After last night’s Super Bowl half time show we’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t want to see Beyonce live.

Right after her fiery performance Beyonce announced her next tour titled “The Mrs. Carter World Tour” in honor of her husband Sean Carter – aka Jay-Z.

Beyonce stunned at the Super Bowl half time show. She was joined on stage with the remaining members of Destiny’s Child and a slew of all-female dancers and musicians. She belted out songs such as “Love on Top,” “Single Ladies,” and “Halo.”

Her tour will kick off in April in Serbia, move through Europe, North America, Canada and then end up where Jay-Z started it all: Brooklyn.  Beyonce will play the new Barclays Center arena on August 3, 2013.  Who’s going?

Follow Mary Ann Georgantopoulos on Twitter @marygeorgant

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  Viva Young – 2013 Taco Bell Game Day Commercial

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On the one hand, you hate that such a stupid throwaway gesture is distracting from such a bangin’ performance by Madonna (with assists by Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, LMFAO and a man who resembled Richard Simmons on a tight rope), and you know all of this attention is exactly what the British hip-hop star wanted. But why would she flip it in the first place? Who was it directed toward? Was it was pre-approved by Madonna? Or just her own secret plan? If M.I.A. came up with that bit of “choreography” on her own, that’s really biting the hand that feeds (and exploits you just a little bit to feel more relevant in today’s musical climate). I find the whole thing immature. Like: You’re so tough, M.I.A. Way to stick it to the man … who is paying you millions to appear on TV sets in 100 million homes. You must be so angry!

On the other hand, after everything edgy Madonna has done in her life, why is everyone in an uproar about one little middle finger?

Karl on M.I.A. and her middle finger
“Nowadays people give the middle finger quite quickly – it’s not the best behavior. Everybody does that, what’s new about that? It’s just become a bad habit.”

NBC vs. NFL
   
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement that NBC was to blame for airing the offending finger. “There was a failure in NBC’s delay system. The gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans,” he said. Meanwhile, NBC sports spokesman Christopher McCloskey shifted the blame back, saying, “The NFL hired the talent and produced the halftime show. Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture, and we apologize to our viewers.”

Katy Perry … and Tim Tebow?

Katy Perry made her first U.S. concert appearance since husband Russell Brand filed for divorce, playing a pre-Super Bowl party in Indianapolis, according to People magazine. And while she made no mention of Brand, she did apparently have another guy on her mind: “This one goes out to Tim Tebow,” she said before playing her song “Peacock.” It was previously reported that Perry’s religious parents were eager to set their newly single daughter up with the football player because “above all, he’s a good Christian.” If you need a rebound who is the exact opposite of your soon-to-be ex-husband, Tim Tebow is probably it.

Follow her on Twitter @DorothyatMetro.

The post The aftermath of the Super finger appeared first on Metro.us.

New York had lost four straight games and were coming off an absolute embarrassment at the hands of New Orleans.

The team would lose only one game for the rest of the season.

“When you lose four in a row that can really test a team,” quarterback Eli Manning said. “But we played a lot of those games tough. We recognized that and still knew we were a good team. We weren’t playing our best at that time, but we weren’t playing terrible. We were a couple plays away from winning those games against great teams. [We said] we’ve got to keep working. And sure enough that’s what we did.”

The Giants’ backs were against the wall not just at the start of the game against Dallas, but in the fourth quarter as well. The post-mortem was already being written on a season that might’ve been Tom Coughlin’s last.

“To come back down 12 in the fourth quarter, go score two touchdowns and get a blocked field goal to win the game. That was an emotional win,” Manning said. “That locker room was fun. Everyone got that winning feeling again. We had to ride that momentum.”

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It was Giants wideout Mario Manningham who set up the winning score, while the Patriots’ Wes Welker was left to face a drop he called the biggest of his life.

On second-and-11 from the Giants’ 44-yard line, Welker let a pass slip through his grasp that would’ve put the team in field goal range, if not better.

Instead, it was Manningham, the oft-overlooked third receiver, who made a catch on the first play of the Giants’ final drive that will go down in team history right alongside David Tyree’s famous grab in Super Bowl XLII.

“The very first play [of the final drive], the Mario Manningham play, was an exceptional football play,” head coach Tom Coughlin said. “It was a great catch … something that really got us going. It was an exceptional play to put us in a position to win the game.”

The morning after the game, Manning called the play “muscle memory” more than anything else — a throw he’s made thousands of times in practice.

On Sunday, the pair made it a whole new kind of memory.

Manning told Bradshaw not to score

Eli Manning admitted yesterday morning that he outright told running back Ahmad Bradshaw not to score on the go-ahead touchdown.

“As I’m handing the ball off, I see the defensive line just stand up,” he said. “I just yelled ‘Don’t score, don’t score.’ He obviously heard me and thought about going down and he just didn’t know quite what to do. He said, ‘Hey I got a touchdown, I’m going to take it.’”

Manning said in retrospect he felt Bradshaw made the right call.

“You just don’t want to leave anything to chance,” he said. “If something fluky happens and you miss that field goal, you feel terrible.”

