Ray Lewis. There are few figures in sport who divide public opinion to the extremes which Lewis does. Love him or hate him, the Baltimore Ravens linebacker performance on the field, and his skills as leader, not only in the locker room, but also in the franchise, are unquestionable.

His announcement that this year’s playoff run would be his ‘last ride’ was something every Baltimore fan knew was coming sooner or later, but few, if any, had prepared themselves to truly accept this as a reality.

Super Bowl XLVII proved to be a fitting farewell for Lewis as the 17-year veteran collected his second Super Bowl trophy in what, barring a dramatic change of heart, was the linebackers last ever game.

Whilst losing a player of Lewis’ caliber could never be seen as a good thing, some of us hope to take a pragmatic approach to his departure, and give Ravens’ fans some positive aspects to focus on. Just in case winning the Super Bowl was already getting a bit old (…)

Most importantly, Baltimore are now an offensive-dominated team. With stars like Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and Torrey Smith on offense, this team is now capable of going head to head with the league’s premier offenses and winning. This has not been the case in Baltimore for Lewis’ entire tenure at the franchise, and should help ease the pains that losing Lewis will cause.

The defense, despite not being at its vintage best this season, is also better equipped now to cope with the loss of Lewis, than it has been in recent years. Inside linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Jameel McClain are both good enough to start in most NFL teams and will minimize any potential drop off in playing ability on the field.

The loss in leadership cannot be underestimated, Lewis is a ‘once in a generation’ type player, but key players like Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata will be ready to step up and help fill the void. Flacco’s growth in ability and confidence will undoubtedly see him assume the mantle of the teams’ ‘general’.

The Ravens are also facing the challenge of retaining many of their players who are coming to the end of their contracts. The list is long, and includes the likes of Reed, Ellerbe, Paul Kruger, Cary Williams and Bryant McKinnie, not to mention recent Super Bowl MVP, Flacco, who is due a very big contract indeed. Lewis’ departure won’t free up a lot of cap room, but it may be enough to make room for a couple of new contracts for their upcoming free agents.

Having tried to remove as much sentiment as possible from this article, I have to be perfectly honest; the Baltimore Ravens will never be the same again. Lewis’ retirement won’t devastate the franchise, General Manager Ozzie Newsome is too smart of an operator to allow that to happen, but number 52 certainly cannot be replaced. He is one of a kind.

This marks the beginning of a new era for Baltimore. The last of the ‘original Ravens’ is heading off into the horizon. The time is ripe for a new group of players to cement their legacy in ‘Charm City’ and I for one cannot wait to see who steps up to the plate.

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Future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis saw his ‘last ride’ end in perfect fashion as the Baltimore Ravens saw off a spirited comeback from the San Francisco 49ers to triumph 34-31 at Super Bowl XLVII. The game also saw quarterback Joe Flacco named Super Bowl MVP after a nearly faultless performance.

Legendary linebacker Lewis opted to defer after winning the toss, a decision which was vindicated soon after when he helped the Ravens defense restrict the 49ers offense to a quick three and out.

Baltimore’s offense, keen not to be outdone by their defense, quickly laid down a similar marker. They moved swiftly down the field in a drive which culminated in a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

San Francisco made a statement of their own on their next drive, moving seemingly effortlessly up the field. Once they entered the Red Zone however, the Baltimore defense immediately looked to tighten up. A sack from Paul Kruger helped restrict San Francisco to a successful field goal from David Akers.

The 49ers registering on the scoreboard seemed to spur the Ravens into a higher gear, and Baltimore’s defense registered two quick turnovers, the first a forced fumble from Courtney Upshaw, and the second an Ed Reed interception. The Ravens capitalized on both, with quarterback Flacco showing his ‘elite’ credentials, hitting Dennis Pitta and Jacoby Jones for touchdowns on the respective drives.

San Francisco managed to double their points tally late in the second quarter, successfully landing another field goal, which sent them into the halftime break trailing 21-6. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick had look rattled up until the late scoring drive, but his key role in overcoming a 17-point deficit against the Atlanta Falcons previously had 49ers fans remaining fairly confident over their chances in the second half.

Clearly, Jim Harbaugh had his work cut out in the locker room at the half, but it looked as if John Harbaugh had more success, with Jones returning the subsequent kickoff for a 108-yard touchdown, tying the NFL record.

The 49ers ensuing drive was of critical importance. If San Francisco were to have any chance of a comeback, they needed a score. A disruptive loss of power then sparked a monumental swing in momentum, despite the Ravens defense holding strong and forcing the 49ers into a three and out.

A 31-yard Michael Crabtree touchdown midway through the third quarter brought the 49ers to within 15 points of the Ravens and gave much needed hope to an ailing 49ers side. Hope was then compounded by the San Francisco defense, who forced the previously ruthless Baltimore offense into a three and out.

Ted Ginn’s punt return to Baltimore’s 20-yard line gave the 49ers excellent field position as Kaepernick went back to work, first finding Vernon Davis with a precision pass, before Frank Gore ran untouched into the end zone.

Things then went from bad to worse for Baltimore as running back Ray Rice fumbled deep in Ravens territory, which was recovered by San Francisco and eventually a field goal kicked, leaving the score at 28-23 to Baltimore.

The Ravens were in dire need of a score on their next drive. A big gain down the sideline by Boldin put Baltimore into 49ers territory, but the San Francisco defense came up strong in the Red Zone, limiting the Ravens to a field goal.

The Ravens reprieve was short lived however as Kaepernick lead the 49ers down the field in just three plays, and then sped into the end zone on a 15-yard rush. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful however, and Baltimore maintained a two point lead.

Time management was now on both teams’ minds. A Ravens’ drive, ending in a field goal by Justin Tucker, increased their lead to five points with just over four minutes left on the clock.

The 49ers drive made it to the Baltimore’s 7-yard line by the two minute warning, but the Ravens forced a turnover on downs with some fierce defense. The Ravens were then unable to get a first down and wind down the clock, but gave up an intentional safety in order to take as much time off the clock as possible. The 49ers attempted to return the resulting punt, but with just four seconds left on the clock, they were unable to do so.

