My “positive” thoughts on Super Bowl LVIII

I already know the one or two people reading this who pay any attention to my blog will immediately say “I’m just being Darth Stumpo…” or “That’s just Darth Stumpo…” with this commentary on what I what I thought of Super Bowl LVIII.

Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you picture me as Jack Torrance from “The Shining” (1980) sitting at my desk at the Overlook Hotel in Colorado. Instead of my using a typewriter I’m on the keyboard on a computer attempting to bang out this week’s latest blog. Or so the one running my blog from the back end might think. Imagine the horror on her face when she learns all I typed out on two pages of the MS word document was “All work and no play makes Darth Stumpo a dull boy!”

Truth is though I did have Super Bowl 58 playing on the flatscreen I wasn’t paying much attention. I was harder pressed in getting my online class assignments that were coming due on Monday (I’m still behind on two courses) than I was caring about whatever was happening at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada that evening.

That’s not to say I didn’t look up during commercial breaks which depended on the Hollywood icon I heard appearing. There were a few. Arnold Schwarzenegger couldn’t pronounce “neighbor.” Jennifer Aniston suffered a President Biden memory lapse. Tina Fey promoted booking.com only to see Glenn Close on a horse. Matt Damon (“Sometimes it’s really hard to be your friend, man”) was embarrassed being included with pal Ben Affleck’s ‘The Dunkings’ promoting Dunkin’ Donuts.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the devilishly eye-catching ad created by American Values 2024 promoting independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s run for president. The ad made me feel like this was 1960 all over again when John F. Kennedy ran for president. RFK Jr. later apologized for the $7 million ad saying it was not approved by his campaign.



Just when I thought things couldn’t generate any more talk then came the latest Jesus He Gets Us ad titled “He washed feet” which showed mostly “white” people washing the feet of minorities and members of the same sex.

The ad made me say to myself maybe they should have just featured dominant women and/or men dressed in leather S/M (sadism and masochism) garb, sporting 5-inch stiletto boots and heels with submissives naked on leashes kneeling before their mistresses and masters doing you know what with their tongues. Now just imagine the uproar such an ad would have done let alone the revenue it’d generate! Or just imagine the backlash I’m going to get writing this which will be less than zero!

I suppose somewhere during all these ads I could have taken actors Mark Wahlberg and Jonathan Roumie’s advice and say “God, we take this moment to give You thanks.”

I didn’t.

Then there’s the upcoming movie trailers, none of which, to quote Judd Nelson’s rebellious high school character in “The Breakfast Club” (1985) pumped “my Gnads.”

I only looked up from my computer once and that was when the trailer for “Wicked” aired. I noted how “wokeism” /political correctness struck its ugly head again with the casting of the two leads Cynthia Erivo, a black actress, as the bad witch Elphaba and Ariana Grande, an Italian American singer as the good witch Galinda versus how those women characters were cast in the long running Broadway play (the lead women characters were played by Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenowith).



And before you pull your liberal baiting race card out of your ass accusing me of being racist, it’s not the actresses skin color/nationalities I’m questioning. It’s the casting choices. Founding Father Alexander Hamilton was not Puerto-Rican you know!

This “Wicked” version is yet another case of questionable “Hollyweird” casting choices dating back to the big screen musical adaptations of “The Phantom of the Opera” (2004) (Gerald Butler can’t sing) and changing the identity of the character, Anybodys (Iris Mensas), as being transgendered who was nowhere to be seen let alone suggested in the 1961 Robert Wise classic that won 10 Oscars. (Steven Spielberg’s wokeism 2021 remake flopped at the box office).

I didn’t learn the trailer for “Twisters”, an unnecessary sequel to the 1996 blockbuster that starred Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton had aired during the Super Bowl until the day after.



In short, I have one word describing the new trailer. “REMAKE!” Much the way “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022) was a needless money grabbing remake of “Top Gun” (1986). Nothing changed! I predict the one surprise to happen in the “Twister” sequel is Helen Hunt will make a cameo appearance since actors Paxton and Philip Seymour Hoffman are no longer with us.