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On the one hand, you hate that such a stupid throwaway gesture is distracting from such a bangin’ performance by Madonna (with assists by Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, LMFAO and a man who resembled Richard Simmons on a tight rope), and you know all of this attention is exactly what the British hip-hop star wanted. But why would she flip it in the first place? Who was it directed toward? Was it was pre-approved by Madonna? Or just her own secret plan? If M.I.A. came up with that bit of “choreography” on her own, that’s really biting the hand that feeds (and exploits you just a little bit to feel more relevant in today’s musical climate). I find the whole thing immature. Like: You’re so tough, M.I.A. Way to stick it to the man … who is paying you millions to appear on TV sets in 100 million homes. You must be so angry!

On the other hand, after everything edgy Madonna has done in her life, why is everyone in an uproar about one little middle finger?

Karl on M.I.A. and her middle finger
“Nowadays people give the middle finger quite quickly – it’s not the best behavior. Everybody does that, what’s new about that? It’s just become a bad habit.”

NBC vs. NFL
   
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement that NBC was to blame for airing the offending finger. “There was a failure in NBC’s delay system. The gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans,” he said. Meanwhile, NBC sports spokesman Christopher McCloskey shifted the blame back, saying, “The NFL hired the talent and produced the halftime show. Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture, and we apologize to our viewers.”

Katy Perry … and Tim Tebow?

Katy Perry made her first U.S. concert appearance since husband Russell Brand filed for divorce, playing a pre-Super Bowl party in Indianapolis, according to People magazine. And while she made no mention of Brand, she did apparently have another guy on her mind: “This one goes out to Tim Tebow,” she said before playing her song “Peacock.” It was previously reported that Perry’s religious parents were eager to set their newly single daughter up with the football player because “above all, he’s a good Christian.” If you need a rebound who is the exact opposite of your soon-to-be ex-husband, Tim Tebow is probably it.

For more gossip news visit Dorothy Robinson’s Word blog. Follow her on Twitter @DorothyatMetro. 

The post The Word: The aftermath of the Super finger appeared first on Metro.us.

We did a little digging and sure enough, M.I.A. (rebel, against-the-grain songstress that she is) flipped the bird in front of 110 million viewers during her part in Madonna’s “Give Me All Your Luvin.”

So who cares, you ask? Apparently, the NFL.  

“The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing and we apologize to our fans,” Brian McCarthy, spokesman for the NFL, told the AP.

The screen briefly blurred after M.I.A. flipped the bird as NBC attempted to block the image, but failed by a couple seconds. McCarthy said M.I.A. hadn’t flashed the gesture during rehearsals and her decision to do it during the show came as a surprise.

The Super Bowl halftime show is no stranger to “controversy.” Who can forget Janet Jackson’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction” when her nipple was exposed for less than a second, thanks to Justin Timblerlake. The FCC fined CBS $550,000 by the FCC for that little trick, but the network appealed and never had to pay.

While M.I.A.’s middle finger was arguably less obscene, it still has plenty of people talking. Did you catch the gesture?

The post If M.I.A. gives the finger during the Super Bowl, does anyone care? appeared first on Metro.us.

Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning earned the second Most Valuable Player award of his career as he went 30-of-40 for 296 yards and one touchdown and hit eight different receivers. And unlike his counterpart Tom Brady, he didn’t commit a turnover, raising his postseason ratio to nine touchdowns and just one interception.   

Manning showed his championship mettle as he took the Giants down the field on the game-winning drive. The biggest play was a Manning to Mario Manningham 38-yarder down the left sidelines that put the ball at midfield and gave the Giants a huge boost. The play was upheld by replay, which also took away a crucial timeout from the Patriots after the replay challenge didn’t go their way. The huge play led up to Ahmad Bradshaw’s six-yard touchdown run with 57 seconds remaining for the eventual game-winning points.    

Bradshaw, who finished with a game-high 72 yards on 17 carries, was overcome with emotion when recalling his game-winning score immediately after the game.   

“Oh, man, it was the best feeling in the world,” Bradshaw said. “I’m just so happy to be here with my team and my family. … These were two of the greatest teams in the NFL and I’m happy to have won it.”    

Manning is about as polished, some say robotic, as they come so it was no surprise that he wanted to dole out kudos to everyone but himself.      

“It just feels great. It was a great game with two great teams,” he said. “I’m happy for the guys. I’m happy for everyone in this organization [especially] coach Coughlin. I feel great for the new guys [because] some of them are getting their first one.”   

What Manning’s greatness also managed to do was put to rest all those questions  about being elite as he’s now dethroned Brady in the Super Bowl twice in the last four seasons. He also gave the Giants their fourth Vince Lombardi Trophy to match four other franchises (Steelers, 49ers, Packers and Cowboys) with at least as many.    

Manning got off to torrid start as he began the game 9-of-9, which was a Super Bowl record for the best start ever by a quarterback. His hot start helped the Giants get off to a fast 9-0 lead. And while Tom Brady erased that deficit to end the first half up 10-9, it was Manning’s second half that was phenomenal.  

