A quick ranking on the on the Super Bowl commercials from 2008. Only new commercials, no TV show, music or movie promos: The Winner: – Baby speaks, talks about getting some coin and rents a Clown. Turns out to be a bit creepy. As much as I hate fake-talking babies, this was pretty great. (E*Trade) Top Tier: – Fellers stealth snacks spruce up lame cheese party (Bud Light) – Pocket stain interruptor (Tide stain stick) – Lizards do Thriller Dance (SoBe Life Water) – Sir Charles is a chatter box (t-mobile) – Mouse waiting game (Doritos) – Ferrell says Suck It (Bud Light) Mid-Tier: – Fire breathing sneezer (Bud Light) – Godfather/old luxury car in bed (Audi) – Sleeping Peeps, Mango (Diet Pepsi max) – Modern day warriors/shoes (Under Armour) – Jeter (Gatorate G2) – Giant Pigeons (FedEx) – Death Match circle (Cars.com) – Sleeping Badgers (Toyota) – Napoleon (Garmin) – Heart quits – too gross (CareerBuilder.com) – Never say never drawing (GMC Yukon) – Foreign guys drop lines on ladies (Bud Light) – Ugly gal tempts fellers (Planters nuts) – JT gets sucked (Pepsi) – Where’s Ted? (ideacast.com) – Get your story straight (NFL Network) – Witch Doctor (Cars.com) – Jockey Shaq (Vitamin Water) – Stewie, Underdog, Charlie Brown balloons battle (Coke) – Frist, Carville buddies around DC (Coke)…

Has the Charleston Gazette writer that was very critical of Rodriguez when he first left for Michigan now done a 180? Read his article here. A few excerpts: * Now that I understand the facts, I feel it incumbent upon me to retreat and withdraw every petty thought, written or otherwise, I’ve entertained regarding West Virginia’s former football coach over the past month. * An apology is probably in order, too. After all, until Rodriguez’s legal team filed its response to West Virginia’s vitriolic and totally unnecessary original action demanding $4 million on the spot, it was difficult to see things from both sides and form a logical and reasoned conclusion. Now that I’ve been able to do that, I’m sorry. Yes, it drips with sarcasm from the local homer writer. But that’s what you get when you post during the Super Bowl.

Thanks to reader BiggieMunn who just forwarded the link to this article by Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock. He uses the Fab Five to illustrate that it’s a bit early to determine whether Kansas State has built a sustainable college hoops program. Here’s the blow at Steve Fisher, the Fab Five, and the out-of-touch Mitch Albom: Reaction: Love the swing across the bow at Albom who deserves it. Yes, I’m sure Whitlock is jealous of Albom as Mitch sleeps each night on a large pile of money. The shot at Fisher was cheap. Fish deserves a lot of credit for that run of success in the 1989 tournament and for leading a group of five freshmen to two finals and a final 8 to boot (minus Webber). No, Fisher wasn’t Bob Knight but would have five freshmen seen the court under Knight? And I guess the debate over the legacy of the Fab Five will never end.

The former Michigan grad and co-host of ESPN’s First Take did interview Notre Dame legend Joe Montana this morning during their final show before the Super Bowl. Montana talked about former M QB Tom Brady’s status in the pantheon of great NFL quarterbacks, and of course, he plugged Gatorade’s G2.

Admit it. You booed Tom Brady until your throat was sore when he played at the Big House, praying the Super Drew Henson would get into the game. Maybe you didn’t. But as soon as Brady took the helm in New England you’ve been pulling for the guy. I’ve heard radio guys [JT the Brick] bash Michigan fans for claiming Brady as their own even though he received lukewarm support in Ann Arbor. To these guys I say, ‘So what?’. Since when do radio guys define who I can consider good Michigan men? I don’t care if a guy played here and was a complete putz (obviously Brady was not)…if he finds success at the next level who’s to say I can’t root for the guy? Anyway, it begs the question: {democracy}

The folks at Discovery/TLC found my original post on the Michigan bike the folks at Orange County Choppers put together to benefit Mott Hospital. They were kind enough to pass along more info: This episode premieres on TLC at 9 PM ET/PT on Thursday, January 31. The bike is finished and unveiled at the Ohio State/Michigan game in the American Chopper episode that premieres on Thursday, February 7. And better yet, they sent over a link to a sneak preview of the episode just posted on YouTube so dig it: If your Nazi bossman locks down flash or YouTube on your PC, the preview starts with young Mikey stepping into Schembechler Hall and meeting Lloyd Carr himself. Here’s the initial exchange between the two legends: Mikey: Pleasure to meet you Carr: Welcome to Ann Arbor Mikey: It’s good to be here Carr: You gonna give me a lesson on how to ride this bike? Mikey: Sure. Why, are you going to be riding the bike? Carr: Yeah Mikey: Really? Carr: I’m going to be bidding on it. Mikey is rumored to be a big fan of MVictors as well. I’m working on an MVictors themed bike to benefit JDRF in 2009.