The one politically incorrect trailer that did catch my attention is the one I didn’t see until Tuesday night this week. Yes! You guessed it! Those of you paying any attention! “Deadpool 3” which as of Feb. 13 has drawn 365 million views online.



Don’t waste time telling me the trailer will finally change “Woke” Disney’s way the studio promotes their bleeding heart “Hollyweird” liberal agenda at the “Marvel Cinematic Universe” pushing personal politics on audiences when all viewers really want is a good movie. To date, I can’t remember when Disney EVER made a good Marvel movie that was worth seeing more than once!

At least the Ryan Reynolds trailer had me laughing within seconds watching it on YouTube (“Pegging isn’t new for me friendo but it is for Disney.”)

More of that “political incorrectness” was what would have caught my attention Super Bowl Sunday. Even despite my being more involved with classwork, nothing happened on the field between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs that made me pause what I was doing.

I started channel surfing within the first hour doing what I normally do when I have the flatscreen on. Something to listen to while I’m doing something else. If I hadn’t been doing classwork, I would have been writing this blog or building a LEGO set during the Super Bowl.

Instead of waiting to see if singer Taylor Swift would make a grand entrance during those four hours or find out if I really have heard a song by Rhythm & Blues singer, Usher, over the years during his halftime performance, I wondered why Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelcie was yelling at his coach Andy Reid in a clip I saw the next day.



I found the football tight end’s behavior to be the equivalent of actor Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022.

Although Travis Kelcie did apologize on a post-Super Bowl episode Sunday night speaking with brother, Jason, on a "New Heights" podcast, I believe the only reason Travis apologized was because of the fake news media attention.

“People are all over this (incident with Reid), and I mean – I get it,” Travis told his brother, Jason. “I immediately wished I took it back.”

The only question that came to mind upon learning the next day the Chiefs won their third Super Bowl, in this case two years in a row, was what the hell is the Kansas City team doing that made them win again this year that the Dallas Cowboys haven’t been able to do in close to three decades.

The last time “God’s favorite team” won a Super Bowl was in 1996.

I’m sure every diehard Dallas Cowboys fan reading this will tell me the reason they haven’t won a Super Bowl has absolutely nothing to do with owner Jerry Jones.

©2/14/24

A night that will live in infamy!

Feb. 4, 2024, was a night that will live in infamy. The same kind of infamy that Feb. 1, 2015, was when I told the world, or those one or two people who follow my blog besides myself that was the first time I watched the Super Bowl.

Or June 13, 2012, when I told the world I still don’t know who shot fictional Texas oil tycoon J.R. Ewing actor Larry Hagman played on "Dallas" (1978-1991) (2012-2014). Someone on my “Fakebook” page told me to “Please turn in my man card right now."

On Feb. 4, 2024, I did something I never thought I’d do so long as live. I not only listened to and watched a music video by one of the artists who won a Grammy that night for Record of the Year on youtube but the popstar I watched perform was Miley Cyrus.

“Who had to come here after Miley won the Grammy for this song, just cuz it is so freaking amazing?!?!” wrote a user on Miley Cyrus’ youtube channel. (Sorry it wasn’t me who posted that!)

I already envision the backlash coming…from guys no doubt who are too afraid to admit their own shortcomings. (The older I get the less I give a rat’s ass what people think).

They’ll probably tell me, “Miley Cyrus?!?!?!? You couldn’t have at least listened to Taylor Swift’s album, “Midnight” which won Album of the Year or Billie Eilish who won Song of the Year?”

For the record I have heard a few songs since the mid-2000s by Taylor Swift, more than I care to admit (“You Need to Calm Down”, “Shake It Off”, “You Belong With Me”, “Bad Blood”) two decades before she made the front cover of Time’s Person of the Year in 2023 because hey, with all the crap going on in the country and the world right now, we could use someone to take our minds off all this misery, right?

I’ve also heard of Billie Eilish thanks to her winning an Oscar in 2022. But for what song I don’t know. And before you start saying how I should know this useless information I’m going to take the liberty (since this is MY blog) and throw the egg back in your face and ask, “Do you not only know what singer won an Oscar but for what song and movie without finding the answer on the net? The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Carly Simon, Lionel Ritchie?