His nine-play, 88-yard game-winning drive in just 2:49 was the stuff Brady was used to doing. Manning was judicial with the ball but his favorite target was Hakeem Nicks, who tallied a game-high 10 catches for 109 yards.
 
Brady finished 27-of-41 with 276 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and set a Super Bowl record for consecutive completions with 16, breaking his childhood idol Joe Montana’s mark of 13. He also erased an early 9-0 first-half deficit to rattle off 17 straight points to take the lead. The future Hall of Famer was just as giving as Manning as he targeted seven different receivers, led by tight end Aaron Hernandez (eight receptions, 67 yard and a touchdown) and wideout Wes Welker (seven catches for 60 yards).    

The Patriots’ other tight end, Rob Gronkowski, was severely limited by both a high-ankle sprain and the Giants’ aggressive defense, as he was held to two catches for 26 yards on only three targets. The man known as “Gronk” usually tallies three catches in one drive, so it was a testament to Big Blue’s defense in limiting his touches.   

One Giant in particular who had success was linebacker Chase Blackburn. The veteran wasn’t re-signed last summer and sat home until late in the season when the Giants called his number again. He rewarded them with an interception in his first game back, versus the Packers, and was the one guy who rallied all phases of the team, as he’s also a special teams maven.   

Blackburn was responsible for arguably the biggest play of the game when he boxed out the 6-foot-6 Gronkowski on a jumpball from Brady and intercepted the pass at the Giants’ 8-yard line in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Had Gronkowski come up with the reception there’s no telling how the game would’ve turned out as the Patriots were up 17-15 and driving for more.   

“This game was everything I expected, as I’ve been here before. It was a physical game,” said Blackburn, adding he did everything he could to outmuscle the larger Gronkowski. “I just wanted to box him out and get to the high point of the ball. I felt like I had a bead on it and I just made the play on the ball. … It was a man-to-man check and I had the vertical [route] on him. And when Tom Brady got out of the sack I knew his receivers would go deep so fortunately I was able to make the play.”   

Manning was the biggest playmaker on the field when it mattered most as he was the one leading Big Blue to yet another fourth-quarter comeback this year. It was also the second time he was responsible for such a late-game drive to dispatch the Patriots this season.      

Ultimately it came down to execution. And while Manning earned his second Super Bowl, one more than older brother Peyton, he also beat Brady for a second time in four years in the Super Bowl and temporarily kept the future Hall of Famer from joining an elite Super Bowl-winning list of quarterbacks with four rings (Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw).   

The questions of whether Manning is elite died for good in Indianapolis.

Follow Giants beat writer Tony Williams on Twitter @TBone8.

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After the commercial aired during the first half of the Super Bowl, Twitter was on fire with comments from people saying they thought Rudolph was the star of the commercial.

At first we were confused, not by the commercial, but by your reactions. We’re looking at photos of the two ladies, and come on folks, they look nothing alike.

What do you think, readers? Did you think Melanie Amaro was Maya Rudolph?

The post That was Melanie Amaro in the Pepsi commercial, not Maya Rudolph (VIDEO) appeared first on Metro.us.

“Everyone’s got money on the Giants, all the boys,” said Andy Hawlett, 29, who lives in the Financial District and works as a broker.

His plans are the same, if the Giants win or lose.

“If they lose, stay here, get drunk and have a hangover,” said Hawlett. “And if they win still stay here, get drunk and have a hangover.”

“They’re not going to lose, it’s impossible,” said Ivonne Smith, a 28-year-old healthcare worker from Jersey City. “I supported the Giants when they were in the Super Bowl in 2008. They won then and they are going to win in 2012. I can’t wait for the ticker tape parade.”

The post New York Giants at the Super Bowl: Fans in Chelsea alternate between nervous and confident in second half (PHOTOS) appeared first on Metro.us.

Check out the “flames” from a burned-out car. Oh, and that car was destroyed by a Patriots bronco.

The post Video: Patriots fans “roast” Eli Manning over car appeared first on Metro.us.

High standards: CSNBC business reporter Darren Rovell was a hit on Twitter last night as he criticized the “talent” at the Playboy bunny party at the Bud Light hotel.

“Playboy not having gorgeous Playmates at its Super Bowl party does effect a brand that is already faltering #reality,” Rovell tweeted.

Tuna grilled: Bill Parcells will not be a part of the NFL Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012. While in New England, Parcells’ favorite player was “Boy Wonder” Curtis Martin. Martin got in last night, which the Big Tuna might actually have mixed feelings about.

When Martin had his first 100-yard game, Parcells had one of his typical snide remarks to the media: “Don’t go putting him in Canton yet.”

Follow Matt Burke on Twitter @BurkeMetroBOS and check in at www.metro.us/boston/sports following the game for “Live Feed” of Super Bowl XLVI

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The official website of the New York Giants posted Saturday that the team won Super Bowl XLVI. This was, of course, more than 24 hours before tonight’s kickoff against the New England Patriots.

The poster on the site, seen above, featured Eli Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul celebrating next to the iconic Vince Lombardi trophy. There were also links directing fans to buy Giants Super Bowl-winning gear.

