What Do You Do For The Big Game? Here Is What I Do!
In 2006 over 141 million people in the United States watched the “game”. Lots of people have parties, some people go away on trips, while others are very fortunate to be able to go to the “game”. The “game” I am referring to is The Super Bowl. It is played in early February and people watch it for different reasons. Some watch it because their team is playing in the game. Others may watch it because it’s a fun time to watch all of the commercials, while others watch it because they are just fans of the sport.
I remember reading that on Super Bowl Sunday, more pizza is sold than any other day in the year, out selling New Year’s Eve, Halloween and New Year’s Day.
I love Super Bowl Sunday. I enjoy the game, the food, the halftime show — everything about it. The thing I enjoy the most is I know who I will be with every year. This day has turned into a family day–almost a reunion of sorts–for my cousin, brothers-in-law, friends and college roommate. About 12 years ago I had this idea of getting everyone together and going away for the Super Bowl. For many years we have gone to Las Vegas (destination this year), but recently we have gone to Mexico and last year we ended up in the Bahamas. We always have a great time, see a number of shows, play poker, get very little sleep and cheer our teams on.
So now you know where I will be and what I am doing.
- What do you do for the Super Bowl?
- Do you have a family reunion?
- Do you cook up a storm?
- Do you order in pizza?
- Do you look forward to the commercials?
I look forward to hearing your comments.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:21 am
We always throw a party for our friends. My husband loves to cook, so we spend hours creating the perfect upscale “bar food” menu for the event. We sometimes tailor it to the teams playing! Maybe it will be lobster rolls and dirty water dogs???? Or maybe we will make a Patriots and Giants cocktail. You never know what we will come up with!
It’s our time to be creative and have a ton of fun! we also do the “squares”; so hopefully we will win a little cash too!
January 30th, 2008 at 11:12 am
One year we went skiing - not many folks on the slopes that day! This year we will be moving into our new home the day before so we’ll be un-packing on Sunday. Of course the Game will be on - I’ll listen for the commercials! Good luck in Las Vegas!
January 30th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
No big plans this year. My wife and I will watch the game together, maybe order a pizza. But we will definitely partake in one of our favorite SB traditions: the wonder that is …PUPPY BOWL!
You just gotta love the concept. It’s Super Bowl Sunday and everybody is going to be watching the Big Game. Unless you’re the network broadcasting the game there’s no way you can program against. So years ago Animal Planet said “What the hell…” and came up with the concept. 3 hours of real live puppies playing with each other on a fake football field. At halftime the kittie cheerleaders come on and periodically they cut away to another group of puppies who are tailgating: sitting in lawn chairs watching the game on TV. This must have the lowest production costs of anything on TV. It’s so simple and entertaining it’s brilliant. And you don’t even have to miss the Big Game. It starts at 2:00 and is rerun at 5:00 and 8:00. And this year for the first time it’s in Hi Def! Glorioski! This is why I have an HD TV! So before I cheer on Brady and the Boys, I’ll be cheering for the Golden Retriever!
January 30th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Bob,
I actually thought you were kidding but apparently not since you sent me the link to the event..
Here is the link for everyone to see:
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl/puppy-bowl.html
Merrill
February 4th, 2008 at 10:10 am
It’s always a different friend’s house - one with the biggest living room (NYC rules apply) and the biggest TV.
This year, we were at Deb’s friends’ place, with about 15 other people watching what turned out the be one of the best games in memory - outcome notwithstanding.
Speaking of outcome: So much for an undefeated team from Boston!
GIANTS!
Sorry Merrill. Too much fun.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I usually have a small get together, if my team is not in the Super Bowl, but then a much larger one when the Giants get in. For this Super Bowl, I was not going to make it home from my business trip in DC until 3:19pm PST, which is the the game was going to start. But he party must go on! I had friends at my house setting up, while I was in flight and I asked them to Tivo the game, so we could watch from the beginning.
