Super Bowl thoughts and other minutiae

By Tim Cottrell
Sports Writer/Designer
Published: February 1, 2009

College football may be my game (though my sorry picks performance may say otherwise) but I pay attention to other things around me, as well.

So now that we stand about III hours and XLIII minutes from Super Bowl XLIII, I figured I’d offer up a pick for posterity’s sake since a lack of room didn’t allow me to columnize on it this time around.

And I think it basically comes down to this: Unless Kurt Warner plays the game to end all games, I just don’t see the Cards winning.

It’s not because the Steelers are a superior team. Their offense is average at best, and will definitely have a tough time moving on the Cardinals’ defense.

But how in the world a one-dimensional offense like Arizona’s can move the ball consistently against a Pittsburgh defense that has made good, balanced offenses look awful, is beyond me.

The Cards will keep it close, but I think you’ll see Warner throw at least one pick-6 and/or cough up a fumble for a touchdown in this one. And now that Willie Parker is healthy, the Steelers should be able to chew up clock and keep the ball away from the Cardinals when it counts.

The pick: Steelers XXIV, Cardinals XIV

In other news, I mentioned I was in a wedding this weekend in Birmingham. Well something quite interesting happened Friday night.

In between the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, I walked over to use the bathroom at the Sheraton Hotel at the BJCC. A friend of mine also in the wedding was just standing there, because the Secret Service hadn’t allowed him in the bathroom.

So my friend and I stood there a minute or two, and out from the bathroom steps none other than this guy.

And not only that, but he immediately waved at us, walked the 50 or 60 feet away that we were as though he knew we were there, said “How are you gentlemen doing this evening?“ and shook both our hands.

I’m pretty sure I managed to get out “It’s a pleasure to meet you President Carter” but I was pretty starstruck so I may have imagined it.

But I have to say, that was pretty cool.

In slightly smaller celebrity news, I also had the opportunity to meet former Auburn center Joe Cope at the wedding. Clearly well down from his playing weight, Cope was a nice guy.

I had forgotten that the Sunday staff has a date with IHOP tonight, so I have to delay the special post another day. It will be here tomorrow night or Tuesday night. If it’s not I’ll just give up on it.

Enjoy the Super Bowl.