The "43 Stops to Super Bowl XLIII" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIII. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL and XLI and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.
#12-YOUR OTHER VIEWING OPTIONS: Every year I like to look at the DirecTV guide to see what other networks put on opposite the Super Bowl.
FOX-Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader: No other "trivia" show is more drawn out than this.
ABC-America's Funniest Home Videos then Wipeout!!!: Yes, Wipeout returns with new ways to watch people fall on their buttocks. And they are gearing for non-Bruce Springsteen fans.
ESPN-World Series Of Poker: Um, no.
ESPN Classic-When Billie (Jean King) Beat Bobby (Riggs): Just in case you needed a fix after the Aussie Open
ANIMAL PLANET-Puppy Bowl V: A staple at my house.
DISCOVERY-Jesus: The Complete Story: Call me crazy, but I tend to watch these things during halftime. I just need to get away from the game for a bit.
ESPN-World Series Of Poker: Um, no.
ESPN Classic-When Billie (Jean King) Beat Bobby (Riggs): Just in case you needed a fix after the Aussie Open
ANIMAL PLANET-Puppy Bowl V: A staple at my house.
DISCOVERY-Jesus: The Complete Story: Call me crazy, but I tend to watch these things during halftime. I just need to get away from the game for a bit.
HISTORY CHANNEL-God vs Satan: Like the Steelers, God is a 7-point favorite
DIY-Bathtastic!: Let's do up the place I will be relieving myself of bacon cheddar fries!
DISCOVERY HEALTH-627 Pound Woman: AKA "The woman who showed up to the Super Bowl party just for the food"
VH1-Sober House: My wife's guilty pleasure
HBO-Meet The Spartans: For people who thought "Don't Mess With The Zohan" was smart comedy.
SHOWTIME-Bratz Movie: This will shut up the kids
VERSUS-World Extreme Cagefighting: Blood is cool
NBA PASS-Clippers vs Wizards: The NBA needed some time to slip this clunker in so nobody would notice
#13-LIST OF SUPER BOWL NO-NAMES: Below are guys that made their names in the Super Bowl. Some of these guys were pretty good NFLers before their breakout games ... some we haven't heard of before or since ... but performing well on the biggest of stages makes them legends.
Doug Williams (Redskins): It wasn't that Williams was a no-name as much as things really didn't pan out for him. Dude really came off the scrap heap. Williams did nothing much of note in his first years at Tampa Bay or in his USFL stint. Redskins coach Joe Gibbs (who coached Doug in Tampa) gave him a shot in 1986 to back up Jay Schroeder. In '87, Schroeder had some shoulder issues late in the season and Williams did a good job taking over. So much so that there was a QB controversy. Williams got the nod and the rest is history.What Williams did in the 2nd quarter of Super Bowl XXII is nothing short of remarkable. He was 9-of-11 for 228 yards and 4 TDs. Again, that was just in the 2nd quarter! Williams would win the game's MVP and become the first (and only, so far) black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
Timmy Smith (Redskins): If Doug Williams didn't win the MVP, Smith would have. Smith rushed for 204 yards (still a Super Bowl record) and two TDs. Coming into the game, Smith had rushed for just 129 yards that season. His career lasted just 15 games after the Super Bowl.
Max McGee (Packers): McGee is famous for his pre-Super Bowl I partying. With Boyd Dowler injured early in the game, a hung-over McGee would step in and catch the first TD pass in Super Bowl history. He would go on to catch seven passes for 138 yards and two TDs ... three more receptions than he had all season long.
Jeff Hostetler (Giants): People forget that Phil Simms didn't start the G-men's second Super Bowl title. Simms hurt his ankle late in the season and Hoss took it the rest of the way. He had the least amount of playing time of any QB to start a Super Bowl. He held up well, throwing for 222 yds and a TD.
Dan Bunz (49ers): The linebacker was instrumental in the greatest goal line stand in Super Bowl history, stuffing the Bengals four times with goal to go. The defining play was Bunz' tackle on a swing pass to Charles Alexander on third down (he was also in on the stop on fourth down).
Larry Brown (Cowboys): The running joke after Super Bowl XXX was that Brown was the Steelers' Neil O'Donnell's favorite target. Too bad he played for the other team. Brown picked off two O'Donnell throws ... his final game with Dallas. He used the MVP award to get a nice fat contract with the Raiders and did nothing much of note after the fact.
