Super Bowl Weekend

I hope to get enough work done around the newspaper to take off Sunday night and watch this year's Super Bowl. I seriously doubt it will be as good a game as the AFC Championship match between the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots. That tilt was one for the ages. But Indy and the Chicago Bears might surprise some of us and make a dramatic game of it.

I am picking the Colts by a score of perhaps 28-14.

I am pulling for the Colts because of Coach Tony Dungy and quarterback Peyton Manning. Coach Dungy got summarily fired in Tampa Bay a few years ago because he did not get the Bucs to the big game. Young Jon Gruden succeeds him and wins the bowl! Coach Gruden won that game with Tony Dungy's team and he said as much.

As to young Manning, his critics, most of whom never played the game, contend that he cannot win the really big game. Well, win or lose Sunday night, Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the entire league. It would be nice to see him get a ring.

This weekend long has been something of mid-winter festival for many Americans. Parties are common and fellowship rich. But the National Football League always attempts to throw a wet blanket on the partying. I just read where the NFL went ballistic over a church-sponsored party in Indianapolis this week. The church's sin? It used the precious NFL logo in promoting the event. Cynics don't call the NFL the "No Fun League" for nothing.

Enjoy the game