Superbowls - Past and Present

It's Superbowl Sunday, and two of my favourite teams are facing off. The benefit of being Canadian is that I can throw my weight behind pretty much any NFL team that catches my fancy; I don't feel obligated to root for my non-existent hometown team. So I've always liked the 49ers and the Packers in the NFC (hating the Cowboys and Giants ), and rooted for the Steelers and the Patriots in that AFC. Again - I'm not sure why. But no matter. Two teams I like are playing. And it's been a TIGHT game so far! (Edit: as I am finishing this up, Green Bay just won.)

I've been reflecting on what I've been doing for the last few Superbowls. I can probably go back over a decade. Let's see...

1999 (Superbowl XXXIII) - I was Hall President of Prairie Hall at U of G and we threw a Superbowl party (thanks Dave K-burg and Leanne!). I don't remember much of the game, but the Broncos won.

2000 (Superbowl XXXIV) - I missed the game as I was travelling back from visiting Dave in Windsor. We'd just gotten back together after a 2 year break, and we were both finishing up our undergrad degrees. I wasn't really into the Titans/Rams match up.

2001 (XXXV) - I don't think I paid too much attention to the game, as I didn't really care about the Ravens or the Giants. That said, I had gone back to Georgetown in order to watch the post-game TV show with Dave. It was the premiere of Survivor Outback!

2002 (XXXVI) - I did watch the Pats win this one, but I don't remember much about what I was up to. I am pretty sure that I watched in my apartment in Guelph as I was finishing up my Master's at that time.

2003 (XXXVII) - I know that the Buccs won. And I know this because we were in Orlando at Walt Disney World. Magic Kingdom was DEAD on Superbowl Sunday, and we had dinner at O'Hana in the Polynesian during the game. I kept sneaking out to check the score. Plus - ALIAS was the post-game show!

2004 (XXXVIII) - I was back living in Georgetown, engaged to Dave. We watched the game at my childhood home with Jen and Greg (will still miss you and love you, Gregger). The pats won. And then, we watched the premiere of Survivor: All Stars.

2005 (XXXIX) - I am sure that I watched the Pats beat the Eagles in our apartment in Ottawa, but I have NO RECOLLECTION of it.

2006 (XL) - This started a trend. We were on vacation! Onboard the Caribbean Princess, the game was broadcast on the HUGE movie screen by the pool. And the Steelers won!

2007 (XLI) - We were actually en route to a vacation in Vegas DURING the game. We were in the air for most of it (it was cheapest to fly Ottawa to Winnipeg (?!?) to Las Vegas) and I checked the score in the 'Peg airport, but the game was over by the time we got to Vegas. No matter, though. I HATE the Mannings, and Peyton won this one with the Colts.

2008 (XLII) - Was the weirdest. We saw this on a MONDAY -- we were in New Zealand. I was rooting for the Pats to have a perfect record, but one of the hated Mannings (a GIANT -boo) had other ideas.

2009 (WLIII) - Teddy was about 2 weeks old, but I watched the Steelers take this one from our house. Woo hoo!

2010 (WLIV) - I had just gone back to work, and was pregnant with Veronica. But I made my tired butt stay up for this one, as I desperately wanted the Saints to beat the Colts. And they did! A highlight was watching Drew Brees and his little boy (who's Teddy's age) celebrating, with the baby wearing head phones. So adorable.

And 2011. A fun pairing, with Green Bay winning. As the game unfolded, I realized that I was pulling for the Steelers, but I am not upset that Rodgers finally has his ring. He had to deal with the Favre back-and-forth for ages, and I am so happy for him.

And now - Glee!