Has This Media Game Changed or What? How I Watched SB45 Commercials

I feel like I'm late to this party, but this morning was as big a light bulb moment as I've had in a long time and it's all because I watched some of more interesting Super Bowl XLV commercials.

I didn't get the chance to watch much of the game because I was working on a story on the people who paid $200 to watch SB45 on the Party Plazas at Cowboys Stadium. They were stuck outside, in the cold rain and had to use portable, unisex toilets. EEEWWWWW. Some people even paid more than the $200 face value for the tickets, buying them on Ebay or from scalpers. Here is a link to my video blog about the experience.

So, this morning, still a little pre-coffee groggy but wanting to see what's going on in the world, I fire up the Ipad while still in bed. I go to my new favorite app, Flipboard. From the Huffington Post feed, I read a story about the 10 best Super Bowl commercials which provides YouTube links to each.

Maybe this is how you consume your visual media but this was a moment for me. I have gone from being upset I missed the ads, to recording them on a VCR, to the DVR to now watching them on an IPad screen at my leisure at any time of day I want.

That's the future. And it's kind of exciting.

Ironically, my favorite Super Bowl commercial was the most nostalgic: The NFL's Best Fans Ever commercial that used clips from some of our favorite sitcoms. Anything that incorporates Happy Days, The Sopranos, Seinfeld and Family Guy in one spot is a hit.   I didn't even mind all the product placement.

You can actually view and vote for your favorite ad here.

Here's mine:

Ain't No Party Like a Super Bowl Party.....at the White House

Parties galore kick-off in full-wing across Dallas Thursday night in advance of Super Bowl XLV.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his family are hosting a bash for NFL owners at Cowboys Stadium.  Jamie Foxx is reportedly performing.

My mother is actually sponsoring one benefiting the Ron Springs and Everson Walls Gift for Life Foundation at the Fashion Industry Gallery.

How surreal is that? At least I'm assured of getting into that one. I hope.

None of those compare to the ultimate party invite. President Obama is hosting one at the White House. The guest list includes Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony as well as elected officials from Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

A White House spokesman says about 100 people are expected to attend including Attorney General Eric Holder, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Pennsylvania Senators Pat Toomey and Roberty Casey Jr. and Wisconsin congressman Reid Ribble.

So, is that the ultimate Super Bowl party invite? (I would kill to attend) Regardless of your political affiliation would you go?

Mike Tomlin isn't Concerned About Big Ben's Fort Worth Night Out "One Iota"

And neither should we.

By now you might have seen the TMZ video of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger singing Billy Joel's "Piano Man" at downtown Fort Worth's Pete's Dueling Piano Bar Tuesday night.  Big Ben reportedly bought a round of drinks for the bar, rang up an $800 tab and took care of the servers, tipping $200.

THEN there's this about Hines Ward, Ike Taylor and "a number of other pro athletes" enjoying a Dallas strip club Monday night.  Ward skirted the issue.

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin says that his players being spotted out and about is a non-issue.

"I am not concerned about that one iota," Tomlin said at Thursday's media session at Daniel Meyer Coliseum. "It's normal for guys to eat dinner, believe it or not, every now and then during the course of a week leading up to a game. So this week is no different from any other."

Tomlin wants his team to treat Super Bowl week just like any other game week.

"I understand things may be viewed and reported differently but that's not our concern," he added.

Apparently it's been a tradition for Roethlisberger to take his teammates out to eat during Tuesday nights during the week.  They enjoyed bar-b-que before their trip to Pete's.

Lots of media types have been on the record criticizing the Steelers for their after-work activities this week.  "Why can't they just stay at the hotel and watch movies?"  is one refrain.  I get it that Roethlisberger's situation is marred by a number of incidents, having been accused of rape twice but never brought up on charges.  His appearance anywhere in cell-phone video world will raise eyebrows, especially during Super Bowl week.  But I also think that too many people have unreal expectations on athletes.  They're no different from any of us, just paid better.

"Believe it or not - guys live lives," Tomlin said this morning.

Trust me. You don't want to know what Cowboys players were doing when they won those three Super Bowls in the 90's

Issue?  Non-issue?  What are your thoughts?

Super Bowl XLV Parties, Already Half Off

It was like a late Christmas this morning when I logged on to my computer and found my email inbox sprinkled with offers from Groupon and Seize the Deal touting half off the Dallas SuperBash 2011, hosted by Pamela Anderson, and the Aces & Angels bash, hosted by Gene Simmons and wife Shannon Tweed.

Woo-hoo.

YES! You Can Get Super Bowl XLV Tickets AND Help Two Worthy Causes

The days leading up to Super Bowl XLV will feature parties galore, celebrities arriving in droves and opportunities to do things you might have never before imagined.

What have been tough to come by are tickets but here are few chances to score some with options at two price points.  One will only cost you a Benjamin while the other is quite a bit more but offers a once-in-a-lifetime Super Bowl XLV experience.

The Nancy Lieberman Foundation is raffling off two suite tickets to the game.  Raffle tickets only cost $100 and must be purchased by February 1st.  A portion of the proceeds from the raffle benefit the foundation.  Click here for details.  Considering the astronomical numbers I've heard people are willing to pay for nosebleed tickets, this is the best bargain out there.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is auctioning what it calls the Ultimate Gameday Package.  It's a simple auction that benefits the research hospital and its mission to erase pediatric cancer. While the high bid is currently $60,000, the prize package is pretty impressive.  Hurry, though, bidding closes Wednesday, January 26 at 3:30pm Central time.

If you are the winning bidder, you get the following:

• Four Super Bowl XLV tickets in a luxury suite at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas
• One private Cessna CJ3 jet available round-trip to and from Dallas/Fort Worth for four passengers
• Five-night luxury accommodations in downtown/uptown Dallas from Wednesday, February 2 through Monday, February 7, 2011
• Chauffeured car service Wednesday, February 2 through Monday, February 7, 2011, including the Super Bowl on February 6
• Luxury automobile from Park Place Dealerships for personal use during length of stay
• Four seats to the Legends for Charity dinner presenting The Pat Summerall Award to the NFL on FOX broadcast team including Troy Aikman, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Buck, Jay Glazer, Jimmy Johnson, Howie Long, Curt Menefee, Pam Oliver and Michael Strahan on Thursday, February 3
• Four seats to the Off the Field Players' Wives Association Fashion Show on Friday, February 4 joining current and past NFL players while enjoying fashions by designer Abi Ferrin
• Four seats to one of the largest private events: The NFL-sanctioned 2011 Super Bowl Breakfast on February 5, featuring the Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award
• Full day of spa treatments for four at the Halcyon Days Salon & Spa at Neiman Marcus NorthPark
• Dining for four at Al Biernat's, Sevy's Grill and Rugerri's Restaurant

Good Luck!!!!