[Editor's note: This was originally posted back in January, but it got lost in the Super Bowl shuffle. Keith did a great job on it though, so we're cycling it back to the front of the site for those of you who missed it.]

You know how sometimes when you hear a one-hit wonder song on the radio or on the jukebox at a bar, it makes you think of a certain time in your life and all of the memories of that time come flooding back?

For some reason, those songs resonate.  They are the songs that everyone knows the words to, even if they are embarrassed to admit it.  The best one-hit wonders activate that mental and emotional time machine in a person.

Sports do the same thing for me.  I tie events in my life to notable sports players and seasons.

I distinctly remember my first two years of middle school being “Fab Five” years.  I wore a Jalen Rose #5 maize jersey, matching shorts, black socks and black Nikes to school at least once a week. By 8^th grade, I had orange and turquoise hair, but not because of Greenday or the Offspring, but because of Dennis Rodman.  I also wished that I could grow a mustache at 13 years old to be more like L.A. Raiders quarterback Jeff Hostetler, whose jersey I also proudly donned.

Ill-conceived fashion choices aside, the feelings and memories generated by sports and music endure as much as any.  Years from now, when I look back at this NFL season, I will remember plenty, but among the most amusing things to reminisce about will be the guys who came out of nowhere to have a great year and then disappeared.  Guys like Victor Cruz or (gasp!) Tim Tebow could qualify if they are unable to replicate their 2011 successes.

In that spirit, here are some of the greatest single-season performances by players who were never able to reach that level of success again in NFL history and a one-hit wonder tune to go along with each.  Nonsensical?  Probably.  Fun?  Absolutely.

Steve Beuerlein – 1999 / Chumbawamba – “Tubthumping”

Stats: 60.1 Comp %, 4,436 Yards, 36 TD, 15 INT, 94.6 rating, 50 sacks

Beuerlein was primarily a backup quarterback until 1998, when he took over for Carolina Panthers quarterback Kerry Collins, who was battling personal problems and ineffectiveness on the field.

Beuerlein finished the 1998 season strong and staked his claim to the starting job in 1999.  That season, he demolished all expectations, helping the Panthers double their win total from the previous season and setting franchise records for passing yards, touchdowns and rating that still stand today.

He was reasonably successful the following year (3730 yards, 19 TD, 18 INT, 79.7 rating), but nowhere near the same as in 1999.

You certainly did get knocked down, Steve.

Why “Tubthumping” for Beuerlein?  Well, he was sacked 50 times in 1999.  So he literally got knocked down and got up again, and no team was able to keep him down, at least that season.

In fact, in the 44 games he started from 1998-2000, he was sacked 156 times.  That’s an average of over 3.5 times per game.  Hey Jay Cutler, if you need a shoulder to cry on, I would call Steve Beuerlein.  He feels your pain.

DeAngelo Williams – 2008 / Aldo Nova – “Fantasy”

Stats: 273 carries, 1,515 rushing yards, 20 total TD

I understand that DeAngelo might have a couple of good years ahead of him.  Carolina certainly hopes so, as they signed him to a 5-year, $43 million contract this past year.  But given the new direction of the offense with Cam Newton at the helm and the time share between Williams and Jonathan Stewart in the backfield, I just don’t see Williams ever having the kind of impact he did in 2008.

"Fantasy" kryponite has a name, and it is DeAngelo Williams.

I chose Canadian rocker Aldo Nova and his 1981 hit “Fantasy” because in that magical 2008 season Williams was the #1 ranked fantasy player in the NFL.  And also because I think “Fantasy” and it’s wicked synth/guitar riff is quite awesome.

Before Rob Dyrdek used a cover of it for his Fantasy Factory show, the song was relegated only to occasional airplay on classic rock stations and my iPod.  Now, we can all sing “life is just a fantasyyy” every time Williams comes off the board in a draft and laugh at the guy who thinks he will sniff his 2008 numbers again (note: I was that guy in 2009 and 2010).

Derek Anderson & Braylon Edwards – 2007 / Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock – “It Takes Two”

Stats:

• Anderson – 3,787 yards, 29 passing TDs, 3 rushing TD, 19 INT, 82.5 rating
  
• Edwards – 80 receptions, 1,289 yards, 16 TD
  

This is it for Carolina Panthers players, I promise, even though Anderson was in Cleveland during his lone great season.  Both of these guys have bounced around after their fantastic (especially by Cleveland Browns standards) 2007 season.  Edwards was recently cut by the 49ers thanks to nagging injuries and inconsistency, and Anderson is toiling away as a backup in Carolina.

That 2007 Browns team overachieved its way to 10 wins, and this QB-WR duo is a big reason why.

Rob Base and D.J. E-Z Rock scored a hit in 1988 with “It Takes Two,” and I attached this to the Anderson-Edwards tandem because I have to believe that without one another they wouldn’t have been able to chalk up numbers like they did in 2007.

I still find it hard to believe that, with all his gifts, Edwards has disappointed so spectacularly in the NFL.  I find it similarly strange that Rob Base and D.J. E-Z Rock never put together another infectious hip-hop club anthem, as “It Takes Two” was undeniably catchy, and in the right venue can still incite a late-80′s dance party.

Otis Armstrong – 1974 / Carl Douglas – “Kung Fu Fighting” 

Stats: 263 carries, 1,407 yards, 9 TD, 405 receiving yards, 3 TD in a 14-game season

Long before the Denver Broncos could just plug and play guys in the backfield and expect 1,000-yard seasons, Armstrong had an amazing season.  In 1974 the season was only 14 games long, meaning Armstrong averaged over 100 yards rushing per game.  Applying his averages to today’s 16 game schedule, Armstrong could have totaled over 2,000 total yards and 14 or 15  TD.

Unfortunately, he had only one other decent year (1976) and it didn’t compare to his 1974 first team all-pro campaign.

I’m going to be honest here; I chose “Kung Fu Fighting” because it is hilarious, and the only tie it has to Otis Armstrong is that both were wreaking havoc on the United States in 1974.  Douglas’ goofy song is one of the top 25 selling singles of all time, which is patently ludicrous, yet funny.

Apologies to Broncos fans and Armstrong aficionados.  I just had to include this somewhere.

David Boston – 2001 / Inner Circle – “Bad Boys”

Stats: 98 receptions, 1,598 yards, 8 TD

David Boston’s career never really took off the way it seemed it would, due to PED use and knee problems.  He was a record-setter at Ohio State, and he seemed to be a rising star at receiver for the Cardinals by the 2001 season.

Of course, looking at his physique it wasn’t surprising when he was suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s steroids policy.

One could argue that his 2000 season was good enough to exclude him from being a one season wonder, but the list of receivers with 1,100-1,200 yard seasons is a very, very long one, while only 14 other receiving seasons have ranked higher than the 1,598 yards Boston posted in 2001.

Inner Circle’s “Bad Boys” has become synonymous with the show Cops, and Boston has had a few run-ins with the bad boys himself.  In addition to the steroid suspension (which was merely an NFL suspension – no charges were filed), Boston has had legal trouble in 2007 with a DUI arrest and in 2011 was accused of beating a woman to the point that she needed stitches.

Meanwhile, his 1997 sparring partner Charles Woodson has been busy being the veteran leader of the 15-1 Green Bay Packers’ defense.

