Super Bowl 42: Pregame

By Vinnie Iyer
Awful Announcing’s Brian Powell blogs throughout the Super Bowl broadcast. Refresh this page for the latest entries. For more on today’s ads, read Spencer Hall’s live blog. To follow the game action, join Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer for his live blog.
The inactive list. No surprises on this, and Giants fans can relax: Plaxico Burress isn’t on it. He is on the field, however, getting loose with his quarterbacks and receiving mates. Funny, New York got a better ovation when it came on the scene at University of Phoenix Stadium than the mighty, perfect Patriots.
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Alicia Keys. One of the more enjoyable pregame performances I’ve seen. Solid, full of energy, and oh yeah, the girl can sing. And take the stage with old-school class. I need to listen to more of her stuff.
The red carpet. Man, is Ryan Seacrest overexposed. On top of him interviewing the celebs as they walk in, he even played a part in introducing a terrible new single by fellow American Idol personality Paula Abdul. House star Hugh Laurie, Laurence Fishburne, John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson are among the stars, but the coolest? John Krasinski from The Office, a native Bostonian and Patriots fan. That show can’t get back soon enough.
The crowd. I mingled in the concourse a bit before walking up to the 400 section to get a feel for the kinds of patrons at the Super Bowl. Didn’t really get the sense it was a corporate mob. I guess having the big markets of Boston and New York involved are getting some more fortunate “real” fans into the game.
The venue. I really love this stadium. Really modern and a nice hybrid between dome and outdoors. I’m out in the open in the stands and like my view.
Lineup change. Corey Webster has played really well during the playoffs, and Sam Madison has been banged up. Webster will be busy early starting on the right side against the Patriots’ dangerous wide receivers.
The band is on the field. Suddenly, it feels like the Fiesta Bowl in here. Nice rousing performance by the Arizona State University Sun Devils Marching Band. I’m really getting pumped up now.
The introductions. I thought I was at a Charlotte Bobcats game for a moment. But I guess “Stronger” by Kanye West has become the “in” intro music for teams coming out of tunnels or locker rooms. The Giants fly out with plenty of more noise behind them. The Patriots, meanwhile, come out to the opening bars of “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne. This place is downright electric, with the flashbulbs popping in rhythmic glitter. The Pats started this coming out as a team without individual mentions in Super Bowl 36, and it certainly cuts down on pregame time.
The anthem. Another classy performance by American Idol winnier Jordin Sparks following Keys’ fine pregame work. It gave me chills, being my first Super Bowl and listening to the Star Spangled Banner.
Running Down a Dream. There it is, Tom Petty’s classic sports montage song, right after the anthem. They didn’t even wait for the Heartbreakers at halftime.
The coin toss. It keeps getting better. When I see the current Patriots play, it reminds me a lot of the most dominant team I remember: Bill Walsh’s 49ers. Nice touch in honoring Walsh with his family, Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice and Steve Young out there. The Pats need to be feeding off that, too.↵