Olympic opening ceremonies can so often come off as overchoreographed, incomprehensible, or just plain weird. But others just give off a feeling. A good one, even. Especially coming off a quartet of previous ones that had their own set of challenges, from temperatures in South Korea, in 2018, so frigid that the name “PyeongChang” still generates literal chills to a fanless affair Tokyo in 2021, thanks to COVID: Japanese citizens sat outside the barriers of the Olympic Stadium the night of the opening ceremony, just for a glimpse. They would get no closer. Beijing in 2022 was another soulless COVID Games, marked more by frequent testing and isolation protocols than victories on the field. Paris had the fine idea to stage its ceremonies along the Seine. Too bad it rained on that parade.
- Who is that? I asked Google AI, who is running Italy?
As of early 2026, Italy is governed by Prime Minister
Giorgia Meloni and her right-wing coalition government, which has taken a proactive stance on regulating artificial intelligence.- Yes, I'm familiar with that name. But who is Sergio Mattarella?
- Well, to begin, many European countries operate with both a President as head of state and a Prime Minister as head of government.
- It depends on the country as to who is more powerful. So I asked Google AI, in Italy, who is more powerful.
- The USA was represented by Veep JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They were not greeted with warmth.
- American Mariah Carey sang Volare near the top of the show.
- Why this song? I checked with Google AI, and Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu (also known as Volare) as sung by Domenico Modugno in 1958 is considered to be the most popular and recognized Italian song in history.
- I left Hawaii for the first time in 1958 on my way to college in California, and the first song I heard at a pool party in Los Angeles was NBDDB. Almost 70 years ago, and I can still remember the details
- There are two Cauldrons.
- Cortina d'Ampezzo at Piazza Dibona (right).
- Arco della Pace (Peace Arch) in Milan (below).
- Highlights.
- The Grand Parade.
Like too many Americans supposedly ready to go in the 2026 Winter Olympics, both quarterbacks, Sam Darnold (right) of the Seahawks and Drake Maye of the Patriots, plan to play, but are not truly healthy. If they can't, you'd never be able to guess their backup names. At least I never heard of them: Joshua Dobbs (graduated from the University Tennessee a decade ago) of the Patriots and Drew Lock (University of Missouri 8 years ago) of the Seahawks.
I personally have no interest in Super Bowl 60, and even less in Bad Bunny, the halftime show. So I went to You Tube to watch him perform Te Boté, the remix (featuring Darell, Ozuna and Nicky Jam) which sold 4.8 units (whatever this means) and #2 MIA (featuring Drake), 5x Diamond, but only at 3 million. I admit, I have not kept up, for that is the first time I ever heard/watched either one.
Some of the top Super Bowl 60 prop bets for the Patriots versus Seahawks game include:
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba over 94.5 yards.
- Drake Maye over 218.5 passing yards.
- Bad Bunny's "Titi Me Pregunto" as the favored halftime opener.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA): Over/Under 94.5 Yards (-113/-111).
- Drake Maye (NE): Over 218.5 passing yards (-110).
- Kenneth Walker III (SEA): +400 to score the first touchdown.
- Stefon Diggs (HOU/Other): Over 44.5 Yards (-109/-115).
- First Method of Score: Field Goal (+110).
- Game Total: Under 45.5 points.
- Halftime Opener: Bad Bunny - "Titi Me Pregunto".
- Halftime Opener: Green Day - "American Idiot" (+100).
- Broadcast Prop: Mentions of Mikaela Vonn (>7.5).
- Best Value: Seahawks field goal to be the first score (+289).
- Most Popular (BetMGM): Jaxon Smith-Njigba anytime touchdown scorer (-115).
- Sharp Bet: Under 45.5 total points.
The Seahawks are favored by 4.5 points in most markets, suggesting a possible defensive game.
These articles provide prop bet suggestions and odds for Super Bowl 60, including player performance and game totals:
In many past Super Bowl telecasts, I tended to more watch the commercials than game. Maybe again, for I don't care who wins, but, on the other, hand, I have seen much of what will come. Companies now leak out these ads ahead of time, so maybe I'll stream a film. Nah, I've got several drinks on my mind for Super Bowl day.
Google AI says:
Fog City Frozen Irish Coffee, a blended drink featuring Irish whiskey, cold brew, and vanilla bean ice cream topped with an IT'S-IT ice cream cookie sandwich. It serves as a nod to Bay Area culture, alongside other specialty drinks like the Golden Gate Mule and Chinatown's Fortune Cookie Martini.
For sure, I'll start in the morning with either a Bloody Mary (vodka) or Bloody Maria (with tequila).
A Golden Gate Mule does not appeal to me, for it uses ginger beer, and must include passion fruit liqueur, which I don't have. The whisky is Crown Royal. I have many of the ingredients for the Chinatown Fortune Cookie Martini: Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka, Amaretto, Bailey's Irish Cream, coffee and chocolate-dipped fortune cookie. I actually have most of the above, and, amazingly enough, two of these cookies ready.
So on to commercials. Almost hate to do this, but these all the best Super Bowl LX commercials that have so far been leaked.
While "best" is subjective,
Volkswagen's 2011 "The Force" (featuring a child dressed as Darth Vader) is widely considered the top Super Bowl commercial ever for redefining modern, shareable, and pre-released brand storytelling. Other top contenders based on historical impact and popularity include Apple's "1984" and Coca-Cola's 1979 "Mean Joe Greene" ad.
- Most Iconic/Shared (Modern Era): Volkswagen, "The Force" (2011).
- Most Influential/Cinematic: Apple, "1984" (1984).
- Most Endearing: Coca-Cola, "Mean Joe Greene" (1979).
- Top Rated (Ad Meter): Budweiser, "Donkey" (2004) or "Lost Dog" (2015).
Joe and kid (Tom Okon), 36 years later.
- 3-hour spectacular,
- 150 dogs from 72 sheters.
- There will be a first: senior dogs, too. Team Oldies vs Team Goldies.
-
No comments:
Post a Comment