Lewis’ legacy cemented. Reed won his first Super Bowl in his hometown. Flacco proved, perhaps unequivocally, that he is an elite quarterback. John Harbaugh won the ‘HarBowl’. The storylines were concluded in dramatic fashion, amidst scenes of euphoria for the Baltimore Ravens.

The Baltimore Ravens, World Champions.

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On Saturday, the NFL’s current Pro Bowl stars were given the unique opportunity to play in what was expected by many to be the last Pro Bowl ever played. Following the abysmal effort from players in the exhibition last year, coupled with a strict warning from Commissioner Roger Goodell that the Pro Bowl’s future would be decided this year, the portents were not looking kind for the event, which was first played back in 1939.

Although many expected the Pro Bowl to write its own eulogy, the viewing public were treated to a surprising compelling game, and the players could well have done enough to breathe life into an event that was all but on the scrapheap.

Both teams displayed considerable effort given the circumstances, and could have found a comfortable ‘middle ground’ which could see the Pro Bowl remain a feature on the NFL calendar.

A perfect example of this was evident when Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil had a big blindside hit lined up on Drew Brees, but pulled out of it, seemingly remembering where he was as he got closer to the quarterback. Protecting the quarterback in a game such as this seems fair, especially when you consider the defensive hustle that was shown throughout the game (by this I mean tackles were made, an odd sight in recent Pro Bowls).

The game also featured its madder moments, not least so the inclusion of JJ Watt as a wide receiver at one point, but to the Pro Bowl detractors, let’s not forget that this is an end of season showpiece – If you can’t do the crazy here, where can you?

One of the most resounding arguments for keeping the Pro Bowl was surely made by Peyton Manning and Jeff Saturday. Manning and Saturday played together for the majority of their careers in Indianapolis, and following Saturday’s recent retirement announcement, the NFC center was allowed to snap the ball one last time to the AFC’s Manning. It was a poignant moment, and if Goodell does end up scrapping the Pro Bowl, it was a fitting moment for the exhibition to go out on.

It will inevitably, if unfairly, be compared to the NBA’s ‘All Star Weekend’ which far exceeds it in popularity and effort displayed by its players (the joys of a non-contact sport). However, could the Pro Bowl learn something from its round-balled cousin?

All Star Weekend is littered with extra events that all lead up to the All Star game, such as the three-point shootout, slam dunk competition, and a celebrity game, all of which contribute to the success of the weekend. It is difficult to imagine similar events at the Pro Bowl, with perhaps the exception of a highly appealing quarterback shootout, but it is something which Goodell could consider to help rejuvenate the event.

Unfortunate, it is unlikely that we will ever see a Pro Bowl competed for with the intensity that the players play with in the NFL. Due to the money these players risk losing if they suffer a serious injury, sensibility will always cause them to reel in their efforts.

In the world of Rugby Union, the Barbarians invitational side play with passion and effort abound, despite the fact the players are at just as much risk of injury as those in the Pro Bowl. There is however a large disparity in earnings, and most rugby players also have guaranteed contracts, meaning that all but the most serious injuries should have little to no affect on the players’ earnings.

With the Super Bowl, Free Agency, Combine and Draft all looming on the horizon, anxiety over Goodell’s decision in regards to the Pro Bowl will be very low. This essentially has left many with decidedly mixed feelings over the Pro Bowl. It is a nice event to have, but if Goodell does decide to do away with it, I certainly won’t lose any sleep over it.

Image Courtesy : NFL

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A leading discount travel site, released the March 2012 Hotwire Travel Savings Indicator, which features the top five cities in North America where hotel, air and car rental rates have dropped the most compared to this time last year.

“As we exit winter and temperatures begin to rise we’re seeing warm-weather locales like Southern California and Dallas offering great prices to entice travelers looking to get a head start on their spring vacations,” said Clem Bason, president of the Hotwire Group. “We’re also happy to report that one of the top value cities on our recently released 2012 Travel Value Index – Albuquerque – is proving its worth with big decreases in air and car rental prices this month.”

Atlantic City tops the hotel list this month with a 21% price drop. The beginning of the year tends to be slow for the Vegas of the East, so hotels always offer deeper discounts to fill their rooms. However this year, several new properties have been causing some stiff competition in the area, resulting in even lower rates.

In 2011 Dallas hosted the Super Bowl, causing hotel prices to skyrocket. This year, however, new hotels have increased the number of hotel rooms, driving down prices and putting the Dallas-Fort Worth area at second place with a 15 percent decrease.
Reno-Tahoe, Halifax and Washington, D.C., round out the list.

Last month Reno-Tahoe topped this list at first place, and although it drops to third in March with a 12 percent price drop, the city continues to be a deal market due to a weak winter demand. Halifax, Nova Scotia, makes its debut on the Travel Savings Indicator with a nine percent price drop.

Known as a beautiful leisure destination in Canada, the city is experiencing a slower tourist season than usual due to the cold winter weather. Washington DC makes a welcome return to round out the top five as the city is experiencing a lighter legislative calendar than last year, prompting less business travel and a dip in prices, especially during midweek.

Those in need of sunshine are in luck, because sunny Southern California is a deal market for airfare this month. Palm Springs tops the list with a 13% price drop and Los Angeles boasts an 11% decrease.

Chicago maintains its presence for the second consecutive month with a 13% decrease and an overall value city for 2012 as reflected in Hotwire’s Travel Value Index, Albuquerque saw an 11% decrease this month. Baltimore rounds out the top five air decreases with a seven percent price drop.

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Kantar Video, a division of WPP’s insight, information, and consultancy network, Kantar, has released the results of a comprehensive study of online video viewership and social activity from Super Bowl XLVI advertisements. The study finds that within the first 3 days, the top 10 ads created $862,000 on average in earned video impressions, a 12.7% return on the cost of a Super Bowl ad spot.

