Top Five Memorable Super Bowl Halftime Shows

Some of the shows on this list were amazing while others were notorious or just plain awful. Before you go accusing me of recent history bias, keep in mind that first twenty or so halftime shows featured either collegiate marching bands or Up With People.

1. U2 (Super Bowl XXXVI)
For the first Super Bowl after 9/11, the NFL invited U2 to play at halftime. Bono and the rest of the Irish rock band played "Beautiful Day," then performed a moving rendition of "Where The Streets Have No Name" as the names of the victims of the 9/11 attacks scrolled across screens erected behind the stage. Oh yeah, it was the first Super Bowl victory of the Patriots dynasty.





2. Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake (Super Bowl XXXVIII)
If you don't remember this halftime show, you've been living under a rock. At the conclusion of a duet performance of "Rock My Body," Timberlake grabbed a piece of Jackson's outfit and ripped it off, fleetingly exposing her breast before the lights went black. This three-quarter second glimpse of jewelry-clad nipple sent the American people into a frenzy with Congressional hearings taking place and additional crackdowns by the FCC promised.

3. Michael Jackson (Super Bowl XXVII)
After years of lackluster halftime performances, the NFL decided that if it wanted people to keep from changing the channel during the break, it needed to invite headliners to the big game. And what headliner is bigger than the King of Pop himself? After performing "Billie Jean" and "Black Or White," Jacko was joined on stage by 3,500 children from the Los Angeles area for a rendition of "Heal The World." After the song, he ran around the stage kissing some of the youngest of the kids. Knowing what we now know about Jackson, watching clips of the children making their way to the stage is like watching lambs being led to the slaughter. (Say what you will about Jackson's supposedly-platonic love of children, the man knows how to work a crowd.)



4. Prince (Super Bowl XLI)
The repercussions of Nipplegate led the gun-shy NFL to select "safe" classic rockers to play future halftime shows. After restrained, lukewarm performances by Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones, the NFL chose Prince to perform in Miami during Super Bowl XLI. Evidently, Prince missed the memo that he was supposed to tone things down and play to the over-50's corporate luxury box set. Master of theatrics that he is, Prince brought down the house in an electrifying performance, the highlight of which was his closing number, in which purple floodlights illuminated the raindrops of the first-ever Super Bowl downpour. Prince was therefore quite literally performing "Purple Rain" in purple rain.

5. Elvis Presto (Super Bowl XXIII)
In what was quite possibly the worst halftime show ever, "Be Bop Bamboozled" featured an Elvis impersonator who was also an illusionist (he called himself the Prince of Prestidigitation) singing songs from the 50's (no actual Elvis songs, however), all the while performing magic tricks. If the backup dancers in poodle skirts and the world's largest card trick failed to do it for you, the show also featured the world's first broadcast in 3-D, where viewers who had obtained special glasses from Diet Coke could put them on and see cartoons that popped out of the television during cutaways from Elvis Presto's show. If it's actually possible, the show was even worse than I'm making it sound.

Top Five Super Bowl Miscues

These horrific mistakes or otherwise boneheaded plays will go down in infamy as the worst miscues that the Super Bowl has ever seen.

1. Scott Norwood, Bills (Super Bowl XXV)
The favored Bills were trying to stave off an upset by the New York Giants. Taking the ball at their own 10-yard line with 2:16 remaining, the Bills drove to the Giants' 29, then sent Scott Norwood onto the field with :08 to play to kick what was a very makeable 47-yard FG. Norwood's kick sailed wide right, causing the Bills to lose in what would be the first of their four straight Super Bowl defeats.

2. Garo Yepremian, Dolphins (Super Bowl VII)
With the perfect Dolphins leading the Redskins 14-0, Garo Yepremian strode onto the field in the waning minutes to kick the field goal that would hopefully seal the game. His kick was blocked and the ball bounced back toward him. But instead of just falling on it, Yepremian tried to make something out of the play, picking up the ball and frantically trying to pass it to Larry Czonka. The ball slipped out of Yepremian's hands and straight up into the air when he was trying to throw it. He tried to tip it out of bounds but ended up tipping into the hands of Redskins cornerback Mike Bass who returned it for a touchdown, turning a potential 17-0 game into a 14-7 game. Fortunately for Yepremian, the Dolphins hung on for the win.

3. Leon Lett, Cowboys (Super Bowl XXVII)
This miscue never affected the game, since it took place in the fourth quarter of a blowout, but it ranks on this list for sheer embarrassment value. After the Cowboys forced Bills QB Frank Reich to fumble, the oversized Leon Lett scooped up the ball and trudged toward the end zone. With a clear field in front of him, Lett appeared to be home free. However, he made the foolish mistake of starting to celebrate before he actually reached the end zone, allowing Don Beebe to catch up and swat the ball out of his arms before he crossed the goal line. The ball bounced out the back of the end zone for a touchback, giving possession back to the Bills.

4. Baltimore Colts (Super Bowl V)
The seven turnovers committed by the Colts in the so-called "Blunder Bowl" warrant a team entry on this list. Among the numerous miscues were Ron Gardin's first-quarter fumble of a punt at his own nine-yard line, Jim Duncan's fumble of the kickoff that started the second half, Earl Morrall's end zone interception, and Mike Hinton's fumble on the 10-yard line (of a pass that he caught only by cutting in front of his teammate). Even the Colts' 75-yard touchdown pass in the first half was followed by a blocked PAT. Somehow, despite the seven giveaways and countless other examples of sloppy play, the Colts ended up with the 16-13 victory.

5. Eugene Robinson, Falcons (Super Bowl XXXIII)
This miscue took place the night before the Super Bowl. Hours after receiving the Bart Starr Award for outstanding moral character, Robinson was arrested for soliciting prostitution from an undercover police officer. For some reason, Robinson thought the best way to prepare for the big game was to get a quickie from a $40 hooker. Robinson was released from jail and allowed to play the game, but he was torched by Rod Smith for an 80-yard touchdown reception which set the stage for a runaway Broncos victory.

Top Five Super Bowl Upsets

1. Super Bowl III (Jets 16, Colts 7)
After being dominated by the NFL champion for the first two Super Bowl, the AFL was hoping for a change of fortune. Entering the game as 17-point underdogs, it didn't look like the Jets had much hope. Joe Namath's guarantee of victory was dismissed as a foolish act of desparation. But the Jets held the Colts off the scoreboard for 56 minutes of the game (helped by the fact that Johnny Unitas missed most of the game with a sore arm) and proved that the AFL could run with the big boys. A year and a half later, the leagues would merge.

2. Super Bowl XXXVI (Patriots 20, Rams 17)
In the week leading up to the Super Bowl (already postponed one week due to 9/11) we heard all about the Rams and Kurt Warner and the Greatest Show On Turf. The Pats came in as 14-point dogs and the so-called experts thought the game would be a success if they could hold the Rams under 30 points and just make things respectable. Tom Brady and crew didn't get the message, however. The Pats jumped out to a 14-3 halftime lead thanks to dominating defensive play, then ignored John Madden's advice to kneel down and play for overtime in the final 1:30, driving into field goal range, where Adam Vinatieri sealed the game with a 48-yard kick.

3. Super Bowl XXXII (Broncos 31, Packers 24)
After the Packers won their first Super Bowl since the Vince Lombardi era the year before, people expected Brett Favre to lead the Pack to a repeat championship. The NFC had won 13 straight Super Bowls and looked just as dominant this year, so nobody thought that the 12-point underdog Broncos could snap that streak. In his fourth try, though, John Elway was determined to finally claim a Super Bowl, at one point launching himself into the air and being spun around 180 degrees while trying to claim a first down.

4. Super Bowl IV (Chiefs 23, Vikings 7)
Super Bowl III was the original stunning upset of the NFL champion, but people forget that Super Bowl IV featured a similar upset victory by the AFL representative. The Minnesota Vikings, who had won 12 straight games and had broken the 50-point barrier three times during the season, entered the Super Bowl as 10-point favorites over the Chiefs. But while people expected the Vikings' defensive line, dubbed the Purple People Eaters, to control the game, it was Kansas City's defense that proved unstoppable, coming away with three interceptions and forcing two fumbles while holding Minnesota to 67 rushing yards.

5. Super Bowl XVIII (Raiders 38, Redskins 9)
It wasn't that nobody expected the three-point underdog Raiders to win, it's just that nobody expected their win to be quite so decisive. The Raiders scored touchdowns on offense, defense, and special teams -- all before halftime. Then, Marcus Allen went to town, scoring a touchdown in the third quarter on a 74-yard run, which represented only a fraction of his 191 yards on the day. Washington did manage to reach the end zone in the third quarter on a John Riggins run, only to see the PAT get blocked. Redskins fans coined their team's humiliating defeat as "Black Sunday."

Top Five Super Bowl Dynasties

In order to commemorate Super Bowl XLII (and, let's be honest, the Patriots' inevitable march toward sports immortality) we present a five-day series of Super Bowl-themed top five lists, then will cap off our coverage with a special Saturday edition of Playing The Spread. Enjoy!

1. Steelers (1970's - IX, X, XIII, XIV)
Before he was the butt of Frank Caliendo's jokes on Fox NFL Sunday, Terry Bradshaw was one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history. Along with Mean Joe Green and the rest of the Steel Curtain, the Steelers captured four Super Bowl titles in six years -- a feat which has never been equalled.

2. Patriots (2000's - XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, ???)
When they won their first Super Bowl in 2001, the Pats were a double-digit underdog to the Greatest Show On Turf, yet pulled the upset. Since then, the Pats have been consistent favorites and they have yet to disappoint. If they pull off the victory on Sunday, the Pats will put the finishing touch on the best season of all-time and will further solidify their place among Super Bowl greats.

3. 49ers (1980's - XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV)
The postseason was where Joe Montana shined, and with a supporting cast that included dynamic receivers such as Dwight Clark and Jerry Rice, alongside ever-dependable running back Roger Craig, the 49ers were one of the most electrifying postseason teams of the Super Bowl era. Even when legendary head coach Bill Walsh retired, George Seifert filled his shoes and brought the Niners back to the promised land the very next season.

4. Cowboys (1990's - XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
Dallas's Super Bowl dominance in the 1990's can be summed up in six words: Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin. Led by the Triplets, the Cowboys were able to survive boneheaded plays by their teammates (Leon Lett) and a chaotic coaching situation exarcerbated by megalomaniacal owner Jerry Jones. Of course, Neil O'Donnell throwing the ball straight into Larry Brown's hands, twice, didn't hurt.

5. Packers (1960's - I, II)
The Super Bowl era began at the tail end of the Packers' dominance. Nonetheless, Bart Starr, Vince Lombardi, and the rest of the Packers set an example for the rest of the league to follow by capturing the first two Super Bowls. If the AFL champion started playing the NFL champ beforehand, who knows how many Super Bowls the Packers would have won?

Ben's Barcelona Bible

I. LOGISTICS

A. Transportation

1. From the airport
If you are inclined to use public transportation there is a train that runs from the El Prat airport to downtown every 30 minutes. It takes about 20-30 minutes to get there. However, a cab fare is relatively affordable and efficient at about €20, before surcharges for airport trips and luggage of about €5 kick in.

2. City Center
Barcelona is a very walkable city. Most of the major sights are within a reasonable walking distance of one another. Part of the attraction of the city is just taking a stroll through the streets, imbibing in the culture, and seeing what you come across. That being said, Barcelona has a very comprehensive subway system. At €1.20 per trip (flat rate) is a very good bargain, but if you buy a 10-trip ticket at €5.90 or so, it pays for itself before it is barely halfway complete. Barcelona taxi fares are also among the cheapest anywhere in the Western World on a per mile basis.

B. Money

The official currency of Spain is the euro. At present, €1=US$1.22 and US$1=€0.88. [2008 note: Ha ha ha! Yeah right!] Spain is the cheapest country in the euro zone with the exception of Portgual and Greece. Your best exchange rates are to be found by using ATM’s and withdrawing currency from your home bank account. ATM displays can be accessed in numerous languages including English and Spanish. You should endeavour to minimize your withdrawals, as your bank will assess service fees per transaction, not based on the amount you withdraw. Alternatively, banks will offer a fair exchange rate on hard currency. Credit cards (Visa particularly, Mastercard also, American Express less so) are widely accepted, but should be used only for purchases, never for cash advances, lest your credit rating go to pieces. Carry more than one credit card, as some companies have been known to place holds on accounts if unusual (foreign) transactions take place. All products include VAT (value-added tax, or IVA in Spanish), though meals and hotels may or may not include this in the listed price. Theoretically, foreign nationals can get their VAT refunded on goods as they depart the country, but in practice, you can only obtain this refund if you exceed a certain threshold in one store. Also, please note that in Europe, a comma is used instead of a period to denote decimals, eg. 66 cents is written €0,66.

C. Language

The official language of Barcelona is Catalan, which is essentially a mix of Spanish and French (with some other local dialects mixed in). Written Catalan can be easily discerned if you know Spanish, especially if you know other Romance languages as well. Despite widespead regional pride and a general autonomy of the Catalonian state, most residents of Barcelona also speak Spanish, and many know a passable degree of English. A native Spanish speaker should have absolutely no trouble communicating.

D. Crime

Violent crime is not an issue in Barcelona, which isn’t to say that the usual, sensible precautions shouldn’t be taken (eg. secure your valuables, do not stray down dark alleys, be extra vigilant if alone). Petty street crime, particularly pickpocketing, is your biggest threat, especially in heavily touristed areas.

E. Hours of operation

The traditional Spanish schedule requires some acclimation, but it is truly a breath of fresh air, particularly for Americans used to constant hustle and bustle. Spanish stores traditionally open at 9AM or 10AM, then close at 2PM for a three-hour siesta, then reopen from 5PM to 8PM. While not every store operates on this schedule, do not be surprised to see many doors locked during the siesta. In addition, virtually nothing is open on Sunday as far as shops, so plan accordingly. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day and is taken at the beginning of siesta, while dinner is a smaller, more casual affair that waits for 10PM or so. Bars and clubs open late and stay open late.

II. SIGHTSEEING

A. Modernist architecture

Barcelona was the heart of the modernist architectural movement known as arte nouveau, which took place during the early years of the 20th century. The most famous architect of this movement is Antonio Gaudi, whose works are inescapable during a visit to Barcelona.

1. Gaudi’s houses
Gaudi’s three most well-known residences are the Palau Guell, the Casa Battlo, and the Casa Mila (also known as La Pedrera). All three are located on La Rambla or the nearby Passeig de Gracia, and all three are open to the public. My personal recommendation is to visit Casa Mila, which includes period rooms, an exhibit on Gaudi’s life and works, and a terrace area on the roof. Lines may be long, particularly during the morning hours.

2. Sagrada Familia
The Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family is Gaudi’s grandiose cathedral on the outskirts of the central downtown area. It is a modernist take on a Gothic structure, which creates a curious yet pleasing combination. Originally designed in the early 20th century, the project has remained unfinished for almost one hundred years, with an estimated completion date of thirty years hence. In addition to funding it construction, your ticket gets you entry to an exhibit in the basement as well as a stairclimb up one of the bell towers. Your sightlines are limited from this vantage point, and if the line is long, the trek might not be worthwhile.

3. Parc Guell
Gaudi’s sculpture garden, located in the north area of the city, is a cross between Candyland and Alice in Wonderland. It is perhaps the best example of Gaudi unleashed (and by unleashed, I mean on an acid trip). I don’t know quite how else to describe it besides saying that it is a spectacle worth seeing. The closest metro stop is about a kilometer away, and the walk to the park does inlolve a sizeable uphill section, so consider yourself warned. If you make it there, do ensure you take a walk away from the central plaza, and you’ll see that the rest of the park is designed in a more mellow, subtle, almost Southwestern motif.

B. Museums

1. Fundacion Joan Miro
A museum dedicated to the early 20th century artist Joan Miro is located on Montjuic. It is comprised of a rotating temporary exhibit and a permanent collection. You can purchase tickets to either the temporary exhibit or both, but not the permanent collection separately. The cool thing about Miro, I found, was how he kept certain motifs (the bold primary colors, the swirling black lines and dots) in his artwork throughout his life while applying them to different media, moving from paintings to sculpture and even tapestries. The whole museum should take no more than ninety minutes.

2. Instituto de Picasso
There is a museum displaying a chronology of Picasso’s work in the Old City. Like the Fundacion Miro, it is a museum dedicated to one artist, allowing you to see his stylistic progression over time, but unlike Miro, Picasso’s styles varied greatly depending on the phase of his life, to the point where you can’t believe that one artist was responsible for everything there. This museum also includes a rotating temporary exhibition with a separate admission.

3. Palau Nacional
The national museum of Catalonia is on the side of Montjuic and is dedicated to the ancient and medieval artifacts found in the regional. I did not have time to visit this museum on my trip, so I can’t say much more. Do ensure you check out the dancing fountain at the foot of Montjuic, below the museum. There are several shows nightly, but only during the summer months, so check the schedules. The nearby Mies van der Rohe Pavillion is unremarkable and not worth the price of admission.

C. Montjuic

Montjuic, literally “mountain of the Jews” after a Jewish cemetary was uncovered there, sits right on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is accessed by a funicular railway that goes part of the way up. From there, an elevated gondola usually runs to the summit, though it was closed for construction when I visited, substituted for by a bus. Montjuic was the site of many of the 1992 Summer Olympic venues, many of which are still present, clustered around the Palau Sant Jordi. The Castel de Montjuic, at the summit, contains a military museum. However, in my humble opinion, the true attraction to Montjuic is the pastoral urban escape it provides, despite being in the heart of the city, as well as the gorgeous vistas from atop the mountain.

