Super (Bowl) Tuesday!

Growing up just a few miles from the 49er training camp in Rocklin, CA, it should be no surprise that my Dad was a fan. When the Niners finally made it to the Super Bowl (XVI), my Dad excitedly told me that we'd have a father-daughter party and watch together.

He made his famous chili the day before so that all the flavors would be at perfect potency for Sunday. My job was to prepare the hotdogs, pour the Dorittos into a bowl and chill the pop.

That first game was so much fun and a great experience... Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig... and so many others. A dream team. Of course my Dad had to explain everything to me along the way! As this became a yearly tradition for us, though, I learned to cheer Joe on and thrill each time the "Come-back-kid" pulled off another amazing drive or a "Hail Mary" pass into the end-zone. [Yes, I've now just exhausted my football vocabulary. lol.]

Looking back, those Super Bowl Sundays with my Dad are cherished memories, especially now that he's been gone for 15 years. It was our special family tradition. That family tradition is also one that is distinctly American--"like baseball and apple pie" to use a cliche. As I've learned and adapted more to the Balkan culture, I'm finding that there are still things from my home culture that I cling to, perhaps in a way to keep connection with home: Thanksgiving, 4th of July, the Super Bowl, etc.

Now a breif confession before I continue: Unlike my rabid-Pitsburg-Steelers-fan friends (said with complete love! lol) I really don't care about football. (Come on, don't be shocked!) Though I do enjoy a great game, no matter who's playing. My favorites are those that keep you guessing until the last moment. I remember watching a couple of those with my Dad. We were on pins and needles, heart beating in sheer excitment and fueled by adreneline. If the game's not a true contest, I'm not interested. One year at college the game was so boring we hit the mute button and played cards until the commercials*...

This year some were saying it was a foregone conclusion that the Patriots would win. Some wanted to see a team have the perfect 19-game season. Others wanted to see the Giants trounce the Patriots (something about knowing coaches calls in the begining of the season or something and not deserving a 19-0 record... I dunno). Regardless of all that, it was expected to be a great game and I wanted to watch.

Typically the Super Bowl has been broadcast here live (aka. 12-4AM). So this year I'd planned to stay up and watch at least part of it before recording the rest to watch later when I was awake and coherent. NO SUCH LUCK!! After hoplessly flipping through channels for 20 minutes I had to call my Pittsburg-Steelers-rabid-football-fan-friend to find out that it wasn't even on this year!!!

As it turns out they're broadcasting the game late this afternoon, Tuesday. Too bad I already know who won.... thanks to CNN and my rabid-Pitsburg-Steelers-fan-friend who managed to watch it live (thanks to AFN)... So the Giants won... in the last seconds... well, at least I know it'll be a good game. :) So this is Super Tuesday is also a Super "Bowl" Tuesday for me and you can bet that I'll be watching it. And in a nod to memories with Dad, I even made some chili for the event. :)

Go Niners! ;)

*[Note: my all-time favorite commercial was right after Y2K, for Apple/Mac (shhh, David), and was just a big red light on the screen. The 2001 Space-Odessey-computer-style voice began with,"Hello, Dave...," and then went on to talk about the scare of Y2K and if he'd had a Mac he wouldn't have had that problem... Again, shush, David. ;)]