From the Bleachers

COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

Super Bowl Sunday is over, and the Kansas City Chiefs won the Big Game, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35. The game was hard fought between two evenly matched teams and was, in my opinion, the most exciting championship game since 1986 when Da Bears demolished the New England Patriots 46-10. Once again, I got together with friends and enjoyed the game, the companionship, and the food that makes this day special each year.

While doing some research, I stumbled upon an interesting bit of trivia. After Thanksgiving, more food is consumed on Big Game Sunday than any other day. Patrick Mahomes was once again magical, and was deservedly named the MVP of the game because his team won. Jalen Hurts, the Eagles quarterback, would probably have won the trophy if his team had emerged victorious. Both quarterbacks were magnificent and the coaching was also top notch.

So, how did this game become such a big event? In 1966, there was a merger agreement between the American Football League and the National Football League that said the champion of both leagues would meet to compete for a championship. The game was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game in 1967 and 1968. In 1969, the name of the game changed to the “Super Bowl”.

As the popularity of the game increased and advertisers had to pay exorbitant prices to sponsor the game, the league started to enforce their trademark on the words “Super

Bowl” making people come up with other names, such as Big Game. The league went so far as to send a cease and desist order to a church in Indiana.

Getting back to the non-football part of the day, the season ended on Sunday and within a few days pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Some of my friends and I have probably watched fifty or more of these games together, so championship Sunday gives us the opportunity to reflect on the football season and discuss what we anticipate the upcoming baseball season will look like.

Our host and hostess put together a great meal and we have a few envelopes to make a variety of predictions for what the game will hold. In recent years, a bingo card with various advertisers have been distributed and this year we won a candy bar for winning the game. I’m not sure if I should be proud of that, but you better watch out if you see me entering a bingo competition.

The Bears and Lions weren’t ready to play for all the marbles this year, but I believe both teams are headed in the right direction. Maybe next season, or the season after, they’ll be ready to compete. Stranger things have happened in the wide world of sports.

Marilyn Monroe said, “Keep smiling because life is a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.”

Be kind. Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.