As somebody who did not own a television for 15 years, and also a person who hasn’t had broadcast or cable television for many more, I never watch the Super Bowl. I last saw the Big Game at my friend Brad’s house, when Tracy Porter, a card-carrying Guy Named Tracy, intercepted Peyton Manning to seal the Saints win with a pick-6. Incredible that was 15 years ago.
Because I never see the game, I began a gag where I purposely avoid the final score. The goal is to see how long I can go without actually knowing the winner. I have never made it to Tuesday. In the old “office days,” I tried to sequester myself in my office, avoiding ESPN.com and avoiding obvious contact with co-workers. I remember almost making it to the lunch hour before somebody came by and mentioned it.
This year, I have a chance to break that record, and I will be in full Score Avoidance when you get this Post on Monday morning. I will be hiking with a good friend in Joshua Tree National Park, and as long as he doesn’t spill the beans, I have a decent chance of making it to Tuesday, completely oblivious. Let’s see how long I can hold out.
All this being said, I somehow enjoy the intrigue and specificity with which people consume the game. This has been particularly exacerbates as Fantasy Sports and Sports Betting have become far too mainstream.
I also enjoy really bad predictions, so with that being said, I compiled a list of those from friends and family. And since you will be seeing this Post early in the work week, after the Super Bowl, you can marvel at how wrong so many people are. I will say this: If anybody nails the score exactly, I will buy them Del Taco.
It is also evident that I have so many friends far too into pop culture, and lacking comedy training. The low-hanging fruit was mentions of Taylor Swift. So on that note, I will mark with an asterisk the 17% of people who included a really bad Taylor Swift joke with their prediction.
- Aaron J: 34 – 28 Chiefs
- Adam C: 31 – 24 49ers
- Adrian C: 24 – 17 49ers
- Al S: 45 – 44 Chiefs
- Bill T: 31 – 27 Chiefs
- Bob M*: 45 – 38 49ers
- Brad D: 21 – 18 49ers
- Bret K: 24 – 17 49ers
- Chris H*: 24 – 17 Chiefs
- Cody B: 28 – 23 49ers
- Dave H: 23 – 19 Chiefs
- Don B: 27 – 24 Chiefs
- Doug D: 34 – 32 49ers
- Dustin T: 34 – 21 49ers
- Dwayne W: 42 – 37 Chiefs
- Ed C: 31 – 20 Chiefs
- Eli E: 24 – 20 Chiefs
- Fernando A: 38 – 31 Chiefs
- Garth O: 24 – 20 Chiefs
- Gary C: 24 – 23 Chiefs
- James A: 31 – 17 Chiefs
- James C: 35 – 28 49ers
- Jeff P: 42 – 21 Chiefs
- Jennifer M*: 31 – 24 49ers
- Joe G: 23 – 14 49ers
- Jon S*: 22 – 14 49ers
- Jorge H: 31 – 28 Chiefs
- Joseph G: 34 – 28 49ers
- Joseph S: 21 – 14 Chiefs
- Katrina R: 56 – 42 49ers
- Ken D: 31 – 30 49ers
- Kyle B: 28 – 21 Chiefs
- Luke S*: 24 – 21 49ers
- Martin H: 31 – 20 Chiefs
- Matt D: 27 – 13 Chiefs
- Matt F: 35 – 24 Chiefs
- Michael C: 24 – 17 49ers
- Michael R*: 3 – 0 49ers
- Nick P*: 31 – 24 Chiefs
- Nick S*: 10 – 4 Chiefs
- Richard S: 27 – 21 Chiefs
- Ron M: 31 – 21 49ers
- Sabrina A*: 32 – 28 49ers
- Sam G: 3 – 0 Chiefs
- Scott H: 33 – 17 Chiefs
- Seth H: 31 – 28 Chiefs
- Shaun F: 27 – 20 Chiefs
- Shelby R: 35 – 32 Chiefs
- Stephanie D: 21-17 Chiefs
- Steve S: 21 – 14 Chiefs
- Steven S: 24 – 17 Chiefs
- Tim M: 31 – 24 Chiefs
- Tina P: 30—28 Chiefs
- Tony F: 24 – 18 Chiefs
- Tyler P: 24 – 21 Chiefs
- Vincent A: 28 – 21 49ers
- Vinney W: 31 – 17 49ers
- Will M: 24 – 14 Chiefs
I look forward to letting this list know just how bad their predictions were, with the 1 in 1-million chance I have to buy somebody Del Taco.
I will be back with some Joshua Tree hiking photography later in the week.
T.M. Schultze is a San Diego-based photographer, traveller, and writer. He writes, photographs, and draws things of the outdoors that have inspired humans for thousands of years. He co-authored the Photographer’s Guide to Joshua Tree Park which can be purchased here.
I ran 9 miles during the first half of the game.
That’s awesome, keep up the great work. You have given me some idea and ambition to work on more PCT segments.
Great write up! As a reformed football fan, I no longer care for the hype and fantasy leagues that I soaked up as a tailgating season ticket holder for the then San Diego Chargers decades ago. These days I rarely watch any college or pro games…. But on the occasional invite to a game day gathering at a friend’s house, I do attend without fail…. But my focus has shifted more on seeing/ chatting with friends and enjoying game day fare…. Wings especially… Not so much on who is playing on the tv…
Side note… my above score prediction was not the winner, so you are safe from ruining your Tuesday streak goal… and from having to buy me Del Taco….
If you were back visiting Santee, I’d gladly buy you Del Taco
I haven’t been a football fan in over 5 years but I did watch it. It’s the only game I’d consider watching and the draw this year was hopefully getting an inside tour of the stadium as I’d been by it a few times. Though it was a good game it did nothing to convince me to return to fandom.
It’s a great day to go hiking.