I heard today on the Fan radio station that it takes some people weeks to get over a big loss like the Super Bowl. I don't think even in my most devoted, fanatic days it took me more than a few days, thankfully.
When the game ended on Sunday night, I was fine. Really. Honestly, I had felt a little guilty throughout the game, thinking how it is kind of unfair that the Steelers were in the Super Bowl for the third time in six years, and that they (we!) had won it two times in four years. Shouldn't someone else get a turn? Of course, that is not how it works. Life is not always fair. Clearly I should never coach or own a sport teams. Etc., etc., etc.
But I went to bed happy for the Packers. Unfortunately, I woke up once in the middle of the night, remembering that the Steelers lost, and I felt a little sad. When I woke up for good the next morning, after 7:30 a.m., thanks to that stupid two-hour delay, I thought about the "things always look better in the morning" phrase and decided that things, in fact, did NOT look better today. My team lost.
But here it is Tuesday morning, and I feel okay. It is just a game. There is always next year. The Pens still have a few more months to play and should be in the playoffs, hopefully taking it pretty far (maybe even all the way). I would say that baseball season is almost here, but I gave up hope for a winning season a decade ago. Maybe someday. Like when I am a senior citizen.
Anyway, I will end this post with two clips of the National Anthem, of which I am a big fan. I know a lot of people are not. It is hard to sing; the range is broad and high. But I have sung that baby hundreds of times (and for many years it was my dream to sing it at Steelers game as the performer). I proudly sing it during sporting events, even though not many people around me do the same. And I have sung it in my car more times than I could count. Even Jordan knows the words. In fact, I have a CD of Whitney Houston singing it, from the 1991 Super Bowl. That was the best version, in my opinion, though others have also done a good job.
Here is the clip. Sure, she dressed oddly (did people really dress like that in the '90s?), and apparently she did not sing it live (Christina, please take note!). But I find it so moving, and best of all, there were very few theatrics. I don't mind an extra high or sustained note or two, but anything beyond that ruins the song, in my opinion.
The other version I want to share pretty much goes against what I just said above. I don't remember hearing the Dixie Chicks perform this back in 2003. It may be because I was bitter about the Steelers losing to Tennessee in the playoffs so perhaps I did not watch it. Or maybe I watched it begrudgingly because I was not a fan of that groups for a couple of reasons so I blocked it out. But Yahoo recently ranked the best Super Bowl National Anthem performances and put these gals in first place. I have to say that I like it. It is a bit over the top, but to hear it sung in three-part harmony is something.
Before I end, I have to get one dig in on Christina. Also on the Fan radio station this morning, I heard Paul Alexander say that Christina blamed Bruce Arians for not giving her the right words or making her mess up. Now that was funny.
Have a great week. We'll be back again.
When the game ended on Sunday night, I was fine. Really. Honestly, I had felt a little guilty throughout the game, thinking how it is kind of unfair that the Steelers were in the Super Bowl for the third time in six years, and that they (we!) had won it two times in four years. Shouldn't someone else get a turn? Of course, that is not how it works. Life is not always fair. Clearly I should never coach or own a sport teams. Etc., etc., etc.
But I went to bed happy for the Packers. Unfortunately, I woke up once in the middle of the night, remembering that the Steelers lost, and I felt a little sad. When I woke up for good the next morning, after 7:30 a.m., thanks to that stupid two-hour delay, I thought about the "things always look better in the morning" phrase and decided that things, in fact, did NOT look better today. My team lost.
But here it is Tuesday morning, and I feel okay. It is just a game. There is always next year. The Pens still have a few more months to play and should be in the playoffs, hopefully taking it pretty far (maybe even all the way). I would say that baseball season is almost here, but I gave up hope for a winning season a decade ago. Maybe someday. Like when I am a senior citizen.
Anyway, I will end this post with two clips of the National Anthem, of which I am a big fan. I know a lot of people are not. It is hard to sing; the range is broad and high. But I have sung that baby hundreds of times (and for many years it was my dream to sing it at Steelers game as the performer). I proudly sing it during sporting events, even though not many people around me do the same. And I have sung it in my car more times than I could count. Even Jordan knows the words. In fact, I have a CD of Whitney Houston singing it, from the 1991 Super Bowl. That was the best version, in my opinion, though others have also done a good job.
Here is the clip. Sure, she dressed oddly (did people really dress like that in the '90s?), and apparently she did not sing it live (Christina, please take note!). But I find it so moving, and best of all, there were very few theatrics. I don't mind an extra high or sustained note or two, but anything beyond that ruins the song, in my opinion.
The other version I want to share pretty much goes against what I just said above. I don't remember hearing the Dixie Chicks perform this back in 2003. It may be because I was bitter about the Steelers losing to Tennessee in the playoffs so perhaps I did not watch it. Or maybe I watched it begrudgingly because I was not a fan of that groups for a couple of reasons so I blocked it out. But Yahoo recently ranked the best Super Bowl National Anthem performances and put these gals in first place. I have to say that I like it. It is a bit over the top, but to hear it sung in three-part harmony is something.
Before I end, I have to get one dig in on Christina. Also on the Fan radio station this morning, I heard Paul Alexander say that Christina blamed Bruce Arians for not giving her the right words or making her mess up. Now that was funny.
Have a great week. We'll be back again.
Comments
chosen,please learn the words.
And, Teacake, you are right, although I am pretty sure Christina knows the words. She probably just got caught up in the moment, which is the problem with her crazy version.
Someone on the P-G FB page suggested that the words be displayed on the big screen as well as on a teleprompter. Good idea.