Ickey Woods – 1988 / Toni Basil – “Hey Mickey Ickey”

Stats: 1,265 total yards, 15 touchdowns, 5.3 yards per carry

Ickey Woods was about as famous in southwest Ohio in 1988 as Bo Jackson, Michael Jordan, and Wayne Gretzky (ProStars!) combined.  The man created what might be the worst on-field celebration (although Merton Hanks is close) in history – the “Ickey Shuffle” – and it was celebrated as groundbreaking for the time.

The 6-2, 231 lb. Woods was a force running the ball that year, rolling through defenders and helping lead the Bengals to the Super Bowl as a rookie.  Sadly, the shuffles mostly ended after that, as injuries claimed Ickey’s career after only four seasons (26 total games, including 1988).

For this post, we’re changing Toni Basil’s song to “Hey Ickey,” for obvious reasons.  Plus, the video is a bunch of cheerleaders, which is perfectly fitting an NFL post.

There’s probably not a lot I can say about the video for the song that hasn’t already been said on a VH-1 special or three, but I will say that Toni Basil’s eyes are downright frightening.

Scott Mitchell – 1995 / Timbuk 3 – “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades”

Stats: 4,338 passing yards, 32 TD, 12 INT, 92.3 rating, 4 rushing TD

when you’ve got Barry Sanders on your team, you wouldn’t think putting up big passing numbers would be a likely occurrence, but in 1995 Scott Mitchell put up some massive stats while leading the Detroit Lions to a playoff berth.

Mitchell’s 1995 season set franchise records in touchdown passes and yards (both broken by Matthew Stafford this year), and he was able to get both Herman Moore and Brett Perriman over 100 catches apiece.  The lanky lefty seemed to have the Lions headed to the top of the NFC.

With Mitchell, Sanders, and Moore all 27 or younger, one would have thought the Lions would have the makings of a contender for at least a few years to come.  Unfortunately for them, the stars never aligned, as Mitchell regressed badly and Sanders retired at age 30.

Timbuk 3′s hit is fitting here, because almost everyone thought the Lions were a few defensive pieces away from a Lombardi trophy.  And like the Lions, Timbuk 3 wasn’t able to strike another hit on par with “The Future’s So Bright…”

Mark Carrier – 1989 / OMC – “How Bizarre”

Stats: 86 receptions, 1,422 yards, 9 TD

Mark Carrier was the only real offensive bright spot for the 1989 Bucs, as Vinny Testaverde threw more INTs (22) than TDs (20) and their leading rusher, Lars Tate, had just 589 yards.  Carrier never had more than 66 catches in a season after that, and he only gained 1,000 yards once more (1,002 in 1995).

I certainly didn’t watch many Bucs games in 1989 (I was a kid and they were 5-11 – not exactly priority viewing in Ohio), but I can’t find any answers as to why Carrier was able to put together such a strong season on such a bad offense.

“Bizarre” is exactly the word I would use to describe Carrier’s huge 1989 season.  OMC are from New Zealand, and the tropical setting of their video meshes well with the tropical setting of Tampa, where Carrier rescued Testaverde from what could have been an even worse season.

Sadly, OMC frontman Pauly Fuemana died two years ago, but OMC’s lone hit will live on, reminding me that sports too can be bizarre.

Barry Foster – 1992 / The Verve – “Bittersweet Symphony”

Stats: 390 carries (!), 1,690 rushing yards, 11 TD, 344 receiving yards

Even with Big Ben throwing more, when we think of the Pittsburgh Steelers today most of us still think of smash-mouth football with a nasty streak on the defensive side.  In the early ’90′s, it was much the same, but there was more balance on the offense than most people remember.

Except for 1992, that is.

Barry Foster became a one man wrecking crew that year, running the ball almost 10 times as much as the next back on the roster (Merril Hoge) and accounting for about 43% of the total offensive touches for the team.

It comes as no surprise then that Foster struggled to stay healthy for the rest of his short career and was never able to reach those heights again.  Injuries forced him out of football in 1994, in what was truly a “bittersweet” parting for Steelers fans.  His 1,690 yards still rank first all time in Steelers history.

Christian Okoye – 1989 / EMF – “Unbelievable”

Stats: 370 carries, 1,480 yards, 12 TD

The “Nigerian Nightmare” was a legendary figure amongst kids my age in 1989.

If you had asked me then how many good seasons he had completed I would have guessed somewhere around 19.  I was that enamored by the 253-lb. bruiser.  Of course, as a young Raiders fan, I would have fought to the death over any argument about who was more badass between Okoye and Bo Jackson.

One question I have about Okoye’s 1989 season is how in the hell did he only catch 2 passes all year while carrying 370 times?  That has to be among the strangest football statistics ever.

Okoye fell victim to the same ailment that afflicted Foster – a relentless workload.  He couldn’t really keep his knee healthy and was out of the league just three uneventful seasons after his transcendent 1989 year.

“Unbelievable” is about as iconic a song as Okoye was a football player.  I chose it primarily because of Okoye’s exploits on Nintendo’s Tecmo Super Bowl.  The guy was nearly unstoppable on that game, and I sometimes had to forgo my silver and black allegiances to experience the awesomeness firsthand.

And now, in honor of the Super Bowl coming up, I will list a couple of the most noteworthy Super Bowl performances from guys who have otherwise failed to live up to their big stage moments.

Timmy Smith – Super Bowl XXII / Afro Man – “Because I Got High”

Super Bowl Stats: 22 carries, 204 yards, 2 TD

Rookie Timmy Smith was an unknown back who stepped in for injured starter George Rogers and started the Super Bowl.  He had the good fortune of running behind the “Hogs,” Washington’s dominant offensive line, and as a result he was able to set a Super Bowl record with 204 yards rushing.  For his entire regular season career he only totaled 602 yards, 3 TD and a 3.2 yards per carry average.

Rumors of cocaine abuse surrounded Smith the following year, and after he took an entire season off in 1989, he failed to make an impact in the NFL again, rushing just six times in a single game for Dallas in 1990 before being released.  Smith denied the drug abuse rumors but has certainly had ties to drugs since, as he was convicted on charges of selling cocaine in 2005.  He served two and a half years in prison and was released in 2008.

Afro Man’s hilarious rap “Because I Got High” is probably a little light-hearted for a man who has undergone such personal strife, but it just goes to show what the effects of drugs can be on someone with a promising future.

David Tyree – Super Bowl XLII – Eiffel 65 – “Blue (Da Ba Dee)”

Super Bowl Stats: 3 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD, 1 miraculous helmet catch

In honor of this year’s Super Bowl rematch, I can’t leave out one of the most notorious Super Bowl plays of all time.

Tyree caught a 5-yard touchdown early in the 4th quarter, but it was his miracle “helmet catch” on 3rd-and-11 that kept the Giants’ game winning drive alive.  The win broke New England’s 18-game winning streak and brought the Giants their first Super Bowl win since 1990.

Tyree had only made four catches for 35 yards all season, but he turned in a performance for the ages in the decisive quarter of Super Bowl XLII.

What players will have their brightest moment in the rematch?

Eiffel 65′s “Blue” is the choice here because the Giants are known for, among other things, their blue uniforms.  Plus, I would imagine most people in the New England area really hated that song, and I know they hated the helmet catch, so why not throw the two together?

That’s it for my list.  What single season wonders did I miss?  And what songs would you put with them?  Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Follow me on Twitter @keithmullett

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We’ll have plenty more postgame coverage to come here on MSF. But for now, the Giants are one of the very few franchises in NFL history with four Super Bowl titles, joining the Steelers, 49ers, Cowboys, and Packers.

The point spread was Patriots -3, so obviously the Giants covered it with their 4-point win. The over-under was in the 50s, so anyone who bet the over is screwed.

