. That was a great start to the week, Jones made sure it had a great ending.
BOOS to the 34-minute power outage shortly after Jones’ kick return. Of course, it did help turn a rout into a riveting contest, so maybe I should be cheering the lights going out.
CHEERS for referee Jerome Boger’s authoritative, “Let’s Go!” when it was time to resume play. It was the rare time an official spoke and everybody in the stadium was happy.
CHEERS for the end of the Har-Bowl. Seriously, if I never hear another story about brothers John and Jim, parents Jack and Jackie or sister Joanie, it will be too soon.
CHEERS for the commercials, many of which were laugh-out-loud funny. I totally cracked up watching the E*TRADE baby, the M&M’s Love Ballad and the Tide Miracle Stain spot.
CHEERS for the halftime show which I watched for the first time in, well, I don’t even remember the last time I actually watched it. Beyoncé was entertaining and I even recognized a few of the songs. Could I have done without approximately 500 pelvic thrusts in a 15-minute show, sure, but that’s just nitpicking.
CHEERS for Super Bowl squares that gave me a rooting interest, especially the halftime box of Ravens 1, 49ers 6, which put $260 into my wife’s pocket. Condolences to all with Ravens 4, 49ers 9, who lost out when Baltimore intentionally took a safety at the end of the game.
FINALLY, a non-Super Bowl CHEERS for the California Institute of Technology’s baseball team ending a 228-game losing streak with a 9-7 defeat of Pacifica. No, 228 is not a typo. It was the Beavers first win since February 15, 2003.
THERE IT IS!
-Jake Stevens
it was a very good game. i thought the referee made an error in not calling a a personal foul when the field goal kicker was submarined. it was a crucial call. it would haven the 49′s a first down instead of a rekick.