The image was an ad, explained the Giants, that someone accidentally turned live too early.

“It is common practice for both teams to create web pages in advance of the conference championship games and Super Bowl,” the NFL said in a statement. “In this case, the hidden URL for the page was inadvertently available for a brief period of time while it was being positioned on the NFL server for possible post tomorrow night.”

The ad was only up briefly before it was taken down yesterday, according to a report in the New York Daily News.

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In honor of Manning’s multi-dimensionality, here are 14 pictures of Eli Manning’s Eli Manning Face from the past two weeks. Feel free to make whatever use of them you wish.

The post 14 pictures of Eli Manning’s face during Super Bowl Media Week appeared first on Metro.us.

Whether they win or lose on Sunday, the Patriots’ hub during this run [quarterback Tom Brady, running back Kevin Faulk and offensive tackle Matt Light] have learned to truly appreciate this rare stretch of good fortune. Each know how turbulent the NFL life is and how much roster upheaval there is annually, so they take pride in knowing they’ve survived – and thrived – together.     

“This makes things extra special [because] you’ll have those memories forever,” Brady said when asked to describe his feelings this week. “It’s a bit surreal being here sharing this experience with this team; sharing this with the guys who have been here since the beginning. Overall, we’re a close team. That’s what puts things in perspective because of how hard it is to get here. You tend to appreciate it more.”   

Faulk, who has made a living off making clutch catches and big runs during his 13-year career, said the longevity of the trio comes down to always being prepared to step up when needed most. He said when a player like himself or Brady steps into the league and immediately starts making plays, it’s easier to build the trust of the coaching staff when asked to perform in pressure situations.    

“The QB and head coach have been consistent, that’s one thing. And they’ve trusted me when needed most,” Faulk said. “I’ve managed to be consistent. You need to make plays and be ready when your name is called. And when you do that you’ll be here for a while.”       

Faulk then added it also helps to have someone like head coach Bill Belichick in his corner, constantly trusting enough in him to give the running back opportunities to come through.      

“Two words, Bill Belichick,” Faulk said when asked how he’s managed to have such good fortune during their run. “There’s a consistency with him. We go into each year knowing that each team is different, regardless of what happened in previous seasons. But he always comes back to the guys he feels most comfortable with.”      

When asked why he thinks Brady has had such sustained excellence, Faulk shrugged matter-of-factly and said that the former sixth-round pick plays with an edge and passion that’s not matched by many.   

“It’s simple. He [Brady] just continues to want to get better, no matter what he’s already accomplished,” said Faulk.  

Follow Tony Williams live from Indy on Twitter: @Tbone8

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These festive fan-themed libations borrowed from the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City will have you rooting for your team in style. Even the most ‘spirited’ fans of both the New York Giants and the New England Patriots can find common ground with these creative mixes. Cheers!

For the Giants fans

Big Blue

A variation on the classic Manhattan, this drink epitomizes the tradition and valor of one of the most successful franchises in football history.

– 2 oz rye whiskey
– 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
– 2-3 dashes bitters
– fresh blueberries for garnish

Preparation:

Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes. Stir well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with blueberries.

Manning Special

Cool and calm under pressure – this is a drink befitting a field-general
Ingredients:

– 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
– 1 small lime wedge
– 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
– 1 1/2 ounces gin
– 1/2 oz grenadine
– Ice
– 2 oz chilled club soda

Preparation:

Muddle 15 blueberries with the lime wedge and sugar. Add the gin and ice and shake well. Strain into a highball glass half-filled with ice, top with the club soda and garnish with the remaining blueberries.

For the Patriots fans

Brady Bomb

One of the greatest players of all-time begets a drink fitting his explosive and game-changing ability.

Ingredients:

– 1 oz cherry vodka
– 3 oz Red Bull energy drink
– 1 splash grenadine syrup

Preparation:

Pour vodka and Red Bull energy drink into a small glass. Add grenadine slowly so it sinks to the bottom without mixing for a layered effect.

The Gronk

Named for one of the most prolific pass catching tight ends in the league, this drink is perfect for celebrating your love for everything Pats.

Ingredients:

– 1 1/2 oz tequila
– 1/2 oz white crème de cacao
– 1/2 oz blue curaçao
– 1/2 oz cream
– Maraschino cherry for garnish

Preparation:

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or in an ice-filled old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

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Samuel Adams founder Jim Koch said, “I know Foley’s, and it’s a great bar. I hope they remember… if it weren’t for the original New England patriot, Samuel Adams… we might be watching cricket and drinking tea instead of watching the Super Bowl.” That Samuel Adam’s beer must have left a sour taste in his mouth.

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Stark gave his insight into what makes guys like Eli Manning and Tom Brady so clutch in big spots. Here’s some highlights from the interview:

Doctor, what makes some players perform better in high-pressure situations?

Well, some people, when they get down to the, you know, you saw what happened in the playoffs … the Ravens missed an easy field goal and the 49ers, the kickoff guy, had two — a fumble and another one hit his leg — for a turnover. It cost them. Some people get anxious, nervous. Some people just want the ball. The bigger the playing field, the more relaxed they get and the happier they are. They just kind of go in that zone and it all depends on the personality.