Over-Under: 55

Halftime Score: Patriots 10 Giants 9 (Current score: Patriots 17, Giants 15)

With the score at the half, New England Patriots 10 NY Giants 9, the Giants still “lead” with the 3 points 12-10. But it feels like the Giants have had their opportunity to be up by a much bigger score. Plus, the Patriots get the ball to start the second half. Crucial 1st drive for both teams. A score and the Giants are suddenly down 8, a stop and the close game continues.

With things opening up in the 2nd half, look for Eli Manning to show why he is the hottest QB in the playoffs right now and the Giants will stay close enough to keep within the 3 points.

The over-under needs 37 points to reach the “over”, highly unlikely at this point, which may explain why the over-under line dropped to 53 an hour before kickoff.

Jerod provided us with critical Super Bowl start time and TV information earlier, but that post left one pressing question unanswered that search engine users may be wondering: Who is playing in the Super Bowl?

The winner gets this pretty trophy!

Who Is Playing In The Super Bowl?

This year, at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, the NFL has decided to pit the two conference champions against each other again.

Here’s a look at who is playing in today’s big game, with each team looking to take home the Vince Lombardi Trophy:

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS vs. NEW YORK GIANTS

The Patriots (15-3) will be representing the American Football Conference, while the Giants (12-7) will be representing the National Football Conference.

Also, you know who else is playing tonight? Rob Gronkowski. We have a post on his injury status for Super Bowl 46 coming soon.

Now that you know who is playing, enjoy the commercials game!

[Editor's note: If this drives lots of search engine traffic, which is clearly the only reason to post this, I'm going to let out a few hearty cackles of surprise. Who wouldn't know what teams are playing in the Super Bowl by now??? I guess we'll find out.]

Now that you’re here, also consider these far more substantial examples of our in-depth and entertaining Super Bowl 46 coverage:

• 46 Trivial Facts About The Super Bowl (Including The Most Interesting Of All-Time)
• Super Bowl 46 Preview and Prediction
• Super Bowl XLVI Predictions By The MSF Team
• 22 Most Intriguing Super Bowl Prop Bets
• Mark Herzlich – The Best Story of Super Bowl 46

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Throughout the day, members of the MSF team will be hanging out here at our Super Bowl XLVI live blog.

We’ll be discussing all things Super Bowl, including and especially the commercials and the Puppy Bowl. Click to see Tyler’s Puppy Bowl 2012 preview. So if you have nothing better to do, or ever if you do, pop in and out and hang out with us.

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Since Midwest Sports Fans started nearly four years ago as a side project at work for me to learn the ins and outs of WordPress and how this weird concept called “SEO” works, it’s only fitting that – inspired by this Deadspin post – I churn out a quick and highly-optimized post like this one today.

Consider a public service to all those poor souls who don’t already know the Super Bowl start time and what channel it will be on.

What Time Does The Super Bowl Start?

So glad you asked!

The Super Bowl start time today is at 6:29 ET.

For those of you in the Central time zone, like me, the Super Bowl starts at 5:29 ET.

For those of you on Mountain Standard Time, the Super Bowl will start at 4:29 ET.

And for those of you who will be watching the Super Bowl from the Pacific time zone, like my dad, you will want to tune in to the Super Bowl at 3:29 ET.

What Channel Is The Super Bowl On?

Such a great and relevant follow-up question! Luckily, you’re Internet searches have delivered you to a post that can provide this very information!

The Super Bowl will be televised on whatever channel the NBC network is on in your local area.

For me here in Dallas, with Time Warner cable, the Super Bowl will be on channel 5. That could very well differ for you. So be sure to check what channel NBC is in your area.

Additionally, if you are not somewhere with a TV, you can watch the Super Bowl online. NBC is streaming it for free. Click for details about NBC streaming the Super Bowl online.

Who Will Be Announcing Super Bowl 46?

Holy guacamole, a bonus question! Maybe this isn’t such an avaricious post after all!

Because the Super Bowl will be televised on NBC, Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth will be announcing it.

You may be wondering why I did not include this question in the title of this post. The answer is simple: so as not to water down the power of the title for SEO purposes. And I am typing this paragraph out to add length to the post that does include the targeted keywords so that the keyword densities are a bit more reasonable. There is no real hard and fast rule on what keyword density should be, but it’s important not to make posts look too optimized. There, I think this should be about enough.

Hey, Super Bowl Sunday is the most gratuitous and gluttonous day in the United States. This post fits right in. Plus, it’s helping people on Super Bowl Sunday!

Thanks for voting and for visiting MSF on this most sportacular of days.

For additional Super Bowl 46 coverage, consider the following links (also added for SEO and user benefit!):

• 46 Trivial Facts About The Super Bowl (Including The Most Interesting Of All-Time)
• Super Bowl 46 Preview and Prediction
• Super Bowl XLVI Predictions By The MSF Team
• 22 Most Intriguing Super Bowl Prop Bets

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While we wait, here are 46 trivial facts about the history of the Super Bowl, including the most interesting Super Bowl fact of all-time at the end.

Early Super Bowl History and Facts

1. The first Super Bowl officially called the “Super Bowl” was Super Bowl III. The first two games were called the “AFL-NFL Championship Game.”

2. According to AFL co-founder and former Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, the name “Super Bowl” was inspired by the Super Ball, a children’s toy sold by Wham-O.

3. The Green Bay Packers embarrassed their AFL opponents in the first two Super Bowls (AFL-NFL Championship Games). The Packers beat the Chiefs 35-10 in Super Bowl I and the Raiders 33-14 in Super Bowl II.

4. Starting with Super Bowl III, the AFL or AFC (the former AFL teams plus the Colts, Steelers, and Browns) won 11 of 13 Super Bowls. The only NFC team to win during that time was the Dallas Cowboys (Super Bowls VI and XII).

All-Time Super Bowl Wins and Records

(Note: click to see MSF’s complete rundown of every team’s all-time Super Bowl record.)

5. In the 1980s and 1990s the NFC won 13 consecutive Super Bowls, from Super Bowl XIX (49ers) through Super Bowl XXXI (Packers).

6. 14 of the 32 NFL teams have never won a Super Bowl: the Bengals, Bills, Browns, Cardinals, Chargers, Eagles, Falcons, Jaguars, Lions, Panthers, Seahawks, Texans, Titans/Oilers, and Vikings. (Technically the franchise that was the Cleveland Browns won Super Bowl XXXV as the Baltimore Ravens, but the NFL agreed that the history and records of the original Browns team would remain in Cleveland even as the franchise moved to Baltimore.)

7. Only 4 of the 32 NFL teams have never played in a Super Bowl: the Browns, Jaguars, Lions, and Texans.

8. The Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings have the distinction of playing in the most Super Bowls without winning one. Both teams have an 0-4 record in the Big Game.

The Minnesota Vikings losing the first of four Super Bowls. (Photo: Walter Iooss Jr./SI)

9. The Bengals and Eagles are the only two other teams to play in multiple Super Bowls without winning. Both are 0-2.

10. The Denver Broncos are the only other team to have lost 4 Super Bowls. The Broncos’ Super Bowl record is 2-4.

11. Despite never winning a Super Bowl, the Browns, Cardinals, Eagles, and Lions all won pre-Super Bowl NFL Championships. The Browns won in 1950, 1954, 1955, and 1964; the Cardinals, when they played in Chicago, won in 1947; the Eagles won in 1948, 1949, and 1960; the Lions won in 1935, 1952, 1953, and 1957.

