TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - I will never forget my first Super Bowl experience. The Oakland Raiders were facing off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The following year there would be an incident at halftime involving Janet Jackson and it was the last Super Bowl before the New England Patriots’ three-year streak. My brother and I jumped around our room as we rooted for the Raiders. In the end, they won, and although it wasn’t a very exciting game, it was my first Super Bowl and the most memorable.
I have watched every Super Bowl since. Whether I did or didn’t follow the season, my team wasn’t playing, or even when I was at Marine Combat Training, I sat to the great American tradition and watched the gladiators collide in the coliseum.
This year, the Denver Broncos, led by Peyton Manning, are scheduled to face off against the Seattle Seahawks, and Marines across the United States, as well as some Marines overseas, will be glued to their screens. It’s uncertain who will win but every Marine has their own opinion.
Denver Broncos
The Manning name is infamous in the football world and this Broncos player is the backbone of arguments for pro-Denver predictions of the upcoming Super Bowl. Since their beginnings in the National Football League in the 1970s, the Broncos have won two back-to-back Super Bowls. They are consistent every season and a reasonable favorite to make it to the Super Bowl, however, the last time the set foot in the nationally watched arena was before the new millennium.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are definitely the underdog of Super Bowl XLVIII. This Super Bowl is the second time the Seahawks have made it to the grand stage and if they vanquish the Broncos, it will be their first time winning the sought-after title of Super Bowl Champions. They have a miserable football history, but that may work in their favor. Seattle is hungry for a championship and this is their chance; the Broncos may need to watch their backs.
The Feast
There is more to the Super Bowl that just football. There is also the food. Between Superbowl Parties, tail-gating, barbecues and any other method to celebrate the annual event, the piles of food being served rivals that of Thanksgiving. However there is one feast-food that rivals the rest, known only by the name “Taco-nator.”
Take a large pepperoni pizza, uncut, and fold it in half. Unfold and fill the center third with one pound of shredded beef or steak, your choice. Have another person hold up the sides in a taco formation and cover the surface of the beef with full strips of bacon. Add diced tomatoes, lettuce, to taste topped with shredded cheese and sour cream to taste. Lastly, take half a bag of nacho Doritos and crush them over the sour cream. Enjoy.
Superbowl History
The Super Bowl is the championship game for the National Football League. Since its beginning in 1967, the televised event has become the most-watched sporting event in the United States. Teams from across the United States compete to earn the right to compete for the title. It is a culmination of all their work and a credit to their hometowns.
The Pittsburgh Steelers currently hold the record for most Super Bowl wins, six wins, and tie for most Super Bowl appearances with the Dallas Cowboys, each making it to the final game eight times.
This year’s competitors are the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. The Broncos hold two Super Bowl wins with six appearances, but the Seahawks have only made it to the Super Bowl once before, losing to the Steelers.
The Super Bowl is scheduled to air Feb. 2, 2014. Marine Corps Community Services is offering many ways for Combat Center Marines to watch the game including the Coyote Grill, Warrior Club, Mameluke Pub, Hashmarks, Excursions and Bloodstripes. Visit www.mccs29palms.com for more information.