Yeah! Thought so!

Like this Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII who I didn’t learn who is playing until a week before, I was as ignorant in uselessly trivial knowledge on Miley Cyrus’ attention getting background short of her knowing she starred in “Woke” Disney’s "Hannah Montana" (2006-2011).

Prior to watching Cyrus’ music video “Flowers” I had heard tidbits the past year about how the song came about detailing her supposed disastrous marriage to actor Liam Hemsworth but paid less than zero attention to what the morning entertainment shows supposed attractive looking talking heads on “The Today Show” and “Good Morning America” discussed in their “nothing burger” segments.

Up until watching “Flowers” I saw the song as just another attempt by Miley Cyrus, who like Madonna, to draw attention to herself in hopes of making herself still seem relevant.

Her “I don’t think I’ve forgotten anyone, but I might’ve forgotten underwear,” comment at the Grammys during her Feb. 4 acceptance speech comes to mind.



I won’t lie and say the video didn’t catch my attention as she danced in a golden dress and heels on her way up the driveway to her home. Then slipping the dress off down to her black bra and panties (it looked nothing like a bikini) strutting through the grass with the sprinklers on before jumping in the pool for a brief swim. Then doing some yoga exercises showing off her “I am woman, hear me roar” persona which wasn’t far from the truth since Grammys night in terms of who won could be called “Woman Power.”

Seeing all those tattoos on her body I said to myself, well the 31-year-old singer/actress is sure not daddy Billy Ray Cyrus’ little girl anymore from “Hannah Montana.”

Believe it or not I could see where she came from in terms of bad relationships reading the lyrics. As someone who every once in a blue moon does want some female companionship I am just as happy being alone 1000 percent of the time. I’ve got plenty of hobbies and things to occupy my “me time” – so much that I don’t think I will get to finishing all of them before I leave this world both literally and physically to become one with “The Dark Side of the Force” when my time here on Earth is done.

Watching Cyrus dance with no one around was equivalent to the happy dance I did back in November busting out moves like Les Grossman – the bald quick tempered movie producer Tom Cruise played in “Tropic Thunder” (2008) when I heard “Woke” Disney’s “The Marvels” had its worst box office opening for a Marvel movie to date. (I HATE MARVEL MOVIES)!

I liked “Flowers”! There I said it! I’ve watched the music video a few times on YouTube since 2/4 (no it’s not because I liked Cyrus showing off a lot of skin working out and showering). Even as I write this blog I still cannot get the lyrics out of my head.

Rest assured one of these days if time ever allows, I will add "Flowers" to my growing list of iTunes music to listen to while doing something else. (yet another project on my to-do list I may never get to). If there is any reason why I won’t is since it only takes me less than 15 minutes to get to work and all I do is drive to work and home five days a week, I see no reason to hook up my iPhone to the auxiliary port in my car to jam to my music choices. The port doesn’t work anyway.

I suppose I could have the radio tuned in to one of those pop music stations while driving instead of on WBAP 820 for news and commentaries or KEOM 88.5 for easy listening oldies songs. The trouble is I wasn’t born with patience and having to wade through a lot songs I’ve not heard of on those pop stations in hopes they will play “Flowers” for a little over three minutes airtime won’t be worth it.

Even less will be how when listening to the “Flowers” lyrics I may wind up yelling at the top of my lungs in the car like Cyrus did at the Grammys telling drivers “Why you acting like you don’t know this song” which some irate driver will mistake my actions as starting a road rage incident that will make the evening news.

I’m not ashamed to admit I liked a Miley Cyrus song. That’s more than I can say for all the guys who are clearly not man enough to admit they watched “Barbie (2023)” and liked the movie, which to date, I still haven’t finished watching.

©2/7/24

My first time Super Bowl viewing experience

Feb. 1, 2015 was a day that will live in infamy.

For the first time in my life I did what everyone else does on a certain night that concludes the NFL football season.

