What color IS it?

Avocado Dress BLUELittle did you know there was a complicated little puzzle within one of Sunday’s Super Bowl 50 commercials.  You would never have guessed it involved avocados.

First, watch the commercial.  Keep your eyes open.  You’ll notice something in passing.

Now that you’ve seen the video once, do you remember the dress on display in the case adjacent Scott Baio?  The “white and gold dress that caused a civil war”?

He said white and gold.  To me it is clearly blue and black.

What color was the dress?

Tell me.

BZ

P.S.

Second favorite commercial:

The rest of the commercials were mostly uninspiring.

What happened to creativity?

Super Bowl 50 FINAL: Broncos 24, Panthers 10

Super Bowl 50 Angles FlyoverWhy Super Bowl 50 instead of Super Bowl L?  Because most persons have no idea that L is the designator of the number 50 — in Roman numerals.

As Peyton Manning said before the game, “I’m still a member of the band.  I’m not the lead singer all the time, but I can still sing a few solos.”

Held this year at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, a town on the very southern tip of the San Francisco Bay and not far from the amusement park Great America, the score at the half is Broncos 13, Panthers 7.

And no, it hasn’t been the wipeout by Carolina that everyone surmised.  In fact, it’s been rather a challenging afternoon for Panthers QB Cam Newton, sacked and tired as he’s been and is.

SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 07: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers fumbles the ball in the first quarter of Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. The ball was recovered by Malik Jackson #97 of the Denver Broncos in the end zone for a touchdown. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – FEBRUARY 07: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers fumbles the ball in the first quarter of Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. The ball was recovered by Malik Jackson #97 of the Denver Broncos in the end zone for a touchdown. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Second Half:

Uh oh.  Panthers kicker missed a field goal.  Inauspicious way to begin the second half.  Cam Newton continues to be sacked by the Broncs.

You have any favorite commercials?  So far, mine is the one involving the Honda Ridgeline singing sheep.  Or “punch it Richard.  Come on, punch it.”

In case you’re curious, BZ is rooting for the Broncos.  I’d like to see 39-year-old Peyton Manning make his last game a great game.

It was the late 4th quarter touchdown by 5’8″ Broncos running back C.J. Anderson that put the game in the bag for the Broncos.  Then the Broncos held the Panthers at about the goal line.

That’s it.  The party was over.  Broncos 24 and Panthers.10.  Gary Kubiak is the first-ever NFL coach to win a Super Bowl having played for the same team.

And Peyton Manning?  Let’s not forget that he was a league record holder as a five-time NFL MVP, a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Indianapolis Colts and now the Denver Broncos, drafted by the Colts in 1998, named to 14 Pro Bowls.

Because of a neck injury he was released by the Colts in 2012.  Some people thought his career was over, but Manning proved them wrong, signing with the Broncos just five days after his release.

During a 2009 Monday Night Football game, Manning received the nickname “The Sheriff” from color commentator Jon Gruden due to his tendency to make audibles prior to the snap.

Peyton Manning is, along with my great Packer QB Brett Favre, one of only two starting quarterbacks in NFL history who have beaten all 32 teams.  He also beat Favre’s then-standing record of 509 career touchdown passes.  Peyton Manning has 200 total wins under his belt in the regular and post-seasons, the most of any player.

This season had its ups and downs for Manning.  Osweiler started, then Peyton came back from his foot injury as a backup to Osweiler, then re-entered the prime QB slot.

Finally: goodbye to Peyton Manning, and “Omaha.”

Peyton Manning Says Good ByeAt 39 you’ve had a spectacular career and you’ve been one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks.  I must admit that I am SO happy for Peyton Manning.  What a GREAT way to end a career for a football player. It simply could not get better than that, the proverbial “fairy tale” ending.  Peyton Manning was the classiest of acts.

I shall miss you sir.

Us old dudes have to represent.

BZ

P.S.

Caroline Panthers coach Ron Rivera in the post-game interview proved that, he too, is a class act and a very gracious and professional man.  Two years ago Rivera was fired from the Houston Texans  Now he and his young team made it to the Super Bowl.  Not too damned bad, sir.

 

Super Bowl XLVIII: Seattle 43, Denver 8

Manning in Super Bowl 48I WILL BE LIVE BLOGGING

Denver Broncos vs Seattle Seahawks.

An absolute beautiful and stunning singing of the National Anthem by American soprano Renee Fleming.

Seattle will kick off, Denver will receive.  It is 49 degrees.

The first play, a snap over Manning’s head by center Ramirez for a Seattle safety of 2 points.  Not a good way to begin.  An omen for Seattle?

Seahawks 4th and 1.  Do they go for it or kick a field goal?

Field goal.  Seattle 5, Denver 0.

Seattle looking good on defense, Denver not so much on offense.

One thought through Peyton Manning’s head: “Is this my last football game?”

Seattle Seahawks now 1st and goal.

Challenge by Broncos: did Wilson actually throw a forward pass?  Referees rule: yes, a forward pass.

Each side has only one more challenge left, this half.

Field goal successful.  Seattle now 8, Denver 0.  First quarter.

A Manning pass now intercepted!  Seattle gets an immediate subsequent first down.

