Patch Picks: The Super Bowl

On Sunday evening at around 6:30 p.m. the earth will stop spinning. It won't actually, it just might seem that way when the Green Bay Packers square off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Since, (we're told) the Super Bowl is the largest single sporting event in the country, avoiding it will be a challenge. You can opt to Get Out (see earlier story) or enjoy the Super Bowl. Here's five ways to enjoy The Big Game if you have no rooting interest (i.e. you're a Redskins fan).

1. Place a bet. Not about the outcome of the game, that's dullsville. Bet a dollar on which player scores the first touchdown, or who wins the coin toss, or who gets the first penalty. Or what the score will be at halftime.

2. Speaking of halftime...the entertainment is The Black-Eyed Peas and while it's not cool to wish mistakes on people, the Super Bowl has been known to contain a gaffe or two. Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" jog any memories?

3. Just root for someone. Looking over the rosters, there's not much of a connection to Northern Virginia. The closest? Steelers James Farrior and Heath Miller are both Virginia natives and played for UVa, albeit seven years apart.

4. Watch the Commercials. Ad executives treat the Super Bowl like...the Super Bowl. 12 months of ideas have been held in abeyance until now. Historically speaking, soda and beer commercials are the best, but the occasional auto or snack food ad shines.

5. Go somewhere to watch the game. A friend's house, a restaurant, whichever. With the right company, just about any sporting event is tolerable. Good company will almost make you forget it's been 20 years since the Skins last won the Super Bowl.