12. The Browns also won 4 championships in the All-America Football Conference, before that league folded and the NFL swallowed three of its teams in 1949. The Browns won titles in 1946, 1947, 1948, and 1949, the only years the league was in operation.

13. Despite never winning a Super Bowl, the Bills, Chargers, and Oilers (now the Titans) all won pre-Super Bowl AFL Championships. The Bills won in 1964 and 1965; the Chargers won in 1963; the Oilers won in 1960 and 1961.

14. The San Francisco 49ers are the only team to have played in multiple Super Bowls and won every time. The Niners are 5-0 in the Big Game.

15. 4 other teams are undefeated in the Super Bowl. All are 1-0: the Buccaneers, Jets, Ravens, and Saints.

16. The Pittsburgh Steelers have won 6 Super Bowls, the most of any team.

17. The 49ers and Cowboys each have won 5 Super Bowls.

18. The Packers are the only team to have won exactly 4 Super Bowls.

19. The Giants, Patriots, Raiders, and Redskins have each won 3 Super Bowls.

20. The Steelers and Cowboys have made the most Super Bowl appearances with 8 apiece.

21. The Patriots and Broncos have each played in 6 Super Bowls.

22. The 49ers, Packers, Raiders, Redskins, and Dolphins have each played in 5.

Super Bowl History Potpourri

23. The Raiders and Colts are the only teams to relocate and win Super Bowls from both locations. The Oakland Raiders won Super Bowls XI and XV; the Los Angeles Raiders won Super Bowl XVIII. The Baltimore Colts won Super Bowl V; the Indianapolis Colts won Super Bowl XLI.

24. The Colts suffered through the longest drought between Super Bowl wins. 36 years passed between the Baltimore Colts’ victory in Super Bowl V and the Indianapolis Colts’ win in Super Bowl XLI.

25. Joe Montana of the 49ers has been named Super Bowl MVP 3 times, more than any other player.

26. Bart Starr (Packers), Terry Bradshaw (Steelers), and Tom Brady (Patriots) each have been named MVP twice. No one else has won the award more than once.

27. Desmond Howard of the Packers, Super Bowl XXXI, was the only player to win Super Bowl MVP while playing primarily on special teams.

Super Bowl City and Venue History and Facts

28. The Miami area has hosted the most Super Bowls, 10. The first Miami Super Bowl was Super Bowl II, at the Orange Bowl. The most recent was Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium.

29. New Orleans has hosted 9 Super Bowls. The Big Easy will host its tenth next year, putting it in a tie with Miami.

30. The Los Angeles area has hosted 7 Super Bowls, but none since 1993. The area has not been home to an NFL team since the Raiders and Rams left in 1995.

31. The Tampa Bay area has hosted 4 Super Bowls. San Diego and the Phoenix area have hosted 3 each.

32. The Louisiana Superdome has hosted 6 Super Bowls, more than any other venue.

The Louisiana (Mercedes-Benz) Superdome, home of 6 Super Bowls.

33. The Orange Bowl and Sun Life (or Joe Robbie or Pro Player) Stadium have hosted 5 each.

34. The only venues to host a Super Bowl despite never being the home field of an NFL/AFL team were the Rose Bowl—host of Super Bowls XI, XIV, XVII, XXI, and XXVII—and Stanford Stadium, which hosted Super Bowl XIX.

35. The only other venue to host a Super Bowl despite not being the current home of an NFL team was Rice Stadium in Houston. The Oilers played there from 1965-1967 before the Astrodome opened. Rice Stadium hosted Super Bowl VIII in 1974.

36. No team has ever played a Super Bowl in its home stadium, but two have played Super Bowls in their home cities (or metropolitan areas): the Los Angeles Rams lost to the Steelers in Super Bowl XIV at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena; the San Francisco 49ers beat the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX at Stanford Stadium.

Super Bowl Broadcast History and Facts

37. This year’s broadcast will be the 17th on NBC. After tonight, NBC will be tied with CBS for the most Super Bowl broadcasts. CBS gets the game next year.

38. ABC has broadcast 7 Super Bowls. Fox has broadcast 6. The NFL’s current TV deal, which goes through Super Bowl LVII in 2023, does not include ABC, so the next 12 games (including tonight’s game) will rotate between NBC, CBS, and Fox.

39. 22 of the 47 highest rated shows in American television history are Super Bowls.

40. The number of total households watching the Super Bowl has been on an upward trend throughout the game’s history. Last year’s Super Bowl XLV drew 111 million viewers, making it the most watched show in American television history.

41. A 30-second ad during Super Bowl XLVI costs as much as $3.5 million.

Super Bowl Entertainment History and Facts

42. College marching bands provided halftime entertainment at 7 of the first 8 Super Bowls. Some were joined by celebrities. For example, at Super Bowl VIII in Houston, the University of Texas Marching Band accompanied Judy Mallet (Miss Texas 1973), who played the fiddle. Carol Channing joined the Southern University Marching Band for halftime of Super Bowl IV in New Orleans.

43. The Grambling Marching Band and Up With People—the international volunteer and education organization that assembles multi-national casts for musical performances—have each done 4 Super Bowl halftime shows.

Up With People, doing the halftime show at Super Bowl XIV.

44. 5 performers have done the national anthem at two Super Bowls: the Grambling Marching Band (II and IX); the U.S. Air Force Academy Chorale (VI and, joining the other academy choirs, XXXIX); Aaron Neville (XXIV and, with Aretha Franklin and Dr. John, XLV); Billy Joel (XXIII and XLI); and Marlee Matlin, who did the American Sign Language anthem at Super Bowls XXVII and XLI.

45. The pilot episode of The Wonder Years aired on ABC immediately after Super Bowl XXII.

The Most Interesting Super Bowl Fact Ever

46. This final fact technically isn’t about the Super Bowl but about the NFL Championship Game. I’m going to include it anyway, because it’s the most interesting factoid I have.

In 1961 Packers star halfback Paul Hornung nearly missed the NFL Championship Game because he was called up to active duty by the Army. Packers coach Vince Lombardi called President John F. Kennedy asking that he grant leave for Hornung until after the title game.

Kennedy agreed, saying, “Paul Hornung isn’t going to win the war on Sunday, but the football fans of this country deserve the two best teams on the field that day.”

If they do their job correctly, we’ll completely forget about their performance in a matter of hours. But if they mess up, we’ll discuss and replay their error for years.

Sure, there are exceptions. We remember Marvin Gaye at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, and we remember when then Portland Trailblazers coach Maurice Cheeks recorded one of the most remarkable assists of his career.

But the performances that get the most attention—the ones we’ll never be able to erase from our brains—are the ones that go bad.

We’ll never forget Christina Aguilera singing “What so proudly we watched at the twilight’s last gleaming” instead of “O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming,” just like we’ll never forget Roseanne Barr or Carl Lewis, and just like you’ll never forget the high school trumpet player whose nerves, lips, and lungs wouldn’t allow him to complete the anthem before a state tournament basketball game.

Most everyone with a blog or a Twitter account had something to say about Steven Tyler’s shaky rendition of the anthem before the AFC Championship Game, but the Internet barely noticed Kristin Chenoweth’s near-perfect anthem before the NFC Championship Game.

Neil Diamond, as smooth as ever, at Super Bowl XXI. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

While some poor renditions of the national anthem are inexcusable, others are inevitable. “The Star Spangled Banner” is a tricky piece of music. Even good singers—and horn players—struggle with it. Sing through the national anthem right now. Chances are you got stuck at either “last gleaming” (too low) or “of the free” (too high). Or maybe, without meaning to, you switched keys mid-song so that you’d be able to hit all the notes.

