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Truly Super
We discussed the Mahomes-Chiefs looming dynasty on Monday. And that's real.
We also discussed Kyle Shanahan's misguided decision in overtime. That's real, too. And if I am a 49ers fan or front office type, I am doubly perplexed that the team did not spend any time in the two weeks leading up to the biggest game of their lives preparing for overtime scenarios.
(Side note: This also reaffirms my position that every NFL team needs a bona fide Madden video game ace on the sidelines or in the coaches box for decisions just like this. And just like the Lions' mismanaged clock at the end — down 10 or 11, kick the field goal as soon as you can top save time and timeouts — of their NFC title game loss. Those are easy gamer calls.)
In fact, the Super conversations after the Chiefs' overtime Super Bowl win are almost everywhere.
But the ripples of the announced TV audience must be discussed.
Check these details released from CBS:
— Most-watched telecast ever with more than 123 million viewers across the bevy of platforms.
— Most-stream broadcast ever.
— More than 202 million folks watched at least some of the Super Bowl.
— More than 120 million viewers on CBS proper, which made it the largest audience for any one network ever.
All of this comes at a time when a lot of folks are worried about the TV revenue streams for major sports leagues.
Yes, the combination of leagues and even various broadcast networks could mean smaller TV bidders, but the streaming appeal of these networks — and the value of CBS charging for Paramount+ or ESPN charging for exclusive content on ESPN+ — becomes undeniable with numbers like these.
And yes, it was a great game with the biggest star in team sports and the Chiefs' super fan who happens to be the most famous celebrity on the planet.
(Side note: It also really points to the fact that the Super Bowl needs a five-city rotation, and Vegas assuredly belongs.)
But the college football expanded playoffs — something I loathe at its core but will undeniably bring huge TV numbers in the aggregate because of so many more playoff games — is going to be a hot ticket.
Major college and NFL football will be fine moving forward.
How major college basketball, the NBA, MLB and now golf find scraps from Football's table will be an interesting intersection, however.
Now what?
Yikes, football is done.
Yes, I know there's the spring thing that the Rock and Moose and some other of the dudes who sound like they were in Flounder and Pinto's pledge class at Delta House have crafted.
Yeah, no.
This now begs the question, with pitchers and catchers reporting later this week, where does your attention go:
— NFL offseason stuff, from the underwear Olympics to free agency to the draft (I love draft; you know this).
— Baseball.
— College hoops.
— NBA.
— Other (and please specify if that's NASCAR or golf or what have you).
It will be a hot minute before I get into baseball. Even though the Dodgers spent like a billion in the offseason and Shohei has been cleared to swing his bat again.
Playoff NBA can be fun, but the grind to the finish is again, yeah, no.
I want to be connected to college basketball, big picture, but I am having a hard time because the regular season is so relatively meaningless for most of the power five schools.
(Side note: Was asked Monday if I thought Auburn was contender or pretender, and I still say contender because of the way they are constructed. They are truly 10 deep. They are built around defense, and both of those things travel come March. Yes, the Tigers got pantsed in Gainesville and Auburn continues to struggle at times in true road games when they are viewed as the opposition's biggest game of the season. Side note on the side note: It's a testament to a lot of those teams like the Dukes and UNCs and others who handle that role well. Last Saturday was the first real stinker AU's had all year, and the Tigers are still in line for a favorable seed unless the wheels fall off.)
Thoughts?
Lookouts below
So here's a preview story as the Lookouts prep to get final approval from the Chattanooga City Council and the Hamilton County Commission in the next 36-or-so hours.
It's from Paschall, who details the looming votes — city votes today; county votes Wednesday — and even forecasts that a 14-month timeline could be doable, according to Lookouts president Rich Mozingo.
That seems quite aggressive considering the demolition and clearing that the foundry site would require.
But hey, it has been done before, and done before by the Hardball Capital folks who own the Lookouts and two other minor-league clubs.
Big picture this morning, my questions center less on the timetable for the stadium and more on what feels like the formality of the approval.
True or false on a Tuesday: True or false, the city and the county approve the partnership this week.
True or false, that would be a big loss for Weston Wamp.
True or false, Bearddawg called it from the very start. (That one is true, friends.)
True or false, you will be pleased for the city and the county to pick up the tab with bonds and such for a nine-figure stadium for a nine-figure private business.
Discuss.
This and that
— So Drake bet $1.15 million on the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl. He walked away Sunday night with a smidgen more than $2.3 million. And then this news makes it even cooler: Drake is pledging to give the whole ball of wax to a fan at an upcoming concert.
— So Pat McAfee and Bill Simmons have beef? Who knew? Not a shortage of self-belief among those two people.
— So after getting his wedges in a wedgie over the weekend, Zach Johnson says he's "done" and the raucous golf event in Phoenix. Here's hoping he also says the same thing about future involvement in the Ryder Cup after his disastrous stint as U.S. captain.
— Yikes, Kansas got trounced last night by Texas Tech. One-sided road losses happen. To everyone.
— You know the rules. Here's Paschall on the UT football coaching staff having a new void to fill.
Today's questions
True or false, it's Tuesday. Morning, Ern.
We got a slew of Lookouts T or Fs above.
True or false, you won money betting on the Super Bowl.
True or false, you back Pat McAfee in his beef with Bill Simmons.
True or false, you watched every second of the Super Bowl.
True or false, you watched it on a platform other than CBS proper.
As for today, Feb. 13, let's review, and guys remember what tomorrow is.
Waylon Jennings died on this day in 2002.
Jerry Springer would have been 80 today.
Coach K is 77 today.
Randy Moss is 47 today.
Rushmore of Super Bowl era WRs. Go.