The Stream

The Brew: Welcome to Monday After a (Mostly) Super Sunday

By Al Perrotta Published on February 12, 2024 •

Al Perrotta

Happy Monday!

(Maybe I shouldn’t shout so loud for those recovering from Super Bowl Sunday.)

There’s been tremendous fallout since we last got together over Robert Hur’s Special Counsel report, where he refuses to push for charges against Joe Biden for mishandling classified information because he’s in such poor mental shape no jury would convict him. We took a deep dive yesterday in “Resolute: ‘My Memory is Fine.’”

But enough on that. Let’s talk about that Super Bowl!

Kansas City Chiefs Rally to Defeat San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Overtime Nail Biter

There’ve been some great magic acts in Vegas. None better than Patrick Mahomes. Sorry, David Copperfield. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback pulled another magical win, leading his team back from a 10-0 deficit to its second consecutive Super Bowl, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime thriller.

It was only the second overtime game in the Super Bowl’s 58 year history and the first time in 20 years a team has repeated as champ.

Mahomes immediately gave thanks to God.

Oh, it was a nail-biter. Even Taylor Swift was caught chomping down on her nails like they were Doritos in that second half, which saw the momentum switch back and forth between these two NFL powerhouses.

But in the end, after San Francisco kicked a field goal to start the overtime, Kansas City marched right down the field, with Mahomes connecting to Mecole Hardman on a three-yard pass to clinch the title.

A big tip of the Brew to both teams for a game worthy of being called “super,” and an extra serving to 49er quarterback Brock Purdy, the last pick in the draft two years back who proved tonight be belongs among the league’s elites. A devout Christian, Purdy played his heart out.

What in the World?

We were going to only mention in passing the rather curious video Joe Biden dropped before the game, where he complained … if in a “getting ready for the big game” manner … about “Shrinkflation.” That is, when companies shrink their products, like the size of a snack, to avoid raising prices. As if inflation, which leads to such Shrinkflation hasn’t happened on his watch. A bit like Bill Clinton complaining about flirtatious interns. 

However, right after the game, Biden posted a bizarre tweet from his personal account that has generated a viral, “What on earth?”

“Just like we drew it up,” it says, over an image of Biden red flashing demon eyes.

Presumably, this is some staffer’s idea:

A) Of a dig at those who plugged the conspiracy theory that the NFL was fixing the Chiefs to win to boost Taylor Swift to help impact the 2024 election.

B) Another chance to try and make “Dark Brandon” a “thing” to deflect from the Special Counsel report suggesting Biden’s light has gone dim.

Just strange.

But in the Nation’s Top Story … Taylor Swift Made the Game!

Yes, Taylor Swift made it to the game, jetting in from halfway around the world to see her boyfriend play in the Super Bowl. Her arrival was national news. Like the birth of a new princess or announcement of a new pope. And yes, CBS showed about as many shots of the singer as they did the coach of the Chiefs. Just once I wish they could have caught her with a mouth full of food. That would have been more entertaining than most of the commercials.

Any Super Bowl Ads Super?

CBS charged $7 million for a :30 spot. Were any of them worth the effort? Let us know your fav: ContactUs@stream.flywheelstaging.com.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ad for State Farm made good fun of his accent, his pronouncing “neighbor” “nay-bah.” While not a cultural milestone like Apple’s “1984” ad, it is a hopeful sign that an advertiser felt safe enough to make fun of someone’s accent. A couple years ago, advertisers would have been scared of cancel culture backlash. Then again, perhaps Austrians are fair game.

More significantly, HeGetsUs.com returned with a stunning, if slippery spot called “Foot Washing.” The ad shows photos of people across a wide array of settings washing the feet of others. This includes a woman washing the feet of a very young woman outside an abortion center, as pro-life demonstrators mill around in the background.

Its tag line: “Jesus didn’t teach hate. He washed feet.”

The criticism of the ad was immediate.

Robby Starbuck put it this way: “The ‘he gets us’ feet ad about Jesus seems to imply that Jesus was cool with all kinds of sinful behavior. He wasn’t. He didn’t go hangout with prostitutes or any other sinner because he accepted the choices they made, he did it to inspire them to change. “Go and sin no more.”

The Stream’s Tom Gilson wrote last year about the “He Gets Us” campaign: “’He Gets Us’ Campaign Doesn’t ‘Get’ Jesus.”  Let’s not be surprised if he writes about this ad as well.

All told, the woke politicking in the Super Bowl ads was dramatically down from recent years. Sure, VW felt compelled to sneak a same-sex couple driving off after their wedding in an otherwise strong and nostalgic ad.

Speaking of ads, politics and nostalgia, Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran a commercial that was either genius or tacky, depending on your mood. It borrowed the music and imagery from his uncle John F. Kennedy’s campaign commercials, but with his pictures. Particularly cutting, the line: “A man who’s old enough to know … and young enough to do.” It does remind us that they just don’t do political jingles any more. 

The “Tough Break” award goes to FanDuel. They ran a spot intended to be humorous. Unfortunately, it prominently featured actor Carl Weathers, who passed away just days ago. Rather than pull the spot, FanDuel closed the spot with a graphic reading “Thank You, Carl 1948-2024” to Weathers.

In happier news, the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales returned … and haven’t lost any of their touch.  Who can resist a doggy kissing a Clydesdale?

“Lift Up Your Voice and Sing”

The pregame show included a performance of “Lift Up Your Voice and Sing.” The hymn is commonly … and divisively … dubbed “The Black National Anthem.” Lots of boos in the days leading up to the game for the NFL placing the song so prominently.

Young conservative CJ Pearson wrote on X: “Before tonight’s Super Bowl, as a young black man and proud American, let me make myself clear: There is only ONE national anthem. As there is only ONE United States of America. And it’s for EVERYONE – white, black, yellow, and even maroon. The Left’s agenda of division isn’t just needless; it’s exhausting.”

On the bright side. CBS was smart enough to feature the song before “America the Beautiful.”

Which gets to a final point for the night: Why can’t we all agree to simply stop calling “Lift Up and Sing” the “Black National Anthem”? Then, thanks to its beauty and historical significance we agree it belongs in top pantheon of songs capturing the American spirit. Unity. Not Division.

And now that everybody’s in agreement and getting along, let us also agree that all future Super Bowls should simply play Whitney Houston’s 1991 rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” and Prince’s unforgettable 2007 Halftime Show, and save everybody else the bother of not measuring up.

Use the money spent on the halftime show to donate to the NFL International Player Pathway program. Who didn’t adore the little boy from Ghana in the NFL’s “Born to Play” commercial? Can’t think of a more adorable way to start the week.

Please keep an eye on The Stream for a Bonus Brew on the weekend’s other happenings.

 

Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream, co-author, with John Zmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and co-author of the counter-terrorism memoir Hostile Intent: Protecting Yourself Against Terrorism.

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