I got to watch Super Bowl XLIX (49). (Ok I admit it there was nothing else on). The last time I got this excited about a Super Bowl game was back in the days when I worked for Blockbuster Video’s IT helpdesk and the weekend night supervisor gave us all a chance to make our score predictions. 

I pulled my predictions out of my ass and somehow I won. My reward? I could go home to watch the remainder of the Super Bowl instead of working my 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift.

Of course I didn’t watch the game when I got home. I was just happy I didn’t have to work.

As for Super Bowl 49's New England Patriots 28-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks my first time watching the game was…BORING!

Within the first hour, I texted my best friend, Mr. Fucker in Chiraq (once known as Chicago) typing “This is what you people get your nads all pumped about? So far, I’m fucking bored! No memorable ads either!”

Mr. Fucker texted me back saying, “I agree. Boring. But chicken wings r good.”

I didn’t have wings that night. Instead I devoured a small Papa Johns pepperoni-mushroom pizza with extra sauce minutes after one of the teams scored 7 (sorry I don’t remember who which goes to show you how much I was actually paying attention) against the other. If I was on edge about anything it was the heartburn I was going to get later that night as I never learn my lesson when it comes to certain foods affecting my health.

The only reason I watched the Super Bowl was to see the supposed entertaining if not controversial or gross ads that air in between the game. I was eager to know that for the first time I would finally know what the drive-by fake news media would be talking about on the morning shows Monday instead of having to play catch-up on youtube to see the best and worst commercials I missed the night before.

I was disappointed. There were no sexy GoDaddy ads featuring NASCAR racer Danica Patrick and fitness trainer Jillian Michaels. In fact, some of the ads that year were not only politically correct (again no sexy GoDaddy ads demeaning women as sex objects) but were depressing. I thought the whole point of watching the Super Bowl was to be entertained? So why did I see ads about domestic violence or a dying kid who dreams about the things he will never get to do in life like being kissed by a girl for the first time or learning to fly?

The only bright spot to Super Bowl 49 was the halftime show, which was seen by 118.5 million viewers where singer Katy Perry made her grand entrance riding a top a slow-moving mechanical tiger. If that lion and those lumbering Imperial snow walkers from "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) competed in a race I’d have no idea who’d win.

As for Perry’s performance, to rephrase her hit song, “I Kissed a Girl”, I am not ashamed to say that “I knew all of Katy Perry’s songs and liked them.” I wonder if she has a greatest hits CD out so I can sing along in my car like that Dover police officer I saw on youtube singing Taylor Swift’s "Shake It Off" on the dashcam back then.

I concluded Super Bowl 49 was the equivalent of the Oscars, except more viewers watch. 

Up until Feb. 1, 2015 I only knew I could happily go to my grave one day knowing that “I am the only guy who can handle something like this” (like dying) when people search my name on youtube and find that Oscar nominee Michael Keaton plays me in the movie "Clear History" (2013).

Hell, up until I posted this blog I was about as clueless as to who is playing in this year's Super Bowl as I was wondering if there was ever a single song by Rhythm & Blues singer Usher (who is this year's halftime show performer) I heard on the radio. 

To date I now know what teams are playing (San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs). And I still don't know if I've heard any songs by Usher in my lifetime, nor have I bothered scouring youtube to find out.

Yes, I'll likely have Super Bowl LVIII playing on the flatscreen Feb. 11, 2024 but only to have something to listen to while doing something else. 

Perhaps sometime during those four hours whether it's preparing the current week's blog if time allows and, provided I have a subject I want to write about or work on my online class assignments which as of this writing are about two weeks late, I'll find out if Taylor Swift will arrive on time from her Tokyo concert to cheer on her beau Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelcie during the game.

If not, in between a possible ad paying tribute to actor Carl Weathers who died Feb. 1 at 76, there's always the less-than-one-minute upcoming movie trailers to look forward to. 

Here's hoping those trailers are nothing like last year's "The Flash" and "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" both of which I stupidly thought evoked promise only to crash and burn at the box office last summer.

©2/7/24