A Sports Filled Weekend Ahead

We’ve waited two weeks, but we’ve really waited the whole season. And here it is – Super Bowl LI, pronounced 51 (or Lee if you’re a wiseguy).

You know the story lines by now. The New England Patriots are seeking their fifth Super Bowl title and would like to stick the Lombardi Trophy up Commissioner Roger Goodell’s nose. The Atlanta Falcons are looking for their first NFL championship after 51 years (or Lee) in the league.

The game will be televised by Fox at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. Be one of the 130 million Americans who watch. Halftime show: Lady Gaga. Watch anyway.

The Super Bowl pick: Patriots 31, Falcons 27. Roger Goodell gets a trophy stuck up his nose.

You can warm up for the game on Saturday by watching the Sixth Annual NFL Honors at 8 p.m. on Fox. It is an interminable evening of self-congratulations and awards, but the subject is football, and that should keep your heiner in the recliner (didn’t think we’d slip that in there this week, huh?).

Plenty of good college basketball also awaits your eyeballs.

At noon on Saturday, ESPN has No. 23 Purdue at No. 17 Maryland. Maryland is 20-2 but lacks a quality win. This could be it, or a loss that exposes its freshman-laden lineup.

Immediately after, also on ESPN, is No. 5 Arizona at No. 13 Oregon. You want to see a mobile big man play? The Ducks’ 6-10 Chris Boucher is your man.

Up a level, check out the Los Angeles Clippers-Boston Celtics NBA game on Sunday at 2 p.m. on ABC. It will at least be a distraction from all the Super Bowl pregame noise that rehashes the week’s pregame Super Bowl noise.

And Sunday also brings us the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament. CBS has it at 3 p.m.

Watch with joy in your heart and your feet on the ottoman.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman