Did you hear? There was a Super Bowl on Sunday. Let’s get to it.
PRE-GAME: There was lots of pre-game hype, as always, and some concerns that had us all on edge. Would Taylor Swift make it on time from her concert in Japan? While Spirit Air couldn’t guarantee her a flight that would make it, we were told she’d take a private jet. (Whew; what a relief) But then, the media made it sound like she’d have to drop the mike in Japan, jump on a plane in the concert parking lot, and land near Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to even have a chance of making it on time.
We found out she landed in Los Angeles Saturday afternoon, leaving her a little more than 24 hours to get to Vegas – that was close.
And Travis Kelce’s mom was on TV last week moaning about the cost of Super Bowl tickets and how she might have to sit in a regular seat. Really Mama Kelce? Kelce signed a four-year, $57.25 million contract extension in 2020. Kelce’s girlfriend made more than $100 million in 2023, so it was doubtful we would see Taylor and Mama Kelce in the nosebleed seats. We didn’t.
Congressman Matt Gaetz issued a pre-game statement announcing that he and his wife, Ginger Luckey (yes, that’s her name) “would not be watching the Super Bowl,” and after Ginger asked why, Gaetz said, “They’re desecrating America’s National Anthem by playing something called the ‘Black National Anthem.’”
It seemed a little 1960s for Gaetz to make that decision unilaterally for the couple, but in hindsight, it was a wise move because there were a bunch of African American players in the game. And Matt and Ginger would not have liked half-time at all. Perhaps Matt found a more important use of his time, such as preparing to defend himself in the ongoing FBI investigation into his alleged child sex trafficking.
Oh, and can we agree that the rest of us really do not care if Matt and Ginger are watching the game?
HALFTIME: Each year we hear that the halftime show was the best in the history of the Super Bowl. Was it? I was left wondering why entertainers need to take off their shirts while they perform… or roller skate. But since I have not understood a single lyric at a concert since 1995, it was not much different than any other music show of today. I do wonder how those fans all sing along to words I can’t make out, but they love it.
And did you know that there were guest stars, along with Usher, but they were not introduced? In case, like me, you did not know those stars, here is the list: Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Lil Jon, Ludacris, Will.i.am and Jermaine Dupri. Wow, what a cast!! H.E.R. turned how to be my favorite, I think Matt Gaetz would have been impressed.
THE COMMERCIALS: Was it just me? I didn’t know what some commercials were trying to convey, and most of the others seemed just a little bit… stupid. Why does Ben Afleck advertise Dunkin Donuts? And why would a streaming TV service, PlutoTV, portray everyone that is watching TV as couch-potato blobs? It almost made me turn off the television, drop my chicken wing, and head downstairs to the treadmill. Almost.
And, for those who noticed multiple ads for on-line betting, remember that those ads cost $7 million for each 30-second spot, so the bet here is that you aren’t winning those bets.
THE GAME: It was an exciting game, with strong defenses making it tough for the offenses to score. Of course, if you read this column last week you know that this game was fixed. But it was still interesting to see how the Pentagon would rig it for the Chiefs to win. Leaving a Kansas City receiver wide open on the last play of overtime provided the final obvious evidence that the fix was in.
AFTER THE GAME: The Pentagon’s planned Kelce proposal, and subsequent Kelce-Swift presidential endorsement, has been delayed. Rescheduling details will be announced at the next CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) meeting, which will take place in Washington D.C. later this month. Go online to get your “General” ticket for only $195 – if you want to attend the Ronald Reagan dinner, you’ll need $590. Reagan won’t be there.
Curt MacRae is a resident of Coldwater, MI, and publishes opinion columns regularly.
Tweets @curtmacrae — comments to rantsbymac@gmail.com
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