Given the degree of difficulty, we should celebrate those performers who deliver impeccable renditions of “The Star Spangled Banner”: performers who hit all the notes cleanly, who stay in key, who enunciate the lyrics, who perform the song with their unique style and voice while remaining faithful to Francis Scott Key’s lyrics and John Stafford Smith’s melody.

With that in mind I’ve compiled 5 great Super Bowl performances of “The Star Spangled Banner” that we should remember.

(Yesterday Jerod previewed this year’s anthem, which will be performed by Kelly Clarkson.)

Before I continue, I should tell you now that I didn’t include Whitney Houston’s anthem from Super Bowl XXV. Whitney’s version of the anthem, which reached the top twenty on the singles charts in 1991, has long been considered the Jahangir Khan of Super Bowl national anthems, but it came from a recording studio. Whitney sang the song live, but she sang into a dead microphone while a recording she had made played over the P.A.

I have no problem with Whitney Houston singing along to a pre-recorded track. A zillion things can go wrong with a live performance in front of tens of millions of television viewers.

Super Bowl XXV came ten days after the Operation Desert Storm phase of the Gulf War began. The anthem needed to be perfect. Whitney’s was. And Whitney Houston is not the only person to have lip-synced “The Star Spangled Banner” before the Super Bowl. Jennifer Hudson mimicked her recording of the anthem before Super Bowl XLIII. For all we know, several other performers have done likewise.

Ever since Super Bowl XXVII, when anthem-singer Garth Brooks threatened to walk out unless NBC played his new music video, the NFL has required performers to submit a recording of the anthem just in case. So every performer has the option of lip-syncing.

For this article, I’m sticking with live performances. Since we are so quick to chastise live performances gone bad, I would like to lift up performers who sang or played the anthem live to a global television audience and nailed it. (From what I can gather, all the anthems below were live, but I wouldn’t be shocked to learn that some of them weren’t. I’m just going with the best evidence I have.)

Neil Diamond, Super Bowl XXI

I may have included this one because I’m incapable of saying an unkind word about Neil Diamond.

Diamond took some liberties with the rhythm and melody and made “The Star Spangled Banner” a Neil Diamond song. (You can see John Elway struggling to sing along at 0:53.) But nothing about his performance was showy or excessive. He didn’t let the tempo drag, and he didn’t linger on any of the high notes.

Neil gave Bill Parcells a pat on the back as he jogged off the field (1:34). I can’t quite make out Parcells’s response. I think he said, “All right.” Make of that what you will.

Billy Joel, Super Bowl XLI

I’ve never been a Billy Joel fan. (I consider “My Life” a guilty pleasure.) But I like what he did with the national anthem before Super Bowl XLI.

He is the sole performer on this list who accompanied himself, and his simple piano arrangement was the perfect complement to his no-frills vocals.

I give him bonus points for playing and singing in the rain. Nice job, Billy.

Dixie Chicks, Super Bowl XXXVII

My knowledge of the Dixie Chicks’ music is limited to the time one of my sister’s college friends had me listen to that “Earl had to die” song and to this rendition of the national anthem.

This may be the cleanest rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” I’ve ever heard, and it’s among the most elegant.

Beyoncé Knowles, Super Bowl XXXVIII

Purists may object to some of Beyoncé’s embellishments, particularly toward the end of the song. But I’m willing to let them slide because everything else about this performance is absolutely stunning.

Houston hosted Super Bowl XXXVIII. It was the city’s first Super Bowl since Super Bowl VIII in 1974. (Charley Pride sang the anthem that year.) Beyoncé was born and raised in Houston. She perfected her craft at St. John’s United Methodist Church downtown. I’m of the belief that, whenever possible, performers at major sporting events should have some connection to the host city.

Then again, not every city has a Beyoncé.

(Speaking of performers who were native to the host city, from what I can tell, Wynton Marsalis’s anthem from Super Bowl XX in New Orleans exists nowhere on the Internet. If you know where I can find it, let me know in the comments.)

Academy Choirs, Super Bowl XXXIX

During halftime of Super Bowl XXXVIII, toward the end of “Rock Your Body,” Justin Timberlake gave the world a glimpse of Janet Jackson’s right breast. The following year, after the deluge of letters from angry parents had subsided, the NFL went out of its way to make sure that nothing about the Super Bowl broadcast would run afoul of the FCC.

So they hired Paul McCartney to do the halftime show. (He had a 3/1 Beatles-to-Wings ratio.) And they enlisted the combined choirs of the United States Service Academies, along with the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, to perform “The Star Spangled Banner.”

They chose wisely.

If it were up to me, national anthem performers would always be ensembles instead of soloists. As I mentioned earlier, “The Star Spangled Banner” is a tricky song for an individual to sing or play. With a band or choir, different players, singers, or sections can carry different parts of the song. Notice below how the men carry the melody at the beginning of the anthem, and the women take over toward the end.

Even by ensemble standards, the Academy Choirs did an extraordinary job. Just about everything about this performance is perfect.

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What another Super Bowl National Anthems do you particularly like that are not included here? Please comment below with links to the video.

The New York Football Giants joined the young NFL in 1925, playing their games at the historic Polo Grounds, and won their first league championship two years later.

Only the Cardinals, Packers, and Bears have been around longer, and only the Packers and Bears have more league titles. (If you count the Browns’ four AAFC titles, you can add them to the list too.)

Though three of the Giants’ seven titles came before World War II, they’ve had plenty of success in the Super Bowl era.

• Super Bowl appearances: 5—1986-87 (XXI), 1990-91 (XXV), 2000-01 (XXXV), 2007-08 (XLII), 2011-12 (XLVI)
• All-time Super Bowl record: 3-1 (pending the result of XLVI)
• NFL Championships before the Super Bowl era: 4—1927, 1934, 1938, 1956

Super Bowl XXV MVP Ottis Anderson

New York Giants Super Bowl Results and MVPs

Super Bowl XXI, New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos

• Date: January 25, 1987
• Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
• Score: Giants 39, Broncos 20
• MVP: Phil Simms, Giants QB

Super Bowl XXV, New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills

• Date: January 27, 1991
• Location: Tampa Stadium, Tampa, California
• Score: Giants 20, Bills 19
• MVP: Ottis Anderson, Giants RB

This game, unfortunately for a certain Buffalo kicker, featured one of the 13 best plays in Super Bowl history.

Super Bowl XXXV, New York Giants vs. Baltimore Ravens

• Date: January 28, 2001
• Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Flordia
• Score: Ravens 34, Giants 7
• MVP: Ray Lewis, Ravens LB

Super Bowl XLII, New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

• Date: February 3, 2008
• Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
• Score: Giants 17, Patriots 14
• MVP: Eli Manning, Giants QB

And this game, of course, also featured one of the 13 best plays in Super Bowl history.

Super Bowl XLVI, New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

• Date: February 5, 2012
• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
• Score: Giants ??, Patriots ??
• MVP: ???

Click to see a breakdown of the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl History.

Things didn’t get much better for the Pats after the AFL-NFL Merger.

In their first 14 seasons in the NFL the Patriots never won a Playoff game. The team’s first Super Bowl appearance was a 46-10 mauling by the storied 1985 Chicago Bears.

In recent years the Patriots fortunes have changed and they have become one of the most successful and consistent teams in football.

