Why is the number 58 important this year? This happens to be Super Bowl LVIII, roman numeral for 58. Try to find Super Bowl 58 on any logo. Maybe on a jersey. Alex Barrett of the 49ers will be the only #58 on the field. Why does the NFL want to confuse people with a numbering system no one really knows?“The Roman numerals were adopted to clarify any confusion that may occur because the NFL Championship Game — the Super Bowl — is played in the year following a chronologically recorded season,” the NFL once wrote in a postseason media handout.
There are so many intersecting interest complements that the game itself is almost tertiary. This is the only TV sporting event where I go to the bathroom when the game is on. The commercials today, however, are not as compelling because they tend to be released before the game. Here are all these ads that have been leaked. The New York Post says these are the best they've seen so far. Esquire says Usher and Christopher Walken for BMW is the best it's seen.
- Click on the link above and see all of them.
- #1 Coke--Hey Kid, Catch (1980). Mean Joe Green and ET's Henry Thomas.
- #2 Apple--1984 (1984). Remember George Orwell's book. Directed by Ridley Scott.
- #3 Nike--Hare Jordan (1993). Bugs Bunny meets Michael Jordan.
However, last night on CBS, viewers voted the Budweiser Brotherhood ad from 2013 as #1.
- $7 million per 30-second spot.
- About the same as last year.
- Was $37,000 for 30 seconds in the 1960s, then jumped to just under a million in the 90s.
- They cost so much because it is anticipated that there will be 115 million viewers.
And speaking of Usher, he is the halftime show. Says it will be difficult to squeeze 30 years of entertaining in 13 minutes. Guests? Indicated it would be foolish not to perform his 2004 hit, Yeah, with Ludacris and Lil Jon. That was 20 years ago. I gave a look see and don't remember the song, if you can call it that.
Want to guess what he will be paid for this performance? Zero. Super Bowl acts are unpaid, but the NFL does come up with the associated staging costs on the field. In 2020, $13 million. Exposure is the reason:
Historically, performing artists’ streams skyrocket the day after the big game. According to Spotify, per Newsweek, after 2020’s Super Bowl halftime show, Shakira saw a 230% spike in streams while Jennifer Lopez's discography went up by 335%. After Justin Timberlake’s 2018 show, his music sales went up 534%, per Billboard. Similarly, Bruno Mars’ album sales for Unorthodox Jukebox jumped by 92%, propelling him from no. 7 on the Billboard Top 200 to no. 3, according to Forbes.
But the last album was 8 years ago. Why? Got divorced, had two kids and launched a Las Vegas residency. Plus, there was that pandemic. Took him all this time to complete his 9th album.
If nothing else, this should convince MAGA conspiracy theorists that the Swift-Kelce affair has nothing to do with the NFL, or Joe Biden:
Swift is flying back from Japan to Las Vegas. She will get more TV play than Usher. Then the halftime headliner, Usher. Couldn't care less, don't know of even one song from him, and, incidentally, same goes for Swift.
Reba McEntire will perform the National Anthem, Post Malone will sing American the Beautiful and Andra Day will do Lift Every Voice and Sing. They also don't get paid. And don't confuse Post (on the right) to Jelly Roll.
But true fans will begin TV-watching a lot earlier, when most of the food and drinks will be consumed.
Super Bowl 2024 pregame coverage: CBS Sports will host seven hours of pre-game coverage on CBS and Paramount+ beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. (This is 6:30 a.m. in Hawaii.)
- 11:30 a.m. ET: "NFL Slimetime": Hosts Nate Burleson and Young Dylan preview the game with NFL highlights, picks and interviews.
- 12:00 p.m. ET, "Road to the Super Bowl": NFL Films' annual sports doc takes a look back at the 2023-2024 NFL season. The one-hour film features more than 125 NFL players' and coaches' mic'd up moments leading up to Super Bowl LVIII.
- 1:00 p.m. ET: "You are Looking Live!": The story of "The NFL Today" takes a look back on 50 years of NFL studio coverage, including interviews with surviving original cast members Brent Musburger and Jayne Kennedy, as well as current TV personalities.
- 2:00 p.m. ET: "The NFL Today": Live from the Bellagio Hotel and Allegiant Stadium, fans will be treated to four hours of pregame coverage leading up to kickoff. Host James Brown will be joined by analysts Phil Simms, Bill Cowher, Nate Burleson, Boomer Esiason and JJ Watt, plus lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones. Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Matt Ryan and Jason McCourty will provide additional commentary, along with Kyle Brandt and more.
- NBC will have the WM Phoenix Open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- The tournament began at the Phoenix Country Club a long time ago, but was called the Arizona Open.
- Was renamed the Phoenix Open, then the FBR Open.
- Moved to Scottsdale in 1987, which is 12 miles away from Phoenix.
