ISO: Sixpack

Super Bowl XLIII kicks off in just over two hours.

The good guys -- aka the Pittsburgh Steelers -- are shooting for a historic sixth Super Bowl championship.

Can they stop the high-powered Arizona Cardinals offensive attack?

Tune in.

And, oh yeah, don't miss the halftime entertainment. I hear they booked a good performer for that.

UPDATE: They won! Congratulations to the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers on winning their unprecedented sixth title. In an instant classic contest which featured an improbable 100-yard interception return by NFL defensive player of the year James Harrison, two touchdowns by all-world Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald and a rousing Arizona comeback directed by veteran quarterback Kurt Warner, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger topped them all by leading the Steelers down the field in a thrilling two-minute drive to win the game with a touchdown pass to eventual MVP Santonio Holmes with about 30 seconds left in the game. Simply amazing. And Springsteen was fooking awesome.

43

In terms of United States Presidents, 43 is a pretty crappy number.

In terms of National Football League safeties, 43 is a great number.

Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers wears number 43 for the black and gold, and his decisive interception and return for a touchdown clinched a win for the Steelers in tonight's intense AFC championship game against division rivals the Baltimore Ravens.

Next up: a Sunday, February 1, clash in Tampa, Fla. versus the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl ... XLIII, aka -- you guessed it -- 43.

Super Bowl XLII

Will the Patriots make history by going 19-0? Will the Giants make history of their own, knocking off the seemingly unbeatable juggernaut in an upset of epic proportions? Super Bowl XLII (that's 42) is upon us.

It's been two years since my beloved Steelers knocked off the Seahawks in XL, putting a fifth Lombardi Trophy on the Rooney family's mantle.

And it's been 28 years (!) since my grandfather, family friend Mr. Patterson, my father and I drove from Las Vegas to Pasadena to watch the Steelers beat the Rams at the Rose Bowl back in XIV. Thanks goodness this year's halftime show (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) is a major improvement over Up With People.

Alright, I'm saying it: Go Giants! Gotta root for the underdog, right?

UPDATE: Pigs fly, Satan is skiing, and the Giants did the unthinkable (to everyone but them and their fans), slaying Goliath and beating the previously undefeated Patriots in an instant classic. Eli Manning scores MVP honors, following up on older brother Peyton's triumph from last season and robbing Tom Brady of joining Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana as the only starting quarterbacks to win four Super Bowls. I suspect Brady will have another chance, and if he doesn't, well, he's got a hell of a consolation prize.