am normally jealous of the officials who get to work the really big games. It must be the thrill of a lifetime. Right now, I am really jealous because they did not have to watch a formaldahyde-enhanced Steven Tyler belt out a medley of bad Aerosmith songs. They are lucky.

I am back again this year, parked on the couch, prepared to eat unhealthy foods, drink Cokes and watch the officials more than the players.

Note: You should know that David writes this article as it happens; nothing is done after-the-fact.

I am picking the Patriots to win this one, but I don't really have a big preference. My only real hangup is that the game not be so close as to cause Jeff Kearney to have a heart attack. Game 7 of the ALCS almost got him; he may not be able to handle another one.

As most of you already know, Ed Hochuli has been selected as the Referee for today's game. Ed Hochuli is a very good official, working his second Super Bowl game.

As the players are arranged by harried-looking NFL PR people, I already know that I am going to be dissapointed. Given his enormous pipes, I want Hochuli to forsake the souvenir coin in favor of flipping a man hole cover. He could to it, so why not?

Opening Kickoff:

A boring return is made exciting by pushing after the whislte. Hochuli breaks its up nicely. More notably, backup Referee Bill Carollo runs onto the field to help Hochuli break things up. It has a real WWE feel. "Oh, no, They are playing Carollos' music." You half expect him to come flying in and hit someone with a chair. If this keeps up, it will be a lot of fun.

11:21 - 1st Quarter:

Tom Brady just threw away a pass inside the 30 of the Panthers. No one was thinking that it was intentional grounding, but Hochuli explains it anyway. He loves to talk!

11:21 - 1st Quarter - FLAG:

Continued...