The Super Bowl ain’t what it used to be.

It used to be a football game.

Now, it’s a glitzed-up halftime show and pricey commercials with a game thrown in for good measure.

And to top it all off, this year’s game is between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams. It hurts my fingers just to type the names of those two teams.

New England is just easy to dislike. Their coach –  Bill Belichik – looks like he’s ready to open up a can on somebody. He looks that way all the time, even when things are going his way. He has the look that even if he doesn’t get his way, he’ll do whatever possible to get his way, even if it means calling Cousin Vinny to handle the dirty work.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is just as easy not to like. He’s too good looking. He’s too healthy. He makes too much money. His wife is too famous and pretty. His smile is too pretty. Guys, it’s football. There’s no room for pretty. And as we know from past Super Bowls, his balls can be a bit too soft.

The LA Rams? They’re based in LA. ‘Nuff said.

Who cares who wins? Die-hard followers of these two teams, that’s who. People who bet on the game, that’s who. For the rest of us, it is kind of like the last Presidential election. Hold your nose, pick one and hope for the best.

At my advanced age and odd musical tastes, rarely do I know much about the performers at the over-hyped halftime show, although I did become an instant Janet Jackson fan a few Super Bowls ago. This year it is Maroon 5 (Heard of them, but haven’t heard them) and Travis Scott (Who?) and Big Boi (heard of him but haven’t heard him).

Gladys Knight is singing the National Anthem. At least I’ve heard of and heard her, and she can sing. She’s also a native of Atlanta, where the game (show) is being held. And Atlanta is home of the Braves, who do play my favorite sport. But I digress.

Although the commercials can be entertaining, they’re still commercials. But sometimes I can’t even tell what they’re trying to sell, which may be for the better. Sometimes I don’t even understand the commercials. See the note about advanced age above.

There’s only one thing I’m looking forward to as far as this year’s Super Bowl goes. The food. No, make that two things. The food and the beer. A Super Bowl party? Lots of beer, pizza, chicken wings, pigs in a blanket, the veggie tray (Give me a break, football isn’t my favorite sport.) and any other concoction people might bring. At such a party, you have to try everything at least once. The indigestion will help keep you awake the next morning at work.

Yes, I am looking forward to the Super Bowl this year. But I don’t care which team wins. I don’t care who has the funniest or best commercial. And if the halftime show doesn’t feature Todd Snider or Ray Wylie Hubbard or Elizabeth Cook or John Prine or someone like them, I’m could care less (Again, see the note above about the advanced age.).

But I do care about beer and food.

Let the party, ummm game, begin.

– Mike Barnhardt