By Mark David Blum, Esq.

During one of my more illuminating moments when engaged in deep conversation with Christ, he pointed out an interesting dilemma of the then pending SuperBowl. It was not that both coaches were Black. Instead, Christ pointed out that both teams were led by coaches whose professed loyalty to the Lord and His graces brought them to the Big Game.

God could not have been angrier yesterday at the Super Bowl. Yet, despite the adoration and respect, the Bears coach Lovie Smith must have really pissed off the High Holy. What other conclusion is there for the Good Lord to have delivered the beating He did. Perhaps his faith was in the wrong God or lacked real sincerity. God was angry and proved it leaving the Bears face down in the mud.

One can hardly blame God for being angry. With so much blood and violence, lust and sex, and sadness and death … and those were just the commercials … what God would not be angry with his People. Rock beats paper, slap fights over beer, machines committing suicide, hearts being battered, and sloppy sex drippings “requiring a cleanup” in the potato chip aisle are not a God fearing people’s finest moments. The Prince of Peace would have thrown up his Last Supper had he endured the whines of the Prince of Half Time faking Jimi Hendrix and Tina Turner.

The Holiest of Holies did have his fun. From pouring rain down on the entire parade to watching a gaggle of shirtless fat old guys washing a hummer , the game could not have been more surprising. For two weeks, we heard about the lousy Bears offense and the miracle arm of Peyton Manning. Stinging the Colts with an opening kickoff touchdown by the Bears and two missed kicks by the Colts, what should have been a blowout was but a mad scramble for one fumble after another. For one half, the game remained close and interesting.

In the end, however, the Colts (bolstered by five Syracuse Alum) were able to gallop all over the lumbering bumbling Bears. It was a valiant effort by Chicago, but their coach’s faith in God just was not strong enough to overcome the will and passion of Indianapolis. In both of their defense; unlike most Superbowls this one was actually a solid close game. Generally, teams play too conservative in the Big Game such that the game is a snoozer. The playoffs tend to be the times when risks are taken and giant plays made. Because of the rain and the unexpected closeness, both teams played heart and soul and took every moment to leave every bit of energy on the field. There are no do-overs or next-times in this game.

The Bears have nothing about which to be ashamed. If God was not so angry at them and made their ball handling so miserable with rain and bad luck, they might have put up a better challenge. God wasn’t so happy with the Colts neither as Peyton Manning looked no better than a Syracuse quarterback. It really came down to lucky breaks and moments when God was distracted throwing tornados and earthquakes that the Colts were finally able to stampede to victory. I still think the ref’s bungled the catch by Harrison at the end of the third quarter. His feet were not inbounds after the catch. That became the turning point leading to the ultimate score.

There were some facts I did learn that I did not know prior to the game. First, there is finally proof that Baseball players are smarter than Football players. After all, how many times do baseball players get called for having too many players on the field? Second, I did not know that Budweiser can give you crabs.

The play of the game was obviously the opening kickoff return. The best commercial was the Chevy suicide machine. Rex Grossman's heroic performance saved the game; at least the toughest player who took the hardest hits. The heart award has to go the Bears offense for its endless unrelenting pushing. Working so hard with such determination in the face of such overwhelming odds and never giving up (except the ball) shows the importance of never quitting.

On behalf of sports fans everywhere, let me extend my thanks to the Good Lord and His Grace that football season is FINALLY over. Bring on the Devil. It’s time for March Madness.