There was plenty of weirdness at the Super Bowl this week, as you would expect.

In “radio row” at the media center, assorted players, ex-players and celebrities made the rounds to hype products or events. One of those working the room was running back Larry Johnson, who was pushing Chunky Soup.

Blogger Chris Mottram, in Phoenix for SportingNews.com, marveled at Johnson’s wristwatch. Here was his conversation:

ME: Seriously, man, how much was that watch?
LJ: About 300?
ME: Dollars?
LJ: Thousand. They only made three of them in the world.
ME: $300,000? I’d have to spend 10 years worth of pay to buy that.
LJ: Or you could deal crack and get it in three weeks.

Nice! Then there was this ad running on Craiglist, noted on numerous blogs:

HAVE A HOUSE I WOULD LIKE TO RENT FOR SUPERBOWL SUNDAY. MY WIFE AND I COULD REALLY REALLY USE THE MONEY TO CATCH UP ON BILLS. IT HAS 3 BEDROOMS PLUS A DEN IN THE FRONT ROOM.

WE WOULD BE WILLING TO ACCOMODATE UP TO 4 GUESTS AT THE RATE SHOWN PER NIGHT. HOUSE WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, AND MONDAY MORNING.

WE WOULD TAKE CARE OF ALL YOUR MEALS AND PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE GAME. AS AN ADDED BONUS WE HAPPEN TO BE FRIENDS WITH A FEW VERY ATTRACTIVE STRIPPERS, WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO STOP BY AND TAKE CARE OF SOME OF YOUR ENTERTAINMENT NEEDS!!!!!!!!!

WE REALLY NEED THE MONEY, AND WOULD BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR STAY IS A PLEASANT ONE. AND OUR FRIENDS MIGHT BE WILLING TOO DO THE SAME . . .

The Tupperware parties at that house must really be something . . .

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while Rick Majerus goes back to the drawing board:

• Now that Martin Rucinsky just about mended, are the Blues offensive woes behind them?
• Do University of Missouri players finally appreciate the importance of staying trouble-free?
• On the other hand, could the city of Columbia put a moratorium on the violent assault of university athletes?
• Since when is Boone County one of the most dangerous areas in the state?

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Golfer Ian Poulter is livid about cocky comments attributed to him by a magazine. He Is NOT promising to challenge Tiger Woods for world supremacy. He is his clarification:

“The question was asked, where do I see myself and could I get to No. 1 in the world. My answer to that question was, ‘As long as Tiger Woods is playing golf, I can’t get to No. 1 in the world and nor can many other players. And quite frankly, if I do fulfill my potential, I do believe the gap between me and second is achievable, so therefore I do have a chance of getting second in the world if I work hard and fulfill my potential.’

“Therefore, the comment was, ‘It would be a dream to sit back one day and look at the world rankings and see it say, Tiger Woods and then me.’”

We hope this clears everything up.

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Norman Chad, syndicated columnist: “I’ve never thought much of Tom Coughlin. I was wrong. But, geez, I would see him on the sideline with those contorted expressions full of irritation, exasperation, aggravation, fury, rage, anger and general disgruntlement and ignored the fact that he’s made the playoffs seven times in 12 seasons as an NFL coach.”

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “The Cubs want gum-maker Wrigley to start paying for naming rights to Wrigley Field. Picturing a rival company swooping in, resulting in the following opening-day announcement: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the friendly confines of Bubbalicious Field.’”

Jay Mariotti, Chicago Sun-Times: “His most astonishing act isn’t the dynasty. It isn’t going 18-0 in a league designed for every team to finish 8-8. It isn’t being included among Time’s 100 most influential people. It isn’t coaching in 18 postseason games and losing only three. Nor is it creating a culture of intimidation and secrecy, mixed with man love, that somehow commands the full respect of handsomely paid, fiercely independent athletes in the 21st century. No, Bill Belichick’s most amazing feat is presiding in the epicenter of Super Bowl XLII, where 4,786 media credentials have been issued by the NFL, and effectively avoiding any national discussion about his cheating scandal.”

Jerry Greene, Orlando Sentinel: “Says figure skater Tanith Belbin: ‘We don’t have the scandals or the celebrities any more. We have to find a way to bring people back in.’ You know what she’s saying, right? Tonya Harding, lace up!”

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “Andy Roddick, losing to the No. 29 seed at the Australian Open, pulls out of a serve to yell ‘Shut up!’ at the crowd. Thus reinforcing the sport’s weenie image. Can you imagine Brady doing that? Alex Rodriguez? Kobe Bryant? Even Tiger Woods? Of course, Woods has his caddie, Stevie, to do that for him.”

Chad again: “Animal Planet has Puppy Bowl IV, and, for the first time, it’s in HD. The puppies tackle, bite and occasionally urinate, making it pretty much a four-legged version of the NFL.”

Dan Daly, Washington Times: “The results are in. For the ninth straight year, the New York Yankees had the highest payroll in baseball, a whopping $218.3 million. At the other end of the spectrum were the Tampa Bay Rays at $31.8 million — not counting the free sunflower seeds.”

T.J. Simers, Los Angeles Times: “Here the NFL is now agreeable to throwing a sex party every Tuesday before the Super Bowl, and not one of us complained about the amount of jiggle on display. This is the same league that flipped out when Janet Jackson showed her mettle while trying to fend off Justin Timberlake in a Super Bowl halftime performance, and now we’re all stuck with Tom Petty — if he can stay awake long enough to perform Sunday. For some hypocritical reason, the NFL is now willing to embrace the jiggle five days before the Super Bowl, giving media credentials to women dressed in teddies and wedding mini-gowns in order to get mainstream play on such non-football outlets as ‘Entertainment Tonight,’ ‘Access Hollywood’ and ‘BET.’”

MEGAPHONE

“This isn’t piano lessons. Maybe they should go play piano or violin or something instead of football.”

Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour, dismissing allegations of his dirty play.