Super Bowl hangover

Anyone who wants to discuss the blackout, the commercials, the halftime show or even the game itself tell us what you liked and what you didn't.

Johnny especially liked the Doritos goat commercial.

Late night open thread

Oh so NOW America cares about infrastructure.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Jersey City Desk, your unofficial official home of Super Bowl [fill in Roman numerals]

Hey sports fans, it's Super Bowl Sunday and while the Jersey City Desk has no official connection to Roger Goodell's social media nightmare week we're the UNofficial official home for the big game. We're just practicing up for next year when the Super Bowl comes to New Jersey. Here's a game, count how many times the lazy announcers and analysts who refuse to do their homework say the next Super Bowl is in New York. The over/under is 25. Anything Super Bowl related you want to talk about from the game to commercials our comments lounge open sign is now ON.

So this has sure been a great week for the NFL in New Orleans hasn't it? Roger Goodell, the NFL commish can't get served in quite a few Big Easy restaurants and bars. He's been banned over his handling of the Saints "bounty" program fallout during his big Super Bowl week in the host city. Perfect. Then we have Ray Lewis who has never been shy about running his mouth unless it is about the murder he was involved in -- er, allegedly involved in at a Super Bowl event in 2000. Since Ray Ray won't talk about it, and when you read that link it becomes quite apparent he's hiding something, it causes the media to ask questions and dig deeper. Bad for the NFL. Then the very fact that Lewis is playing is yet another controversy. He tore his triceps. He was done for the season. Unless of course you're Ray Lewis and heal at ten times the rate of the normal human without taking deer antler spray. Witnesses put him in the place to get it and talking with the owner of the company but his Harry Potter healing wand made from deer antlers had nothing to do with illegal-by-NFL-standards deer antler spray which helps athletes heal, well, ten time faster than normal folk. The media asks how he heals, he blames someone else and the NFL backs Lewis. Look, if they were willing to overlook murders years ago why try and enforce your own rules with a bankable player? Another black eye for the NFL and their supposed drug testing program. Awful week wasn't it? Then the 49ers hit town.

Soon after the wheels touched down on the 49ers plane in New Orleans two of their players decided they were in fact NOT involved in a team sponsored "It Gets Better" video for gay, lesbian and transgender kids who are victims of bullying. They were shown their own pictures in the video but for an idiot player named Isaac Sopoaga this still wasn't enough. He didn't do that video if it was for gay kids. The 49ers players response was SO BAD to this video that the "It Gets Better" people actually had to pull the video as it was having the very unintended effect thanks to nonsensical comments by Ahmad Brooks and Sopoaga. The San Francisco chapter had to pull the video. Go NFL, let's get everyone fired up!

Get those cheese and crackers and yummy treats onto trays, the pre-games start in an hour! Get the turkey in the oven and -- wait, wrong holiday. Feel free to drop us a note in comments and tell us what makes YOUR Super Bowl party the shizzle.

So, the game itself, after all the social media NFL fail how about we get to the game. Baltimore can run a little but the big weapon they have this postseason is Joe Flacco's arm. He's throwing great long balls and Anquan Boldin is catching them. We think the 49ers are the best defensive team the Ravens will face. The question about the Ravens offense is will they try to pass to let Ray Rice run or will they try and establish Ray Rice and try and hit some big plays? Johnny thinks against a stout San Francisco front the Ravens should start out passing and then let Ray Rice get going. As for the 49ers offense matched up against the Ravens defense? We think that the SF scheme will take advantage of the upfield rush of Suggs and the like. The longer the game goes on the better the San Fran offense does. We think that trend will continue tonight. The 49ers have a diversified offense that can usually work against any kind of defense. If Colin Kaepernick wins the MVP tonight there is every chance he'll win it on the strength of his legs, it's what he does that Flacco does not. One thing that should worry the NFC champion 49ers is their meager field goal kicking. David Akers does not inspire confidence should this come down to a 47 yard winner.

So, after all this game analysis and social media and commercial talk where does it leave us? Glad you asked fans.

Fearless Forecast:
San Francisco 33
Baltimore 24

As for the deer antler spray? The NFL has rigorous testing standards. Ray has never failed a test.

Late night open thread

"I played a heap of snow in a school play. I was under a sheet, and crawled out when spring came. I often say I'll never reach the same artistic level again."
 -- Stellan Skarsgard

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jersey City's own Jebediah the Wombat saw his shadow early this morning, only a week and a half more of winter

Jersey City's own weather prognosticator Jebediah the Wombat came out this morning from his abandoned warehouse and yes, saw his shadow. So according to legend (Johnny's legend anyway) that means spring is about a week and a half away. Book your travel accordingly.

Late night open thread

"I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down'."
-- Bob Newhart

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with MIDNIGHT OIL!

Aussie Aussie Aussie oy oy oy! A note about this video and the fact it doesn't exactly match up to the meaning of this song. The video itself contains a lot of great pictures of Australia where Midnight Oil and the story behind this song comes from. The pictures make you wanna run right out and book a flight to Sydney. Now the meaning of the song is really an age-old story of a company poisoning workers (in this case with asbestos) who are told if they complain their only source of income goes poof. Just take your dirty money and shut up. It's nice certain bands have their priorities straight. Midnight Oil with 'Blue Sky Mine'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with MELISSA ETHERIDGE!

Passion. You wanna sing and reach Johnny you gotta sing like you mean it. He can tell. He might be colorblind but he sure as hell isn't tone deaf. That's why Johnny likes Melissa Etheridge. She sings like her songs are busting out of her. Plus she's just plain good folk. He's Ms. Etheridge with 'Come to My Window' featuring the very talented Juliette Lewis as the Crayon Lady.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE CARS!

In what was one of the best debut albums like ever, this song, 'All Mixed Up' often gets lost in the fact it's part of that three song run-together with the FM radio runaway hit 'Bye Bye Love' and then the iconic 'Moving in Stereo'. It's kind of that great song that you hear every so often and are reminded how good it is. The late Benjamin Orr on vocals (on all three aforementioned tracks actually) with 'All Mixed Up'

Former NYC Mayor the honorable Ed Koch has passed away

Now Johnny wasn't living in NYC during the 1978-1989 era of Koch. He wished he did when the punk scene broke out but alas, Johnny had parents who said he wasn't go to live in NYC at the age of 16 on his own but we digress. Koch was a three term mayor who led the city out of bankruptcy and into a more modern era or restored housing, a tremendous burgeoning art scene throughout the 80's and all with a smile and a "How'm I doin'?" for voters. Koch was one of if not the first mayors to draw on an entirely new way of getting elected mayor of NYC by moving to the center.

Rest in peace Mr. Koch. Maybe one day Mayor Bloomberg will get his wish and the Queensboro Bridge will one day bear your name. Koch was 88.