US – Friday, July 30

Table for two
For Paul Rudd, the decision to star in Jay Roach’s new comedy, “Dinner for Schmucks,” was an easy one. “I thought the script was really funny,” he says. “That was it. It was kind of a no-brainer.” Of course Rudd, who’s built an impressive resume of smart comedies, was just as enamored of the man behind the camera.  Amaro not here to talk about the past
Cliff who? Arlington graves may be mixed up
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has just gotten quite a bit of company: As many as 6,600 graves at the country’s hallowed Arlington National Cemetery for fallen U.S. service members may be mislabeled, one lawmaker said on Thursday.Jobless claims fall, still high
New claims for unemployment benefits slipped last week, but stayed at a stubbornly high level that underscored the labor market recovery was having trouble gaining traction.Un-Happ-y ending for talented southpaw in South Philadelphia
J.A. Happ said all the right things, just as the crafty lefty always has.WikiLeaks founder defends war posts
Julian Assange, founder of the website that published more than 91,000 secret U.S. military reports from Afghanistan, says he’s revealing injustices. President Barack Obama says he’s concerned that disclosure of sensitive information may harm military operations.3 Storylines to watch in Jets training camp
1. Will the Jets regret cutting Faneca?

2. Will Jenkins return to form up front?

3. Can this team keep its focus?It’s so hard to say goodbye
For many job-hopping careerists, smuggling a resignation letter in their bag like a guilty secret, there are few workplace rituals so hard as saying so long.Short-term living in Jersey City
Subletting in NYC typically involves some kind of covert transaction. Try to find a budget traveler who hasn’t enjoyed the risk of Craigslist’s lease-free rentals. But thanks to a bill Gov. David Paterson signed into law last Friday, renting an apartment for less than 30 days isn’t kosher. Fortunately, there’s a saving grace for those in search of short-term living: Jersey City.So long, Snuggies. Hello, Acushakti
Could nail mats like the Acushakti be the next Snuggies?

It’s possible, according to a top consumer survey.

Party time in South Florida

3 Storylines to watch:

1 Drew Brees’ coming-out party

Outside of Tom Brady, does any player show up on trashy gossip Web sites as much as New Orleans running back Reggie Bush?

He’s very famous ... or at least his girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, is.

Likewise, Peyton Manning is very famous.

Drew Brees? Not so much.

You can make a case the Saints QB is the best player in Sunday’s game, but he could probably walk into a bar here and go at least a few minutes before being recognized.

That’s not fair. And if his team wins, it’s going to change — fast.

Tune in and watch a legend get made. A quarterback gaining fame from a Super Bowl upset against the Colts? It’s happened before.

2 Just call it the Archie Bowl

Take a drink for every time CBS shows Archie Manning on Sunday.

That’s what’s going to be happening on Bourbon Street when he shows up, since Peyton’s dad’s appearance is going to be bittersweet at best for Saints fans.

Not only is the former All-Star a reminder of the days when New Orleans’ team was really, really bad, he’s pledged to root against his former team.

(Speaking of the Mannings, shouldn’t they be broken up by antitrust law at this point?)

3 They’re not perfect,but they’re close

Frankly, we’re still a little ticked both these teams blew their shot at a perfect season. Sure, the

“perfection” talk got a little annoying before the Patriots’ loss to the Giants a few years back, but there’s something to be said for watching history.

Still, these are the best two teams in the league. It’s the first time in 16 years both top-seeded squads are in the Super Bowl. It’s hard to ask for more than that.

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The Super Bowl could be better

Look, the Super Bowl is great. It’s the highlight of the February sports calendar, certainly, and is a fantastic excuse to suck down a dozen Pabst Blue Ribbons on a Sunday afternoon while eating wings and nachos.

But ... it’s been done. By this point, we’ve been watching NFL football for five months. It’s the game of the year — why not make it special?

Here’s how.

1 It’s already been brought — Instead of aging rock stars, have a cheerleaders skills competition at halftime. C’mon, who doesn’t enjoy watching the movie “Bring It On!” on a lazy Sunday. Seeing NFL starlets vie for the honor of Best Spirit Hands is must-watch TV.

2 Bill Belichick rules — No punts. The Super Bowl should be like those old-school Madden games in your best friend’s basement: Fourth-and-40, you go for it. Do you remember the first half of the Pats-Panthers 2004 Super Bowl? No, but that second half — one for the ages.