Overall, this year’s ads have created over $11 million in earned media and saw a 267% increase in viewership over last year’s Super Bowl. This increase in online video viewership underlines the increasing trend for advertisers to use the Super Bowl as a launch-pad for multi-platform commercial campaigns.

Key takeaways include:

• Return on Format: Longer ads create more value
  Longer ads posted online offered much higher value to advertisers, as it extends the amount of time a consumer is exposed to their brand from a :30-:60 second commercial to upwards of two minutes or more, lowering estimated effective CPM. These ads also generated more viewership and discussion on average.
• Return on Strategy: Pre-game strategies help, but the Super Bowl “Bounce” rewards creative
  Over $2 million worth of earned viewership was created before the game even began, spurred by early releasing strategies and bolstered by media outreach, seeding and paid advertising. However, the Super Bowl “bounce” truly benefited the ads with the most popular creative executions. Over four times as much earned media value was created after the game with the most buzzed about ads topping the list.
• Return on Creative: Generic themes offered stronger brand association than celebrities
  Looking specifically at the automotive category, which commanded the most pre- and post- game viewership, thematic use of  vampires and dogs with Volkswagen and Audi generated more recall in discussion versus ads featuring celebrities. While celebrities help create buzz, a strong execution around an idea that is central to a brand drives engagement and may serve as a more sustainable concept as campaigns continue throughout the year.

“The incredible power of online video is on display this year offering an even greater return on investment for Super Bowl advertisers,” said Bill Lederer, CEO of Kantar Video. “This evolution to multi-platform campaigns is creating a whole new layer of value to brands and audiences making the advertisements an even bigger part of this annual event.”

The study, which leverages the Videolytics platform tracked viewership and social metrics (comments, favorites, ratings) generated on leading video distribution sites online through proprietary media identification technology. It also included engagement and recall analysis from the Videolytics Social platform.

The study, which began the week before the Super Bowl, seeks out patterns and trends that have impact on advertisers’ campaigns. These results are based on data through Thursday, February 9, 2012.

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As Crain’s Detroit Business’ Newsmakers of the Year, Saad Chehab and Sue Mosey are bringing new life to the city, their industries, and the people of Detroit.

Saad Chehab, CEO of Chrysler Group LLC’s Chrysler Brand, has driven Chrysler’s new tagline: ‘Imported from Detroit’ straight into the heart of Detroiters and car- lovers, alike.  As the brains behind Chrysler’s SuperBowl XLV commercial featuring rapper, and Detroit-native, Eminem, Chehab casted the city in an ‘us against the world’ role.  The commercial showcased popular Detroit venues and highlighted the city’s best features.

That has certainly proven to be accurate, especially for Chrysler who saw significant improvement in sales after the commercial aired.  In December of 2011, Chrysler sold 138,019 new vehicles, up 37% from the 100,702 sold in December of 2010.

“Those results, that campaign, that marketing, that product, that effort and hard work are speaking for themselves and their sales. I couldn’t be happier,” said the newly named CEO for the Chrysler Brand.

Sue Mosey, president of Midtown Detroit Inc., is being recognized for her significant accomplishments in resurrecting the Midtown area.  Mosey has been working with local investors to populate formerly empty buildings with a variety of businesses including wine bars, yoga studios, and even a Whole Foods Market, the first in the city of Detroit.

These efforts have invigorated the real estate market in Midtown Detroit in an attempt to bring new residents to the area. In addition, some Detroit companies have even begun to provide incentives for their employees to live in Midtown as a result of Mosey’s efforts.

“When you drive the neighborhood, you see new businesses, construction, things happening here,” says Mosey. “That’s probably the most important thing for anyone looking at investment opportunities.”

Chehab and Mosey’s accomplishments will be celebrated at Crain’s Detroit Business’ Newsmaker of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at the Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit. The luncheon begins at noon and will feature addresses from Chehab and Mosey, as well as a question and answer session, with both Newsmakers.

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It’s been a record breaking week for Madonna.  Along with the largest halftime US viewership in Super Bowl history including Madonna’s Bridgestone Halftime performance (peaking at 112.6 million viewers), the pre-orders for the Material Girl’s upcoming MDNA album ascended to the top spot on iTunes stores in 50 countries and was the largest one day pre-order of any album in iTunes history, it was confirmed on February 8 by her record label Interscope.  Commented Madonna, “Thanks for all the L-U-V!! from around the world.”

A key part of the album release included a first of its kind worldwide promotion by Clear Channel, a leading global media and entertainment company, which premiered Madonna’s highly anticipated new single and video, “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” across its full range of media platforms, including radio, outdoor, online and mobile on Friday, February 3.

As part of the campaign, Clear Channel used extensive on-air and online promotions to drive listeners and Madonna fans to iTunes, where they could buy the new single and pre-order MDNA, scheduled to be released globally March 26.

Below are some of the astounding numbers that add up for Madonna this past week.

MADONNA BY THE NUMBERS:

SUPER BOWL BY THE NUMBERS:

MADONNA BY THE LETTERS:

Image Courtesy of   DSPA / Shutterstock.com

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The USA TODAY Facebook Super Bowl Ad Meter winner has been announced and Doritos “Sling Baby” came out on top for 2012. The ad features a grandmother who creates a way to sling her grandson – with a rubber band-like setup – across the yard to grab a Doritos bag from a taunting boy.  The Facebook community rated the ad a 4.33 (on a scale of 1 to 5 stars).

The top five ads chosen by the Facebook community and their score:

• Doritos – Sling Baby – 4.33
• Bud Light – Weego – 4.25
• Kia – A Dream Car. For Real Life. – 4.23
• Chrysler – It’s Halftime In America – 4.23
• M&Ms – Ms. Brown/Just My Shell – 4.22

In the event of a ratings tie, higher rank goes to the ad that received the larger number of votes.

