The Braley Blog

“Pete’s Daily Connection”

Super Bowl Time

Super Bowl Sunday has always been a big thing with me. I know that not everybody is into football but I think the Super Bowl is an event that most everyone will be talking about the next day.

I was trying to remember today, “What was the first Super Bowl I remember watching?” Hmm. I think I go back to 1973 when the Dolphins beat Washington to complete the undefeated season that started in 1972. I can picture Larry Csonka and the truly memorable moment from that game was when the kicker, Garo Yepremian, tried to pass the ball after someone blocked his field goal try. Somebody on the Redskins blocked the kick and the ball came right back to the kicker. He rolled out and attempted a pass but ended up hitting his helmet or losing his grip. The ball bounced into the hands of a defender who scored a touchdown. Fortunately we still found a way to win the game.

There’s been so many great players. Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman and, of course, Tom Brady. I’ve always watched the game no matter if my team made it or if the Patriots made it. I just enjoy the sport. It is a little nerve wracking in the house when the Pats play.

The hype about the Super Bowl commercials doesn’t seem to be as big as it was. I think pre-posting them on the internet has changed that. Looking back I’m sure you can remember some of the classics.That Budweiser commercial after 9/11 where the Clydesdales kneel down in salute to New York… 😢 still gets me. And they only showed that one once though it lives on at YouTube.


There was the Mean Joe Green ad for Coke. Michael J. Fox for Pepsi. The “Wassup” guys! 

I always had people call in to my radio show the morning after to vote for their top three. Then I had them give me their opinion of the Halftime show. It never fails: Some people love it, others hate it.

In the past we’ve had Michael Jackson, Madonna,and Prince is a favorite of many. How he got it to rain during ”Purple Rain” I’ll never know.

Maroon 5 doesn’t get much love and I think people were not too thrilled with The Who. It’s so tough to make a selection that is liked by so many different demographics. It’s the biggest 12 minutes of your life if you’re doing it. This year the show features Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige. I’m curios.

And let us not forget about the food! We always have a buffet of great stuff. We have chips and dips, nachos, Bagel Bites, maybe egg rolls. My favorite snack was actually subs that we got from the high school in Fairhaven. 

All four of my children were involved with the music program in Fairhaven. They all played an instrument and a couple sang in the chorus. Every year (in the late 90s and early 2000s I think) the FAME organization had a Super Bowl Sub Sandwich fundraiser. Volunteers got together and made subs for an early Sunday pickup. They were delicious. 

After our youngest graduated we were able to continue getting some through a friend-of-a-friend but I think they stopped doing that. I always ate too much anyway.

Yup so there I’ll be on Sunday, watching it all from about 3:00pm on. Of course, the pre pregame shows start much earlier but if I do that I’ll be pooped out before the kickoff.

I do enjoy the fact that I no longer have to wake up at 4 a.m. the morning after the game. I always said that I think the day after the Super Bowl is one of the hardest days to wake up for. Right up there with the day after Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

Oh by the way, my pick: Cincinnati by three.


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