Get Used to It
The other night, my wife, Linda, and I watched Super Bowl number LVI.
I recall a time when there was no such thing as a “Super Bowl.”
January 15, 1967, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35 to 10. I took little note of this contest: I was busy providing security to Germany from those pesky Russians. When I left Germany, they were safe from the threat.
Through the years the Sunday of the Super Bowl has gained in the public's consciousness. Folks are even beginning to insist that Monday following the game should be a holiday…a day to recover from “observance” of the game.
The game, as a game, did not disappoint. The final score was Los Angeles Rams 23, Cincinnati Bengals 20.
I chose to hope that Cincinnati would win the game, but I knew my future did not depend on the outcome.
I'm not so much a fan of football teams: I'm more of a coach and quarterback fan. Both coaches were very young and seemed like steady, likeable fellows, but I'm not very knowledgeable about either. On the other hand, I am familiar with the Los Angeles quarterback, Matthew Stafford. One year when he was with the Detroit Lions, I had him on my fantasy team. I felt sorry for Stafford when he played there. I felt that he was a very good quarterback on a very bad team which seems determined to continue their streak of losing.
After moving from Detroit to Los Angeles, Stafford won the Super Bowl in his first year.
On the other hand, I'm quite familiar with Joe Burrows: he took my alma mater, LSU, to a national championship a couple of years ago. Cincinnati is a natural location for Joe: he's originally from Ohio.
I watched Joe for three years at LSU. He arrived there as a transfer from Ohio State, good move. The first year I judged him to be barely adequate. The second year I saw some improvement but still not a world beater. The third year he was improved enough to go undefeated and win a national championship.
Joe understands that he wasn't delivered to the football field as God of all that he surveyed. He understands there is always room for improvement.
Joe is just in his second year as a pro. His first year was pretty much wiped out by a serious leg injury which was painfully rehabilitated.
I suspect that if Joe can stay healthy, he will have a long and illustrious career. If his offensive line's passing game doesn't improve, well, you know.
I didn't watch the halftime show. I understand it was an homage to Los Angeles…okay.
Although I'm sure the commercials were very good, the commercial breaks seemed to go on for a very long time. I usually switched channels to catch a bit of some other programming.
I understand that Joe after an early win in the playoffs responded to a reporter comments indicating he was surprised that the Bengals had won: “Get used to it.”
I suspect he's right. Get used to it.
enough