The USA TODAY Facebook Super Bowl Ad meter voting was open to Facebook’s more than 800 million global users. Facebook users could view, rate and share all the national ads that aired during the game.  Voting began right after the first ad aired during the Super Bowl on Sunday night and continued until 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Complete results can be found at admeter.usatoday.com and facebook.com/sports as well as in Wednesday’s print editions of USA TODAY.

Created in 1989 to gauge consumers’ opinions about television’s most expensive commercials, Ad Meter and has been a subject of great consumer interest and conversation over the years. The 2012 USA TODAY Facebook Super Bowl Ad Meter combines the industry authority of USA TODAY with the social engagement of Facebook.

With the rise of social media as a tool for consumers to voice, share and discover topics of conversation, this year’s collaboration between USA TODAY and Facebook for Ad Meter 2012 is an evolution of how America discusses and rates ads during and after the Super Bowl, one of the most popular ad spend days of the year.

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Victor Cruz, of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, cut the ribbon to officially open Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center on February 8.  Cruz was joined by Stephanie Winston-Wolkoff, Director of Fashion at Lincoln Center, Peter Levy, SVP and Managing Director at IMG Fashion, Sports Illustrated model Kate Upton, Naeem Khan, this season’s Mercedes-Benz Presents Designer, and Lisa Holladay, Manager of Brand Experience Marketing, Mercedes-Benz USA.   Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is owned and operated by IMG Worldwide.

“It’s an honor to be here to help kick off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York,” said Cruz.  “It’s been quite an incredible week for the City—our Super Bowl win, the great homecoming parade yesterday, and now the beginning of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.  I’m very grateful to my fans that came out to support us yesterday and today and looking forward to checking out some shows this week.”

“Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center is internationally recognized as the premier industry event to showcase cutting-edge fashion,” said Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Director, Fashion at Lincoln Center. “We’re excited to open our doors and show the world all the innovative new designs that will hit the runways this season.”

“IMG and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week continue to put the world’s leading fashion designers and brands center stage in New York City the fashion capital of the world,” said Peter Levy, SVP and Managing Director, IMG Fashion Worldwide. “It’s great to have a huge star like Victor Cruz join us to launch the week and help us in welcoming all our guests.  As New Yorkers we’re tremendously proud of the Giants’ Super Bowl victory and can’t wait to see Victor sitting front row at some shows this week.”

“I was incredibly honored to help Victor kick off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week today and celebrate his and his team’s incredible success on Sunday,” said Naeem Khan, this season’s Mercedes-Benz Presents designer.  “I’m very excited to present my collection this season and this is a great way to get it all underway.”

“It’s such an honor to be here at the opening of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week,” said Kate Upton. “Fashion Week in New York is such an iconic event; it’s great to be a part of it.”

“Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is always exciting and having Victor here along with our Presents Designer Naeem Khan to get things underway is a special moment,” said Lisa Holladay, Manager of Brand Experience Marketing at Mercedes-Benz USA.   “The month of February is a ball of energy for the Big Apple and that continues as we kick off the fashion festivities at Lincoln Center and the start of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.”

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is New York’s largest media event, welcoming designers, celebrities, industry experts, models and the world’s fashion elite to Lincoln Center each September and February to see what’s in store for the next fashion season.

Designers featured this season include Nicholas K, BCBG MAX AZRIA, Kaelen, Richard Chai, Honor, Tadashi Shoji, Candela, Chadwick Bell, Joseph Abboud, PARKCHOONMOO, The Greenshows – Collection Previews, Concept Korea, General Idea, Rebecca Taylor, Brandon Sun, Rebecca Minkoff, Tommy Hilfiger Men’s, Nicole Miller, Katya Leonovich, Charlotte Ronson, Academy of Art University, Popluxe, Ruffian, Lacoste, Porter Grey, Jill Stuart, Son Jung Wan,Mara Hoffman, Rafael Cennamo, Herve Leger by Max Azria, Vantan Tokyo, Tibi, Monique Lhuillier, L.A.M.B.,

Venexiana, Lorena Sarbu, Lela Rose, Derek Lam, DKNY, Tracy Reese, Joy Cioci, Custo Barcelona, Diane von Furstenberg, Falguni & Shane Peacock, Y-3, Carmen Marc Valvo, Mathieu Mirano,Timo Weiland, Jenny Packham, Negarin, Carolina Herrera, Carlos Miele, Zang Toi, Emilio Cavallini, Donna Karan New York, Reem Acra, Yeohlee, Bibhu Mohapatra, Betsey Johnson, Leather Japan 2012, Prete & Bruno, Norisol Ferrari, Tory Burch,

J.Crew, Badgley Mischka, Vera Wang, Diesel Black Gold, Fotini,Naeem Khan, Dennis Basso, Pamella Roland, Haus Alkire, Narciso Rodriguez, EMERSON, Whitney Eve, Michael Kors, Rochambeau, Nanette Lepore, Ports 1961, Joanna Mastroianni, J. Mendel, Levi’s, Suzanne Rae, Milly by Michelle Smith, Farah Angsana, Anna Sui, Nomia, Vivienne Tam, b michael America, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein Collection.

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The New York Giants held their Superbowl celebrating parade on Tuesday after their victory over the New England Patriots on Super Bowl Sunday. The team took the Lombardi Trophy back to New York to share the experience with the fans after a ‘come from behind’ drive orchestrated by Eli Manning and their high powered offense.

After a miraculous catch by wide receiver Mario Manningham, Manning marched down the field, capping off a nine play, 88 yard drive with Ahmad Bradshaw rushing the touchdown. The New York Giants paraded through Manhattan receiving the key to the city and finishing off a memorable day with a pep rally at Met Life Stadium.

One of the most unforgettable experiences any sports fan can have is seeing their team in a parade like this. People were chanting, “Let’s go Giants!” as the head float, carrying Eli Manning, defensive end Justin Tuck and members of the coaching staff rolled on by. Fans were throwing footballs for the players to autograph and the players would throw them right back.

Coughlin, who received a phone call from President Obama on his way to the parade, said, “All things are possible for those who believe. We always believed, we always knew we could get here.”

