Super stats

Dear Congressman,

Last night was again the annual American ritual of the National Football League's over-hyped finale, affectionately known as the Superbowl. No doubt you were in some brownstone in Georgetown with your fellow congressman devouring large quantities of chicken wings and lager style beer. The outcome was not to any of our likings, with the Steelers winning their record sixth title, but the game is always an event, bring people together to yell, argue, laugh, and generally have fun.

In fact, Roger McShane in Slate.com's today's papers kindly gave us a list of "interesting Superbowl statistics:

• "More Americans watched the Super Bowl last year than voted in the 2004 presidential election."

This makes sense to me, as kids, convicted felons, non-resident aliens, and apathetic sports fans all watch the game while giving election polling places a wide berth.

• "The 17 most-watched programs in TV history have all been Super Bowl games."

Make that the 17 most-watched programs in "American" TV history. Plus, you have to watch it live, because every media source from newspapers to radio to TV are constantly talking about the final score within ten seconds of the end.

• "Last year, 30 percent of Americans chose pro football as their favorite sport, compared to 15 percent for baseball and just 4 percent for professional basketball."

Well... duh!!!! Most American's fired baseball back in 1994 when the went on strike (aka: millionaires fighting with billionaires) and professional basketball has Stephon Marbury and had Latrell Sprewell....

• Potential Hall of Famer Kurt Warner "has only three seasons with 16 starts."

And has won a Superbowl while helping his team get to two others. And Joe Namath only had one season where he started 16 games. (of course the season was only 14 games back then and he played 16 in his Superbowl year)

• Cardinal defensive tackle Darnell Docket has scheduled a 10-hour appointment on Tuesday in order to get a tattoo commemorating the game.

I bet he cancels it this morning.....

• "Gen. David H. Petraeus, the head of United States Central Command, will toss the coin before the game."

This guy is tougher than most of the football players on the field. In 1991 when he was a lt. colonel he was accidentally shot in the chest during a training exercise. He got released early from the hospital a few days after surgery when he demonstrated he was fit for duty by doing fifty push-ups.

• Five teams have never been to a Super Bowl. They are Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, and New Orleans.

Makes me feel better about being a Bengals fan. Of all the teams listed, Detroit is the furthest from the big game after the first 0-16 season by a team .... ever....