Go ahead and book Super Bowl 41— Colts in a much easier win than the score indicated. Go ahead and bust Grossman’s chops. Go ahead and find a place for the monkey Manning’s been squiring around on his back. Go ahead and move the cities with domes up the list to host the Big Game.

The Colt defense, postman Bob Sanders delivering the message early with a crushing hit on Cedric Benson, was the best story, no matter much Peyton pie you want to slice. Those boy scan get after you, bringing the wood the Bears are so famous for but at about 10 mph hour faster. They are fun to watch. Yes, Grossman was not very good, but then what did you expect. The Bears score on defense (Hester 6 run backs for TDs). So during the season it was not unusual to have Grossman play like a CYO second-stringer and Urlacher and the boys find a way to win. You don’t get to the Super Bowl without being super in something. In the end, however, the Bears D was on the field too long. Manning took advantage, audibling into a scheme that slowly demoralized and finally defeated the Black and Orange.

I had the running backs (Addai and Rhodes) as my co-MVPs unless we could give it to the entire defense. I had the Bears running straight at them more often, too. Isos with Thomas Jones could have frustrated and tired a mobile defense like the Colts. Grossman will be feeling the heat, but it’s a team game, including the plan and play calling.

So the college football championship starts with a kickoff return for a touch and the professional football championship starts with a kickoff for a touch and both times the team returning the ball to the house went on to lose, dominated in the BCS and statistically dominated in the Super Bowl.

Rain? Never in 41 years has it been an issue. But it was. I guess it was bound to happen. Don’t give me John Madden and icy, blody turf talk. This is the Super Bowl. Weather shouldn’t be a factor. Otherwise, play it in Memorial Stadium.

Final thought: Worst play of the game was CBS's insistence on hyping "Criminal Minds," which followed the Super Bowl. OK, so I bit. What they failed to mention was that it was the first of two parts, the second to air on Wednesday. They didn't let us know that until it was over. Cheap shot.

*****
Hastings St. Cecilia, Grand Island Central Catholic, Gibbon, Loup City, High Plains, Heartland and St. Edward boys remain high in the NSAA basketball point standings. The Crusaders visit St. Cecelia Friday in one of the year’s big games. On the girls side, Aurora, Ravenna and Greeley-Wolbach are hanging tough, all among the top eight teams, not automatic qualifiers but a good place to start.