Non-sports fan’s guide to Super Bowl XL

Denise Hazlick Entertainment editor • Profile

OK, so you aren’t the world’s biggest sports fan. You don’t know a nickel set from a flea flicker, and what exactly is a “tight end” and where can I get pictures of it?

But it doesn’t really matter. Super Bowl Sunday, for all intents and purposes, is a national holiday. It has its own recipes. There is clothing marketed just for the day (team specific, so it changes every year — a stroke of merchandising genius). Entertainers turn out in droves to see and be seen at the big show. Some even perform. And why not? Thirty-three of the last 34 Bowls averaged more than a 40 household rating, according to Nielsen Media Research. If Sunday’s game is competitive, the TV audience could be close to 90 million viewers. Take that “American Idol.”

And don’t forget about the parties. There is always a party. You’ve probably been invited to one. There will be guacamole, chicken wings, seven-layer dip and beer. Lots and lots of beer.

Yes, there also will be football, but even if you don’t really like football, you can still enjoy the show. Here are five reasons why you should watch Super Bowl XL (told you it was big-time — they even use Roman numerals).

5. The game.
In Super Bowl XL (that's Roman numerals for 40, not extra large), the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Seattle Seahawks in Detroit's Ford Field. Let me be very, very clear — there will be no objectivity here. I live in Seattle. I am a Seahawks fan. Go, Hawks! This is Seattle's first trip to the Super Bowl in the franchise's 30-year existence. This city is starved for a championship. The last pro sports team to win a title were the NBA's SuperSonics in 1979. Unless you count the Seattle Storm's WNBA championship in 2004, which, frankly, nobody does.

Slide show   Super Bowl playmakers Click to see the players who'll probably make the difference on game day.

The Seahawks had the best record in the NFC this season (13-3) and were powered by a mighty offense, led by the sexiest bald-headed quarterback in the NFL, Matt Hasselbeck (no, he isn't Elisabeth's husband, that's his brother, Tim) and the NFL's Most Valuable Player, running back Shaun Alexander. I like the Hawks' chances.

The Steelers (11-5) earned their ticket to Detroit by beating the NFL's best team, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Denver Broncos in the AFC playoffs. OK, we get it, they're good. The team also has a storied Super Bowl history, winning four NFL titles (1975, '76, '79, '80) before losing Super Bowl XXX in 1996. Yadda, yadda, yadda ... Steel Curtain ... Terry Bradshaw ... Immaculate Reception ... yeah, well, great for them.

Another note of non-objectivity: I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and was raised an Oakland Raiders fan (it would take too long to explain why I am no longer a fan, but let's just say Al Davis is not one of my favorite people). All of my dad's family lives in the Pittsburgh area and are ardent Steelers' fans. I love them all very much, but hate the Steelers. I'll be waiting for my gift basket, cousin Debbie.

These games, more times than not, are one-sided affairs. But every so often, you get a real gem, like New England’s last-minute 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams in the 2002 game (that would be Super Bowl XXXVI). Even last year's game, a 24-21 Patriots' win over the Philadelphia Eagles was pretty good (this one was XXXIX).

I'm not making any predictions, but if I were betting, I'd take the explicably underdog Seahawks. Oh yeah, GO HAWKS!

4. The entertainment spectacle that is the halftime show.
After surviving the national nightmare that was Janet Jackson's 2004 “wardrobe malfunction,” the NFL opted for the family friendly Paul McCartney last year. Sir Paul warmed the hearts of America with “Hey Jude,” “Get Back” and “Drive My Car.”

With this year's game in Motown, you'd expect some old-time Detroit R&B. Well, we're getting R&B, and oh yeah, they are old, but they are not from Detroit. This year's halftime concert will be performed by the Rolling Stones. And while the supergroup's “World's Greatest Rock 'N' Roll Band” days are far, far behind them, they still can rock.

The face value of a Super Bowl ticket is $600. The Rolling Stones are charging $100 for a ticket to their shows. Of course, you can't get tickets to either, unless you want to pay scalper prices. Why not just watch the game and the concert at home for free? Oh yeah, the beer will be cheaper too.

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