• Super Bowl appearances: 7—1985-86 (XX), 1996-97 (XXXI), 2001-02 (XXXVI), 2003-04 (XXXVIII), 2004-05 (XXXIX), 2007-08 (XLII), 2011-12 (XLVI)
• All-time Super Bowl record: 3-3 (pending the result of XLVI)
• AFL Championships before the Super Bowl era: none (played in the 1963 AFL Championship Game)

Tom Brady after Super Bowl XXXVI

New England Patriots Super Bowl Results, Locations, and MVPs

Super Bowl XX, New England Patriots vs. Chicago Bears

• Date: January 26, 1986
• Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Score: Bears 46, Patriots 10
• MVP: Richard Dent, Bears DE

Super Bowl XXXI, New England Patriots vs. Green Bay Packers

• Date: January 26, 1997
• Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Score: Packers 35, Patriots 21
• MVP: Desmond Howard, Packers KR

Super Bowl XXXVI, New England Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams

• Date: February 3, 2002
• Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Score: Patriots 20, Rams 17
• MVP: Tom Brady, Patriots QB

Super Bowl XXXVIII, New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers

• Date: February 1, 2004
• Location: Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
• Score: Patriots 32, Panthers 29
• MVP: Tom Brady, Patriots QB

Super Bowl XXXIX, New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles

• Date: February 6, 2005
• Location: Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
• Score: Patriots 24, Eagles 21
• MVP: Deion Branch, Patriots WR

Super Bowl XLII, New England Patriots vs. New York Giants

• Date: February 3, 2008
• Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
• Score: Giants 17, Patriots 14
• MVP: Eli Manning, Giants QB

(This game, of course, famously featured one of the 13 best plays in Super Bowl history.)

Super Bowl XLVI, New England Patriots vs. New York Giants

• Date: February 5, 2012
• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
• Score: Patriots ??, Giants ??
• MVP: ???

Click to view the New York Giants Super Bowl History.

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That was a time before my children had single-handedly decimated my social life.  I was out at a bar with several buddies, when one of my cronies boasted “I am going to make over $500,000 this year. That puts me in the top 2/10 of 1% of earners in the United States. That makes me truly elite.”

I came to two conclusions that night. First, this guy is a tool.  And second, I now define “truly elite” as the top 2/10 of 1%.

With that in mind…

The Best, “Truly Elite” Plays in Super Bowl History

I am guessing – and please, if your Google skills are better than mine, tell me the exact number in the comments section below – that the Super Bowls, all 45 of them (I feel like I should say “all XLV of them”), have had about 5,500 total plays.

So, to be considered a “truly elite” play, you are talking about the top 2/10 of 1% of all plays ever run in a Super Bowl. The cream of the crop, the top of the heap, the best 13 plays in the history of the Super Bowl.  (Note: best does not always mean good, in fact it could be the opposite, at least in the world through my goggles.)

You may disagree with some of these, so let the banter begin. I think these are the 11 best Super Bowl plays ever, the ones that changed history…

#13. Lynn Swann’s Catch in Super Bowl X

Lynn Swann’s 53-yard catch from Terry Bradshaw.

This play probably shouldn’t be on this list because it had no ultimate effect on the game and was not even part of a drive that resulted in points.  But, man, that was one of the prettiest catches you will ever see.

First catch in the video below, with bonus John Facenda on audio:

#12. Unitas (to Hinton) to Mackey in Super Bowl V

Johnny Unitas’ 75-yard TD pass to John Mackey.

The Cowboys had a 6-0 lead and all the momentum in this one when Unitas’ passed deflected off his intended receiver Eddien Hinton and ended up in the arms of his stud TE, who rumbled 75 yards for the score.

Interestingly, the PAT was blocked, meaning that Jim O’Brien, the Colt kicker, had to redeem himself with a game winning field goal in the final seconds.

#11. Scott Norwood in Super Bowl XXV

Scott Norwood misses a 47-yard game winning field goal.

Yes, I put this play on the list over either of the Adam Vinitieri game winning field goals.  Why?  Because those kicks were the difference between winning and overtime.  This was the difference between winning and losing.

One play. All the marbles. All on Scott Norwood’s right foot. Wide right (a saying that Bobby Bowden then went on to immortalize).

I still feel bad for him.

#10 (3-way Tie). Garo Yepremian, Jackie Smith, Leon Lett

All of these just had to be included. Classic. Priceless.

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#7. Marcus Allen in Super Bowl XVIII

74-yard touchdown run by Marcus Allen in which he starts left and then cuts back and runs by the entire defense. 

This is simply one of the prettiest runs you will ever see.

I would have been raked higher on this list except the fact that the Raiders won 38-9, and the score was already 28-9 when this happened in the 3^rd quarter.

#6. 49ers’ Goalline Stand in Super Bowl XVI

It is almost unfair to include this as a single play, because, really, the entire 4-play, goal-to-go stand was remarkable.  But the 3^rd down swing pass to Charles Alexander, who was stopped a foot short of the goal line by Dan Bunz out in the flat in isolation, is one of the most memorable and important plays in Super Bowl history.

This video chronicles the entire four-down sequence, with John Facenda as a bonus narrator:

#5. David Tyree’s Catch in Super Bowl XLII

Eli Manning’s 32-yard pass to David Tyree. Facing 3^rd and 5 from their own 43 with time running down on the Giants’ Super Bowl hopes, Manning escapes a near certain sack, then throws the ball up to David Tyree (who had 4 catches all season long, AND NONE EVER AGAIN IN HIS CAREER), who somehow secured the ball against his helmet.

Of course, The G-Men went on to win on a Plaxico Burress (pre-gunshot wound) TD, but this is the play everyone remembers:

#4. Kevin Dyson Stopped At The One in Super Bowl XXXIV

What a magical season.

St. Louis came out of nowhere to shock the world in still must be regarded as the most surprising rise from ashes in NFL history.

When they played the Titans for the championship of the world, many people point to Kurt Warner’s 73-yard TD pass to Isaac Bruce in the game’s last two minutes as the highlight of the game, but the “elite” play came from less heralded LB Mike Jones, who stopped Kevin Dyson from scoring on a slant pass as time expired, stopping him one yard short of the end zone and overtime.

Never before, and perhaps never again, has a Super Bowl ended so close to the end zone:

#3. James Harrison’s Pick-6 in Super Bowl XLIII

As with #4, many people would have the game winning TD as the play they point to when remembering Pittsburgh defeating Arizona just three years ago.  And Roethlisberger’s pass to Santonio Holmes (and the entire two-minute drive) were tremendous, but none of it may have been possible without the game changing effort of James Harrison on the last play of the 1^st half.

Sitting on the Pittsburgh 2-yard line with a 1^st and goal with 18-seconds left in the first half, Arizona was poised to take a 14-10 halftime lead when Kurt Warner was picked off by James Harrison. It took him a while to get there, but Harrison made it past the entire Cardinals team to just get over the goal line for a 14-point swing

#2. Montana to Taylor in Super Bowl XXIII

The greatest #2 receiver in the history of NFL football, John Taylor, finally got his due, scoring the game-winning touchdown with only :34 seconds to play.

Joe Montana marched the team 92 yards on the game winning drive, after famously walking into the huddle, pointed at the crowd, and asking “Hey, isn’t that John Candy?”). Of course, Rice was still named the game’s MVP, but this is the play everyone remembers.

#1. John Riggins in Super Bowl XVII

With the Redskins facing 4^th & 1 in the 4^th quarter, trailing the Dolphins 17-13, Joe Gibbs went for it and handed the ball to his horse, John Riggins, who broke a tackle at the line and rumbled 43 yards for the go-ahead (and ultimately winning) score.

