Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday and, as always, I am amused at all the hype. Yesterday the news was full of talk about the commercials that will be aired. In fact I heard much more about the commercials than I did about the game itself. Now, don’t get me wrong—I enjoy a good football game—but it seems that the Super Bowl, like the major holidays, has been commercialized out of proportion. Sometimes the game gets lost in all of this. However, I send congratulations, to New Orleans for getting it together so successfully. There’s a lot of expense and work involved with hosting this game and let’s hope that New Orleans turns a great profit.
The commercials are interesting. Some are entertaining, some are inspiring, some are sexy and ALL are expensive. The Associated Press puts the price at $3.5 million to $4 million for 30 seconds. I know we will see that Jared still eats Subway sandwiches and has kept his weight off for 15 years. Good for you, Jared. Coke lets you vote on how their commercial ends, and GoDaddy’s ad will be sexy. So? I have two thoughts on this: 1) That’s a lot of money that could help a lot of people. If Coke, for example, put up a picture of a CocaCola and announced “We have donated $4 M to help the homeless in New Orleans,” I would feel better and might buy a Coke even though I don’t usually drink sodas. Or if GoDaddy had the sexy girl tell us that Go-Daddy had donated $4 M to Phoenix Children’s Hospital or St. Jude’s, I might change my mind about their service; 2) You know they pass the cost on to the consumer so how much will it cost us, the buyer, to see those commercials when they air tomorrow? The advertisers will in all likelihood show a profit. Guess who pays? (Note: GoDaddy is generous in their giving, I know that for a fact, but this change would certainly make everyone sit up and take notice during the Super Bowl and other companies might get the hint).
While Alicia Keys is going to sing the National Anthem, Beyoncé is going to do the half-time show at the Super Bowl and says she is, indeed, going to sing live. There was such a big “to do” over her lip syncing the National Anthem at the inauguration that I applaud her for not immediately responding to all the criticism. I loved her Super Bowl press conference. She walked out on stage, sang The Star Spangled Banner and then asked, “Do you have any questions?” I love spunk! Don’t people have anything better to complain about? Let me tell you, some of the inaugurations have been so bitter cold that it was impossible for singers to sing, musicians to play, and anyone to enjoy the music whether lip synced or not. I think she was wise to plan ahead and give a flawless performance. Perhaps we should spend more time worrying about our own behavior and leave Beyoncé alone. All the brouhaha makes me want to enjoy watching her all the more. Talk about “Much Ado About Nothing.” Shakespeare would be proud.
These things always make me take a look at my priorities to see if I’m still on track. I am pleased with them.
I will enjoy the game. I will enjoy the commercials. But I will probably buy the generic brands at the store. I don’t want to pay for the commercials any more than necessary.
And one last word—GO 49ers!


















