Goodell > Tagliabue

Come check out the full article at http://jvsports.blogspot.com/2008/08/goodell-tagliabuein-halftime-shows.html It was recently announced that Bruce Springsteen will be performing at the Super Bowl Halftime show this year. I think this is a great move for the NFL. In fact with this latest stroke of genius Goodell might finally eclipse his predecessor Paul Tagliabue. People may say that Tagliabue is a better commissioner than Goodell. People may say that he is less of a curmudgeon than Goodell. Some would say that Tag's is better at life. But never let them say that Tagliabue is better at putting on a half time show. The record speaks for itself. (See Below) Tagliabue's Half Time Shows 1989- This year was basically just a giant Diet Coke commercial featuring an Elvis impersonator in 3-D. Seriously? 1990- In what might be the best halftime show in the Tagliabue tenure, three universities and several jazz musicians paid tribute to New Orleans. This is solid, but not spectacular. 1991- The halftime show was not shown live in favor of Desert storm highlights newsreels. After the Super Bowl the half time show was rebroadcast. The Show was put on by Disney and had an "It's a Small World" theme. It featured Disney Characters, Warren Moon, New Kids On the Block, and 2000 children Most. Annoying. Halftime. Show. Ever. It's a wonder Warren Moon never did Heroin. 1992- Gloria Estefan, Brian Boitano, Dorothy Hamil. Where were Tommy Moe and Nancy Kerrigan? Were their agents on vacation? 1993- This is a direct quote from wikipedia: "Michael Jackson Halftime Show, Heal the World: Michael Jackson and 3,500 local children" No thanks. 1994- This year's line-up was called "Rockin' Country Sunday" and featured Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, The Judds. I know that I was old enough to be watching the Superbowl at this point in my life but I have no memory of this event. There is about a 99% chance that I blocked this out. Clint Black you should expect a bill from my therapist. 1995- "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye"Indiana Jones & Marion Ravenwood, Patti LaBelle, Tony Bennett, Arturo Sandoval, and the Miami Sound Machine did some things with stuff. Based on this line-up I assume the forbidden eye was hidden in a retirement community in Boca Raton. 1996- Diana Ross. ?could be worse. 1997- It was called "Blues Brothers Bash" and featured the Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman and Jim Belushi), ZZ Top, James Brown. Hmm? that one actually sounds OK. This is in the running with the New Orleans jazz tribute now. 1998- Royal Caribbean International & Celebrity Cruises sponsored the Super Bowl XXXII Halftime Show with a "Salute to Motown's 40th Anniversary" featuring Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, The Temptations, Queen Latifah. Not a terrible idea (besides inviting Queen Latifah). I bet that the Tempt's and Smokey were a little washed up by this point though. 1999- Another Orgy of pop music titled "Celebration of Soul, Salsa and Swing" with Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Savion Glover Why not just Stevie? What did Gloria BBVD and a tap dancer add to this? 2000- This year E*TRADE presented the halftime show. It was entitled "Tapestry of Nations" featuring Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, an 80-person choir and Edward James Olmos as a narrator. According to Wikipedia "The halftime show was based on the year-long Millennium celebration at Walt Disney World's Epcot. The ten-minute show featured 125 drummers and percussionists, a full symphony orchestra, larger-than-life puppets, aerial dancers, a multi-generational choir and advanced pyrotechnics." Why wouldn't E*TRADE just throw money out of a blimp to show everyone how well their website was doing. I think it would have been more tasteful and probably easier on the ears. 2001- 2000's plop-fest was not enough for E*TRADE as they vowed to out-do themselves in 2001. This year's line-up started with a skit by Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller and Chris Rock. Then Aerosmith, N'Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly took the stage and showed everyone in the free world what Hell sounds like. 2002- After 2001's debacle E*TRADE was down, but not out (yet). They decided to abandon the "lets get tons of terrible musicians on stage at once" technique and this year they got U2 to perform. This would have been fine, I guess, except for the fact that Bono thought it would be a good idea to mouth the words "I heart you" into the camera. Barf. 2003- AT&T thought that No Doubt, Sting and Shania Twain simply must share the stage. They were incorrect. 2004- This was the year of the infamous nip slip (or wardrobe malfunction if you prefer). What a lot of people forget though is that this year also featured Kid Rock, P. Diddy, two Texas based marching bands, Jessica Simpson, and Nelly in addition to Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson. Seeing this performance was exactly what I imagine the world would look like if you announced that in three hours sex would be illegal. It was just a bunch of people scurrying around with no semblance of order and some clothing coming off. 2005- After everyone got a little more than they bargained for with JJ's nip in 2004, they got smart and booked Sir Paul McCartney. That way America wouldn't have to worry about any stray boners from the half time show. Like I always say "a boner-free America is a happy America" 2005 ends the Tagliabue era. In 17 years Tag's only produced 3 solid halftime shows. That is just pitiful. Now check out Goodell. Goodell's halftime Shows 2006- The Rolling Stones. Nice. 2007- Prince. Hey, sweet penis guitar! 2008- Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers My personal favorite half time show. Now whenever I hear "free fallin'" I immediately think of guys named Sully, Murph and Tawmy crying. Good times. ________________________________________ So there you have it. Commissioner Goodell may be a bit of an underachiever when it comes to things like disciplining players, handling public relations, not urinating on the seat and announcing draft picks? (you know all the things that commissioners need to be good at), but Roger can put on a halftime show by golly! Let's just hope the Boss can keep his nipples tucked away?