The celebration started at 11 a.m. and continued all day with a ceremony at City Hall followed by a ceremony at Met Life Stadium. Players were leading the fans in with an “I gotta ring!” chant which was led by running back Andre Brown and continued throughout the day. Former Giants Super Bowl winner Michael Strahan helped present each Giant player a key to the city alongside Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Victor Cruz even made his signature move after receiving his key and salsa’d on stage.

Players went on to comment on the experience of celebrating their victory with the fans. Punter Steve Weatherford was quoted for saying, “It’s unbelievable, celebrating this is front of the greatest fans in the world.”

Eli even made the joke, “We needed to lose four in a row,” saying that it wasn’t tough enough. He went on to say that Coughlin reiterated, “Make it tough just make it possible.” You can say the Giants did that. Starting the season 6-2 and then losing four straight is definitely a way to make it tougher.

The Giants became the first 9-7 team to ever win a Super Bowl. Entering week 16, the Giants were 7-7 and wound up winning the last six games to reach the goal that every NFL player strives for; the Lombardi Trophy.

The Giants had a record setting eight fourth-quarter comeback victories this season, including one in the Super Bowl; so you can see why President Obama complemented Coughlin and the Giants with words like, “finishing” and “being resilient.”

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British rapper M.I.A. has been criticised by a parental advocacy group after she made a gesture with her middle finger during a live broadcast of the Superbowl last Sunday.

M.I.A., the stage name of Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam, was in the middle of performing alongside Nicki Minaj and Madonna during the globally-televised sports event’s half-time show when the incident occurred. During the track ‘Give Me All Your Luvin”, M.I.A. raised her middle finger, however, her finger was not blurred out by broadcaster NBC due to the fact that it “occurred too quickly for its technical system to catch“.

Still, the Parents Television Council (PTC) has publicly criticised both NBC and M.I.A. for this event taking place in the first place. The organisation’s President, Tim Winter, had the following to say:

NBC fumbled and the NFL lied because a performer known as M.I.A. felt it necessary to flip off millions of families. It is unfortunate that a spectacular sporting event was overshadowed once again by broadcasting the selfish acts of a desperate performer … They chose a lineup full of performers who have based their careers on shock, profanity and titillation. Instead of preventing indecent material, they enabled it. M.I.A. used a middle finger shamelessly to bring controversial attention to herself, while effectively telling an audience filled with children, ‘F– you.’”

The PTC made further accusations toward the organisers’ culpability in this event, noting that as recently as last week the PTC had been informed that making the Super Bowl’s half-time show ‘appropriate’ would be a priority. The PTC concluded their statement on the matter by insisting:

The mechanism NBC had in place to catch this type of material completely failed, and the network cannot say it was caught off guard…

Their closing comment alludes to a well-publicised incident at the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show in which singer Janet Jackson’s breast was briefly exposed during an onstage performance with Justin Timberlake. CBS, the broadcaster of the Super Bowl that year, received a $550,000 fine from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and resulted in a significant increase in the number of complaints and fines received and issued, respectively, by the FCC.

The 2004 Super Bowl had an estimated 87.79 million viewers in the United States alone, while this year’s event was broadcast is said to have garnered 111.3 million viewers – making it the most-watched television show in U.S. history. As a result, M.I.A.’s gesture has the potential to incite an even greater public outcry, especially in light of the revelation that during the Super Bowl, a record-breaking 12,333 tweets per second were sent out about the event.

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The 46th Super Bowl will take place in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sunday, February 5, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 PM EST (7:30 AM Beijing time, February 6). The AFC Champion New England Patriots and NFC Champion New York Giants will battle for the Lombardi Trophy.

While 164 million US audiences watched Super Bowl XLV live on NBC last year, watching live broadcasting of the Super Bowl in China is yet a luxury until this year, after NFL entered a partnership with PPTV for online live broadcasting in China.

PPTV is set to be the first and the only Chinese online TV media officially invited by the NFL to enter into the media studio of Lucas Oil Stadium. It is also the only online TV on the list of live broadcasters for the Super Bowl. With the coverage Super Bowl XLVI, it is no doubt that the leading position of PPTV in online live sports broadcasting would be reinforced.

As a new comprehensive online TV media that becomes famous for its live sports broadcasting, PPTV Online TV demonstrates its edge in front-line live coverage this time with its rich experience in the field of live broadcasting. PPTV has the most experienced online live broadcasting operation team and technical platform in China.

Mr. Huang Jianxiang, the most renowned Chinese sports commentator, together with Mr. Dong Li, a famous sports TV host, will comment the game live on the spot. PPTV will start broadcasting programs of Super Bowl XLVI from 7 AM Beijing time on February 6 ^th and the review of the competition between the two teams of the final in 2008.

Simultaneously, the audiences can watch the commentary Huang Jianxiang and Dong Li from US and feel the enthusiasm of the American fans directly. Coincidentally, both Huang Jianxiang and Dong Li had witnessed Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix in 2008, when the Giants ended New England’s bid for a perfect season with a 17-14 upset victory.

It is believed that the two commentators would deliver a lot of flavor about the match to PPTV’s audience through their comments. In addition, NBC announced that the Super Bowl will be broadcasted live through online media for the first time throughout the history. Mobile users of Verizon can also watch the live broadcasting on their handsets.

Nevertheless, PPTV will carry out the live broadcasting through its entire platforms including its web page, PC client, iMAC client, Android app, iPhone App, iPad App and WP 7 client. PPTV provides the Chinese fans with the opportunity to get in touch with overseas top sports game.

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The Super Bowl is no ordinary game: it’s an American holiday.  Verizon, the official wireless service provider of the NFL, is making sure Verizon Wireless customers are part of the excitement during Super Bowl XLVI with NFL Mobile. This year marks the first time the Super Bowl will be streamed live to select mobile devices, providing fans with an unprecedented viewing experience.

