MARYSVILLE — Super Bowl is upon us.
We as informed and in no way oblivious observers react in disbelieving amazement to the glitzy mayhem, salaries and macho vernacular.
The ongoing phenomenon consists of which side is better and ‘deserves’ to win, to the commercials, to continually dwelling in awe on the athletes’ physical strength, speed and audacity.
Audacious is Buffalo beating Miami 44-34 and the then-L.A. Raiders 51-3, only to lose four Super Bowls in a row, beginning with Super Bowl XXV in Tampa to the New York Giants, 20-19.
I talked to Globe readers. I asked them if they felt that football had changed that much and if they had a real definite interest in the outcome of Sunday’s game. Are they going to watch? Will they gather in the family room?
Very few teachers at Liberty Elementary indicated that they wouldn’t watch. There was interest — it’s a good time to call it a football season, and they watch as a family.
The children at Liberty said the Cardinals have to beat the Steelers because the Steelers beat the Seahawks.
Liberty principal Shawn Sparks chose a high score, 28-23 in favor of the Cardinals. He’s not a betting man, but hopes against hope the Cardinals can pull it off.
An informal poll of 44 Marysville residents found an expressed a preference for the Arizona Cardinals by a three-to-one margin. Cardinals supporters commented that “it would take luck and pluck for such to happen in Tampa this Sunday.” As we count down to kickoff, fans expressed interest in seeing a close, well-played game between the league’s top two teams. Only 10 respondents would venture a guess, predicting final scores between 30 (16-14) and 56 (35-21) points.
Pastor Chauncey and Mrs. Thelma Christopherson said they won’t be watching, but his son lives in Phoenix. They’re rooting for the Cardinals.
Dick Pedersen, a fellow volunteer at Liberty Elementary, believes that the memories of Pat Tillman will be an inspiration to the Arizona team. He picked one of the highest-scoring outcomes, adding that he believes Arizona will play a “spirited game.”
As for me, I’m picking the Steelers, 31-17. They have five Super Bowl wins to one loss. They have everything going for them and they know how to win.
But I’m hoping they don’t.
Jack Leatherman is a volunteer at Liberty Elementary and Housing Hope. He taught and coached in Lake Stevens for 26 years.
