Super Bowl XLVI has arrived

It is one of the most watched sporting events of the year. It’s about good food, great friends and football. Some people tune in just for brand new commercials or the halftime show. No matter what the reason, most households – for just one day – have their TVs tuned into the Super Bowl.

As a sports fan, this is one of my favorite days of the year. It’s an excuse (like I need one) to be one of the only girls in a room full of guys cheering on their favorite team or players. Plus I can invite all my friends over for a party.

I knew the football match up would be a great one this year. The New England Patriots and the New York Giants proved to be dominating teams as they made their way through the playoffs.

In the end, it was a surprisingly low scoring game. The Patriots’ offense just wasn’t there. I’m not going to make excuses for anyone, but Tom Brady was clearly not at the top of his game, and his tight end Rob Gronkowski was practically useless due to a high ankle sprain.

The Giants peaked at the right time to win this game. Eli Manning proved he could be one of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League. University of Michigan graduate Mario Manningham proved he was an asset to the Giants offense when Manning’s usual receivers Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks were covered by the Patriots defense.

In the end the better team won, but Brady’s Hail Mary into the end zone in the final seconds definitely made the game interesting.

Normally, when the game is over I talk about the new commercials like they were the best thing in the entire world. This year, I didn’t think they were all that great. There were a few memorable ones, but I felt that most of them were lacking. Yes, a few made me chuckle, but if I didn’t enjoy football I would have waited until Monday to watch the ads on Hulu.com.

Now for the part of the night where people are the most indecisive: the halftime show.

I think Madonna was alright. She wasn’t my favorite halftime performance, but honestly, I find the football more exciting.

I believe she did a good job of incorporating songs that every generation tuning in would be able to sing along with. Her performance also included compilations with “LMFAO,” “M.I.A.,” Nicki Minaj and Cee Lo Green.

One of the things that I didn’t quite understand were the wardrobe choices. How did the gladiator theme relate to the music? I couldn’t tell you. Why gold pom pons? I thought they were tacky and could have been left out. Leave the pom pons for the cheerleaders.

If you weren’t watching closely than you probably missed M.I.A. giving an obscene gesture to the cameras and saying an expletive. It has sparked a bit of a controversy, though not quite reaching the heights that the Janet Jackson “wardrobe malfunction” did.

Another super cheesy and completely unnecessary act was the “WORLD PEACE” that concluded the performance. I wasn’t aware that the Super Bowl halftime show was a Miss Universe pageant.

The halftime show may not have been my favorite, the ads may not have resonated with me and the football game may not have reached my expectations, but Super Bowl Sunday still remains one of my favorite days of the year.

[WRITER’S NOTE: ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE FEBRUARY 2012 EDITION OF “THE PULSE”]