It was announced that due to the 45-mile an hour winds we were going to be about 15 minutes late. Well, as we are approaching SD airport, you could not see anything out the windows, due to the rain and fog. It took 3 tries for the pilot to land! The tower told our pilot to try one more time and if they couldn’t land we would have to land in Ontario, CA. We were all listening to the channel where you can hear the tower talking to the planes. It was kind of scary. Especially when the tower was reporting that there were 8 other planes that tried landing and only 2 of them made a successful landing. The other planes, like ours, would get close enough to finally see the ground, but then had to pull up. I was on pins and needles, plus I was missing the Super Bowl! I had my NY Giants shirt and socks on, too! I’ll spare you all the other gory details, but I finally arrived home in time for the 3rd quarter. Wonderful game, along with good friends and good eats! Go Giants!!!!
February 4th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I love football and always have a big “to do” at my house, regardless of who is playing. This year about 20 friends joined us for an absolutely fantastic game. We always get a pool started and the winner leaves with a gift basket.
What a game! Can you imaging dinner at the Manning home?
February 4th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Yes, Merrill what a game indeed…Giants and Yankee fans will use this game as their response when the talk of the 2004 playoff collapse comes up…
When the Nielsens are announced, how can they say how many people viewed the game? If you host the party on one big screen and 100 people are watching, does this get accounted for? Are all TV’s in said households being fully utilized? Who keeps track is what I wonder?
I find it interesting that the winning TD was made by Plexico Burress. Has anyone made the connection with the irony here?
Burress wears #17. The last time the Giants won a title was 1990, seventeen years ago! Both Coughlin and Belichick were assisting under Bill Parcells.
Parcells, speaking of irony, now governs the team (Miami) who can pop the champagne for the 36th consecutive year for remaining undefeated! Both of his old teams did well in performance. The Pats didn’t lose, New York played a little better. Seeing Eli make his greeat escape reminded me an another #10, Fran Tarkenton! Except Fran (who had a birthday on Feb 3rd) couldn’t win the big one…
Note how the Giants and Pats met in the final week of the exhibition, the final week of the regular season, and the final week of the playoffs! That number three, three 4th quarter lead changes, The Giants 3rd Super Bowl trophy, The Patriots having won three, and again playing in a game where the margin of victory is three. Imagine if Babe Ruth played football!
This game will just add fuel to the Boston-New York rivalry for years to come. The catch by David Tyree eclipses what Lynn Swann did in 1976. Randy Moss not being a big factor in the playoffs was also a big surprise.
Now that the big game is over, I can now concentrate on my favorite sport-Baseball!
I hear Archie now wants to come out of retirement
This game shall go down as onw of the most exciting finishes since the 49ers in 1988, New York in 1990, Pats in 2002, and Steelers in 1978…
When not working I am content to snack on Ritz crackers, Brie, and coffee. Thats me…
Take care Merrill! Always a pleasure!
February 5th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Most of the year I don’t enjoy watching commercials. The Super Bowl is clearly different. Here are the results for how well the commercials did:
USA Today 20th Annual Super Bowl Ad Meter results
Budweiser Dalmatian trains Clydesdale to make beer wagon team. 8.73
FedEx FedEx beats giant carrier pigeons. 8.26
Bridgestone Critters scream with squirrel missed by car. 8.11
Doritos Giant rat goes for guy’s bag of chips. 7.94
Bud Light Fire-breather heats up romantic dinner. 7.84
Bud Light Men sneak beer into wine-and-cheese party. 7.73
