Columns

The Super Bowl's wayback machine

Today's electronic conversation between Sports columnists Gary Shelton and John Romano focuses on the best and worst of past Super Bowls.

By GARY SHELTON
Published January 29, 2007

GS: Let's play a game, John. Best player to never win a Super Bowl?

JR: Dan Marino. That goes along with his award for worst interview to ever land a TV job. Worst Super Bowl MVP?

GS: Larry Brown of Dallas in Super Bowl XXX. He should name his two kids "Neil" and "O'Donnell" after intercepting two pop flies. Worst Super Bowl champion?

JR: The Jets in Super Bowl III. A mediocre team hiding inside a great story. Best individual performance in a Super Bowl?

GS: Doug Williams in Super Bowl XXII. It was an amazing performance on the field and a graceful one off, even if it did come against Denver, which in those days was considered a bye. Which player deserved the MVP most who didn't get it?

JR: Timmy Smith in Super Bowl XXII. Not that Doug Williams wasn't deserving, it's just that Smith picked the wrong time to have a career game. Seven running backs have been named MVP, but the only guy to rush for more than 200 yards in a Super Bowl is award-less. Worst halftime act?

GS: That's easy. Up With People was the halftime act four times. That's more frightening than anything Janet Jackson can show me. Best finish?

JR: That's easy. Up With People had a smoking encore to finish halftime at Super Bowl XVI. Either that or Kevin Dyson getting tackled at the 1-yard line to end Super Bowl XXXIV. Best team to lose in the Super Bowl?

GS: The little boy in me wants to say the Colts of Super Bowl III, but I'll go with the Bills of Super Bowl XXV. How Marv Levy lost that game, and why he didn't run Thurman Thomas more, still baffles me. And for our final question: What is the best Super Bowl team of all time?

JR: Whether it's the little boy, the inner child or the rum and Coke talking, I'll say the Dolphins of Super Bowl VII. Not as nasty as the Bears defense in '85, not as flashy as some of those Niners teams, but you can't beat perfection.

[Last modified January 29, 2007, 05:59:11]