With NFL Mobile’s game day coverage, fans can catch all the action on their smartphones. Prior to the game, customers can use NFL Mobile to keep up-to-date with breaking news, highlights, video on demand and live NFL Network coverage.

Verizon at The Big Game
With the New York Giants and the New England Patriots ready to square off on Feb. 5, the company has enhanced its network at more than 30 venues in Indianapolis, including major hotels and all of the facilities where the game and related events will take place.

The NFL Experience, which features Verizon’s Training Ground Experience on game day, and the Super Bowl XLVI Village give visitors a chance to test their athletic skills, both mentally and physically. Fans will also get the opportunity to meet, take photos with and get autographs from professional football legends. The NFL Experience is the ultimate experience for football fans in Indianapolis.

To kick off Super Bowl XLVI weekend, Verizon will participate in the 13th annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration (SBGC) on Friday, Feb. 3, an NFL sanctioned event, where legendary NFL Pro Bowl players, Super Bowl Champions and MVPs come together on one stage with Grammy Award-winning artists, A-list entertainers and special guests.

Salvation and Deliverance Church Choir, the winner of Verizon’s 2011 “How Sweet the Sound” national choir competition, will perform during the 2012 SBGC taking place at Butler University in Indianapolis. HopeLine from Verizon will also make a donation to a local domestic violence agency to help the organization increase awareness of domestic violence and further prevention efforts.

For more information about NFL Mobile, including how to purchase the application and a list of compatible devices, visit www.verizonwireless.com/nfl. Data charges may apply for download and use of the app. For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

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Audi’s :60 TV spot set to air in the first break after kick-off of Super Bowl XLVI is now live on the brand’s YouTube channel. The cinematic spot – which features a vampire theme and the new 2013 Audi S7 with the brand’s signature LED headlight technology – has been pieced together by Facebook users who cracked the commercial with Audi’s social media contest called ‘Race the Light.’

Through ‘Race the Light,” Audi released its upcoming ad as a 60-piece puzzle for fans to solve and share. Audi’s signature LED headlights take center stage in the spot.  The all new 2013 Audi S7 arrives at a vampire party in the woods and brings with it an unexpected surprise.

“In the spot, Audi LEDs – which at 5,500 Kelvin produce the closest recreation of daylight available – put an end to the vampire party, and perhaps, to the greater vampire trend in pop culture,” said Scott Keogh, Chief Marketing Officer, Audi of America.

The vampire trend exploded onto the pop culture scene over a decade ago, with over a dozen television shows and over 24 movies launched in recent years, as well as countless books, video games and even vampire-themed cruises.

“Given the power of the Super Bowl platform, we wanted to create an entertaining spot that clearly focused on our LED headlights — one of our key product attributes – while also sparking conversation about whether or not it’s time for us to move on from the omnipresent vampire trend into something new and even more exciting,” Keogh added.

The advertisement features the song “The Killing Moon” by Echo & The Bunnymen and was created bySan Francisco-based Venables Bell & Partners. Audi also released a cinematic trailer on YouTube that looks back at Audi’s Super Bowl spots from the past four years and features footage from this year’s commercial.

Last year, Audi’s adventurous “Release the Hounds” spot featured the new Audi A8 flagship sedan, a cameo by legendary musician Kenny G, and was a parody of individuals attempting to escape from the confines of old luxury as portrayed in a luxury prison. In 2010, Audi’s Super Bowl ad showcased a soundtrack created by rock legends Cheap Trick and featured the A3 TDI “Green Car of the Year” clean diesel vehicle, showing how easy being green can be.

The brand’s 2009 spot featured actor Jason Statham in a series of high-speed chase scenes involving luxury competitors, sending the message that luxury is evolving. In 2008, the brand’s first Super Bowl spot delivered a parody of the movie “The Godfather,” signaling that Audi was ready to take on the perceived luxury leaders.

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This February, Bud Light – the official beer sponsor of the NFL – is taking up residence in downtown Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI with the return of the Bud Light Hotel.

Beginning Thursday, Feb. 2, Bud Light will transform a 180-room downtown Indianapolis hotel (105 S. Meridian Street) into the premier destination for Super Bowl week entertainment. In addition to hosting exclusive parties from EA SPORTS and Playboy, the Bud Light Hotel will host a special concert featuring 50 Cent, Lil Jon and Bud Light-sponsored artist Pitbull the night before the Super Bowl and a special afternoon concert featuring the Barenaked Ladies before the game. The full Bud Light Hotel line-up of events includes:

• Thursday, Feb. 2 – EA SPORTS Madden Bowl XVIII (invitation only)
• Friday, Feb. 3 – The Playboy Party (invitation only)
• Saturday, Feb. 4 – 50 Cent, Lil Jon and Pitbull (doors open at 8 p.m.)
• Sunday, Feb. 5 – Barenaked Ladies (doors open at 2 p.m.)

Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday concerts are available throughout the Indianapolis metropolitan area, and more information can be found at www.BudLightHotel.com. Bud Light has also partnered with Yahoo! as the exclusive live broadcast partner of the Saturday night concert, ensuring fans across the country will be able to enjoy the Bud Light Hotel experience the night before Super Bowl XLVI.

The concert will be broadcast live on omg! from Yahoo!, the No.1 celebrity news site reaching more than 31 million fans per month at http://omg.yahoo.com/super-bowl-party-central and available on Yahoo! Screen (http://Screen.Yahoo.com), Yahoo!’s newly launched video destination.

“Bud Light Hotel has steadily become the epicenter of the entertainment during Super Bowl week, and we don’t know of any place in Indy where people can find a better, more diverse line-up of good times,” said Mike Sundet, senior director, Bud Light. ”And through our partnership with Yahoo!, we’ll liven up the Saturday night of music fans everywhere with the concert event of Super Bowl week.”

“The Bud Light Hotel concert has already become a signature Super Bowl week event that fans look forward to and now can experience this incredible line-up on Yahoo!,” said Ken Fuchs, VP, Yahoo! Media Network. “We are thrilled to be bringing this fantastic event exclusively to our 80 million music and sports fans around the country.”

