Best bet: Ignore the experts

What’s going on here?Are the Patriots the most under-doggish of favorites in Super Bowl history? From everything you read and hear, it#146;s all Giants, all the time. Even some of their players are getting in on the act by guaranteeing a win.And that#146;s precisely why the Pats are the pick here.Weather or not:The Indianapolis Host Committee is sending out real-time weather alerts via text message for fans attending the Super Bowl.Here#146;s mine: It#146;s going to be kind of chilly on the way to the game and then super comfortable once you get inside the climate-controlled stadium. But on the way home, watch out, because it#146;ll get chilly again.Enjoy!It#146;s Day 5:And Phil Emery is still answering questions at Halas Hall.Just kidding:Gotta give the guy a chance, but geesh, who needs Sominex when they keep trotting out scintillating speakers like Dick Jauron, Lovie Smith and now Emery? Just to be clear:Derrick Rose never needs to apologize. Ever.Mr. Rodgers neighborhood:It#146;s going to be hard to improve on the first few, but here#146;s hoping we see a new addition to the discount double-check series come Sunday.They#146;re No. 1:The Hockey News recently released its #147;Best of Everything in Hockey#148; issue, and the Blackhawks ranked first in four different categories: jersey, business savvy, leader (Jonathan Toews) and grinder (David Bolland).They might be able to add #147;best in the Western Conference#148; if Stan Bowman can somehow wrangle up a top-4 defenseman. Missing the cut:Because the Super Bowl is family viewing and it#146;s in the heartland of America, I#146;m immediately tossing #147;Papa Don#146;t Preach#148; and #147;Like a Virgin#148; from Madonna#146;s halftime playlist.The end is near:On the heels of Aaron Rodgers ripping the effort of some of his NFC teammates, it#146;s time to come up with a new way to honor NFL all-stars.The Pro Bowl just isn#146;t cutting it. But ... :What#146;s the alternative?Danica, Danica, Danica:NASCAR drivers will soon begin to suffer from Jan Brady syndrome with Danica Patrick#146;s arrival on the circuit beginning this month in Daytona.The last time I remember this much to-do about a new arrival was when a young Rick Rosenthal joined the Channel 9 news team.Early start:Among the highlights of NBC#146;s 6-hour pregame show on Super Sunday is this: #147;Top Chef#148; host Tom Colicchio and a pair of contestants compete to create the perfect tailgate food with Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison serving as judges.And this is crucial because, as you know, everyone around the country will be tailgating before the game. Right?That time of year:When golf and auto shows are just around the corner.Ahh, new clubs and new cars; things most of us can#146;t afford right now.But man, it#146;s fun to dream.BTW:Not that I#146;m complaining, but why does the speedometer on my old jalopy go up to 140 mph? Are there some autobahns around here that I#146;m unfamiliar with?One last thing:Have a great #8212; and safe #8212; Super Bowl Sunday.mspellman@dailyherald.com