D. La Rambla

La Rambla is the main boulevard of Barcelona, bisecting the Old City, and running from Placa de Catalunya to the ocean. It is a true spectacle, with street performers, hawkers, and even bird merchants lining the street. Food and wares in this area tend to be rather overpriced, so look but don’t buy. Just off La Rambla lies an open air food market, with fresh fruits, cheeses, meats, and fish. It’s certainly something we don’t get in the United States. In the vicinity of La Rambla, you will find the original Barcelona Cathedral (a nice enough building but unremarkable as European cathedrals go) and a modern art museum (decent enough, but not like the Reina Sofia in Madrid or the Orsay and Pompidou in Paris). At the top of La Rambla is Barcelona’s main outlet of El Corte Ingles, the omnipresent Spanish department store. People seem to enjoy visiting El Corte Ingles, myself included, but I couldn’t tell you why.

E. The Port

You can have a nice seaside stroll in Barcelona, down by the port district, which was redeveloped for the 1992 Olympics. Weather permitting, which it should be in June, people will sunbathe on the beach. Swimming is not recommended, due to the proximity of industrial areas. The watrefront is (predictably) where you can find the city’s best seafood restaurants, though they tend to be the city’s most expensive restaurants as well. For a hair-raising journey with some spectacular waterfront views, take the overhead cable car from the World Trade Center by the port to Montjuic (not recommended for acrophobics).

III. DINING

A. What to eat

Barcelona is not the place to dine if you’re looking for traditional Spanish food. Rather, due to its location and the autonomy of the Catalonian regions, Barcelona’s cuisine is much more of what I would call pan-Mediterranean. There are French, Italian, and even Greek influences to complement the Spanish. I can’t say there are any must-try dishes, though an authentic seafood paella (at a restaurant catering to locals, not tourists) may qualify. Rather, try stuff that looks interesting, and as long as the restaurant itself is of sufficient quality, you can’t really go wrong. Do save room for dessert, especially flan and the various pastries.

B. What to drink

Most restaurants will offer several varieties of house wine, which are smooth, easy, drinking wines to accompany your meal. They are distinguished by color – blanco, rose, and tinto. You will want to order the tinto most often, which is a dark red wine. The rose is more of a light red wine than a pink, zinfindel-esque win. If you want to try the blanco, go somewhere besides Spain. You didn’t come to Spain to drink white wine. When buying wine in stores, pass up anything labled tinto (or without a year) as that is generic table wine and not the kind of thing you want to take home. Rioja is the quintessential Spanish wine, akin to Chianti in Tuscany and Shiraz in Australia. You should also have some freshly-prepared sangria, since we can never seem to do it correctly here in the states. Keep in mind that cafes will serve alcoholic beverages in addition to coffee and standard café fare.

C. Where to eat

1. Breakfast
Most Spanish hotels do not include breakfast in the price of the room the way other European hotels are wont to do. If yours does, congratulations – you lucked out! Otherwise, a typical Spanish breakfast consists of a café or chocolate with a croissant a la plancha or churros or some other pastry. It is usually taken in a café. Keep in mind that if you stand or sit at the counter your meal will cost less than if you sat at a table, as no service charge is included. Etiquette is to leave your spare change (no more than €1 per person at absolute most, and more like €0.50) as a tip to the bartender. If you want to start your day with a true sugar high, find somewhere that offers a Xoco Bomba, which is rich chocolate, condensed milk, and whipped cream.

2. Lunch
The day’s biggest meal is lunch and is traditionally served around 2PM. The only restaurant I will single out for you is called Els Quatre Gats, which is where Picasso and his bohemian buddies used to hang out and be brilliant. In addition to being superb food, its three-course prix fixe menu that also includes wine, is one of the city’s best deals at €10.97 plus VAT. Ensure that restaurants include service in the bill (most should), but you should still tip some spare change (no more than 5%). Avoid any restaurants with picture menus, as they likely offer low-quality, overpiced food to tourists. An English language menu is not necessarily a deal killer. If a restaurant is filled with locals, chances are you can get a good meal there. Steer well clear of La Rambla if you want to sample authentic food.

3. Dinner
Dinner tends to be a more casual, relaxed affair than lunch. Many people start their evenings at tapas bars, where you can get single piece canapes and other snack while having a drink. I do not know how the tapas bar etiquette works as far as pricing, ordering, etc., as I was too intimidated to try. The actual meal is a relatively short, simple affair, consisting of something like a platter of assorted cold cuts and cheeses, or a sandwich, or a salad. Any Spanish cured ham is delicious. I also recommend manchego and mahon cheese. Also available are larger portions of tapas, called raciones. Ordering four dishes of raciones, for two people to split, should suffice.

Von Amerika Nach München

Well, tomorrow morning I head off for yet another transatlantic trip. This time, I'm visiting close friend and faithful reader (and correspondent) Tigger who now resides in the heart of Bavaria. We'll have a report and photos when I return, along with a week of Super Bowl-themed top five lists to commemorate the Greatest Team Ever's quest for perfection.

In the meanwhile, tomorrow's post will fulfill yet another request for a travel destination review. It's actually a reprint of the Barcelona bible I drafted back in 2005. It's long, so hopefully, it will tide you all over for the next five days. (Keep in mind that information presented was correct back in 2005 and I make no guarantees as to whether any aspect, particularly prices, remains up to date.)

Until next week, I leave you with my best Heidi Klum impression: "Auf Weidersehen!"

The Amazing Race 12 Destination Recap

The twelfth edition of The Amazing Race is in the books with TK and Rachel claiming the million dollar championship. It was the most satisfying conclusion to TAR in quite some time since none of the three final teams were particularly objectionable. Here's my rundown of the destinations they visited:

Los Angeles - It seems like LA is a popular spot for TAR departures. I suppose that having a major international airport right there helps the producers find flights, but I prefer when teams have to find their way to and fly out of airports in secondary cities (Las Vegas, Seattle, Miami, etc.).

Ireland - Great that TAR finally made it to Ireland. The race did a great job showing off the Irish countryside, though I didn't learn all that much about the culture. I enjoyed the challenge of hauling donkeys along a path, though such a challenge could have been performed in just about any agricultural region.

Netherlands - Not the first time that TAR visited Amsterdam, but as a pedestrian and bike-friendly country, the Netherlands offers a great departure from the usual taxi riding. It was also neat to get away from the city and check out what the Dutch countryside is like.

