By Jesse Jose

A Cup O' Kapeng Barako

S o, did y'all watch the Super Bowl last Sunday?

I did and I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially that part where we saw Madonna performing her deep, low "squats" during her song and dance performance at halftime. I think it was a spectacular show. The chariots and all. The helmeted and marching gladiators. The grandeur of it all. The lighting and the drama. When Madonna came on, the pulse-racing show began.... 

That's the primary reason why I watch the Super Bowl. The halftime show, not the game at all. 

Who cares about footballers charging and colliding against each other, snarling like pit bulls at each other, and bashing each other's head, like bulls in a jealous rage.  I think football is a stupid, brutal game. 

I'd rather watch basketball, with Kobe, and before him, Jordan, flying up in the air like Superman, twisting like a ballet dancer and dunking that ball into the basket, with a ferocious slam bang of showmanship.  To me, that's the sport among sports.  The GAME to watch, to enjoy and to cheer for. 

The other reasons why I watch the Super Bowl are the ads.  Yaaaaaa, the commercials. 

I like Clint Eastwood.  I've seen all his "spaghetti" cowboy movies.  And, in that movie where he uttered that line, "Go ahead.  Make my day, punk!" was the epitome of cool in the acting world.  For we, who were watching that movie were with him to make his day.  And, he did, too ... blasting to smithereens that obnoxious punk with that long-barreled six-shooter of his.  Y'all remember that movie?  Can't recall the title now.  Was it "Dirty Harry"?  I can still see vividly that particular scene and hear Clint's raspy voice.

So, when I saw him came on halftime and began to say an ad for Chrysler cars, I sat up.  "It's halftime in America, too," he rasped.  "Seems we have lost our heart at times.  The fog, the division, the discord and blame made it hard to see what lies ahead.  But after those trials, we all rallied around what was right and acted as one...."

"Because that's what we do.  We find a way through tough times, and if we can't find a way, then we'll make one," Eastwood said.

He continued, "All that matters now is what's ahead.  How do we come from behind?  How do we come together?  How do we win?  Detroit's showing us it can be done.  And what's true about them is true about all of us ...

"This country can't be knocked out with one punch.  We get right back up again, and when we do the world's going to hear the roar of our engines!"

Right on, Clint!  Hear the roar of our engines ... and bombs away!  Shock 'em and awe 'em!  Tell 'em: Make my day, punk!  Then blast 'em to smithereens!

When I heard that ad from Eastwood, I thought that's what he meant: Blast 'em!  America's enemies must be contained and put in their places.  And if putting them in their places means blasting them to smithereens, so be it.  Make my day, Ahmad-in-the-head. 

CHICAGO-STYLE POLITICS: But the message out turned out to be political in nature, for it touched upon the highly controversial government bailout of automakers,   

On FOX News, Karl Rove, the erstwhile "brains" of President George W. Bush, said that Chrysler ad was offensive, even suggesting that President Obama had a role in its production.

"I am a huge fan of Clint Eastwood," said Rove. "I thought it was an extremely well-done ad, but it is a sign of what happens when you have Chicago-style politics, and the President of the United States and his political minions are, in essence, using our tax dollars to buy corporate advertising and the best wishes of the management ... which is benefited by getting a bunch of our money that they'll never pay back."

That's true. Those automakers NEVER paid back the bail-out money to us, taxpayers!

And, as we all know, the man likely to be the Republican nominee to beat Obama in the general election would be Mitt Romney, and Mitt has been slammed by Democrats for opposing the bailout of the auto industry.

Mitt is my man. Surely, he'll be the GOP nominee to beat the food stamp reign of Obambi  True, Rick Santorum, this past Tuesday, won the caucuses and the primary in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado.  Those losses I think are just bumps along the road for Mitt on his way to the White House.

A STORY FOR VALENTINE'S DAY: Well, so much for the Super Bowl and politics.  Let's move on.  Valentine's Day is coming up, so let's focus on love.  This little story was sent to me by my good friend, Ray Burdeos, the author of two well-read books, "The Steward and the Captain's Daughter" and "Pinoy Stewards in the U.S. Sea Services."

Ray said this was sent to him by Alice, and it's titled: "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, what one does for love...."  Here it is, Dear Readers, enjoy:

An elderly couple were having dinner one evening when the husband reached across the table, took his wife's hand in his and said, "Martha, soon we will be married 50 years, and there's something I have to know.  In all those 50 years, have you ever been unfaithful to me?" 

Martha replied, "Well Henry, I have to be honest with you...  Yes, I've been unfaithful to you three times during those 50 years, but always for a good reason."

Henry was obviously hurt by his wife's confession, but said,  "I never suspected.  Can you tell me what you mean by good reasons?"

Martha said, "The first time was shortly after we were married, and we were about to lose our little house because we couldn't pay the mortgage.  Do you remember that one evening I went to see the banker and the next day he notified you that the loan would be extended?"

Henry recalled the visit to the banker and said, "I can forgive you for that.  You saved our home, but what about the second time?"

Martha asked, "And do you remember when you were so sick, but we didn't have the money to pay for the heart surgery you needed?  Well, I went to see your doctor one night and, if you recall, he did the surgery at no charge."

"I recall that," said Henry.  "And you did it to save my life, so of course I can forgive you for that.  Now tell me about the third time."

All right," Martha said.  "So do you remember when you ran for president of your golf club, and you needed 73 more votes?"

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, what one does for love, indeed?  Y'all have a Happy Valentine's Day.  JJ