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With three weeks of the preseason finished and the starters sitting for the entire fourth game this week against the Philadelphia Eagles it’s time to look ahead to the regular season. The Jets are on a Super Bowl or bust mission this season, but can they really make it there or are they all talk.

Going into this season the Jets have a lot of question marks, but they have a ton of upside and the results could culminate in winning it all. Some of the big questions for the team are: How much depth do they have on the O-line?

Will Mark Sanchez continue to improve in his third season and take the steps he is expected to take and become the leader the team needs? How will Sanchez and his new look receiving core gel and how quickly?

Will Shonn Greene be able to perform at a high level as the feature back all season? Can they generate any QB pressure without a prolific pass rusher? Will the two rookies Mohammad Wilkerson and Kendrick Ellis be able to contribute in their rookie years?

While this may seem like a lot of questions as well as key ones, and most of them having to do with the offense, the Jets looked good overall in their preseason campaign. It seemed like what the team needed was just more time as with every game a different problem would arise. Against the Texans the line couldn’t protect Sanchez, against the Bengals they couldn’t run the ball, and against the Giants they couldn’t pass.

The one thing that has been consistent for the Jets in the preseason is their defense. The starting unit has only allowed 10 points in the 3 preseason games.

Rex Ryan, who usually doesn’t hesitate to gush about his defense said on Tuesday, “”Will we end up being the best defense in football? I think so. I challenge everybody: Put your negatives comments out there and we’ll see what happens in the end, because I think our defense is going to be outstanding.”

“I wouldn’t trade this defense for anybody’s in the league.”

The Jets defense is definitely poised to be a top 3 if not best defense in the league with 10 returning starters and 9 of the 10 having 2 years under Rex Ryan’s defense which should mean less communication breakdowns than there have been. The Jets also have 10 defensive backs who have played in the system which should help the continuity of the secondary.

For the first time in his tenure with the Jets OLB Calvin Pace will play in the first game. He missed the first month of 2009 due to suspension and 2010 due to a broken foot. Pace is the teams best pass rusher and having him from the start should help the defense overall.

Another big difference from last year is the status of CB Darrelle Revis. He’s participated fully in training camp and is in top shape this year as opposed to last year having held out all of the preseason. That probably led to his slow start and the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 2.

With the defense looking to be in top form and help carry the Jets there season really comes down to the continued development of Mark Sanchez. He showed how good there offense can be against the Bengals, but also how inconsistent as we saw against the Giants.

If Mark Sanchez continues to take steps forward, Shonn Greene steps up to the challenge of being a featured back in the NFL, and the Jets D can dominate like they have the past two years the Jets look to be on their way to a potential Superbowl title.

So the big question on all Jets fans minds and many people around the NFL this season is this: Will the Jets be flying high or crashing and burning when its all said and done with?

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The AFC North division is one of the most competitive and entertaining in the NFL from top to bottom. Every team has a fierce rivalry with each other. Every game is played with 100% intensity and effort, making watching these games an incredible experience for fans. For a while now Baltimore and Pittsburgh have been the clear frontrunners here. That being said, Cincinnati is perennially a tough team to beat, and usually on the verge of the playoffs come the later weeks in the season. Also Cleveland, who had been at the bottom of the barrel for a while now, has injected some new young talent, and is looking to start their turnaround. The 2011 season could see an even more balanced AFC North than fans have seen in years.

Cleveland Browns: The Browns are at a crossroads. They have a quarterback in Colt McCoy who seems as though he’s ready to lead this team. McCoy has shown both the skill and the intangibles to be a very solid quarterback immediately, and maybe more in the future. I remember watching their game against the Jets last season, seeing Colt drive the ball down field with ease using both his arm and his legs to shred one of the better defenses in the NFL. At that moment I knew that this team was on their way up. McCoy isn’t alone either. He has a stud in the backfield in Peyton Hillis who had an absolute breakout season last year. Hillis racked up 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns, not to mention countless highlights of him leaping over one defender and running over the next. With Rob Ryan running the defense, this team is only a few weapons and some experience away from being a serious contender in this division.

Cincinnati Bengals: Inconsistency is the word. From the playoffs in 2009 to a four win season in 2010, there was a serious drop-off in Cincinnati. The Carson Palmer era seems to be over, and the Andy Dalton years are just beginning. Rumor has it that the starting job is already his. That being said, something about this franchise just screams under-performance. Ochocinco apparently wants out and nobody knows if Terrell Owens will be able to come back from off-season surgery and perform at a high level. If Dalton is relying on Jordan Shipley to be his number one target, there will undoubtedly be another rough season. Even off the field this team can’t win. Every time fans turn around their beloved Bengals are back in the news shining a negative light on the franchise for one thing or another. Maybe new leadership under center will turn things around, but it will take some time. Prepare for some rebuilding years Cinci fans.

Baltimore Ravens: Anquan Boldin came on the scene in 2010 and made a serious impact on this offense. Joe Flacco added a serious weapon to his already bolstering arsenal, and immediately showed good chemistry with Boldin, connecting down-field game after game. I’m shocking myself in writing about a Ravens offense first, but it’s catching up to their powerhouse defense that we have known and loved for years. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed might have some mileage on them, but nobody’s worried, they’re still some of the best in the league at their positions. There really aren’t very many weak links in this Raven’s team, they’re ready now. Year after year Flacco gets better, and fans are just waiting for the year where they can overthrow the Steelers. Could 2011 be the year? I’ll leave it at a maybe, but it’s going to take some big game performances to get the deal done. Their time will come as long as they can get it done before they lose their veteran leaders to retirement. Expect to see them back in the playoffs, and from there you never know.