What makes Eli Manning and Tom Brady so good in those tight situations?

Both of them are great, cerebral guys. Smart guys, calm, collected. They have to be in the pocket and have guys come moving by you and wanting to take your head off half the time, but I think they are both very gifted in that sense — neither one of them seems to get rattled and neither one of them is injured at this point, so I think it’s going to be on their shoulders. They are going to shine and either  one of them is going to make it or break it. It’s going to come down, I think, to a couple of plays.

Who do you think is better in the clutch: Eli or Brady?

I think Brady’s slightly better in the clutch because he’s been there so many times, but you know Eli is not that far behind. He’s not a guy that gets too high or too low; that’s what you like about him. He’s a lot like his brother. He’s been taught that you don’t get too excited … you score a touchdown and you’re not jumping up and down going crazy, screaming and yelling.

Is the players’ preparation different during the Super Bowl than in a regular-season game?

In society, in the way we look at things, the regular season counts but the playoffs count even more because that’s what determines the championship. If Eli gets two championships, is that better than the 10 great years and one championship by Peyton? That’s how we measure things, with rings.  LeBron [James] doesn’t have one and Michael Jordan has six.

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Redskins-Cowboys hasn’t been good since Joe Gibbs and Tom Landry were matching wits. Eagles-Giants has provided some classic moments, but Philadelphia has dominated (winning eight of last nine in the series). Patriots-Colts was way up there — until Peyton Manning’s neck injury. And Ravens-Steelers is perennially good, if you like defense.

However, Giants-Patriots has evolved into one of the most intriguing in all of football. While the frequency isn’t there — the teams have met just three times since 2008 — the animosity certainly is. Those three games have been decided by an average margin of victory of 3.3 points, with the Giants taking two of them, including a Super Bowl.

Yes, this rivalry is still in its infancy stages, but don’t discredit it. New Yorkers hate New Englanders, and vice versa. With that in mind, we take a look inside the rivalry.

The Players
Osi Umenyiora vs. Matt Light: Umenyiora called Light out for dirty play prior to Super Bowl XLII. Now, he’s up to his old tricks after claiming Light shoved him late when the The two teams met back in Week 9, a 24-20 Giants win. “I’ve actually fought him twice, actual real fight on the football field, twice,” Umenyiora told The Star-Ledger. “Me and him, we have history. We’re going to rekindle it on Sunday.”

The Cities
New York and Boston can’t even agree on what constitutes real clam chowder. Is it cream-based or tomato-based? Whatever your choice of soup, the cities are connected, mainly due to Yankees vs. Red Sox. Empire State Building vs. The Hancock … OK, maybe that’s not fair but you get the idea. But one local New York City bar — Foley’s Pub — has banned the sale of Boston-based Sam Adams beer during this weekend’s big game.

The Coaches
Like wrinkles, how about this: Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick won a Super Bowl together 21 years ago as assistants under the legendary Bill Parcells. Belichick as defensive coordinator, Coughlin as receivers coach. “I would say that as an assistant coach it was the best relationship that I have ever had with another counterpart in that way,” Belichick said recently.

The QBs
Tom Brady has those lead-actor looks and the arm candy to prove it, in supermodel wife, Gisele. However, a recent poll conducted by cheater’s website AshleyMadison.com revealed that 54 percent of married women would rather have an affair with “aww shucks”-looking Eli Manning. Brady, of course, has two more Lombardis than Manning.

The post Anatomy of a rivalry: Giants vs. Patriots appeared first on Metro.us.

So maybe we should stop trying to analyze the matchups, injuries, home-field advantage and who is hot. Perhaps a more effective strategy would be to simply figure out what the bookies want to happen, and then bet on their side.

The folks at SportsInsights.com do that, tracking the number of bets that come in on each side at six independent major offshore books. Using that info, they decipher who is pushing the line and thus what those books are rooting for.

“You want to follow the sharp money, you want to follow the Warren Buffetts of our industry,” said Dan Fabrizio, the president of SportsInsights. “Not the other way around.”

Sunday’s game between the Patriots and Giants sticks out to Fabrizio, and not just because it’s the Super Bowl. As of Thursday, 61 percent of bets were coming in on the underdogs from New York.

“That’s very rare. Typically, you’ll see the favorite getting the majority of public bets,” said Fabrizio. “I would say nine times out of 10 it’s going to be on the favorite.”

Everyone and their grandmother wagers the Super Bowl, so the line appears to be getting pushed by unsophisticated, or “square” bettors. After opening at Patriots minus-3.5 in most spots, the line has gone to minus-3 and minus-2.5 in some shops.

SportsInsights is recommending a play on the Patriots at minus-2.5. No one knows if that will hit, but we do know that they will be cheering when the bookies cheer.

Prop bets

1. Will Kelly Clarkson’s bare belly be showing during the national anthem? You’ll get 3-1 odds, but that’s a bad bet. After Janet’s malfunction, no way we’ll get a peek.