First Quarter ends: Seattle 8, Denver 0.

Seattle within 5 yards of a touchdown now.

Pass interference by Broncos.  First and goal.

Touchdown Seattle.  Seattle 14, Denver 0.  PAT = 15 to 0, Seahawks.

I liked the Tim Tebow commercial.

Screen set up by Manning.  Poorly executed.  Blitz by Seattle.  Now Manning got his 1st down.

Denver finally makes three conversions on 3rd and 1 to go.

Malcolm Smith intercepts Manning, takes it back for a Seahawks touchdown.

Seattle 22, Denver 0!  They are up 22 unopposed points.

Cute VW advertisement.

Seattle strips the ball from the Broncos for a turnover.  Being reviewed by Refs.  Ruled that it’s still Denver’s ball.

Manning just isn’t looking himself; not relaxed.

Thomas catches a longer Manning pass.

Two minute warning.  Another pass caught by Denver.

Manning just overthrew a receiver again.

Broncos desperately need at least ONE score before they go into the locker room at the half.

Broncos can’t even convert on 4th and 2.

Seahawks just let the clock run out on the half — 22 to 0, Seahawks.

Couldn’t care less about Bruno whomever.  Here’s a REAL halftime show:

BZ’s HALFTIME SHOW:

Or:

Because Jesus Just Left Chicago — for obvious reasons:

Yes, Hard Times In the Land of Plenty:

I just love hard, slow, electric blues:

Ever feel like you’re wearing Battleship Chains?

Sometimes my Head’s In Mississippi.  ‘Cause the blues is gots a hold on me.

 SECOND HALF:

TOUCHDOWN SEATTLE ON THE RUNBACK!  29 to 0 on the first play of the second half!

The Seattle Seahawks have now effectively won Super Bowl 48.  29 points are now unrecoverable for the Denver Broncos.

Manning is tired of being down and just threw a bomb.  Bomb was a bust.  Second pass broken up by Seattle.  Running play didn’t even achieve the line of scrimmage.

Seattle calls for the fair catch inside the 10.

Chobani yogurt commercial with Bart the bear was amusing.

His second year in the NFL and 5’11” quarterback Russell Wilson is in the Super Bowl.  Nicht schlecht.

8:00 to go in the 3rd quarter.

Denver receives the punt and runs to their 45.

Nice Kia commercial with Larry Fishburne on a Matrix theme.

Close-up of John Elway in a box.  Not happy.

Demerius Thomas receives a nice pass from Manning, but fumbled, and it is recovered by Seattle.  Seattle takes over 29 to nothing.

And a very nice Budweiser commercial honoring our soldiers.

Vaio laptop battery starting to get a little low.

Easy first down for Seattle, from Wilson to Wilson.

Kearse just spins FREE from TWO Bronco tacklers and picks up a touchdown, now 36 to 0, Seattle.

The Bronco defense is terrible!  The game is one-sided and in the time left, absent a miracle from the heavens, there is nothing left for the Broncos to do.

The Broncos now can’t even gain a yard from a small Manning pass.

Finally, a first down at the Bronco 43.

FINALLY, Demerius Thomas catches a Manning pass, for the first Bronco score!  It’s Seahawks 36, Broncos 8, from a 2-point Bronco conversion — which they desperately needed for a modicum of confidence.

The Jack In The Box Bacon Insider won’t be a popular burger with our Muzzy friends.  Looks like I’ll have to order a number of them.  Yes, I have just injected politics into the Super Bowl.

Who do you think is the MVP of the Super Bowl?

Bronco linebacker Lennon is down.

13:00 left in the 4th quarter.

1st down completion from Wilson to Baldwin.  Seattle stomping on.

Kearse puts Seattle within 10 yards of another touchdown, with his pass completion.

TOUCHDOWN by Baldwin.  Seattle now 43, Denver 8.

I wanted at least a close game, since I don’t much care about the outcome as my Green Bay Packers aren’t present.

This is nothing more than a Seattle blow-out.

Don’t be a guy whose last name ends with -man.  Thurman and Sherman are down.

Ever notice how large Troy Aikman’s hands are?

The Seahawk defense is simply all over the Bronco offense.

Computer telling me I have 15 minutes left on the battery.

24: Live Another Day?  Is Kiefer Sutherland BACK as Jack Bauer on Fox??

Six minutes left in the game.  Time to do some wash or balance your checkbook or clean your fish tank?

This ends Peyton Manning’s Super Bowl, obviously.  But does it end his career?  Does he have another year left in him at age 36?

Literally, there isn’t one position at which the Broncos performed better than the Seahawks.  Not one.

Manny Ramirez’s crappy snap seemed to doom Denver from the start.  And Seattle’s runback in the first play of the second half was another clear indicator.

Russell Wilson just checked out of the game.  Another obvious indicator.

Two minute warning.  Two minutes to delay the clear and obvious.

That the Seattle Seahawks literally kicked the raggedy ass of the Denver Broncos all over the MetLife stadium field in New Jersey, this day, Sunday, February 2nd, the year of Our Lord, 2014.

Russell Wilson’s late father told his son: “why not you?”

And so it was.

BZ