Pittsburgh Steelers: What’s to say here? Sure, they lost in the Super Bowl, but they were beaten by an excellent team that was on an incredible roll. Mike Tomlin has a resume at 39 that most coaches never will have in their entire career. Big Ben is one of the best clutch quarterbacks in the league no matter how ugly his stats or mechanics may be. The defense is back to the days of the “Steel Curtain.” I could probably go through every single player on the defensive side of the ball and rave about them, but I’ll spare readers the extra words and just tell you they’re all really, really good. They’ve got youth, they’ve got offense, defense, special teams, veterans, coaching, experience, rings…they’ve got it all. I refuse to believe I’ve seen the last of Ben Roethlisberger or Troy Polamalu in the Super Bowl. When it’s all said and done, this team might rival some of the great Pittsburgh teams of the past.

The Steelers are going to be tough to overcome for a long time, but getting out of this division might be their hardest task. Fans better believe that they will be given a run for their money as this division begins to balance out. Hard hits and clutch plays are the name of the game in the AFC North. If you haven’t been watching these divisional games in the past few years, start. Great football, great players, great moments. Whoever is able to come out of this division on top will surely be ready for anyone that gets the tough task of meeting them in the postseason. Be ready for some battles.

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The AFC East brings us some of the most popular and some of the most hated teams around the league at the same time. New York, New England, and Miami (sorry Buffalo), are some of the biggest markets in sports these days, and their respective teams rightfully get a lot of the spotlight. The Patriots are wrapping up their dynasty and now seem to be in a retooling stage. In the meantime, the Jets put themselves on HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” and became what seems to be the most hated team in the NFL. The Dolphins continue to make key acquisitions such as Ricky Williams, Brandon Marshall, and even Bill Parcells, none of which can quite get them over the hump. Of course lastly, the Bills continue to struggle so much so that fans tune in assuming that they are bound to turn it around sooner or later. There is so much to be said about these four teams and the history they bring to the table.

So where do we even begin with this division? Let’s start with what we know, the bottom.

Buffalo Bills: Well, who even knows what to say about this franchise. Being notorious for losing is a tough spot to be in. The Bills are going to have a hard time attracting big free-agents to come play in Buffalo, and thus should look for young talent to rebuild this team. Is Ryan Fitzpatrick the guy? Well, don’t forget that he did throw for 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2010 and proved that he was the real starter for this team, so maybe, but they need much more than a quarterback. Maybe C.J. Spiller will show some of the explosion he had at Clemson and be a much needed weapon for their offense. Marcell Dareus should instantly make the Bills defensive line something to plan for. It’s hard to say that the Bills even could be contenders this season, but we’ve seen crazier turnarounds in sports. Let’s just call it a work in progress.

Miami Dolphins: Whereas everyone can peg Buffalo at the bottom of the division, Miami is probably the biggest question mark of the four. What do they bring to the table? It’s pretty difficult to say considering many of their main positions are unidentified. First of all, who is going to play quarterback? Chad Henne just doesn’t seem to be the answer everyone wanted him to be. When you have Brandon Marshall to throw to and you still can not significantly improve your numbers, the surroundings might not be the problem. As for running back, Ronnie Brown has somewhat fallen off. He hasn’t had a 1,000 yard rushing season since 2006 (when he barely squeaked over the mark with 1,008 yards), and we all know Ricky Williams can’t have all that much left in the tank. The one thing I liked out of the Dolphins last season was watching Cameron Wake rushing off the end and striking fear into quarterbacks while doing his best Julius Peppers impression. As for what to expect, who knows? We barely even have names to put on a depth chart, but the assumption is that they still won’t be able to lead this division.

New York Jets: Oh Rex Ryan, you sure do have a way of getting people to hate you. Since he got to town, the Jets have become a force in the AFC and also have become one of the most hated teams in the NFL because of the jolly loud-mouthed coach. As is, this team could be right back in position to compete for a Super Bowl next season, but don’t be blinded by those back-to-back AFC Championship appearances, this team does have holes. Ryan’s defense will always be one of the best in the league, and will undoubtedly annoy any offensive coordinator that tries to deal with their blitz schemes. They are aging quickly, and probably could use a new safety and some pass rushers, but that’s only if we’re getting picky. The offense has serious weapons, and if Mark Sanchez can continue his progression, we could see a lot more balance from them. Mike Westhoff is renowned as one of the best special teams coaches in the business, so there isn’t much worry there. They don’t have much more to do but go out and win the big game, but if I know the Jets, this is when a baffling 8-8 season happens. 2011 will be a very telling year for the direction of this team, and hopefully they can keep it up, Rex Ryan led teams are good for the league.

New England Patriots: This is not the same great team. I repeat, this is NOT the same great team. The dominant defense of old is gone by the wayside. Their secondary has big holes, and although their front seven is solid, they’ll need to address their secondary issues if they want to get back to an elite level. The fact is, Tom Brady is a hall of fame quarterback and probably won’t let Pats fans go a season without seeing a playoff game, the question is how deep can they get? The New England offense is dangerous because nobody knows where the ball is going to go. Unpredictability is a quarterbacks best friend. For example, they had two tight ends with over 500 yards receiving each, and 16 touchdowns between them. They will always be a throw-first team, but have no problem slashing defenses with a run when Brady catches some linebackers cheating. The Patriots are good, not great. I wouldn’t expect them to be a Super Bowl favorite going into these season, nor would I doubt a team with Brady and Belichick at the helm. Will they seed the reigns of the division to the Jets, or will they regain the dominance they held for so long over the past decade? Time will tell, as for now I’ll expect at least another playoff appearance for New England.

Ah The AFC East, this division definitely holds the keys to my heart. Growing up as a Jets fan, it was incredibly difficult to see the Patriots dynasty do what they did for so long. I now can admit that Tom Brady is one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game (although that is always a bit tough for me to say), and that Bill Belichick is a hall of fame coach, no matter how much he may have cheated throughout the championship years (sorry folks, as a Jet fan, I had to). That being said this is a new time for this division. The Jets have reached back to back AFC Championship games under Rex Ryan and seem to be on the cusp on something great, and with young talent emerging from Buffalo and Miami in their rebuilding stages, this division should continue to be highly competitive in some of the biggest markets the NFL has to offer.

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