Nothing fancy. Just your typical dive play that decides the Super Bowl.

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So, what do you think? What did I miss? What did I get right?

Let the debates begin….

Follow Brian Dilsheimer on Twitter @Dils_Ignite

Since food plays such a crucial role in your experience Sunday, I’ve compiled an assortment of fabulous recipes that are sure to make any Super Bowl party a hit. You may not be able to control the outcome of the game (or other guests), but you can control the quality of your food. If you’re not hosting the party, then send this link to your friend who is. Hopefully they’ll get the hint.

From a chip dip to mouth-watering chicken wings and alcoholic concoctions, I’ve got you covered. Let’s start with a simple recipe and move our way to the more complex. Then, I’ll round out the article with some beverage selections.

1. Sesame Seed & Bulleit Bourbon Shrimp Recipe

This recipe is right up my alley. If presented the option of wings or shrimp, I’ll probably choose shrimp every time. Maybe it’s from all those years frequenting the beach.

Ingredients:

• Jumbo shrimps, peeled and deveined, about 1/2 pound per person
• Bulleit bourbon
• Sesame oil
• Soy sauce
• Sesame seeds

Instructions:

1. Marinate jumbo shrimps in a marinade of equal parts Bulleit bourbon whiskey, sesame oil, and soy sauce for 1 ½ to 2 hours.
2. Grill or broil for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
3. Dip cooked shrimp into marinade, roll in sesame seeds to coat, and return to grill or broiler to cook until seeds are lightly browned, turning once.

Why it works: This is a great recipe to add diversity to your Super Bowl party menu. The jumbo shrimp covered in a Bulleit bourbon-based sesame sauce is a good alternative to the wings and perfect for popping after extra points. And shrimp are more manageable to eat than wings.

2. Addicting Chip Dip Recipe

This is affectionately known as Mrs. Ellonore’s dip in my family after coming to us by way of a friend. Watch out — it’s addicting.

3. Artichoke Bruschetta Recipe

These artichoke hearts are part of a delicious concoction. Photo by Dwight Burdette via Creative Commons 3.0.

This is a fancy name for sinful goodness. I can never just eat one or two (or three!). I’m not a huge fan of artichokes, but this recipe is goooooood.

Super Bowl Sunday has become a holiday of sorts and, according to the USDA, is “the second highest day of food consumption in the United States after Thanksgiving.”

People who have no use for sports and would never consider attending a Stanley Cup party or a Wimbledon party will spend Sunday evening at Super Bowl parties. Churches and community organizations will participate in the “Souper Bowl of Caring” to fight hunger and raise money for local charities. Advertisers save their most clever commercials for the Super Bowl broadcast, which is frequently the most watched television program in a given year.

The Super Bowl is one of America’s most prominent and valuable brands, and it owes its name to a children’s toy manufactured by Wham-O, the company responsible for popularizing the Hula Hoop and Frisbee.

Early History of The Super Bowl

The games we know now as Super Bowls I and II were both called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game when they were played. Back then “Super Bowl” was just a nickname.

When the American Football League (AFL) debuted in 1959, the more established National Football League didn’t consider the upstart AFL a threat. But by the mid 1960s the AFL had a TV deal with NBC and was competing with the NFL for top college players.

Rather than compete with the new league the NFL and commissioner Pete Rozelle explored the possibility of a merger. The two parties agreed to a merger in the summer of 1966, but the merger would not go into effect until 1970.

In the meantime, the AFL and NFL agreed to hold a common draft and to play a joint championship game.

Lamar Hunt: Were it not for him, you'd be planning a party for the 2012 AFC-NFC World Championship Game. (Photo from Wikipedia.)

The Genesis Of The Name “Super Bowl”

During merger meetings Lamar Hunt, owner of the Kansas City Chiefs (formerly the Dallas Texans) and one of the founders of the AFL, referred to the new championship game as the “Super Bowl.” Years later Hunt speculated on the genesis of the name:

My own feeling is that it probably registered in my head because my daughter, Sharron, and my son Lamar Jr. had a children’s toy called a Super Ball, and I probably interchanged the phonetics of “bowl” and “ball.”

In the early 1960s a chemist named Norman Stingley experimented with a synthetic material later known as Zectron®. He compressed the material “under 3,500 pounds of pressure per square inch” and ended up with a tiny ball that could bounce over buildings.

Stingley’s empolyer, the Bettis Rubber Company, expressed no interest in the toy, but Wham-O saw potential in the little bouncy ball. The company introduced the Super Ball in 1965 and sold 7 million that year.

At least a couple of those 7 million Super Balls went to Lamar Hunt’s kids.

They can clear three-story buildings, and they come in every color imaginable. (From SuperBalls.com)

Today we take for granted that “bowl” refers to a football game, usually a post-season or rivalry game. That tradition began when the Rose Bowl opened in 1923. The stadium was modeled after the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut, so named because the stands that circle the field give the stadium a bowl-like shape.

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses had hosted the “Tournament East-West Football Game” since 1902 at Tournament Park. When the Rose Bowl opened in 1923, the Tournament of Roses decided to call its annual college football game the Rose Bowl Game. The success of the Rose Bowl spawned many other college football “bowl” games.

The Sugar, Orange, Cotton, and Sun Bowls all debuted in the 1940s. Many others would follow in the 1940s and 50s. These games were called “bowls,” regardless of whether they were played in bowl-shaped stadiums.

Why Super Bowls Are Numbered

When representatives from the NFL and AFL settled on “Super Bowl” they decided to number the games. They wanted to avoid the confusion that came with having a championship game played in a different calendar year than the regular season. (Is this week’s game the 2011 Super Bowl, because it is the culmination of the 2011 season? Or is it the 2012 Super Bowl, because it will be played in 2012?)

Kansas City Chiefs historian Bob Moore credits the decision to go with Roman numerals instead of the more familiar Arabic numerals (i.e. “XLVI” instead of “46″) to none other than Lamar Hunt. Moore told the AP that Roman numerals make the game seem more important: “It’s much more magisterial.”

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The Green Bay Packers, who had won three of the previous five NFL Championships won the first two AFL-NFL World Championship Games with ease, embarrassing their AFL counterparts. But in the third game, the first officially called the Super Bowl, Joe Namath and the AFL’s New York Jets upset the NFL’s Baltimore Colts 16-7, validating the merger and the new championship game whose name quite possibly derived from the name of a children’s toy fad.

The Super Bowl halftime show really became a major focal point in 1993, when Michael Jackson performed at the Rose Bowl for Super Bowl XXVII. His appearance drew in many viewers that otherwise would not have watched the game. (I know, it is hard to believe that people actually watch something else on when the Super Bowl is on.)

MJ’s performance led to the halftime show being an event to feature top musical acts. This year, Madonna will provide the halftime entertainment, a choice that has be criticized by many, and surely will be watched by hundreds of millions, good or bad.

This countdown of the best and worst Super Bowl halftime shows focuses specifically on the performances of the last decade, when the halftime show became the highly discussed and analyzed spectacle it is today, and it begins in 2002 with Super Bowl XXXVI.

Top Five Super Bowl Halftime Shows

5. Super Bowl XXXIX (2005): Paul McCartney

The game itself saw the New England Patriots defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in a three-point game. McCartney was chosen for the halftime show a year after the infamous “wardrobe malfunction”, which will appear later in the post. He was a very safe choice for the performance and played some of his hits from his time in the Beatles.

