Featured, National - by Luis Paez-Pumar on Thursday, February 4, 2010 13:00 - 16 Comments - 470 views
Super Bowl XLIV (that’s 44, for the Roman-numeral deficient) will be this Sunday at 6:30, in case you forgot about the most-watched event of the year. Commercials, the halftime show — this year’s performers, The Who, may need oxygen masks afterwards — and of course, that little game to decide who will be NFL champions. The Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints will face off in the battle of this year’s “almost” undefeated teams, with quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Drew Brees leading the charge in what is sure to be a high-scoring, exciting game. Before I get to the game itself, however, lets figure out where you’re going to watch this thing:
MJ Armstrong’s, 329 First Ave. (19th St.)
If you’ve ever left your dorm, there’s a high probability you’ve been to MJ’s before. Two floors, plenty of TVs, and an enticing 50-cent wings deal are sure to attract a lot of people on Sunday, so they recommend you set up an advance reservation ($25 minimum per person for advance reservations). Other deals include $4 pints and $12 pitchers (domestic).
Chelsea Brewing Company, Pier 59, Chelsea Piers (18th St. and West Side Highway)
CBC is a rather fancy place to watch the game, but they have one of the better deals I’ve found: $25 game ticket gets you unlimited beer (or wine, but ew who drinks wine during the Super Bowl?) and a free halftime buffet. You probably won’t want to trek all the way out to Chelsea Piers (oh the tragedy!), but if you do, you could be pleasantly surprised.
Dewey’s Flatiron, 210 Fifth Avenue (between 25th and 26th St.)
If you’re looking to just get really drunk and eat cheap wings on Sunday, this is your place. Shell out $30 for the all-you-can-drink domestic beer bonanza, then buy as many 25-cent wings as your stomach can hold (they’re not the best in the world, but for 25-cents I’d eat you). It’s a bit farther from “campus” than the other two bars above, but c’mon, $30 all-you-can-drink for around 4 hours? Yes, please.
Your friend’s place
Don’t underestimate the allure of not having drunken Indianapolites yelling in your ear, or of hearing WHO DAT repeated by a plastered N’awlins fan.
Now that you’re good to go on where you’re going watch (and what you’re going to drink), let’s talk about the game itself. Indy comes in favored by 4 points, but the recent injury to Dwight Freeney (their second best player) will definitely help New Orleans. Both defenses play fast, but the Colts play more of a containment defense while the Saints are aggressive. This game will be all about offenses, however, with two of the three best quarterbacks in the league commanding the offenses (Tom Brady, I miss you). Manning and Brees combined for a crapload of yards and TDs this year (crapload = 8,888 and 67, respectively) and each team has a weapon at wide receiver (Reggie Wayne and Marques Colston both give opposing cornerbacks nightmares). I think the difference in this game will be the league’s ultimate X factor, Reggie Bush. If Bush has one of his infamous disappearing-act games, I would bet (if gambling were legal…) my house on the Colts. However, he has come into his own this year as a valuable asset for New Orleans and I believe it is time for him to validate his #2 selection in the draft with an impact performance on Sunday. That is why I predict Reggie Bush as the Super Bowl XLIV Most Valuable Player, and the Saints to win, 31-28. I sure hope I’m right, because the city of New Orleans needs this victory.
(Image via)
16 Comments
Kenneth Hsu
I think Freeney is better than Wayne because Peyton is TOO good at spreading the field. Don’t get me wrong, Wayne is a close #3, but Freeney really makes that D-Line go (Mathis is great, but without Freeney, they’re going to have problems getting to Brees). Supposedly though, Freeney is feeling much better which scares me and my prediction.
I was thinking something like a KRTD and a receiving TD, at key moments of the game. I could see something like Indy scoring to tie, then Reggie immediately returning the next kick for a TD. We’ll see, however.
(YOU’RE WELCOME)
I’m going to make the NYU Local meeting smack in the middle of the game.
Just joshin’. I actually really enjoy the Super Bowl because who doesn’t like pizza and beer?
Michael Wolf
The Colts got Devin Hester’d (DA U!!!) last time they went to a Super Bowl and will not let it happen again with Reggie Bush. Saints have learned to utilize Bush as a KR/PR because he is more of an athlete than a RB. Saints should learn a lesson or two from Madden and use him as a slot receiver (87 ovr rating).
It’s exciting to see the two #1 seeds play in the Super Bowl and the two best (NOT Brady) QBs in the NFL battle it out.
Surekha Ratnatunga
GO MANCHESTER UNITED!
Oh wait, wrong “football.” Nevermind. But yeah, I’m with Jess – any excuse to drink beer and chomp on wings.
Charlie Eisenhood
I think the Colts are overrated. Yea, yea, Peyton is the best, but the rest of the Colts are not. I’ve got money on Saints (-9 1/2). The Saints for sure played the harder schedule this season. They had one bad loss to the Cowboys (not a bad team) and then rolled over once they clinched the division.
On the other hand the Colts dropped to the Jets (!) and then responded by getting smacked down by the Bills (!!).
I think we’re going to be surprised by the Saints’ start to finish dominance in this game.
WHAT THE FUCK IS A SUPER BOWL???
Michael Wolf
To Charlie:
The Colts have not lost a game all year with their starters finishing the game.
The Saints should have lost to the Bucs, barring a kicker missing a chip shot, and were dominated the whole game. The Cowboys dominated them the whole game. If Favre, did what 99.9% of viewers expected him to do, and ran 5 yards and then out of bounds, there is a great chance that they are not even in the Super Bowl.
They are both the #1 seeds, but you can’t call a team overrated that has only lost 2 games for not playing their starters.
Eh, I think both teams rolled over for their last 2 losses, so who cares? They both played one dominating game in the playoffs and one scary one (although for the Saints, it was pants-shittingly terrifying).
I’m sticking by my prediction.
Also, Tony Dungy picked the Colts in a blowout. Further proof Belichick > Dungy.
Charlie Eisenhood
@ Michael: You make fair points. But you are wrong when you say I can’t call them overrated. I can! And I will!
Michael Wolf
@ Charlie: Well played, Sir… well played.
@Cait:
Sunny Roy
how can you not have bar none on here as a place to go? its the biggest saints bar in the city…
Because I figured fans of the teams know where to go, this is more of a list for people wanting to enjoy the game. Example: You’re a Saints fan, and you know about Bar None. =)
Henry Chan
@Jess: HOLY SHIT. How does that even work?
VINDICATION
Dwight Freeney is the second best player on the Colts? Are Peyton and Reggie Wayne both considered #1?
And I love Reggie, but I think he would need two punt returns for TDs to get MVP over either QB.
(I LOVE TALKING SPORTS ON NYU LOCAL!)