Free Republic

Super Bowl LVIII: Live Thread Your home for all things Fool's Ball! In Memoriam Danny Lee (BENDER2)

When any television viewer would tune in for a Kansas City Chiefs game, several times a game the TV cameras would pan to pop star Taylor Swift in some secure luxury suite. Movie stars and music legends being shown on the TV screen are nothing new. Who hasn’t viewed Jack Nicholson for any home Los Angeles Lakers game? Or anytime an alumnus such as Peyton Manning from a college program would be seen roaming the sidelines during a big game? Or some famous somebody in sports, movies, music, or politics sitting in the crowd that the network has identified?

This coming Sunday, at the most widely viewed sporting event in America, the Super Bowl, the National Football League will feature the singing of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," the song first known as the "Negro national anthem" and now known as the "black national anthem." In order to ensure that those present at the game and the more than 100 million people watching on television cannot avoid hearing it, the "black national anthem" will, according to the schedule I have seen, be played after the actual national anthem of the United States. If that is the case, this will...

The Super Bowl always draws crowds to betting windows and online sports books, but some of the most talked about action this year will leave a blank space in Las Vegas. With in-person sports books limited to action on the field, Adam Burns, the sports book manager for BetOnline.ag, found himself capitalizing on the moment by preparing odds for a flood of unusual wagers: What sort of outfit will Taylor Swift wear to the game on Sunday? Will the CBS broadcast show her holding a beverage or giving high-fives? Will she cry if the Kansas City Chiefs lose to the...

Patrick Mahomes Sr., the dad of superstar Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and a former Mets pitcher, was arrested Saturday in Tyler, Texas, on a charge of DWI for the third time or more, according to jail records. Mahomes Sr., who had been in attendance for his son’s playoff games this year, was arrested eight days before the younger Mahomes is set to play in Super Bowl 2024 against the 49ers in Las Vegas on Feb. 11. In 2018, Mahomes Sr. received his second DWI charge and he served 40 days in jail on weekends in 2019 and 2020. Mahomes Sr.,...

Nevertheless, the 49ers seemed to play the underdog card with a social media post Friday. The tweet featured the phrase “against all odds” above a highlight montage from the NFC title game.

The NFL has announced that for the fourth year in a row, the so-called black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” will be performed at the Super Bowl. It appears we’ve come full circle since the 2004 Democratic National Convention when then-Illinois State Sen. Barack Obama said: “Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us … there’s not a liberal America and a conservative America — there’s the United States of America. There’s not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there’s the United States of America. …...

The 2023 New York Jets could be encapsulated in two photos: The hopeful beginning, when the flag-waving Aaron Rodgers led his new teammates onto the MetLife Stadium field before the opener, and moments later, when the presumed franchise savior was helped off the turf with a season-ending Achilles injury. But in speaking to 30 sources in and around the team, The Athletic is revealing deeper issues that further sabotaged the Jets' efforts to survive without Rodgers under center. 'It's just such a f***ing mess,' one Jets coach told The Athletic. 'Something has to change.'

Rob Gronkowski asked a very embarrassing question during FOX’s halftime show on Sunday. Gronk was part of FOX’s crew covering the pregame, halftime and postgame shows for the NFC Championship Game between the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. During halftime, the rock band Journey, which was founded in San Francisco, put on a performance. According to FOX’s other personalities, Gronk asked “who’s Journey?” upon learning they were putting on the halftime show. Howie Long indicated that despite not knowing the name of the band, Gronk claimed to at least recognize the song...

Lions almost made it.

Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs have made it to the Super Bowl - meaning Taylor Swift will make a mad dash from Tokyo to Las Vegas to watch her boyfriend battle for football's ultimate prize on February 11. America's most famous couple kissed on the field at the M&T Bank Stadium in the aftermath of a magnificent victory for the Chiefs And when he got on stage and took the mic, Kelce was euphoric - channeling the Beastie Boys by shouting: 'You've got to fight for your right to party!'. Swift plays four nights of her blockbuster Eras...

Fool's Ball: Conference Championships Your home for all things Fool's Ball! In Memoriam Danny Lee (BENDER2)

With the presidential primary season now underway, the season of political campaign ads is also in full swing. On Sunday, some football fans in Pennsylvania watching the NFL playoff game between the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers will see a minute-long ad attacking Donald Trump as he seeks a third Republican nomination for president. Made by VoteVets, a progressive political action committee that advocates for veterans and military families, the ad criticizes Trump for past comments where he disparaged veterans and soldiers. The ad includes quotes attributed to Trump where he called fallen soldiers “losers” and “suckers.” The...

The NFL will host the third annual A Night of Pride with GLAAD presented by Smirnoff during Super Bowl week in Las Vegas. The NFL is committed to continuing efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion as they support the LGBTQ+ community through their Night of Pride. The league will host the third annual “A Night of Pride with GLAAD” presented by Smirnoff during Super Bowl week in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Feb. 7. The event will feature a special live performance presented by Smartfood with singer-songwriter VINCINT. NFL To Host Third Annual Pride Night In a release from NFL communications...

We have our theory as to how we got here: The relative incompetence of the NFL refs combined with the league's sudden embracing of gambling has created skepticism about the legitimacy of game results. In other words, some NFL fans are now habitually accusing the league of "rigging" games - especially, of course, when that fan either loses by way of his team's failure, or loses a bet. And now comes the AFC Championship Game, with the selection of the officiating crew for the Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens showdown ... and a respected NFL analyst floating the idea...

Bud Light is staging a comeback with the launch of a flashy new Super Bowl LVIII ad after the beleaguered brand suffered huge sales losses in the wake of its disastrous marking campaign with Dylan Mulvaney. The beer brand, who is the official beer sponsor of the NFL, released a teaser of the commercial on Thursday which it said will expand its 'Easy to Drink, Easy to Enjoy' platform. 'The brand is back with a humorous spot introducing a new character to the Bud Light universe and some familiar faces from the platforms the brand has been passionate about for...

Football is one of the few sports that Americans can enjoy that has no presence in June, which frees the NFL from turning away fans who do not want the LGBT agenda shoved in their face. Given that the LGBT lobby has claimed the entire month for itself, other sports that operate throughout those 30 days might feel pressure to make something of “pride” month -- and they do. The NFL, an August to February sport, could easily avoid the negative feedback from fans but has decided to go another route. The league announced Monday it will host an event...

The NFL is doing its part to contribute to the current climate of racial divisiveness by once again featuring a rendition of the “Black National Anthem” at next month’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas. “Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, activist and acclaimed actress Andra Day will sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Initially known for her 2016 Grammy-nominated behemoth, “Rise Up,” which amassed over 1 billion streams and an RIAA triple-platinum certification, Day has performed alongside numerous global artists and stars,” the league said in a press release. Country music superstar Reba McEntire will sing the real national anthem the league also...

In a groundbreaking move for the New England Patriots, Jerod Mayo steps in as the team's first black head coach, bringing with him a fresh perspective on race and its role in the sport. Mayo's recent statements about actively confronting racism and acknowledging the significance of race in the coaching realm have sparked considerable conversation, especially against the backdrop of contrasting views from other NFL coaches. Emphasizing the importance of his role, Mayo stated, “You better believe being the first black head coach here in New England means a lot to me. I do see color because I believe if...

Fool's Ball: Divisional Round Your home for all things Fool's Ball! In Memoriam Danny Lee (BENDER2)