Burkina Faso - Mad props to TAR for visiting an African country with limited tourist infrastructure and ultra mad props for sending teams into the middle of nowhere to visit tribal villages. One of the most fascinating parts of the show is watching how contestants interact with locals when forcibly removed from their comfort zones. Predictably, the flower children and Goths did fine while the shrewish blonds didn't.

Lithuania and Croatia - It's about time that TAR made it to these increasingly popular tourist destinations on the wrong side of the former Iron Curtain. Despite being a few hundred miles from familiar European destinations, Lithuania and Croatia and their Baltic and Balkan brethren are still largely shrouded in mystery. TAR provided some much-needed exposure.

Italy - Italy is one of those countries that has various regions, each with its own identity. TAR has visited Rome, Sicily, Venice, Milan, and the Dolomites, so why not pass through Tuscany this time?

India - India has become a nearly-obligatory stop on each season of TAR and each visit ensures that contestants will be thrust into a strange land and a strange culture. It does help that most of the locals speak at least some English, but still, the throngs of people and the undeveloped infrastructure provide a significant challenge. This season's trip to India certainly didn't disappoint.

Japan - It was great that TAR visited a Japanese city besides Tokyo. However, as long as the contestants flew into Osaka, I would have preferred that they spend an additional 45 minutes on the train and go all the way to Kyoto. Osaka is primarily an industrial city while Kyoto offers much more by way of historical and cultural attractions. Contestants were certainly challenged by having to navigate the streets and markets of Japan, but I think that Kyoto would have been more educational.

Taiwan - People tend to forget that Taiwan even exists since the word "China" only evokes the mainland country. Therefore, TAR's stop on the island made for an intriguing look at Taiwanese culture. I wish we could have scene even more of this unfamiliar land, since the automobile stuntyard didn't seem intrinsically Taiwanese and the teahouse and park struck me as generically Asian. (Who knew that Taiwan had a bullet train? I sure didn't.)

Anchorage - TAR regularly has a penultimate stop in Alaska, Hawaii, or Canada. These destinations tend to offer some of the most exciting outdoor activity challenges and the glacier climb on this season was no exception. It was also interesting to see what an Alaskan city looks like (basically like any other American city). However, it was strange for the race to end in Alaska. I was half expecting the teams to reboard airplanes and return to the mainland for a race to the final pit stop.

Playing The Spread 2K7, Conference Championships

Peyton Manning sucks.

You may have thought that after last year's stunning 18-point comeback against the Patriots in the AFC Championship, Peyton Manning had finally shook the postseason monkey off his back and could assume a spot among the pantheon of elite quarterbacks of the past forty years.

Well, you'd be wrong.

Once again, in typically spectacular fashion, Peyton Manning and the Colts have flared out of the playoffs prematurely. Two years ago, Manning received a huge gift in the form of a goal-line fumble by the usually sure-handed Jerome Bettis, yet Manning couldn't get his team close enough to the end zone and Mike Vanderjagt shanked a field goal. This time around, San Diego's leader passer, rusher, and receiver were all either lost or hampered due to injuries throughout the game. The Colts were also the beneficiaries of some phantom penalty calls (is there any doubt any more that NFL officiating is rigged in the Colts' favor?) that took points off the board for the Chargers. Yet, the Colts still managed to let some guy named Billy Volek drive the length of the field, and when time was running short, Manning bounced the ball of Dallas Clark's hands and the game was over. (Naturally, it was Clark's fault for not catching it.)

Some Patriots fans say that if their team wins the Super Bowl without going through the Colts, it will be an empty feeling. I say that's hogwash. First of all, you don't choose your opponents. You can only win the Super Bowl by defeating the teams that the NFL puts in your way and you get the same Vince Lombardi Trophy no matter who it is. Did the 2007 World Series really feel like a consolation prize after the Indians knocked off the Yankees? Second, instead of playing the Colts, the Pats will have to play the team that beat the Colts, who, at least theoretically, are better.

I go into each NFL postseason hoping to see two things: Tom Brady hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy and Peyton Manning making his sulky face. We're halfway there.

The following picks are for entertainment purposes only and should not be the basis for any actual cash wagers.

Last Week: 1-3
Season To Date: 117-135-12
Final Best Bets: 10-9
Final The Monkey: 10-6-3

Chargers (+14) over Patriots
During the first half of the season, the Pats blew opponents out of the water, making 60-yard passes look routine while running up the score with no quarter. During the second half of the season, the Pats dissected their opponents with surgical precision, making big plays when they needed to while doing just enough to win. The former might be more fun, but the latter is more exciting. WIN

Packers (-7) over Giants
Please, Brett Favre, do everything you possibly can to allow us to experience a Manning-free Super Bowl. LOSS

Top Five Unique Airport Runways

1. Gibraltar Airport, Gibraltar
This airport's 6,000 foot runway is longer than the promontory of Gibraltar is wide (about 4,000) feet. As a result, the final third of the runway is on landfill protruding into the Atlantic Ocean. But the unique feature is that the only road connecting Gibraltar with the rest of Europe crosses the runway at grade. When a flight is taking off or landing, security personnel block the road on either side. Once the flight is off the runway, the gates open up and private vehicles drive straight across.

2. Barra Airport, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
At this airport, planes take-off and land on the beach of the Traigh Mhor. Wooden posts mark where each of the the three runways starts and ends. But when the tide comes in, the runways disappear. British Airways, which runs scheduled service to and from Barra, must therefore schedule flights to correspond with low tides.

3. Princess Juliana Airport, St. Maarten
This airport's runway sits mere feet from Maho Beach. At 7,152 feet, it's barely long enough to handle the widebody jets that fly in from Europe. To ensure enough room for landing, pilots must fly at an extremely low altitude over the beach. As a result, beachgoers are often thrown into the surf thanks to the jet blast they experience at close proximity. Check out this video to see how close the aircraft get to the beach and this one to see what the jet blast can do.

4. Madeira Airport, Funchal, Madeira (Portugal)
When originally constructed, this runway was wedged between tall mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. At only 4,600 feet, it was scarcely long enough for commercial flights from the European mainland. After an TAP Air Portugal 727 sailed off the end of the runway and over a cliff, crashing into the beach, the airport authorities decided to extend the runway. Without much additional land to work with, the airport constructed the runway extension over the water, supporting it with giant pillars around which people can swim or boat at high tide.