2. How many times will Peyton Manning be shown on TV during? The over/under is 3.5, making the over a strong play. Between Eli, the neck and Peyton’s impending release, this is like free money.

3. Who will the Super Bowl MVP thank first? The favorite is “teammates” at 5/4, but the value play is “Does not thank anyone” at 5/2. These guys have to look out for No. 1.

4. Who will have more points: Paul Pierce or the Patriots? The Pats are getting 3.5 and the smart money is on them. Pierce is up against defensive stopper Tony Allen.
*Courtesy of Bovada.lv and Sportsbook.ag

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We gave the keys to the Super Bowl debate machine to Metro’s two rival sport editors and let the sparks fly and venom spew.

We just wanted to know two things: Who will win the big game, and why?

There wasn’t much of a consensus. But both men did pause to wonder which side Ines Sainz was on.

And, of course, they agreed that Super Bowl XLVI should be one heck of a football game.

Matt Burke
Metro Boston Sports Editor,
matt.burke@metro.us

We understand if this means everything to you New York. I mean, it’s rare that one of your nine pro teams (New Jersey counts, right?) makes it to the title game.

With seven pro titles in the past decade, this whole Super Bowl deal has become just another event for us in Boston. So we say, enjoy it guys. Welcome to the big time.

At the same time, it should still sting a tad to know that two of the three Super Bowl titles in Giants history were directly won by our head coach, Bill Belichick. His game plan for Super Bowl XXV, not Parcells’, is in Canton — and it’s a well-known fact that Belichick schemed Lawrence Taylor to the top and that the Fat Tuna never won jack without the hooded prince.

As for Sunday, it will be next to impossible to duplicate the luckiest play in the history of sports (Tyree’s helmet catch). So, good luck with that.

And your favorite hick son Eli? One solid season does not make a Hall of Famer. As of today, he’s Trent Dilfer with a goofy haircut and a Southern twang.

Mark Osborne
Metro New York Sports Editor
mark.osborne@metro.us

The Patriots are favorites in this game for one reason — 2002 to 2005.

Sorry, New England, but this isn’t the same team. Tom Brady is still great, no question. And yes, you’ve added two tremendous tight ends. (Well, maybe one and a half for this game.) But that is, quite literally, all you have going for you.

The Giants, meanwhile, are living in the present. Eli Manning is in the prime of his career, he has two dynamite young receivers in Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, and the defensive line is the best in football.

We know both teams have bad secondaries, so throw them out. But you can make a legitimate case that the Giants have two better running backs, two better receivers and three better defensive ends than anyone on the Pats.

It’s quite simple — over the past 10 games, the best QB the Patriots beat was Mark Sanchez. Who’s the worst quarterback the Giants have faced the last 10 games? Mark Sanchez.

The Patriots are stepping up in class, and it shouldn’t be as close as Super Bowl XLII or Week 9 this year.

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San Fran 20, Cincinnati 16
Joe Montana, orchestrated a 92-yard drive in 11 plays with his late TD strike to John Taylor proving to be the difference.

9. SUPER BOWL XLIV

New Orleans 31, Indy 17
The  Saints shocked the Colts with an onside kick to start the second half and Tracy Porter’s interception clinched it for New Orleans.

8. SUPER BOWL XIII

Pittsburgh 35, Dallas 31
The Cowboys’ Jackie Smith dropped a sure touchdown in the third quarter as Dallas’ comeback attempt fell short against the Steel Curtain.

7. SUPER BOWL III

NY Jets 16, Baltimore 7
In perhaps the most meaningful Super Bowl of all-time, Joe Namath’s “guarantee” came to fruition as the AFL was forever legitimized.

6. SUPER BOWL XXXVIII

New England 32, Carolina 29
Janet Jackson’s halftime “slip,” set the tone for a thrilling second half between the Patriots and Panthers. Tom Brady set a Super Bowl record for most pass completions with 32.

5. SUPER BOWL XXV

NY Giants 20, Buffalo 19
Ottis Anderson was the standout performer for the Giants but this game is best remembered for the “wide right” miss with eight seconds left by Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood.

4. SUPER BOWL XXXIV

St. Louis 23, Tennessee 16
Tennessee nearly erased a 16-0 deficit but St. Louis’ Mike Jones tackled receiver Kevin Dyson at the 1-yard line as time expired in the most remarkable final play in Super Bowl history.

Rams QB Kurt Warner became a folk hero as he passed for 414 yards and two touchdowns to win game MVP.

3. SUPER BOWL XXXVI

New England 20, St. Louis 17
The Patriots were 14-point underdogs against the “Greatest Show on Turf,” but a brilliant game plan against Marshall Faulk and the budding brilliance of Tom Brady proved too great for the Rams. Adam Vinatieri’s 48-yard field goal sparked the Pats dynasty as time expired in New Orleans.

2. SUPER BOWL XLIII

Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23
Steelers linebacker James Harrison accounted for what is arguably the most exciting play in Super Bowl history as he picked off Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner and returned it a record 100 yards for a touchdown right before halftime to give the Steelers a 17-7 lead.

