After the unfortunate exit of the Patriots from the playoffs, I haven't been in much of a mood to write about football. But today is Super Bowl Sunday, a national holiday for guys everywhere, so I'll try to compose myself for this one night. I plan on writing a running diary of either the game or the ads tonight, so check back later, but here are my pregame thoughts.

I'm not sure who to root for in this game. On one hand the Steelers are in the AFC, my conference of choice, and have the much more storied history. On the other hand the Seahawks are the underdog and have never won a Super Bowl before.

Normally I would choose based on which team had more players I can't stand. Any team with Terrell Owens, for example, automatically gets rooted against. Ditto with a team containing convicted felons (the Ravens), drug offenders (the old Cowboys), or Mannings (Colts and Giants). The closest thing to a trash-talking loudmouth on either of these teams is Joey Porter, and he seems more harmless little scamp than clubhouse cancer.

I don't like Roethlisberger because he has a weird throwing motion, but I don't like Shaun Alexander because of his whining last year when he didn't win the rushing title (and the sneaking suspicion that as soon as he's not in a contract year he'll let himself go and become soft and slow).

The Steelers are from a blue-collar town; the Seahawks are from a high-tech mecca and the birthplace of grunge, which seems to tip things to their favor until you remember that Seattle is also the home of Starbucks.

So in the end I think I'll run for a close game, exciting plays, entertaining commercials, John Madden's ridiculous commentary about made-up foodstuffs, and a Seattle victory. They're owned by Paul Allen and rooted for by many Microsoft employees, so perhaps a victory will encourage the troops to release Windows Vista on time and with no bugs or security flaws.

Well, we can always hope.

My prediction: Seattle: 23 Pittsburgh: 10