5. Lukla Airport, Lukla, Nepal
This airport, nestled among the Himalayas, is the conduit for hikers seeking to scale Mt. Everest. The 1,476-foot runway is sloped downward, with a wall of mountains behind the higher end and a sheer 2,000-foot drop at the lower end. Airplanes take off downhill, and if they can't reach takeoff velocity while on the runway, they drop into the valley and hopefully gain enough lift before they hit bottom. Pilots seeking to land must do so uphill and must keep in mind that the mountains in place do not allow sufficient room for airlines to abort landing and go around. If you aren't unable to land, you're dead.

Zooming In On Zurich

As happens from time to time here at It's A Magical World!, one of our faithful readers (and it's usually the same one every time) writes in to request travel advice for some far-flung location that I've happened to have visited. Today's spotlight shines on Zurich.

What To See
Basically, leave Zurich. While Zurich is a pleasant, easily-navigable business center, its tourist appeal is its status as a rail transit hub. Zurich is an hour (or an hour and change) away from several, more interesting destinations:

Bern - Switzerland's capital boasts parliamentary buildings, national museums, performing arts venues, Classical architecture, and a beautiful central town square.

Lucerne - This postcard-perfect town sits on a pristine lake at the foot of a prominent mountain. In the old town, medieval-era guilds painted frescos on the side of buildings. They remain today.

Basel - While this city on the Rhine may primarily be a shipping center, Basel is uniquely located at the confluence of three countries, allowing you to walk from Switzerland through Germany into France in the span of about eight minutes.

Schaffhausen - Another town with a beautifully-decorated central square (though largely reconstructed after it was "accidentally" bombed by the Allies in WWII). Be sure to check out the Rhinefall, which, though it might not be Europe's tallest, is certainly Europe's most powerful waterfall.

Lauterbrunnen Valley - Okay, so it's about two hours from Zurich to Interlaken, which is the gateway to the Lauterbrunnen Valley. But it's worth the trip. From there, a series of trains and trams takes you into the heart of the Alps. The mountains tower literally 10,000 feet above the floor of the valley. You can see four distinct climactic zones as you look upward. Many of the towns on the lip of the valley prohibit cars, adding to the pastoral nature of the area. When the snow melts during the spring, waterfalls emerge everywhere. If weather permits, my recommendation is to take the tram up to Murren and then hike down into the valley. It is one of the most splendid walks I've ever experienced.

Of course, if you insist upon staying in Zurich, I recommend you walk south from the main train station along the Linmatquai, cross over the Quaibrucke, and walk back up the other side. There are some interesting shops, markets, cobblestone streets, parks, and churches. I'll give you about three hours before you get bored and hop on a train elsewhere.

What To Do
If sightseeing grows old, go for a walk! Switzerland has a network of footpaths criss-crossing the country, all of which are well-marked and well-maintained. Nothing beats a hike through the Alps. Depending on the time of year, you can even go skiing.

What To Eat
Swiss food isn't particularly distinctive. With three distinct areas where three different languages are spoken, cuisine in each region tends to resemble that of its neighbor, rather than anything indigenously Swiss. In other words, you'll find German food in Zurich, French food in Geneva, etc. However, the Swiss tend to use more cheese than any of its neighbors, for obvious reasons. As a lunch, I recommend a raclette, which is made by placing a block of Gruyere under a heatlamp then scooping off the top layer of melted cheese and placing it on a slice of baguette. I'd also suggest Rosti, which traditionally are fried, shredded potatoes, though I prefer variations that bake the potatoes in the oven along with cheese, meat, or vegetables. And of course, fondue. Be prepared to pay through the teeth for any of these delicacies.

What To Drink
In central Europe, you really can't go wrong with beer of just about any type. I'd recommend that you make a point to try Swiss wine. The quality is comparable to French and Italian wines, but since the limited size of the Swiss wine industry essentially precludes exports, you get an additional novelty factor.

How To Get Around
As this space has mentioned before, the Swiss rail system is second to none in terms of coverage, frequency, and punctuality. No matter where you want to go, a train will be leaving within an hour. You'll be paying for this privilege, however. If you'll be in Switzerland for four days and plan on riding the rails a lot, buy a Swiss Pass for CHF 255. Otherwise, there really is no good way to save money. Make sure you purchase your ticket (and validate it, if necessary) before boarding, because if you're caught onboard without one, penalties are severe.

What I Like And Dislike About The New American Gladiators

Three episodes of the new show is more than enough for me to pass judgment. Note that I grew up with the original version of the show and am judging the revival in comparison with the original.

What I Like
- Events that stayed true to the spirit of the original: Joust, The Wall, Pyramid, Gauntlet, Hang Tough
- The water pit in play for many of those events
- Gladiators with their own personalities or gimmicks (especially Wolf and Toa), rather than carbon-copy bobybuilders
- Gladiator Crush -- gorgeous!
- Hit-and-run, a fun new event
- Better gladiator uniforms

What I Dislike
- Five events instead of seven
- Men and women participate in different events
- Eliminator doesn't involve gladiators, at all
- Eliminator is too grueling and is often decided by who can surmount the course-ending travelator
- The referee who insists on channeling Michael Buffer
- Between the disembodied play-by-play commentary and glorified sideline reporters Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali, the show is presented less as a sporting event and more like theater. Where's Mike Adamle when you need him!
- The audience singing "Another One Bites The Dust" or "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" when someone gets thrown into the water on Joust or Assault
- Assault now requires you to load your own ammunition, making it difficult to complete the course in 60 seconds
- The Powerball canisters are bigger and the court is fenced in by boards
- The new theme song (or lack thereof)

Playing The Spread 2K7, Divisional Playoffs

Up until the 2000 season, the first two weekends of the NFL postseason featured games at 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Then, suddenly, the brains at the TV networks realized both that a 12:30 start time on the East Coast was a 9:30 morning start time in the West and that the vast wasteland of Saturday night primetime TV could become populated by means of a sporting event that people actually want to watch.