Coca-Cola Cartoon-character parade balloons go after Coke Classic. 7.65
Diet Pepsi Max Star-studded cast stops dozing. 7.6
Planters Scent of nuts makes homely woman alluring. 7.41
(tie) Tide to Go Shirt stain is louder than a job candidate. 7.39
SoBe Life Water Lizards dance with model Naomi Campbell. 7.39
The rest
Bud Light Carlos Mencia teaches the language of love. 7.38
Glacau Vitaminwater Shaquille O’Neal tries being a jockey. 7.36
E-Trade Baby uses E-Trade savings to hire a clown. 7.23
E-Trade Baby talks buying stock through E-Trade. 7.16
Bridgestone Alice Cooper, Richard Simmons block road. 7.11
Disney Pixar’s film Wall-E. 6.85
NFL Story of Chester Pitts’ rise to NFL. 6.83
Toyota Cannons don’t wake badgers inside a Corolla. 6.81
Bud Light Caveman invents the wheel, beer opener. 6.77
Pepsi-Cola Justin Timberlake is sucked into hazards by a woman sipping Pepsi. 6.71
Universal Leatherheads promo with George Clooney. 6.68
Victoria’s Secret Model Adriana Lima is in the mood for Valentine’s Day love. 6.56
Cars.com Car buyer’s Plan B is a head-shrinker. 6.54
Amp Energy drink gives tow-truck driver juice. 6.53
Gatorade Gatorade is a dog’s best friend. 6.49
Bud Light Flying man sucked into airplane engine. 6.42
T-Mobile Charles Barkley bugs “fave” Dwyane Wade. 6.38
Coca-Cola Ex-GOP senator Bill Frist, Democrat James Carville bond over Coke. 6.27
Garmin GPS Napoleon uses a navigation system. 6.24
Toyota Sequoia hauls dads, kids and Big Wheels. 6.03
Taco Bell Mariachis help workers enjoy Fiesta Platters. 5.94
Universal Promo for Wanted with Angelina Jolie. 5.91
Dell Dell’s Red products for AIDS charity. 5.88
Disney Promo for Narnia. 5.81
Sony Pictures Promo for You Don’t Mess With the Zohan with Adam Sandler. 5.78
Fox Pictures Promo for film Jumper. 5.73
Bud Light Will Ferrell as Semi-Pro’s Jackie Moon. 5.65
CareerBuilder Heart leads the way (literally) to a better job. 5.64
Sunsilk Icons Madonna, Shakira, Marilyn Monroe. 5.63
Cars.com Car buyer’s Plan B is a fight in a fire circle. 5.61
Audi Remake of horse-head scene from The Godfather with motor oil instead of blood. 5.49
Hyundai Ad Meter may like Genesis ad, but Mercedes, BMW and Lexus won’t. 5.44
Ice Breakers Carmen Electra wowed by fan with Ice Breakers Ice Cubes. 5.33
Salesgenie Sales leads help pandas’ furniture business. 5.22
Gatorade G2 Derek Jeter sees a ball field everywhere. 5.18
CareerBuilder Wishing on a star won’t land a better job. 5.15
GoDaddy.com Ad promotes viewing of an ad rejected as too racy on its website. 5.13
Hyundai Twist in Genesis ad is value price, not joke. 5.07
Salesgenie Salesman wins award thanks to the genie. 5.01
5 least popular
GMC Yukon Big SUV’s new fuel-efficient hybrid model. 4.99
Paramount Promo for Iron Man with Robert Downey Jr. 4.97
Under Armour Big “E,” other athletes launch sports apparel brand’s first shoe. 4.93
White House ONDCP Message about anti-prescription-drug abuse. 4.68
Doritos Music video for online song contest winner. 4.5
February 6th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Great options that I thought I would share:
10 great places to drink in the Super Bowl action
USA Today Feb 1, 2008
Spitfire
Seattle
With 22 LCD TVs and two large-screen projectors, Spitfire attracts ardent sports fans every day of the week. “This airy, loft-like establishment also brings them in because of its authentic and full-flavored Mexican fare,” Steel says. “Fish tacos, chorizo-and-cheese-stuffed mushrooms and roasted pork tamales are just a few of the offerings — complemented by 18 types of margaritas.” 206-441-7966; spitfireseattle.com
The Bulldog Northeast
Minneapolis
The Bulldog Northeast doesn’t look like your standard sports bar. It has light brick walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a very whimsical modern bar. But sports-viewing is at its core, with flat screens visible from every seat. “Patrons also come for the Bulldog’s creative take on traditional sports bar fare,” Steel says. “The menu boasts a dozen ‘designer burgers’ — including a togarashi burger with Japanese coleslaw and wasabi mayo.” 612-378-2855; thebulldogmpls.com