Dwight Smith (Buccaneers): If Brown won an MVP award for picking off two passes ... why didn't Smith win won for taking two picks back for TDs? He was a nickelback used a lot in a game where (a) Oakland's offensive attack warranted it and (b) the Raiders were so far behind that they had to take chances. Why ....
Dexter Jackson (Buccaneers): ... because Smith's second TD came in the closing seconds after the ballots had already been counted. Jackson had picked off two passes himself (none that went for TDs) that were momentum changers. And Jackson wouldn't have won the award either if not for fan voting taking place in the game (Simeon Rice was the press' pick).
Percy Howard (Cowboys): Never heard of him? Well, Howard came into Super Bowl X and caught a 34-yd touchdown pass from Roger Staubach. That was the only reception he had in his entire career.
Don Beebe (Bills): Beebe has been on six Super Bowl teams ... but will be remembered most for running down Leon Lett and stripping the ball right before crossing the endzone in Super Bowl XXVII.
#14-THINGS NON FOOTBALL FANS CAN SAY TO BLEND IN: Look, I know that there are people in America that will be attending Super Bowl parties because ... well, they love to party. Some won't know who's playing in the game until they get there. I've also come to find that there are actually guys out there that get dragged to Super Bowl parties because of their women (that's sad). Don't worry. So the diehards around the party who actually care about the game won't think you're a wuss, I'm here to help. Here are a few vague quotes that you can use so you fit in among the football fans. You don't have to engage in a conversation with these, just drop these in from time to time the rest of us don't make fun of you once you leave. Just print this out, study it and you will at look somewhat less wimpish around the real men at the Super Bowl party.
"The Cardinals just need to limit turnovers and control the clock if they want to pull the upset."
"Kurt Warner is back to his MVP form!"
"It's amazing that Big Ben could win his 2nd Super Bowl in four years."
"You just gotta convert those third downs!"
"Don't sleep on Willie Parker!"
"Troy Palumalu in unbelievable!"
"Third and long? I'd blitz."
"Pittsburgh couldn't go wrong with either Mike Tomlin and Ken Whisenhunt"
"I got a few bucks on this game."
"Damnit! I left my squares sheet at home!"
"Larry Fitzgerald has had one hell of a postseason!"
When there is a penalty called for holding, just say, "yeah, he was tackling him!"
"You think Brett Favre is gonna retire?"
"It's nice to see Edgerrin James playing well."
"Hard to believe Arizona is in the Super Bowl instead of the Super Bowl being in Arizona."
#15-SUPER BOWL TRAPPINGS:
National Anthem: Jennifer Hudson. Second straight year an American Idol contestant will sing the Star Spangled Banner (Jordin Sparks did it last year). This has to be quite a gig considering everything she's dealing with right now.
Halftime perfomer: Bruce Springsteen. I wonder if Glory Days will be used for any promotional items? Oh, it has!
Pregame entertainment: Journey. Good news for all those Steve Perry fans
Home team: Arizona Cardinals. The NFC champ is the home squad in odd-numbered games.
DISCOVERY HEALTH-627 Pound Woman: AKA "The woman who showed up to the Super Bowl party just for the food"
VH1-Sober House: My wife's guilty pleasure
HBO-Meet The Spartans: For people who thought "Don't Mess With The Zohan" was smart comedy.
SHOWTIME-Bratz Movie: This will shut up the kids
VERSUS-World Extreme Cagefighting: Blood is cool
NBA PASS-Clippers vs Wizards: The NBA needed some time to slip this clunker in so nobody would notice
#13-LIST OF SUPER BOWL NO-NAMES: Below are guys that made their names in the Super Bowl. Some of these guys were pretty good NFLers before their breakout games ... some we haven't heard of before or since ... but performing well on the biggest of stages makes them legends.
Doug Williams (Redskins): It wasn't that Williams was a no-name as much as things really didn't pan out for him. Dude really came off the scrap heap. Williams did nothing much of note in his first years at Tampa Bay or in his USFL stint. Redskins coach Joe Gibbs (who coached Doug in Tampa) gave him a shot in 1986 to back up Jay Schroeder. In '87, Schroeder had some shoulder issues late in the season and Williams did a good job taking over. So much so that there was a QB controversy. Williams got the nod and the rest is history.What Williams did in the 2nd quarter of Super Bowl XXII is nothing short of remarkable. He was 9-of-11 for 228 yards and 4 TDs. Again, that was just in the 2nd quarter! Williams would win the game's MVP and become the first (and only, so far) black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
Timmy Smith (Redskins): If Doug Williams didn't win the MVP, Smith would have. Smith rushed for 204 yards (still a Super Bowl record) and two TDs. Coming into the game, Smith had rushed for just 129 yards that season. His career lasted just 15 games after the Super Bowl.
