Post by Bevo on Jan 24, 2019 15:50:43 GMT
I think my string is about to end.
I have watched every play of 52 consecutive Super Bowls. Never missed a one.
The first couple were just me and my Dad, watching on our 24" B&W TV. Then, we upgraded to a color model in time for the Big-Mouthed Namath's take down of my beloved Colts.
The Vikings were my favorite team as a kid... so, I suffered through quite a number of horrible losses.. in color, at least!
I watched Super Bowls at parties with friends when I was in High School. In bars, with friends in college... or, maybe in the dorm common area. That was a hard one.. watching the hated Steelers beat the Cowboys. Ugh.
After I started working and got married, I bet the MOST ever on a single game for the 1984 season (1985 SB).... Montana over Marino. I let my mouth over-load my ass (imagine that!!). Told ALL the people I worked with that I would take ANY BET, straight-up.. NO POINTS... on the 49ers. I had no idea how much those chemical plant workers liked to bet. Ended up with a bit more than $1500 wagered on that game. (My wife would have KILLED me if she knew just how much it was!) Then, I won $1500 on the first quarter score (7-3) on a $100 per square pot.. ALL my bets were covered and I relaxed and LOVED That game more than any other I've ever watched. Of course, the next week... my car broke down... $1500 to repair. But then, a week later, Toyota told me the engine repair was covered by warranty, so I "won" that money all over AGAIN! :-) Good times!
Starting with the '89 game, we began hosting Super Bowl parties at our house. It was another Montana victory... this time, very few bets... and, a MUCH TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT game against the Bengals. We did this while living in Texas, and all the time we lived in Louisiana... and, for many years after we moved to Kentucky. I always loved how, after the game, my fridge would be filled with about 15 odd bottles of different beer. Everyone would bring the kind they liked, and then leave a few.
We got out of the habit of hosting parties when we started attending mega-parties (hosted by Ceasar's) in Vegas. The first was in 2007, Colts over the Bears. That was a blast. I was wearing a Peyton Manning Jersey, and was CHEERING when the Bear's Devin Hester ran the opening kick back for a TD. I had placed a nice wager on the Bears scoring a Special Team TD. Bears were the best, Colts were the WORST in kick coverage. It seemed like easy money. People looked at me weirdly for a few moments, then.... figured it out. I mean, it's Vegas!!!
We were there again the next year, when the Giants beat the Pats. That was sweet! Who was the guy that caught a floating duck from Manning on his facemask? Was that Bavaro?
We were also there the next year, when the Cardinals ALMOST beat the Steelers... Oh man, I was SO CLOSE to winning a boat load of money on that one. The Cards did cover the spread. So, it wasn't ALL bad, but... could have been a LOT better.
We skipped Vegas for a few years after that... but, went back two years ago.. for the Falcon collapse against Brady. Ugh... Another game where, I was ABOUT to win a crapload of money. I still broke even, thanks to a 9-1 record on my prop bets. But, I had bet the Falcons with points, straight up, and GIVING POINTS... (3 & 7) for huge odds. It looked SO good at half-time.... until....
Last year, we watched the Eagles beat the Pats while on a cruise ship in the Caribbean with my wife, son, DIL, and grand-daughter. I won some unexpected money on the Eagles (from my pre-season Calcutta purchase of the NFL East Division) and the Pats LOST.. always a good time. :-) I don't see how I could ever top that one... maybe, this is a good time to end the string?
For 52 years, I have loved the Super Bowl and always made it a fun event for us and/or friends....
This year? I really couldn't care less who wins and I don't plan on watching it. I haven't listened to a moment of hype. I hate the entire game.
Maybe... another week will change my outlook. But, I doubt it. We're talking about having a "game night" with family and friends. Maybe, the SB will be on, in the background. But, NONE of us have any interest in watching it.
I guess.... 52 years is a pretty good run?
