NEW YORK, NY — This is not about Bad Bunny and the Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime entertainment, though from this perspective, why the controversy? Bad Bunny is a music icon, known by many as the King of Latin Trap, who is proud of his Puerto Rican heritage. And nothing wrong with the NFL selecting him to entertain the world as the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks patiently wait to play a second half of football.
Bypass the diverse opinions and politics that a Super Bowl receives, Super Bowl Sunday is the premiere sporting event, a financial bonanza. It brings families and friends together for five hours or more to determine an NFL championship. It’s commercials and watching because advertising revenue is a part of this spectacle.
There are always complaints about the halftime entertainment. Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, The Weeknd, Shakira, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, and Kendrick Lamar, just to name a few recent headliners. Just hope there are no hiccups and the game is competitive as it should be for NFL supremacy.
As the Puerto Rican superstar awaits his performance, Bad Bunny’s Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show is projected to be the most-viewed in its history – Image Credit: Logan Bowles/NFL
And for NFL fans, an end to a season until next September. It’s called the Super Bowl, though pardon my pun as I always called this “The Stupid Bowl” because the hype of two weeks before the game is much too long. And pardon my sarcasm but place your bets around the room, how many viewing at a get together have knowledge of the X’s and O’s, and analytics in what will be transpiring on the field at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California?
Regardless, NBC Sports has the rights to televise Super Bowl LX, and I bet you’ll watch. The network will draw near record viewers, thanks again to those who anticipate Bad Bunny. Last February’s Super Bowl was the most watched broadcast in America since the 1969 Apollo moon landing as CBS reported an average 123.4 million viewers.
This game, though, has interest with the Patriots representing the AFC and Seahawks of the NFC. Though at one time before the commercials and networks, it was just a football game to determine a champion from one league.
The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will be battling for the Vince Lombardi Trophy this Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium, the home of the 49ers, located in Santa Clara, California – Image Credit: Edwin Hooper/Seattle Seahawks
Yes, before it was the Super Bowl, it was just known as the champions from the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL) before they merged in 1970. Wagers, known as sportsbooks and online betting, always surpasses records. It is the Super Bowl and one game—not a series which adds to the glamor and suspense.
Hardly remember the first Super Bowl took place on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in LA, California with the AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL champion Green Bay Packers. The Packers won 35-10, then no betting lines, spreads, or prop bets. No halftime entertainment, three hours of pre-game shows, or commercial sponsors paying $10+ million for a 30 or so second spot. It was just a football game.
And the winning trophy named after Vince Lombardi who led the Packers to victory in the first two Super Bowls. The game MVP to the best player from the winning team though in Super Bowl V, Chuck Howley of the Dallas Cowboys was named the MVP despite his team losing to the Baltimore Colts, 16-13.
Both quarterbacks Drake Maye (NE) and Sam Darnold (SEA) were hit with every question imaginable this week leading up to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California – Image Credit: NFL
So to the game, whether it be the Patriots or Seahawks who are favored to win. The Patriots with their resurgence and in 11 previous Super Bowls, the most of any franchise and the Seahawks making their fourth appearance. The Tom Brady quarterback Patriots era has passed and Drake Maye, even with an NFL leading 14 fumbles, rekindles thoughts of their NFL dynasty.
Seattle is more talented, one can debate that as both rosters are deep. Though to win in the NFL, you need a quarterback and Sam Darnold, a former Jets first round draft pick, questioned about handling the pressure, has answered the bell each time this year but Sunday will be one he never experienced before. Both teams have a defense that can be the difference which is why the experts say this can be a close game and not a blowout.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel knows how to call for halftime adjustments. New England will need to control the ball and slow down the potent Seahawks run. Basically, it comes down to who will take chances on a fourth and one play and each team has had success in that area. If you watched the NFL this season, and I am first to admit not an expert here, fourth down plays were more than usual this year.
A win on Sunday would mark New England’s seventh Super Bowl victory in franchise history and for Seattle, it would be the Seahawks’ second SB title – Image Credit: NFL
The NFL is about numbers. After all, all sports are about metrics. And this Super Bowl will be no different but the Patriots are located in a football town, sorry Red Sox fans. The Seahawks are beginning to build something and like the Mariners of baseball are tasting a championship in Seattle.
So have some safe fun, no matter where you watch. Enjoy the company with others, the commercials, and Bad Bunny. Oh and my pick but don’t blame me if you go with this. It’s only a game known as the Super Bowl.
Final Score: Seahawks 27, Patriots 17.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com covering boxing, MLB, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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