Thomas Street Tavern
Charlotte
Open 365 days a year, this popular family-owned, neighborhood tavern features an outdoor patio in front and a beer garden in back. “Both are pet-friendly, so you can bring your pooch and still check out the game,” Steel says. “The menu tends toward the natural and organic, with most ingredients bought from local farmers markets and bakeries. There are 60 different bottled beers to complement the excellent cuisine.” 704-376-1622; thomas-street-tavern.com
The Waterfront Café
Boston
Located in Boston’s historic North End district, the Waterfront Café bills itself as an “Italian Pub” — and is apt to be crowded with rabid Patriots fans on Sunday. The menu is extensive, with homemade ravioli and pastas predominating, Steel says. “But they’re also known for their seafood and juicy black-Angus burgers.” An extensive wine list includes labels from all the regions of Italy. “If you tire of watching sports on the 15 televisions, there’s also a great view of Boston harbor.” 617-523-0613; waterfront-cafe.com
Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap
Chicago
The motto splashed across the wall at Jake Melnick’s says it all: “Why go home? You’re here.” This homey Chicago establishment offers 80 beers and a selection of authentic regional hot dogs to choose from. “You can also attempt the 8-pound monster burger,” Steel says, “or the savory 17-Hour Slow Smoked Barbecue Beef Brisket Sandwich.” There are also 17 flat-screen TVs strategically placed for sports fans. 312-266-0400;levyrestaurants.com
Frankie’s Sports Bar and Grill
Dallas
Located deep in the heart of Dallas, Frankie’s is nirvana for Texas sports fans. Patrons can view games on any of 26 high-definition plasma TVs, including two 10-foot-wide projection screens. “Frankie’s offers a classic sports bar menu — but it’s a menu on steroids,” Steel says. “The nachos, for example, are topped with big strips of steak.” 214-999-8932; frankiesbar.com
The Blue Seats
New York
Watch out for Giants fans. Tucked away in the heart of New York’s Lower East Side, The Blue Seats is a sports bar with edge and attitude, Steel says. “It has more flat-screen televisions (62 at last count) than beers, martinis served 10 different ways, and a menu that includes items like bacon-wrapped scallops and a grilled vegetable-and-goat-cheese quesadilla.” 212-614-1494; theblueseatsnyc.com
Average Joe’s Sports Pub and Grub
Indianapolis
This popular Indianapolis hangout has dedicated itself to what it calls “the weekend warrior — the average beer-drinking, hot-dog-eating sports fanatic.” These same amateur sportsmen and women — whose photos cover the walls — can watch the pros on the pub’s 14 TVs (including two in the bathrooms). “Joe’s offers chicken wings served 13 different ways, with a slate of premium beers to wash them down with,” Steel says. 317-253-5844; averagejoes.com/averagejoes.html
Barney’s Beanery
West Hollywood, Calif.
When Barney’s Beanery opened in 1920 on historic Route 66 (one of three now in metro Los Angeles), travelers could trade in their license plates for a free beer. In the 1960s, the place was a hangout for rock icons such as Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix. “Today, patrons come not just to soak in the atmosphere and history, but to catch games on the 40 TVs,” Steel says. “With over 130 beers and hundreds of items on its menu, Barney’s has become one of L.A.’s top spots for sports fanatics.” 323-654-2287; barneysbeanery.com
Dino’s Sports Lounge
Latrobe, Pa.
“Pittsburgh sports fans drive out to this beloved Latrobe bar for the atmosphere, and to chow down on Dino’s most popular fare — the Wings of Joy,” Steel says. Sports memorabilia adorns the walls, much of it dedicated to the Steelers, who train in Latrobe, about 35 miles or so from downtown Pittsburgh. “One side of Dino’s is a family-friendly restaurant, and the other side a traditional sports bar,” Steel says. “No matter which one you choose, you’re sure to have a great seat for the game.” 724-539-2566