Super Bowl Winners and Losers

OK, the Big Game is over. The globe is still spinning on its axis, the sun rose this morning, and Barack Obama remains president of the United States. With those issues firmly settled, we can indulge ourselves in a game of Super Bowl winners and losers.

Super Bowl 2013, in partial darkness
(photo: Denver Post)

Winner -- me. I didn't go crazy buying expensive booze and vittles. I did enjoy a pork chop, some black bean and roasted corn salsa, and Victory Pilsner. I also stayed home, which meant I really didn't care what happened to the Superdome's lighting.

Winner -- Twitter. Over 24 million tweets during the game, according to an AP story in today's siliconvalley.com. "Lights out" turned out to be a boon for the Twitterati.

Winner -- referees. Zebras let the players play. That was a big plus for the older, slower, but street-wiser Ravens.

Winner -- Baltimore fans, whose team defeated the Colts (a team all Charm City residents thoroughly despise), defeated Peyton Manning (former Colt), and won the World Championship.

Winner -- Dodge, for the old school Paul Harvey commercial that really held one's attention.

Loser -- NFL, for its mismanagement of "lights out at the Superdome." League is still not talking about why the juice vanished. Even Con Edison during a New York blackout does better than that. There's something very fishy about this incident, as Super Bowls, among the world's highest profile events, get rigorous security checks. Hard to believe NFL doesn't have a clue it can share with the public. NFL almost hit the loser's daily double when the Lombardi Trophy temporarily vanished after the game. Can't blame that one on the lights, can you?

Loser -- Jim Harbaugh. He didn't deign to be interviewed by CBS immediately after the game. League will not forget this snub at its showcase event. San Francisco coach rapidly getting a bad rep with the media.

Loser -- CBS. Ratings down a little. Small market teams, such as the Ravens, are ratings poison. I hate to write that, as I happen to like Baltimore's feel and history.

Loser -- All those who put their cash on the 49ers.