America’s biggest sporting event – the Super Bowl – kicks off on Monday, and even if football isn’t your thing, there’s more than enough entertainment to go around.
On average, 1 billion people around the world watch the National Football League’s championship showpiece, which kicks off at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey at 12.35pm, Monday (NZT). Stories about the game, halftime show and blockbuster ads are lighting up homepages from the nytimes.com to stuff.co.nz.
There’s more stories and stats around than you could through chicken wing at – never mind the 1.25 billion that will be eaten on game day.
Denver Broncos superstar quarterback Peyton Manning. Photo: Unknown
This year’s show down is between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. The Broncos have a superstar quarterback (he’s the guy that calls the plays) in Payton Manning. He’s a 37-year-old record-breaking football legend and earns a cool $18 million salary. The Seahawks have one of the most entertaining player in the league, and it’s not just for his skills on the field.
Richard Sherman was US$7875 fined for taunting the San Francisco 49ers in the game that took the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. After the game he ranted about the final play. Sherman later said his postgame comments were ''misdirected and immature," but he is not a villain or a thug.
If you believe in the predicative abilities of orangutans, one known as Eli the ape has picked the Seahawks to win. Eli ran into an enclosure Thursday morning and knocked down a pâpiér-maché helmet bearing the Seahawks logo, signalling his pick, said Erica Hansen of Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City told Associated Press. The orangutan has correctly picked the Super Bowl winner for six straight years.
New Zealand’s TAB, however, is picking the Broncos by a slim margin.