Final Thoughts on Super Bowl XL

I just finished watching Super Bowl XL, and overall it was a pretty good game. There were only a few points at which Pittsburgh didn't look to be in control, and that hurt the drama a little for me. Nonetheless, it was exciting as always. My picks for hi/lo-lights:

Jerome Bettis: What a great athlete and classy guy all around. Aside from the fact that he didn't get a score tonight, this game was basically a story-book ending to a great career.

Seahawks' last possession: Just when it looked like Seattle may force and exciting ending, they go out on the field and do....nothing. I'm usually not a big Madden guy, but he was completely right when he was saying they should've gone for the field goal as soon as they were in range. Get the quick 3, worry about the other 8 later. Instead? Two screen passes, one dropped and the other completed for a tackle in bounds. Ouch.

Big Ben: Not an outstanding game for him, but he got the job done and made the plays when it mattered most. In terms of people that have done so much more with their lives at my age or younger, I take him over Tom Brady any day.

Go Heels, Go! Three former UNC players took part in the big game, and all were wearing black and gold (and white, I guess). Congrats to Willie Parker, Jeff Reid, and Greg Warren. Parker's touchdown run was sick.

Refs: It seemed to me like there was a slight, although noticeable, favoring of the Steelers by the officials. The Pittsburgh "call on the field stands because we can't tell what really happened in the replay" touchdown, and the Seattle "the receiver only had one foot in bounds, and even though it was close we won't review it" non-touchdown come to mind. I'm not saying it cost the Seahawks the game or anything, but it was just something that caught my attention.

Sean Alexander: After tonight it's kind of hard to discount the critics who claim your success this year had as much to do with weak opponents as with anything else.

Gadget plays: It's hard to not like Bill Cowher when you see some of the plays he's willing to call. The Randle El to Ward reverse wide receiver pass was brilliant.

Halftime Show: Thank you halftime show organizers for finally moving away from the "let's take one artists from every conceivable genre and have them do an awkward medley" theme. One band - and a great one, at that - just doing their thing. Hopefully this will stick.

Commercials: Whatever happened to putting a little extra effort into your Super Bowl ads? Apparently Budweiser and Ameriquest are the only ones trying anymore. Bud had several great spots, and the Ameriquest ad with the doctor killing the fly with the defibrilator was hilarious. And Pepsi, WTF? You usually have some pretty clever stuff out there, but this year was terrible.