Warner provided big plays of his own, however, as he hit Larry Fitzgerald on a post pattern for a riveting 64-yard touchdown which gave Arizona a 23-20 lead with 2:37 remaining.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger would not be denied, however, as he found Santonio Holmes in the back corner of the end zone.

1. SUPER?BOWL XLII

Giants 17, New England, 14
The storyline heading into this game will forever be difficult to beat. It featured an undefeated Patriots team that was an NFL record 16-0 in the 2007 regular season against the No. 6-seeded Giants. Throw in the whole New York-Boston thing and you had a mountain of hype leading up to the game. Then they played … and the game surpassed the wildest of expectations. David Tyree’s helmet catch, arguably the most famous play in Super Bowl history, led to Eli Manning’s touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the corner of the end zone. Tom Brady, Randy Moss and the vaunted Patriots offense ran out of time in Arizona and New York hoisted its third Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.

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“We wouldn’t board that plane if we didn’t feel that [we would win],” Rolle said. “We feel that way as a team. We’re not going to be denied at this point. We’re going to do whatever it takes to make sure we come out on top.”

Rolle is always the most outspoken member of the Giants, so it’s not surprising he would be the one making the headlines on Media Day.

But while Rolle is always confident, he isn’t dumb. He realizes the team has a tough task ahead of them.
“They have a lot of weapons and most of all they have Brady back there throwing the ball,” he said. “It’s going to take everybody all the way from the front to the back end, but we will get it done.” 

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Now they just have to wait five more days to play the game.

The team immediately boarded buses to the hotel and spoke to the media soon after.

“Once you get to Indianapolis your schedule is thrown off,” said quarterback Eli Manning yesterday afternoon. “I told the guys when we get [here], focus on getting into the game plan. The mindset is this is a business trip and get ready to play our best football.”

The team won’t begin practicing until tomorrow, however. Super Bowl Media Day will take up all of today, and likely have very little to do with the actual game.

Media Day has earned the reputation of being a circus thanks to the amount of media taking part that aren’t from sports outlets. Entertainment shows and publicity stunt reporters hog much of the questioning.

The team is trying to focus on nothing but the game, something aided by their Super Bowl experience. However, while 19 players on the team have played in the big game, key contributors like Jason Pierre-Paul and Victor Cruz have not.

“The buildup to the football game, no matter how you want to present it, is something that these young guys have never gone through,” head coach Tom Coughlin said.

On Bill Parcells

Both Tom Coughlin and Patriots coach Bill Belichick coached under former Giants head coach Bill Parcells.
   
“He’s always been an exceptional defensive coach, trained by the best, by [Bill] Parcells,” Coughlin said about Belichick. “What anyone who was around Parcells for any length of time learned was how to win.”

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Village Pourhouse
Various locations
www.villagepourhouse.com
Looking for a classic sports bar atmosphere? Go Blue or go home at one of the many Village Pourhouse locations for $12 Bud Light pitchers, $15 Big Blue Moon pitchers, $25 Bud Light buckets and $5 Go Blue shots.
 
Duke’s
560 Third Ave.
212-949-5400
www.dukesnyc.com
As if Duke’s 27 televisions weren’t enough to lure football fans, they’ve also added craft beers to their menu. In addition to providing ultimate game day grub like pulled pork and mac n cheese, Duke’s will be serving their award-wining wings. Servers will be wearing jerseys while the managers will be cheering on megaphones and handing out shots.

Southern Hospitality
1460 Second Ave.
212-249-1001
www.southernhospitalitynyc.com
For $60 at this Upper East Side joint, enjoy an open bar from kickoff until the end of the game. Don your favorite Giants gear and for a free Big Blue shot. Every time the Giants score, you and your friends will get another free Big Blue shot.  

Hudson Terrace
621 W. 46th St.
212-315-9400
www.hudsonterracenyc.com
Rowdy sports bars not really your thing? Want something more than just a Bud Light? For $60, enjoy a buffet of appetizers and complimentary cocktails or beer. For $120, feel like a true Super Bowl champ with open bar access from 6 p.m. until the game ends. Tickets can be purchased at www.
iadventure.com.
 
 
Satisfy your sweet tooth

William Greenberg Desserts
1100 Madison Ave.
212-744-0304
www.wmgreenbergdesserts.com
It’s just not a party without some dessert, right? Support the Giants with the Blue & White cookie, a twist on the classic Black & White. William Greenberg Desserts, whose Black &?White was voted best in the city by New York magazine, made the special treat in support of Big Blue and are ready to ship nationally. 
 

Follow Mary Ann Georgantopoulos on Twitter @marygeorgant

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1. U2, 2002
It was fewer than five months since the attacks of 9/11, and this three-song set from Dublin’s finest did a heroic job of honoring those who died that day and saluting the country that U2 has always wished they were from, as Bono revealed an American flag close to his heart. Criticize Bono all you want for pandering, but even now it’s hard not to get misty as the names of 9/11 victims scroll down a huge screen as U2 plays “MLK” and “Where the Streets Have No Name.”

