Bent Corner

Blogging from Williamsport, Maryland

More people watched the Super Bowl than watched the final episode of M*A*S*H

Sunday’s Super Bowl between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts drew an astonishing 106.5 million viewers, breaking the 27-year-old record held by the final episode of M*A*S*H which only had 105.9 million viewers.

Who knew America was so interested in a Super Bowl between two relativity small-market teams?

I think there were a lot of factors that went into making this game so appealing to TV viewers. It was between the two best teams in the NFL. Both teams deserved to be in the Big Game. Both teams had high-scoring offenses that relied on throwing the ball to score points. Teams that rely on running the ball and controlling the clock may rely on an offensive scheme that has proved to be historically effective at winning Super Bowls, but it makes for really boring TV.

I also cannot help but wonder if the weather played a part in making this Super Bowl to watchable. Much of the East Coast and the Mid-Atlantic was covered with at least two feet of snow over the weekend. A good many schools and businesses were going to be closed on Monday because of the weather. When people don’t have to get up early Monday, they are able to stay up late Sunday night.

I don’t think anyone will be able to pin-point why exactly so many people watched the Super Bowl.

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No Comments by Rick on February 9, 2010
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The New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl Roman numeral something something something champions

Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees celebrates with his wife and son.

Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees celebrates with his wife and son.

The New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts last night 31-17. It was one of the best Super Bowls that I’ve ever watched. It was also the first one that I can remember watching from beginning to end in a very long time.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees had a fantastic game, throwing 32-39 for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns. Also importantly, he had no picks. He went on to earn Super Bowl MVP for his performance.

The game looked to be going in the Colts’ favor until the opening play of the second half. The Saints began the 3rd quarter by kicking an onside kick that went off the hands of reality TV personality and Colts receiver Hank Baskett.

One of the most remarkable things about last night’s game was CBS analyst and former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms. How does this man have a job? I lost count of just how many times he said something that was completely wrong. My favorite was when the Colts were driving and Simms said that the Saints should not blitz, but instead drop an extra defensive back into pass coverage. The ball was snapped and the Saints did the complete opposite of what Sims said. They blitzed. Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning promptly threw the ball into the waiting arms of Saints’ cornerback Tracy Porter who ran the ball back 74 yards for a quick six.

Phil Simms could not have been more wrong.

All in all, it was a great Super Bowl. The only way it could have been better was if Phil Simms stayed home.

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No Comments by Rick on February 8, 2010
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Palin tells teabaggers that Obama’s budget is ‘immoral’

Speaking at the 2010 Tea Party convention in Nashville, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin told the nearly 600 teabaggers in attendance that the Obama administration’s 2011 federal budget was “immoral” because it increases the national debt.

Instead of just criticizing the Obama administration’s 2011 budget, maybe she’d like to share with everyone how she would balance the 2011 federal budget. The New York Times has an interactive chart that shows were all the money will go.

What exactly would she like to cut?

How about the $738 billion that we will be spending on defense? The thing is, most of the yearly federal budget isn’t up to the president. Most of the budget is controlled by existing federal law. Other then military spending, not much can be cut by whoever is sitting in the White House. If Sarah Palin would like Obama to make drastic cuts to the military, maybe she ought to tell everyone.

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2 Comments by Rick on February 7, 2010
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