Sunday, February 1, 2009

Live - Super Bowl XLIII

Kick-off: 2315 GMT approx

LATEST ACTION (all times GMT)

606: DEBATE
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By Martin Gough

"Think Liverpool v Wimbledon in the 1988 FA Cup final to to give you some idea as how unfancied the Cardinals are"
BBC Super Bowl presenter Jake Humphrey makes an early appearance on Match of the Day 2 to flag up the coverage that follows on BBC One and the BBC Sport website (if you're in the UK)

"If Arizona win this game, I will eat my hair... then again I said that about the Giants last year when they beat my beloved Pats!"
gers-ham89 makes the first useful comment of the evening on 606

2234: Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner is out on the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, back in the Super Bowl after a tough few years. He was voted the league's Most Valuable Player in 1999 and 2001, and the Super Bowl MVP nine years ago, when he led the St Louis Rams to victory.

His career went downhill from there, losing his starting job four times at the Rams then the New York Giants. When he was signed by the Cardinals as a back-up three years ago he was considered finished. But he was named the starter this year and is a key reason behind Arizona's success, with his 4,583 passing yards the second best in the NFL this year.

2226: One of the first men out of the locker room is Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward, clearly limping with the strained right knee that has put his participation in doubt this week. He could be vital to the success of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offence.

2225: For the second year running, I had a chance to chat to former Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson in the week leading up to the game and, for the second year running, Rod tipped the underdogs to come up trumps.

Rod will be in the BBC studio again, flanked again by veteran American analyst Mike Carlson, who brutally exposed Woodson's tactics last year: Pick the favourite and no one remembers, pick the underdog who loses and no one is surprised, pick the underdog who wins and you're a hero.

Obviously I wasn't going to argue with Rod - who sounds friendly enough over the phone but is probably still a brutal hitter in person - but I'm picking Pittsburgh. Let me know what you think on 606 or text 81111.

2220: It's been a wild season for the NFL and tonight it could become even wilder if the Arizona Cardinals come out on top. With a 9-7 regular season record, the Cardinals have equalled the 1979 Los Angeles Rams (who lost to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XIV) for the dubious accolade of worst team to reach Super Sunday.

In case you've been asleep for the last month, though, the Cardinals are reborn, having upset Atlanta, Carolina and - a fortnight ago - Philadelphia on their way to their first NFL championship game since 1948.

Will this year's game be as wild as the one in Arizona 12 months ago, when the New York Giants scored late, via David Tyree's helmet, to overcome the perfect Patriots? Surely not.

The players are now out on the field warming up, with kick-off around an hour away.

2217: Speak of the devil.

BBC Sport's Tim Love
"I've made it through the snow and into the beered up O2 Arena. Walking into the venue and seeing Trevor Nelson having an awkward chat with cheerleaders is a dream come true, and the eclectic mix of NFL fans from across the country are already thoroughly enjoying themselves. The Super Bash is ready to roll!"
BBC Sport's Tim Love at the Super Bash

2215: My colleague Tim Love has been banished to the NFL's Super Bash at the O2 Arena this evening, where he will be chatting with celebrities, ogling cheerleaders and emailing in from time to time to let us know what a good time he's having. Those who have read Tim's regular 606 columns this year will be pleased to hear he is wearing trousers this evening.

2213: The Super Bowl always does things bigger and better than any other sporting event in the world. This year, 150,000 will watch in the stadium, consuming 15 gallons of beer and 14 hot dogs each. A further billion will be tuning in on TV worldwide. Of course, I made those stats up but you get the idea.

2209: Hotdogs and apple pie, cups of cola big enough for you to drown in, cheerleaders, big hits and razzmatazz. It's Super Bowl Sunday folks! I'll be with you until the small hours (if you're in the UK) to channel some of that Super Sunday atmosphere. There's a game of American football going on too so we'll keep you up-to-date with that too.

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