Hence, we have the current playoff schedule. I understand the reasoning behind it, but I'm not sure I really like it. It seems like the wait for games to start on Saturday is interminable. Sure, you can spend hours watching the talking heads on the NFL Network, but after getting used to a 1:00 p.m. game on every Sunday during the season, having to wait until 4:30 (not just 4:00) is a major frustration. And the Saturday evening game finishes just before midnight, making for a late night (especially if you want to watch the post-game analysis) followed by another full day of football that requires you to awake at a decent hour.

Well, as Bill Belichick likes to say, it is what it is, so you might as well get used to it.

The following picks are for entertainment purposes only and should not be the basis for any actual cash wagers.

Last Week: 1-3
Season To Date: 116-132-12
Best Bets: 10-8
The Monkey: 9-6-3

Seahawks (+7.5) over Packers
Brett Favre announced a desire to continue playing for the Packers and leave perennial benchwarmer Aaron Rodgers with the second sorest buttocks in pro sports, behind only Roger Clemens. LOSS

Patriots (-13.5) over Jaguars
Tom Brady shows off his innermost metrosexual in a series of ads for Glaceau bottled water. Unfortunately, the company couldn't afford to hire both Brady and the baby goat. LOSS

Colts (-9.5) over Chargers
San Diego has been Indianapolis' achilles heel over the past few years. Antonio Cromartie is licking his chops at the chance to face off against Peyton Manning. And how great would it be if both Mannings choke in the postseason on the same day? LOSS

Giants (+7.5) over Cowboys
Tony invites his new girlfriend Jessica to a game for the first time, but the blond beauty's presence serves as a distraction to Tony's team, which collapses against an inferior opponent. Tony's teammate Terrell tells him not to bring Jessica around anymore. Meanwhile, Michael, who plays for a rival team, announces that he'd love to date Jessica if Tony isn't interested in her anymore. No, it's not Friday Night Lights -- it's the NFL. WIN

BEST BETS: Patriots (-13.5) over Jaguars LOSS

THE MONKEY: Chargers (+9.5) over Colts WIN

Top Five American Gladiators Events

In honor of the revival of the show, I present my all-time top five events in American Gladiators history.

1. Atlasphere
In American Gladiators' version of demolition derby, each contender is enclosed in a giant steel hamster ball which he/she rolls around the arena and tries to settle in one of four scoring pods. If a point is scored, the scoring pod blows smoke into the air. But making things difficult are two gladiators in their own atlaspheres who try to ram into the contenders and keep them from reaching the pods.

2. Assault
Five (or four) stations with various weapons are positioned throughout the arena. Contenders zigzag between each one, firing different types of ordnance (crossbow, cannon, pellet gun, softball grenades, and -- my personal favorite -- the rocket launcher) at a target. Meanwhile, the gladiator stands behind the target and fires tennis balls at 100 m.p.h., trying to hit the contender before they hit the target.

3. The Wall
Scaling a forty-foot rock wall in less than a minute is hard enough. But The Wall sends a gladiator up the wall after each contender. With only a ten-second head start, the gladiators quickly catch up and grab the contenders by the ankles to try to pry them off. If the contenders can somehow elude the grasp of the gladiators while continuously climbing higher and higher, they can conquer The Wall.

4. Pyramid
The concept is similar to The Wall: contenders must climb to the top of a thirty-foot pyramid built from gym mats. Gladiators try to keep them from reaching the top, but this time, the gladiators start on high ground. The gladiators' strategy usually involves tackling the contenders and tumbling with them all the way to the bottom, where the contenders must summon enough intestinal fortitude to try again.

5. Hang Tough
Two platforms are erected in the arena with rings hanging from the ceiling that spans the gap between them. The contender starts from one platform and tries to swing over the opposite platform. But a gladiator starts from the other side with her sights fixed on the contender. Oftentimes, the contender is left holding on for dear life in the middle of the arena with a massive gladiator clutching onto her body.

Top Five Hints For International Air Travel

As someone who has flown over 255,000 miles since 2003 (yes, I've kept track), I want to share some strategies for how to make international flights a more pleasurable experience and minimize the attendant hassles.

1. Fly foreign airlines
Almost unconditionally, flying a non-American airline to an intercontinental destination will yield a more pleasurable experience. It starts with the booze that's free on virtually all foreign airlines but costs mucho dinero on virtually all U.S.-based airlines. It continues with the attitudes of flight attendants -- while American FA's see their jobs as nothing more than ensuring you get to your destination safely, many foreign FA's actually want you to legitimately enjoy your trip. Plus, when you fly a foreign airline, your cultural experience begins the second you set foot on the plane.

2. Own your misconnection
Airlines will allow you to book a 40-minute late afternoon domestic-to-international connection through O'Hare Airport. Prudent travelers will avoid doing so. Ensure you have plenty of time to make your connection in case of delays. On the way back, or if connecting abroad, ensure you have plenty of time to complete any customs or immigration formalities. Be especially wary if you're taking the only daily flight from a given city to a given destination -- if you miss it, you might be waiting a full day for the next trip. Better to spend three hours awaiting a connection than 24 hours dealing with a misconnection. (By contrast, connections abroad are less of a concern, since once you're already in Europe, it's easier for the airlines to get you where you ultimately need to go.) Flights are late all the time, and while airlines will get you to your destination, they might not be able to do so quickly. Advance planning can reduce such inconveniences.

3. Scope things out in advance
Thanks to the internet, travelers have a wealth of information at the their fingertips which will help them navigate unfamiliar foreign airlines and airports. If airlines allow you pick your seats in advance, visit seatguru.com to find out where you'll be most comfortable sitting on the plan where you'll be stuck for eight to twelve hours. Most airport websites have schematic maps allowing travelers to know where they need to go for check in. Some even have videos explaining how to navigate customs and immigration channels. If you're transferring between terminals, or if your departure airport has multiple terminals, it's helpful to know in advance where your flights will arrive depart.

4. Become an elite-level frequent flier
If you reach a certain annual frequent-flier mile threshold, you can earn elite status. This status grants you such privileges as the right to use special check-in desks with reduced lines, special security checkpoints in some airports, and airline VIP lounges. Not only do these lounges provide better food and drink than you can get on the plane, they have customer service representatives who can rebook you as necessary in case of a misconnection. Furthermore, elite-level frequent fliers improve their chances at upgrades and are more likely to get special attention from airline employees who wish to thank their loyal customers. The 50,000 miles it takes to reach this level may seem like a lot, but individuals who travel internationally three or four times a year can come close just by confining their travels to one airline or alliance.