3 Musburgerin’ — No matter which network has the broadcast rights, Brent Musburger gets the play-by-play call. Besides the obvious — his vocal chords were crafted by the gods — there’s always a chance the Giants make it and we’ll be treated to his perfect pronunciation of Mario Manningham’s name.

4 The cute factor could go way down — We all love the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet, but CBS should buy the rights to it. Then air it before the game and have Mike Vick play the referee. If he snaps at one of the canines, the NFL should ban him for life. If he keeps his cool, we’ll let him suit up for the Bills or Rams — not sure which outcome is worse.

5 Let us hear — Mike up the players. The most fun we’ve ever had watching Peyton Manning wasn’t in the AFC championship when he carved up the Jets midway through the game. It was when NFL Films caught him cursing out Jeff Saturday in a regular-season game. Of course, we had to wait weeks for that to surface. Just give it to us live.

6 ‘The Hangover,’ NFL edition — Uh, put it in Vegas. Why has this not happened yet? It would be especially beneficial in a game with a huge underdog. After a week of strippers, booze and nonstop gambling by the heavy favorites, we’d have a level playing field come Super Bowl Sunday.

James Harrison pulled Steve Breaston and Larry Fitzgerald into the end zone with him last year.

Countdown: Best plays in Bowl history

5 Clutch kick — Adam Vinatieri started the Pats dynasty. After two St. Louis touchdowns chopped down a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXXVI, Tom Brady countered with a drive of his own. It set up a 48-yard field goal for New England, which Vinatieri booted through as time expired. It was the first time a Super Bowl had been won on the very last play. 4 Wide right — Just think of how the Bills would be remembered if Scott Norwood had converted that infamous 47-yard field goal at the end of Super Bowl XXV. The Bills’ 20-19 loss to the Giants was the first of four straight Bowl losses.3 Helmet catch — David Tyree’s 32-yard reception, which he trapped on his helmet, kept the Giants game-winning drive alive in Super Bowl XLII. The last-minute drive ended with a Plaxico Burress touchdown, as the Giants knocked off the previously unbeaten Patriots, 17-14.2 Longest yard — No way Mike Jones was going to let go. The Rams’ linebacker wrestled down Titans receiver Kevin Dyson one yard short of the goal line on the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV. St. Louis won, 23-16.1 Steeling momentum — The ultimate game-changing play. The Cardinals trailed the Steelers, 10-7, in the closing seconds of the first half in Super Bowl XLIII. Instead of handing it off, Kurt Warner threw a pass that was picked by James Harrison. The Pittsburgh linebacker raced 100 yards into the end zone. It was a 14-point swing and the Steelers eventually won, 27-23.CLICK ON CHART TO ENLARGEThe sportsbooks in Las Vegas get at least 10 times more action on the Super Bowl than a normal NFL weekend.

Bettors attempting to catch the moving line

Before the conference championship games kicked off, Jay Rood had lines ready for all possible Super Bowl combinations. If the Colts played the Saints, Indy would be favored by 2˝ points.

After the Colts whipped the Jets and the Saints barely squeaked past the Vikings, Rood — the sportsbook director for the MGM Mirage in Las Vegas — changed his mind and installed the Colts as 3˝ point favorites.

Within 48 hours, a rabid influx of Colts money caused Rood to move his line all the way to 5˝. It’s a virtually unprecedented turn of events for a Super Bowl line.

“The Super Bowl doesn’t move typically like that,” Rood said. “Normally there will be a half point maybe here or there, but to see it run two points, 2˝ points, that’s pretty rare.”

It’s still unclear exactly why all those bets came in on the Colts. Peyton Manning surely has something to do with it, and the fact that the public always likes to take favorites is a factor as well.

But Drew Brees and the Saints can play some offense as well, which has led to a jaw-dropping total of 56˝.

“This is the highest total ever for a Super Bowl,” Rood said. “But people are still saying it’s too low.”

Rood predicts that eight out of every 10 wagers he takes will come in on the over.

So while you’re rooting for whatever you bet on (entertainment purposes only, of course), you can be sure that Rood and Vegas will be pulling hard for the Saints and under. Adjust accordingly.

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