Greatest Super Bowl Performance

Today is Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots and I couldn't care less about it. That's not to say I'm not a football fan because I am but I'm not a fan of the Giants or Pats. My NFL teams of choice are the Chicago Bears and the Washington Redskins and they didn't even make the playoffs this year.

Now I do plan to watch the game because it's still the biggest game of the year, even if it might not be the best game of the year. But this isn't about football. For me as a music fan, the real spectacle and highlight usually comes at half time when in recent times the entertainment is provided by well known musical acts.

Some years are better than others and this year it's Madonna performing. I don't hate Madonna but I just don't see her as the right choice for the Super Bowl. But I'll watch it and make my assessment later. Maybe she'll surprise me.

To me the great entertainers of past Super Bowls were acts that own stadium shows. Bands like The Who, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, Prince and Michael Jackson.

When it comes down the worst performances, I can't help but single out the Black Eyed Peas, Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton, Enrique Iglesias, Patti Labelle, Elvis Presto and the Winter Wonderland salute. Do a Google search for some of those performances if you don't believe me.

For me though, the absolute best and my most favourite performance at the Super Bowl came in 2002 at Super Bowl XXXVI when U2 took to the stage and not only gave a great performance but also an amazing tribute to all of the people who lost their lives during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Watching the seemingly endless list of names scroll up the screen behind the band was unbelievable but at the same time the exceptional playing of "Where the Street's Have No Name" was electric.

If you don't believe me, have a look at the video evidence below. Keep in mind, I'm a huge U2 fan from way back in my youth. I've also included my second favourite performance by Bruce Springsteen and the 1987 show for your enjoyment.

A Summer Hockey Break

We interrupt the summer of 2010 for this moment in hockey history.

The heat of summer has been getting to me and I'll admit, I'm going through a little hockey withdrawal with another NHL season still two months away.

I overheard some young men the other day talking about the Team Canada Gold Medal win at the past Olympics in Vancouver and they were saying it was the greatest moment in Canadian hockey history.

Now although it was a great game between Canada and the United States and will certainly rank as one of the biggest moments in Canadian hockey history, I can't say I'd agree with it being the greatest hockey moment for Canada of all-time.

OK, maybe for them it is because they're too young to remember some of the others or weren't even born yet so I suppose they don't have anything to compare it to.

For me, the 1972 series between Canada and Russia was truly a great moment in Canada's hockey history and I would say it most likely will remain the biggest moment of the sport for our country.

However, that isn't my favourite hockey moment. For me, nothing will ever top the 1987 Canada Cup and the final best-of-three game series between Canada and Russia which went the distance and included two overtime games before the deciding third game.

Not only was it thrilling to watch but the game itself was better officiated back then and players were allowed to get away with more which made it more entertaining overall. Of course I can still remember laying on the living room floor with my dad yelling at the TV and cheering as the game was tied late in the third period.

Our nervousness quickly disappeared as we watched Gretzky and Lemieux break out of their zone with about 1:30 left to play and we screamed and jumped to our feet when Mario snapped the puck home for the game winning goal.

That game and that series will always be my favourite Canadian Hockey moment. I just wish I could find all three games on DVD some place to relive the excitement and watch some legends on both teams play the game with passion, heart and guts.

Until I can get my hands on a copy, this goal recap from Game 3 will have to suffice. I hope you enjoy it.