His setlist included: “Drive My Car”, “Get Back”, “Live and Let Die”, and “Hey Jude”. Below is a video of his performance of “Hey Jude”.

4. Super Bowl XL (2006): The Rolling Stones

A year after McCartney’s performance, the halftime show featured another not-so-modern act. Well, the Rolling Stones are timeless and Mick Jagger is clearly immortal, so I may be wrong.

They performed on a stage that featured the giant tongue logo that is associated with the band, andthey  even had some of their lyrics censored. (Too bad this whole censoring idea came into play after the reason for the censoring occurred in the first place.)

The setlist included their popular hits “Start Me Up”, “Rough Justice”, and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”.

3. Super Bowl XLI (2007): Prince

The first three in this list are all in chronological order, and all come after the show that MTV sponsored in 2005. Prince was another classic act invited to play the halftime show, and he did not disappoint.

He braved the bad weather in Miami and put on a great show. Prince came out to “We Will Rock You” before he began playing “Let’s Go Crazy”. He finished with the song everyone was waiting to hear, “Purple Rain.”

“Purple Rain” being played in the rain provided one of the greatest songs ever played in a Super Bowl halftime show.

2. Super Bowl XLIII (2009): Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

“The Boss” decided to show up at halftime for Super Bowl XLIII, and it was a great performance. He never disappoints when called upon to perform, and the E Street Band was there to play a great show as well.

The setlist included “Born to Run” and “Glory Days”, and featured the late Clarence Clemons, who played great, as always, on the saxophone.

1. Super Bowl XXXVI (2002): U2

Only a truly great band could upstage Bruce Springsteen, and U2 is that band. They had the honor of playing the halftime during the NFL season that continued on following the 9/11 attacks.

It is tough not to get goosebumps when Bono walks through the crowd to the stage singing “Beautiful Day”. The goosebumps become much more noticeable during the performance of “Where The Streets Have No Name“, as the names of the victims of 9/11 are displayed on a screen above the stage.

For such a honorable event, U2 was the perfect band to perform. (Greatest band of all-time?…)

Bottom 5 Super Bowl Halftime Shows

5. Super Bowl XXXVII (2003): Shania Twain, No Doubt, Sting

Following up U2′s performance the year before was not an easy task for Shania Twain, No Doubt, and Sting. It was not that they played a bad show, it was that the song “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain just does not fit the context of the performance. The NFL viewing crowd is predominantly male, and cannot relate to feeling like a woman.

Sting was brought in to balance out the musical interests of the viewing audience, and his rendition of “Message in a Bottle” ended the performance.

4. Super Bowl XLII (2008): Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers are one of the bands that have stood the test of time. It is not that they had a poor performance, it’s just that they did nothing to overshadow the performances above. It is tough to put “Free Fallin’” above “Hey Jude” or “Purple Rain”.

3. Super Bowl XLIV (2010): The Who

The only reason ”The Who” did not finish last is because the last two performances were just that bad.

The Who played some of their classics in “Baba O’Riley”, ”Who Are You”, and ”Pinball Wizard”, but they are far past their prime as a band. I will even go as far to say that they are past their second prime, or even third if it exists.

“The Who” was another safe choice to perform, but they are just not even close to the same band they were during their heyday.

2. Super Bowl XLV (2011): Black Eyed Peas feat. Slash and Usher

If there was any disagreement about my choices above, everyone should be in agreement about the next two on the list. The second worst of the past decade, and maybe of all-time, came just a year ago. The Black Eyed Peas were invited to perform, perhaps as a way to attract a younger audience, but their show was not impressive at all.

They came out to “I Gotta Feeling” and then had their first guest come out in…Slash! This sounds exciting, but Fergie sang “Sweet Child O’ Mine, which ruined the song and the moment. Usher then came out and sang “OMG” with will.i.am, but it was just another mediocre performance.

1. Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004): Janet Jackson, P. Diddy, Nelly, Kid Rock, and Justin Timberlake

This was the obvious choice for the worst performance of the last decade, and of all-time. MTV was allowed to produce the halftime show for some reason, and now they are banned from producing the halftime show. Wonder why?

The show featured Diddy performing “Diddy” (a self-titled song) to the tune of “Mickey” by Toni Basil. Nelly followed that up with a family-friendly rendition of “Hot in Herre”. Kid Rock then came out and “sang” his hit “Bawitdaba”. This already sounds like a train wreck of a show, but, as we all know, it only got worse.

Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson were performing his song “Rock Your Body”, and it came to the lyric where he says “he will have her naked by the end of the song.” He was only partially lying, as he ripped off a piece of her “shirt” that resulted in it being referred to as “Nipplegate.” The most popular response was to call it a “wardrobe malfunction,” and the cameras quickly zoomed out from the stage.

MTV is no longer allowed to produce a halftime show, and there is now a five-second delay during the performance and when it airs. The best result was that every guy who watched claimed that they caught a glimpse of a half-topless Janet Jackson before the cameras zoomed out.

*The end of this video features the “wardrobe malfunction”, so viewers beware.

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Even if this year’s Super Bowl matchup isn’t as exciting to you as Super Bowls in year’s past, there is still something to look forward to–the party.

Image credit: Matt Ludtke, Getty Images via TheFW.com

Besides the fact that this is one of the biggest events of the year, the Super Bowl party has potential to be the best of the year. In order to reach that level, there are 10 things that every party must have to be totally and completely amazing.

1. Two compelling teams (or a host-provided reason to pay attention)

We are just going to throw this one out this year since the Patriots made it. Irrelevant. But don’t worry friends, there is a light at the end of this tunnel. Setting up a pool or squares or something that allows your guests to lose a little money is always a good idea.

2. Great, football-loving friends

You obviously don’t want to watch the game by yourself. We all know that booing Tom Brady is much more fun when you have friends by your side.

Side note: Inviting “friends” that would rather plunge their eyes out with a fork than watch the game is probably not a good idea.

3. Good snacky food

To be more specific: chips and dip. There is nothing more satisfying than a good tortilla chip loaded with salsa after a big TD.

Also, don’t underestimate the power of a good mini-wiener on a stick.

4. Plenty of seating

This is really a must. If you are going to have 20 people over, you better have 20 good seats.

Nobody wants to be stuck in the back corner or squeezed in next to the sweaty super-fan that stinks from all of his jumping-up-and-down cheering. Yuck.

5. At least a 42” high def TV

This could vary slightly, but it’s obvious you want a good size screen to watch Tom Brady eat turf.

6. An awesome halftime show (or host-provided entertainment)

Once again, we are just going to disregard this one for obvious reasons. This could be a time for second half bets…or 52 card pickup. Anything is better than the scary sight we call Madonna.

7. BEER

Okay, let’s be honest. I don’t think many of us could remember a Super Bowl without it.

It consoles us when the wrong team wins, and celebrates with us when the Patriots lose. It is a memory taker, but a party maker.

A keg would not be out of the question.

8. A plunger

This is not the most pleasant item, but you will be thanking your lucky stars that you have one after crazy super-fan spends the whole halftime in the bathroom after too many wieners on a stick.

9. Red Solo cups

It is a new rule that every party must have these. Thank country music.

10. Surround sound

There is nothing more annoying than someone having a side conversation in the middle of the living room while everyone is trying to watch the game. Make sure it goes loud enough to drown out their convo and gives them the hint to go to the kitchen…or go home.

So now that you know what you need to have at your Super Bowl party, be excited!

I know the whole world was depressed after the Packers loss and the Patriots won, but at least now you have something to look forward to.

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What other elements of a good Super Bowl party do you consider to be must-haves?