2. Prince, 2007
His royal purpleness has always been known for his stadium-sized ego, but what made this performance unique is that despite performing on a stage shaped like the symbol that once served as his name, the dude performed a medley of seven songs, only three of which were his. He touched upon others by Queen, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan and the Foo Fighters. But since he is Prince, he obviously made all of these tunes his own.

3. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, 2009
To condense a Springsteen concert experience into 13 minutes sounds almost as preposterous as trying to fit the complete works of Shakespeare onto a Bazooka Joe comic. But the Boss was able to fill a four-song suite with  whole lot of hokey fun, in-cluding a gospel choir, a flag-throwing ref, a knee-slide across the stage, some mic-stand gymnastics and the return to the stage of Big Man Clarence Clemons, who had just had both knees replaced only a few months previously.

4. Michael Jackson, 1993
Billed as “an unprecedented Super Bowl spectacular,” this show by the King of Pop was reportedly one of the most watched in TV history and would change the way networks programmed halftime. This was MJ just months before he was accused of sex-ually abusing children. It’s ee-rie now to hear him say, “no one should have to suffer, especially our children,” but the performance itself was touching (not the bad kind) as he sang “Heal the World,” and the crowd held up placards to form drawings by kids.

5. Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, 2004
Call it “Nipplegate” if you must, but we always pre-ferred “Super Boob Sunday.” Watching this performance by Michael’s little sister, it’s amazing how the phrase “wardrobe malfunction” became the 00’s version of “I didn’t inhale.” Seriously, we were supposed to believe that Janet just happened to be wearing a metal sunburst around her areola? Regardless of how planned or unplanned the “bet I’ll have you nekkid by the end of this song” ending was, the duet with JT on “Rock Your Body” definitely still holds up eight(!) years later.

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Pour all ingredients, except beer, into a mixing tin. Add ice and shake. Strain into a tall glass and top with equal parts Cherry Lambic and Hefeweizen. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Dutch Air Mail
2 oz. Denizen Rum
½ oz. honey syrup*
½ oz. lime juice
Dutch lager beer (Heineken or similar)
Splash of pink grapefruit
 juice
Pour all ingredients, except beer, into mixing tin. Add ice and shake. Strain into a tall glass and top with beer. Garnish with a grapefruit peel  over the glass. (*Cut 2 tbsp. honey with 1 tbsp. hot water and stir or shake.)

Bombs Away
1 oz. Captain Morgan
½ oz. TY KU Sake Black
¼ oz. TY KU Citrus Liqueur
½ oz. simple syrup
4 oz. Hoegaarden

Pour beer into a pint glass. In a separate double shot glass, combine the rest of the ingredients and serve separately. To drink, drop shot glass in beer and drink together. Want to turn your drink into a game? Take a sip whenever a team scores or whenever a quarterback throws a bomb and it’s caught.

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We checked in with ref Dan Schachner before the big game to talk puppy strategy — and figure out how to steal his job.

What are your responsibilities as ref?

I’m there mostly to call puppy touchdowns — which happen very frequently, the rules are pretty loose — and puppy penalties. I have the flag in my pocket and I’m not afraid to use it.

How do you break up puppy fights?

We have a term called “pancaking” — when you flatten like a pancake — and that’s a reason to give the puppies a little break.

Which dogs are the most athletic?

The shih tzus are cute, but the more robust breeds are the ones that are going to score. Surprisingly, the dachshunds are great running backs. They seem kind of quiet and baffled at first, but when they get that chew toy they score.

Be honest:?Does cuteness help when it comes to calls?

Cuteness doesn’t affect me one way or the other. But what I do have to turn a blind eye to are the puppy fouls — the premature watering of the lawn. We have to let some of those go or we’d never get on with the game. That said, if there’s a really big foul left in the middle of the field, that will result in at least a 10-15 yard penalty.

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Allison Beck, editor at www.thedailymeal.com, set about finding last-minute party fixes that take simple, inexpensive take-out to the next level with some minor enhancements you probably already have in your pantry. As Beck says, “We’re busy people and you’ve got to find shortcuts.”

Read on for a few of Beck’s ingenious ideas.

The eats

1. Sticky rice lifesaver: When making burritos or chili, get Chinese takeout white rice to accompany the dish. It’s inexpensive and cooked perfectly. No one will be the wiser.

2. KFC’s Grilled Chicken: Get a bucket of grilled chicken, coat it with sauce (hot, BBQ or otherwise), get some buns, lettuce and tomato — and voila! A sammie that’s sure to please.

3. Dress up your plain-jane pizza: Add fresh arugula and maybe even some truffle oil to your local delivery pizza. Cut the slices into bite-sized pieces for classy apps.

4. Dunkin’ Donuts desserts: Want some instant profiteroles? Get some doughnut holes, slice them in half, add some ice cream and boom! You’ve got a whole lot of delicious.

5. Go to White Castle: Or really any burger joint, but White Castle specializes in the 30-pack that’ll easily double for your own party’s sliders. Garnish them with a tomato chutney, horseradish or a special cheese to kick it up a notch in the flavor department.

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