Ahh the Super Bowl. One of the big events I look forward to every year.  Since the Dolphins haven’t whiffed the game since 1993 (they haven’t even been to the second round since 2001), it is always in a removed way.  I like the event and the culmination of the season.  And I like the food.

Since I began watching the Super Bowl (1992),  it has been pretty easy to determine who I wanted to win. Through Super Bowl XLII, there was a clear team I wanted to win.  Then Super Bowl XLIII happened.  The Steelers and the Cardinals?  #’s 4 and 11 on my list? Awesome!  I obviously chose to root for the Cardinals, but, for the first time ever, I wouldn’t mind if the team I wasn’t rooting for won.

Then Super Bow XLIV.  #8 vs #6.  This just got more difficult.  I was cheering for the Cardinals the year before, but I didn’t care if the Steelers won.  Now I just didn’t know who to cheer for.  I wanted the Colts to win because I wanted everyone to agree that Manning is better than Brady and the Iowa connection, but I wanted the Saints to win because I like underdogs, the Brees Saved New Olreans Story, and Drew Brees.  Ultimately, I chose the Saints (Jim Cladwell’s fault).  The thing is, it left a sour taste in my mouth.  I hated liking each team so much. It’s the same exact thing as when you watch a game between two teams you hate (think 2005 World Series).  You don’t care, because you don’t want either team to win.  We have all experienced that feeling, and usually we just don’t watch the game (example: I have already vowed to never, ever, ever watch a Cowboys-Jets Super Bowl…ever).  But you can excuse that feeling when you hate the teams. When you like the teams, the feeling gets worse.  I am used to being indifferent toward teams I don’t like, but teams I like?  I like them because I want to cheer for them…not be indifferent about them.

That brings us to Super Bowl XLV. #11 vs #13 on the aforementioned list. (They are actually probably both higher now.  When the list comes out next year, the Bears are certain to drop because of Jay Cutler.  The Steelers will rise because my dislike for Big Ben has waned.  The Texans and Bengals may have disappointed me for the last time).  There is no good reason to take one over the other.  I want the Steelers to win because I am an AFC guy, I want people to have to start talking about Roethlisberger as an all-time great, I want people to start admitting that maybe the Steelers are the perennial team to beat in the AFC (not the Patriots or Colts), and I want the Steelers to take over for the Cowboys as the team you think about when you think “Super Bowl”.

On the other hand, I want the Packers to win because I like Rodgers and want him to be on the level as all the other big QB’s, I want Green Bay to have the ultimate anti-Favre satisfaction, I’ve never rooted against the Packers in the Super Bowl (it just seems like they invented it), they are more fun to watch, and I like Wisconsin.

When writing it out, it seems like my reasons for rooting for the Steelers are stronger, but I just keep gravitating toward the Packers.  I even ranked the Steelers higher.

But it seems weird rooting for them in this situation.  I keep leaning back towards the Packers.

So, right here, right now, I have to make two choices.  My pick and who I am rooting for.

My pick is Packers 28-Steelers 27

My allegiance?

I have to stay true to my rankings.  I’ll be pulling for Pittsburgh…and I’ll be miserable the whole time.