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February 03, 2006
Let's Settle This
It's been a long time since I've had to figure out who to root for in the Superbowl. I don't have a particular love or hate for either team, so we need to go to the intangibles.
Sports Suffering. Pittsburgh won a few Stanley Cups, but the Steelers have had a long title drought and the Pirates have been third bananas for well over a decade. Seattle has quietly been starving ever since a forgettable Sonics title in the '70s, and the Mariners had a few minutes in the sun - kind of like Seattle's weather. But you don't hear Seattlites whining and moaning too much. Advantage: Pittsburgh.
Coaches. Bill Cowher looks like he might actually come attack me if I said anything bad about him. Mike Holmgren looks like a congenial walrus. Advantage: Pittsburgh.
Uniforms. The Steelers' look is classic NFL: black and gold, nothing fancy. I still have mixed feelings about the decal-on-one-side-of-the-helmet thing. The Seahawks look like big blue blobs, but it's not even really blue. Advantage: Pittsburgh.
Music Scene. I've gotten into Anti-Flag a little bit lately. Still, it's a bit of a stretch to give them the nod over Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Jimi Hendrix, Heart and Hole. Advantage: Seattle.
Quarterback. I've never had to look up how to spell the names of both Superbowl QB's. I miss the days when they had good, easy-to-spell names like, oh I don't know, "Brady". But Matt Hasselbeck went to BC, and he's related to Elisabeth, who went from Survivor cutiepie to full-fledged Viewbot. Advantage: Pittsloethisburgher.
Politics. Two years in a row, the Superbowl has consisted of two teams from blue states. So that's a wash. But Seattle's pretty progressive and liberal, and Pennsylvania gave the world Rick Santorum. Advantage: Seattle.
Food. I love seafood. Love it. But even the flinging of fish around Pike Street, and the tasty crab at Elliott Bay Restaurant, can't compare to the awesome, life-changing experience of the Primanti Brothers sandwich. Advantage: Pittsburgh.
Annoyance Factor. Seattle pretty much shuts up and plays. Pittsburgh has Joey Porter, this year's random "They need quotes and I'm the man to give 'em" man, and Troy Polamulu, who seems like overexposure waiting to happen. Advantage: Seattle.
BunkoSquad readership. I know Pittsburgh' got my back; there's at least one long-time reader and gracious host-for-a-night out there. The Northwest, if they're reading, are doing so quietly. Advantage: Pittsburgh.
Final tally: 6-3 Steelers, but I doubt that will be the final score. Let's say Pittsburgh, 24-17.
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Comments
I appreciate the shout-out. You'll have to stop by again some time when we've got better baseball weather.
This town is in a blissful haze. It's amazing (and disturbing) what the Steelers mean to Pittsburgh.
Posted by: Andy | February 3, 2006 04:14 PM
Your reasoning sounds as solid as any analysis I have heard from TV and radio analysts.
And, Andy, here's hoping that you enjoy the game and savor the celebration.
FWIW, my prediction is Pitt 24-13.
Posted by: Vin | February 4, 2006 09:22 AM