- Waste Management began sponsorship in 2010, but Waste Management Phoenix Open was ugly and unwieldy, so is now known as the WM Phoenix Open, even though it is in Scottsdale. Note how cold it is because this Tournament Players Course is at an elevation of 1530 feet.
- This is the only PGA golf tournament that encourages loud and raucous crowds, at least on the 16th hole, where players pass on gifts to the crowd. This is the Coliseum 3-par which sounds like a drunken frat party, which it mostly is. Costumes are also gaining in popularity.
- In 2016, drew an attendance just on one day of 201,003 fans, the largest ever for a golf tournament.
- The leader after three rounds is 26-year old Sahith Theegala. You would think he must be from India, or perhaps the UK, for what he wears. He was born in Fullerton, California and was an All-American at Pepperdine University. His team was ranked #1 until the COVID pandemic ended the season. Made his pro debut in 2020 and has two wins.
- The weather yesterday played havoc. Theegala is not teeing off today until 6:10PM, so will not finish until tomorrow, Sunday, then play a final round. So looks like the WM Phoenix Open might not finish in time for the Super Bowl.
- 6:10 p.m. ET (approximately): Post Malone is expected to sing "America the Beautiful", followed by the national anthem sung by Reba McEntire. Singer Andra Day (right) will also perform her rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing." Actor Shaheem Sanchez will sing along with Day. (Sanchez will also perform the ASL version of Usher's halftime performance.)
- 6:30 p.m. ET: Super Bowl LVIII begins. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo are scheduled to call the game, with reporters Tracy Wolfson, Evan Washburn and Jay Feely and rules analyst Gene Steratore. Armando Quintero and Benny Ricardo call the Network's SAP coverage in Spanish.
- 8:00 p.m (approximately): The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show will begin. Music sensation Usher will take the stage to perform a medley of his top hits.
9:30 p.m -10:00 p.m. (approximately): Postgame coverage begins. "The NFL Today" team will recap the Super Bowl and Jim Nantz will present the Vince Lombardi Trophy to the winner of Super Bowl LVIII.
What about the game itself? I have followed the 49ers since the very beginning of my sports listening, then was pleasantly surprised that when I went on to college at Stanford, the Sunday games were televised. Black and white, sure, but Hawaii was not yet connected by satellite in 1958. Of course I'll wear red, which covers both teams, for I usually have Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce on one of my fantasy football teams.
Who are some of the players? Time magazine's description of those Chiefs not named Mahomes or Kelce. What about the San Francisco team? Well, watch this video. As if this mattered, here are the ratings of the best 40 players to play tomorrow, with #40, Jake Brendel, center, 49ers. Of course, Mahomes is #1 and Kelce is #3. #2 is running back Christian McCaffrey and offensive tackle Trent Williams of the 49ers is #4. What about SFO QB Brock Purdy? Only comes in at #9.
- Length of National Anthem. Will be sung by Reba McEntire. Chris Stapleton last year took a rather lengthy 119.5 seconds. But Reba at the 1985 National Finals Rodeo took only 78 seconds, followed by 66 seconds at the 1985 World Series, but increasing to 83 seconds at the 1997 World Series and, wow, 90 seconds for a Cowboys NFL game in 1999. The under over is 90.5 seconds. Pick lower, for that is her entire history.
- The coin toss is -105 for Heads and -105 for Tails. By the way, -105 means a probability of 51.22%. Essentially, if you bet $10 and win, you get a total of $19.52 back. Either way, the house wins money. BetMGM has said that 54% of tickets are for Heads. Why even bet.
- Will the Most Valuable Player mention Taylor Swift? Yes +750 (12%) or No -1600 (94%). Hmm, should be less than 100%. Something is not right. But crazily, BetMGM says 93% of bettors put money on Yes. For this to happen, the Chiefs must beat the 49ers and Travis Kelce to be the MVP. Then he will need to mention Swift's name.
- Thus far, bettors received odds of +820 (11%) that Kelce will propose to Swift.
- Finally:
Primary color of Taylor Swift's top at the Super Bowl?
| Color | Odds |
|---|---|
| Red | -500 (83%) |
| White | +400 |
| Black | +550 |
| Yellow | +850 |
| Purple | +1,600 |
| Silver/Grey | +1,800 |
| Blue | +2,000 |
| Green | +2,000 (5%) |
Of course eating and drinking are part of the event. As I usually am served margarita when I gamble in Las Vegas, my table will have that, plus Bloody Mary and a few colors of Johnny Walker. I think Platinum, Gold and Black this year. Featured Blue Label last year. 15 Craigside will be providing hot dog and beer for the game, being shown our theater, but I'll bring my share back up to my apartment for private viewing, although a few residents might also show up too. Also probable are boiled peanuts and nachos.
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