The Ranting and Ravings of a Former Cheerleader:
SUPER BOWL EDITION
Amanda Dwyer

As Super Bowl Extra Large times 2 – or 42 for those of you who remember your Roman numerals – quickly approaches, I am reminded of how I felt as a child at Christmas.  Not so much because the anticipation of the Big Game is equivalent to waiting for Christmas morning to arrive but more so because, as a die-hard New York Giants fan, I already feel as though Santa was very generous with the gifts.  The win over the Bucs was like a well stuffed stocking.   Beating the hated Cowboys IN Dallas AND making T.O. sob like a baby was like getting Barbie’s Dream House and a new bike.  Witnessing Tynes kick the G-Men into the Super Bowl to end one of the greatest football games I have ever watched was comparable to finding a kitten under the tree.  (Who am I kidding?  I didn’t really watch the kick – I had my eyes closed as I prayed.)

So if the Giants pull this off on Sunday, it will be equal to what I can only imagine it feels like to find a set of keys to a new Mercedes under the tree.

And as Big Blue has made its surprising march to Glendale, my superstitions have hit hyper drive.  I don’t think it’s uncommon for sports fans to have rituals or feel the need to have certain lucky charms with them when cheering for their favorite teams.  Athletes have them so why not fans?  (By the way, any athlete who says they don’t have any is most likely lying and just doesn’t want anyone to know what their traditional pre-game habits are and why they do them lest it give any of their opponents an edge.)

Of course, this Super Bowl, predicted to be the most watched game ever, is just another chapter in what maybe the most notorious regional rivalry since the Hatfields and the McCoys:

Boston vs. New York.
This got me to thinking that beyond the gridiron and the baseball diamond, there are many other “bowls” that these 2 cities could compete and I wanted to see who might actually have the edge after facing off in 10 other possible contests.

(For the purposes of this comparison, New York will include New Jersey.  After all, the Giants do play here in NJ)

The Chowder Bowl
Boston: New England Clam Chowder
New York: Manhattan Clam Chowder (you know – the red one)

Well, this is the most obvious non-sports comparison and while I would love to give the edge to NY, I have never actually tried Manhattan clam chowder so that would be like Carrie Underwood endorsing a new burger invention from Mickey D’s. 

Edge: Boston 

The Dessert Bowl
New England: Boston Cream Pie
NYC: New York Style Cheesecake

This is a tougher food match up.  The Boston Cream Pie is not actually a pie but a cake, usually either sponge or yellow cake with a custard like cream filling and a delicious chocolate glaze.  Yummy yes but a real bitch to make from scratch – trust me, I made one years ago.  So I say head over to Juniors and get me a cheesecake!

Edge: New York

The Ivy Bowl
Boston: Harvard University
New York: Columbia University

Let’s see - Harvard is where Elle Woods became Legally Blonde while Columbia allowed Iranian President, former terrorist and homophobe Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak on campus.  There are 75 winners of the Nobel Prize associated with Harvard and has produced 7 US Presidents with the potential to add another this year (Both Romney and Obama graduated from Harvard).  Columbia is associated with 76 Prize winners and has produced 2 U.S. presidents.  Lastly, Lion’s overall gridiron record is 347-559-43 while the Crimson has a more impressive 743-359-50.  I think the winner here is obvious.            

Edge: Boston 

The Road Runner Bowl (Beep! Beep!)
New England: The Boston Marathon
The Big Apple: The New York City Marathon

The Boston Marathon was the first annual such race in the United States starting in 1897 and is run every year on Patriots Day, the third Monday in April.  Meanwhile the NY Marathon is the largest running event in the country and is a glorious fall happening – nothing beats the shot of the 30,000 runners heading over the Verazano-Narrows Bridge.

Edge: NY 

The Senate Bowl
Massachusetts: Ted Kennedy
New York State: Chucky Schumer

Normally I would call this a draw but at least Chucky never killed anyone.

Edge: New York 

The Beach Bowl
Boston: Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard
New York: The Hamptons and the Jersey Shore

Do I even need to explain this one?  While I love Martha’s Vineyard but I love my Jersey Shore more!

Edge: NY/NJ (duh!)

The “Must See TV” Bowl
Boston: “Cheers”
New York: “Seinfeld”  

Two of televisions most iconic shows.  Sam vs. Jerry. Elaine vs. Carla. George vs. Fraiser.   Newman and Norm.  Kramer and Woody.  Wow.   This is a tough one.  Sam pitched for the Red Sox and George worked for the Yankees.  Like Norm said “It’s a dog eat dog world and I’m wearing Milkbone underwear.”  I think we need to go to the bullpen on this one.  Heading to the mound for the save is “Friends”!  Just like the ’86 World Series!

Edge: New York

The Punch Bowl
New England: Boston Sidecar/Cape Codder
New York: Manhattan/Long Island Iced Tea

 Since I have never heard of the either drink representing NE and have enjoyed a few LIT’s in my lifetime, looks like New York wins another one.  Plus the Manhattan is such a classic cocktail I don’t think the Sidecar could even match up.

Edge: New York

The Mob Bowl
Boston: “The Departed”
New York: “The Godfather”

Both won the Academy Award for best picture and had unbelievable casts like Nicholson playing the Irish mobster Frank Costello against DiCaprio’s Billy.  The legendary Marlon Brando created an  iconic character in Don Vito Corleone and uttered one of the most famous movie lines of all time: “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse”.

Despite my Irish heritage, living in the hometown of Frank Sinatra makes this choice easy.  Salute!

Edge: New York

The Tabloid Bowl
Boston: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner
New York: Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen

Ironic isn’t it?   The Patriots MVP Yankee hat wearin’ QB likes to spend his off-time in the Big Apple with his Brazilian supermodel girlfriend.  Bennifer goes to Red Sox games with daughter Violet – yawn.

Edge: New York

Total: New York 8, Boston 2.

 Oh and don’t forget the Super Bowl is only the beginning of “Super Week” – 2 days later is “Super Tuesday” – 21 states, including NJ, will be holding their Presidential Primaries.  A big moment in the Presidential campaign that has been going on since the Knicks last won an NBA championship. 

Amanda Dwyer is an occasional contributor to realhoboken.com and will have all her good luck charms in full affect on Super Bowl Sunday.  GO GIANTS!