Max McGee (Packers): McGee is famous for his pre-Super Bowl I partying. With Boyd Dowler injured early in the game, a hung-over McGee would step in and catch the first TD pass in Super Bowl history. He would go on to catch seven passes for 138 yards and two TDs ... three more receptions than he had all season long.
Jeff Hostetler (Giants): People forget that Phil Simms didn't start the G-men's second Super Bowl title. Simms hurt his ankle late in the season and Hoss took it the rest of the way. He had the least amount of playing time of any QB to start a Super Bowl. He held up well, throwing for 222 yds and a TD.
Dan Bunz (49ers): The linebacker was instrumental in the greatest goal line stand in Super Bowl history, stuffing the Bengals four times with goal to go. The defining play was Bunz' tackle on a swing pass to Charles Alexander on third down (he was also in on the stop on fourth down).
Larry Brown (Cowboys): The running joke after Super Bowl XXX was that Brown was the Steelers' Neil O'Donnell's favorite target. Too bad he played for the other team. Brown picked off two O'Donnell throws ... his final game with Dallas. He used the MVP award to get a nice fat contract with the Raiders and did nothing much of note after the fact.
Dwight Smith (Buccaneers): If Brown won an MVP award for picking off two passes ... why didn't Smith win won for taking two picks back for TDs? He was a nickelback used a lot in a game where (a) Oakland's offensive attack warranted it and (b) the Raiders were so far behind that they had to take chances. Why ....
Dexter Jackson (Buccaneers): ... because Smith's second TD came in the closing seconds after the ballots had already been counted. Jackson had picked off two passes himself (none that went for TDs) that were momentum changers. And Jackson wouldn't have won the award either if not for fan voting taking place in the game (Simeon Rice was the press' pick).
Percy Howard (Cowboys): Never heard of him? Well, Howard came into Super Bowl X and caught a 34-yd touchdown pass from Roger Staubach. That was the only reception he had in his entire career.
Don Beebe (Bills): Beebe has been on six Super Bowl teams ... but will be remembered most for running down Leon Lett and stripping the ball right before crossing the endzone in Super Bowl XXVII.
#14-THINGS NON FOOTBALL FANS CAN SAY TO BLEND IN: Look, I know that there are people in America that will be attending Super Bowl parties because ... well, they love to party. Some won't know who's playing in the game until they get there. I've also come to find that there are actually guys out there that get dragged to Super Bowl parties because of their women (that's sad). Don't worry. So the diehards around the party who actually care about the game won't think you're a wuss, I'm here to help. Here are a few vague quotes that you can use so you fit in among the football fans. You don't have to engage in a conversation with these, just drop these in from time to time the rest of us don't make fun of you once you leave. Just print this out, study it and you will at look somewhat less wimpish around the real men at the Super Bowl party.
"The Cardinals just need to limit turnovers and control the clock if they want to pull the upset."
"Kurt Warner is back to his MVP form!"
"It's amazing that Big Ben could win his 2nd Super Bowl in four years."
"You just gotta convert those third downs!"
"Don't sleep on Willie Parker!"
"Troy Palumalu in unbelievable!"
"Third and long? I'd blitz."
"Pittsburgh couldn't go wrong with either Mike Tomlin and Ken Whisenhunt"
"I got a few bucks on this game."
"Damnit! I left my squares sheet at home!"
"Larry Fitzgerald has had one hell of a postseason!"
When there is a penalty called for holding, just say, "yeah, he was tackling him!"
"You think Brett Favre is gonna retire?"
"It's nice to see Edgerrin James playing well."
"Hard to believe Arizona is in the Super Bowl instead of the Super Bowl being in Arizona."
#15-SUPER BOWL TRAPPINGS:
National Anthem: Jennifer Hudson. Second straight year an American Idol contestant will sing the Star Spangled Banner (Jordin Sparks did it last year). This has to be quite a gig considering everything she's dealing with right now.
Halftime perfomer: Bruce Springsteen. I wonder if Glory Days will be used for any promotional items? Oh, it has!
Pregame entertainment: Journey. Good news for all those Steve Perry fans
Home team: Arizona Cardinals. The NFC champ is the home squad in odd-numbered games.
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