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TH#fi5AMEC0CK SPORTS ^ Monday, Feb. 6,2006 K—/ I 1 —I— rV—' Page 9 Super Bowl about more than football ^ SUPER BOIUL • CORTinUED FROfTl I In a stadium brimming with thousands of Pittsburgh fans waving Terrible Towels, the Steelers finally captured their fifth title, that “One for the Thumb” that the Steelers have been waiting for since 1980. Tide No. 5 for Pittsburgh was the first for jut-jawed coach Bill Cowher, a 14-year veteran, and for Bettis, The Bus, who said he would end his 13-year career with a win in his hometown, only a few _ miles from where he grew W UP “I played this game to win a championship,” he said. “I’m a champion and I think the last stop is here, in Detroit.” When it was over, Cowher found himself drenched, with water from the traditional dousing given to him by his players — and with tears, as he hugged his wife and daughters. It was a scene much different than one 10 years ago, when the Steelers lost in the Super Bowl and ^ Cowher had to do most of W the consoling. Two plays made a difference in this one: Willie Parker’s record-setting 75 yard run for a touchdown right after halftime and receiver Antwaan Randle El’s 43-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward on a trick play that put the Steelers up by 11 early in the fourth quarter. Before that, it was Jagger and the Rolling Stones making most of the best moves. Jagger strutted his stuff during a three-song set, two of which contained obscenities that the NFL chose to bleep out. There would be no reprisal of the Janet Jackson “wardrobe malfunction” this year thanks to the network’s decision to air everything on a five second delay. The Stones were stars of a halftime show the NFL had been seeking for years—so long, in fact, that the league turned a celebration of the Motown sound that has long defined Detroit into a pregame-show undercard. That didn’t sit well in the Motor City during the lead up to the game, but Detroit got its due. The NFL took a chance bringing its showcase game up North to one of America’s great, old cities, but one under duress. Hurt by sinking population, growing unemployment and urban blight that doesn’t go away easily, this proud metropolis was a happy host, eager to impress and hoping the NFL’s magic and money won’t go away as soon as the teams and fans leave. Bettis wasn’t ashamed. “The best part is being able to showcase the hometown,” he said earlier in the week of a city that was staggered last month when Ford announced up to 30,000 job cuts. “I love this city and it puts our city Carlos Osorio / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher raises his arms as he is about to have the water cooler dumped on him by Steelers' Marvel Smith, left, and Max’ Starks, center, as their team wins the Super Bowl XL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Detroit. The Steelers won 21-10. on the grandest stage in the world. It’s something that’s much needed.” In between the Stones, Pittsburgh’s big plays and a few nice rumbles by Bettis, America’s 140 million viewers got their taste of the always anticipated Super Bowl commercials, aired at a cost of $2.5 million per 30 seconds. Highlights included Kermit the Frog insisting it really is easy being green in an ad for a hybrid car and a woman ending up in a compromising position after trying to awkwardly climb over a sleeping stranger in an airplane. There were reprises of the sad-sack guy in corporate America who literally works for a bunch of monkeys and a geezer needing to take oxygen after hearing “testimony” from a woman whose bra straps are about to pop. Experts from the Calorie Control Council estimated Americans would eat 30 million pounds of snacks on Super Bowl Sunday on their couches at home, in bars and at parties. That equaled an average of 1,200 calories and 50 grams of fat per person -and that was before actual meals or beers were factored into the equation. That’s what the Super Bowl is about, though celebrating a truly American sport in truly American fashion. Nobody had more reason to celebrate than the Steelers, who got this win despite a less-than-perfect game from their quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger (9-for 21 for 123 yards and two interceptions) and an offense that desperately needed the big plays it got to pull this out. Nearly half of Pittsburgh’s 339 yards came on three plays — Parker’s run, Randle El’s pass, and a 37-yard pass that Roethlisberger threw across his body to Ward to set up Pittsburgh’s first touchdown. i An aesthetic masterpiece, it was not, although a workingman’s city like Pittsburgh and a blue-collar team like the Steelers will certainly take it. “I hope they appreciate me, because we just brought a championship home,” Bettis said. “One for the Thumb!” ► Gamecocks lose second-straight since defeating Florida Gators Carolina falls to Arkansas after falling to Tennessee last week Stephen Fastenau SPORTS EDITOR If USC men’s basketball coach Dave Odom wanted to benchmark his team’s win over then-No.5 Florida as a turning point in the Gamecocks’ season, it has sure turned in a direction other than what he was hoping for. The Gamecocks have lost both games by a combined 30 points since beating the Gators on Jan. 25, including Saturday’s 73-59 loss to Arkansas. After dropping a Jan. 28 game to Tennessee, USC traveled to Fayetteville after a week-long layoff. And Arkansas gave them anything but a warm welcome. USC led early 6-2, on two Dwayne Day 3 pointers. Arkansas’Jonathon Modica then hit a 3-pointer to initiate a 7-0 Razorback run. The Gamecocks would never lead again. Modica made four 3 pointers in the first half to finish with 20 first half points. The Razorbacks were never seriously threatened after the first 10 r^inutes of play. Modica finished with a career-high 37 points, and USC dropped to 11-10 on the season, with a record of 2-6 in the SEC. “Modica’s shooting got us out of sync,” USC guard Tarence Kinsey told The Associated Press. “He really got the fans into the game. He was on fire and we couldn’t put it out.” USC forward Renaldo Balkman, whose chance of playing was questionable before the game due to a sprained knee, entered a few minutes in to the first half. Balkman played just six minutes, scoring only two points. Kinsey’s 14 points led the Gamecocks, who shot 38 percent from the field to Arkansas’ 51 percent. Guard Tre’ Kelley turned the ball over five times and shot l-of-7 from the field, finishing with four points. USC pulled within 10 points, 65-55, with 2:56 remaining, but Arkansas’ Modica answered with eight consecutive points to stretch the Razorbacks’ margin to 18. “He was cutting and moving, and he was 'hard to guard,” Arkansas coach Stan Heath said. “Give his teammates some credit, too, for knowing that he had a hot hand and riding him out. We just jumped on his back.” Modica finished 6-of-9 from beyond the 3-point arc, with the Razorbacks as a team putting up seven 3 point baskets. “The best part of their season lies ahead,” Odom told the AP. “There may be a more talented, team in this league, but I’m not sure.” The Gamecocks are now faced with traveling to Gainesville on Wednesday for a rematch with the Gators, who have won three in a row since their 68-62 loss in Columbia. USC sits last in the SEC East and second-to-last in the conference. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm. sc. edu 4 AprilL. Brown / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tarence Kinsey keeps the ball away from Arkansas’ Ronnie Brewer, right, during the second half of (JSC’s Saturday loss in Fayetteville*, Ark. • With Steelers Motown winy we dont have huge games on schedule » . Time between Super Bowl, Garnet and Black Spring Game much too long to wait Now that the Super Bowl is over, it is time for the most devastating sentence in my life since “Yes, Mr. Broom, you have to take two more Spanish classes to graduate.” Until _/"•__ and Black Spring Game, football is over. Of course football isn’t totally over — there is always the Pro Bowl JAHCBR00IT1 Third-year political science student and spring practice — but those two don’t really count. The Pro Bowl is to football what Master P is to. “Dancing with the Stars” — a bunch of guys trying to pick up a paycheck while not ruining their reputation or injuring themselves. Of course I will watch it, but it really isn’t football. BROOm • 10 *