Before the Super Bowl ... there was the Declaration of Independence

Patriotic? Dang right. Stirring? More than I realized. Proud to be an American? Absolutely!

Fox spent their last five minutes of the Super Bowl pregame show on Sunday -- using precious, expensive prime time minutes -- with a reciting of the Declaration of Independence to honor Americans who have died for this country over the past 200 years.

Those reciting included reenactors representing Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson ... NFL-related people including Peyton Manning ... service members ... everyday Americans ...

... and perhaps the most touching was the widow of NFL star Pat Tillman.

For those too young to remember, Pat Tillman joined the Army Rangers after 9/11 to defend the country he loved, leaving behind his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals and a $3.5 million contract. Tragically killed at the age of 27 during the war in Afghanistan, he was a Patriot ... he was a hero.

Thank you, Fox Sports. We need to be reminded of who we are. Could you run that on a daily basis?

Thank you American heroes, wounded warriors, fallen warrios ... may God bless America.

Super Bowl Final: Giants 17, Patriots 14

Final score for the Super Bowl: Giants 17, Patriots 14. Congratulations, New York!

Budweiser "Rocky" commercial ... Update

With my affinity for "Rocky," this Budweiser commercial is going to be one of my favorites, if not the best, of those shown during the Super Bowl tonight. The Clydesdale that never ... gave ... up.

Update: With only one quarter left in the game this is definitely my favorite commercial. Maybe they will show it again before the game is over.

Update: Check MySpace.com/SuperBowlAds ... Super Bowl commercials will be put up after the Super Bowl to be voted on for the best of the night.

Before the Super Bowl ... there was the Declaration of Independence: A tribute by Fox Sports to honor those who have died for America the past 200 years.

The Coke Super Bowl commercial for the political junkies featuring Bill Frist and James Carville: A playful ad with two former political rivals.

Today ... Super Bowl XLII

It's Super Bowl Sunday and, though we may not have a horse in this race, we will be enjoying the festivities with everyone else. A collaborative effort has gone into cooking and baking snacks and goodies ... the grill will be fired up shortly for BBQ ribs and brauts ... and friends are coming over to join us as we gather to watch the Super Bowl ... and the commercials.

Hope all are taking a respite from politics to sit back and enjoy an American tradition as the Patriots and Giants duke it out for the title of best in the nation today at 6:00 p.m. on Fox.

Enjoy the game!

Super Bowl 2008

Patriots and the Giants ... it's a northeast Super Bowl being played in two weeks in Arizona....