5. Relax and enjoy yourself
It may be hard to stay positive when dealing with asinine security procedures, cantankerous immigration officials, and never-ending queues. However, the fact of the matter is that the ability to step on an airplane and be transported across an ocean overnight, all for a few hundred dollars, is an amazing feat. It used to take days on an ocean liner to cover the ground that a plane can travel in eight hours. Besides, there is something magical about soaring through the air. To this day, I am filled with excitement anytime an airplane speeds down the runway on its takeoff roll. Commercial flight remains a miracle of engineering and nothing the government or the airlines do can really take that feeling away.

Playing The Spread 2K7, Wild Card Weekend

Now that the regular season is over, we arrive at that peculiar part of the season where teams with strong records hit the road to face off against teams with lesser records who happen to play in division with weak teams. It doesn't quite seem fair.

In college sports, roughly two-thirds of a given team's schedule is played against conference opponents. The team's conference record is tabulated and reported separately. Conference champions are named based only on how those teams did in conference play. When it comes to seeding teams for the NCAA playoffs, conference champions qualify automatically but receive no special placement (or even a guarantee of a home game, where applicable) because of their championship. Teams' overall record (along with strength of schedule) determines where they sit in the NCAA brackets.

So, it seems really odd to give NFL division champions a home game, yet base that designation on their sixteen-game record, not just how they did against the three teams in their particular division. And furthermore, these divisions are artificial constructs. Unlike the Big Ten, SEC, and their brethren, NFL divisions are nothing more than eight quasi-regional groupings of 32 roughly equal teams. Divisions lack the same personalities or traditions of collegiate conferences.

Furthermore, with only four teams per division, one of whom is guaranteed a home game, there is a significant risk that a team will get a home game simply by being a mediocre team that was grouped in. It's bad enough that the divisional structure allows an 8-8 team to make the postseason when a 10-6 team can theoretically be left out, but it's worse that the 8-8 team would get a home game while the 11-5 wild card team would have to hit the road.

As a result, the Giants must travel to Tampa this weekend as punishment for being placed in the same division as the Dallas Cowboys, while the Bucs are rewarded simply because they had a better season than the Falcons, Saints, and Panthers. It really doesn't matter how the Bucs did in relation to the other 28 teams and I think that's wrong.

The following picks are for entertainment purposes only and should not be the basis for any actual cash wagers.

Last Week: 5-10-1
Season To Date: 115-129-12
Best Bets: 10-7
Final Eliminator: 14-3 (Streak: W 5)
The Monkey: 8-6-3

Redskins (+3) over Seahawks
While the Skins have been riding late-season momentum and seem downright invincible at this point, the Seahawks probably wouldn't have even made the playoffs if they were an AFC team. If Sean Taylor's murder couldn't keep the Skins down, the Seahawks sure won't be able to do so. LOSS

Jaguars (-3) over Steelers
Don't we already know how this game turns out? Of course, with several key injuries to the Steelers, it won't be nearly as close as it was two weeks ago. LOSS

Bucs (-3) over Giants
Every team that gave the Patriots a run for their money this year (all of which, need I point out, were unsuccessful) has found itself on the tail end of the game they played the next week. It happened to the Ravens, Eagles, and Jets, so I have to imagine the same fate will befall the Giants on Sunday. LOSS

Chargers (-10.5) over Titans
If the Titans could only manage a six-point win against Jim Sorgi and the Colts backups (particularly when their failure to call a last-minute time-out showed exactly how much they cared about that game), they don't have a prayer against the Chargers' starters. WIN

BEST BET: Jaguars (-3) over Steelers LOSS

THE MONKEY: Giants (+3) over Bucs WIN

Every Bowl For Itself

As we are currently in the prime of college football bowl season, I take this opportunity to highlight a major difference between football's and basketball's respective postseasons.

I speak not of the fact that there are 63 less college football teams that are eligible for the national championship three weeks before it is decided. Rather, I take note that college bowls are all more or less independent entities with their own self-interested motivations whereas March Madness is one unified, coherent tournament with no competition.

What should be the goal of a postseason? To reward the best teams? To formulate the most interesting matchups? To sell the most tickets? To maintain an enjoyable tradition? Different bowls pursue different objectives. The Rose Bowl slavishly insists on matching up the best available teams from the Big Ten and Pac-10, even if will inevitably result in a one-sided blowout. Boston College, despite enjoying a top ten ranking for half the season, was relegated to the Champs Sports Bowl largely because people in the Northeast are unaware that college football exists, making bowl games reluctant to invite a team whose fans (or lack thereof) will leave a stadium half-empty.

In a classic example of game theory, each individual bowl is concerned only with making its own game as successful (however they choose to define it) as possible. Individual bowls care little about ensuring the postseason as a whole is entertaining. No bowl wants to take one for the team when those other bowls aren't about to share their gate receipts.

When it comes to March Madness however, the NCAA takes the 31 automatic qualifiers and the 34 best-qualified non-champions, puts them in a bracket, and allows mayhem to ensue. Good games are inevitable -- you just never quite know where they'll spring up. Fans will, by and large, fill the seats, ensuring a healthy bottom line. And as for tradition? The line of succession that includes Valparaiso, Gonzaga, Butler, and George Mason is one of the greatest traditions in sports.

Happy New Year!

Now that the confetti has been cleaned up and Dick Clark has been returned to the cryogenic chamber for yet another year, it is my pleasure to wish all of you a very happy new year.

With a new year comes a new set of digits to get used to writing at the conclusion of numerical dates (usually takes me about three weeks to figure that one out) and a year-to-date total of zero miles on my frequent flier account (the annual quest for 50,000 and Premier Executive status begins anew). But with a new year also comes a new set of blog posts and a continuation of meaningless top five lists, offbeat opinions, and a set of six newly-authorized state quarters (for the District of Columbia and the territories) that will require ratings.

Enjoy!