To say that the pregame leading up to Super Bowl LIII (53) was more entertaining than the game itself would seem a fair assessment. The game itself was already a bit short on drama. Even Brady haters were not falling over themselves to root for the Rams. Considering the allure of the #1 matchup was the oldest coach versus the youngest ever in a Super Bowl, it seems like we were already grasping at straws. This said, there was still some entertainment value, and it wasn’t a total wash.
Before they even got to the YouTube Pregame Show, the NFL and CBS had already hit it out of the park, shining a bright light on Atlanta’s rich cultural history. The city that was home to Martin Luther King Jr. was raised high on the international pedestal for all to see. In light of this being Black History Month and despite the questions still surrounding the Colin Kaepernick deal, the NFL should be applauded for letting so much of the Atlanta experience surrounding this year’s Super Bowl be about the significant part this city played in black history.
The opening for the game, featuring Peyton Manning and an always hilarious John Malkovich, was not the most inspirational Super Bowl opening we’ve ever seen but entertaining just the same. One of the best commercials was the black-tie event featuring all the NFL players fighting for a loose ball that fell off the ceremonial cake, although the people at the party I was attending didn’t know what they were advertising.
The singing of “America The Beautiful” by Chloe x Halle was beautiful. The rendition of the National Anthem by Gladys Knight, also an Atlanta, Georgia native, was strong. While we’re talking about the entertainment, the halftime show was scattered and never seemed to find a stride. Adam Levine and Maroon 5 are good, but if you found yourself wondering why he was stripping and how far it would go, you were not alone.
As for the rest of the particulars on Super Bowl LIII (53), Atlanta put her best foot forward and shone for all to see. Buccaneer fans would be forgiven for having gone to sleep last night wondering when they might get a chance to go visit Atlanta and that beautiful new stadium, to see the Buccaneers beat the Falcons.
With LIIII (54) next year in Miami and LV (55) in Tampa in 2021, those stories remain to be written. As for this year’s chapter, it was inspiring at its best. A bit short on drama but deep on content. Now get the Buccaneers into next year’s Super Bowl, and we guarantee a great game that far exceeds the pregame, at least here in Tampa Bay.
