Who Dat Gonna Do a Super Bowl Tale of the Tweets?

This was a tough Super Bowl for me. Consider all the factors in play: I was rooting with all my heart for the Saints. I’m a Twitter addict. And I had friends over for my 9th annual Super Bowl Soiree. So, to tweet or not to tweet: that was the question.

At first I decided that I would not be active on Twitter during the game, since, you know, I had actual human beings at my apartment with whom I could talk. And during most of the first half of the game (which wasn’t that exciting), I managed to stay off of Twitter.

But as the game got really good in the second half, starting with the Greatest and Gutsiest Onside Kick Call Ever In the History of the Super Bowl and ending with The Pick that Broke Twitter, I realized I had to jump back into the Twitterverse. I mean, the Super Bowl is, well, like the Super Bowl. For Twitter!

Now that I’ve had almost a day to reflect on it, I stand by my initial reaction: “Seriously, what a win. What a game. What an ending. Who dat could have asked for anything more? Instant classic.” I’m still stunned that Peyton Manning – the Peyton Manning – threw a pick 6 to decide the game. One of my good Twitter friends, Dana Wagner, asked me (on Twitter) if the Saints’ pick of Peyton was better or worse than their pick of Favre two weeks ago in the NFC Championship game. I answered that with Favre, it was expected, almost comical, with Peyton, it was stunning.

Saints’ coach Sean Payton (it’s Payton, with an A people), called a fantastic game. When it was clear that the Colts wouldn’t allow Brees to go downfield, they switched to a dink/dunk/screen strategy, which worked beautifully. The Saints defense was solid and made the big plays when it needed to. And Garrett Hartley established himself as one of the top kickers in the league with his performance. Given the lackluster kicking performances we saw throughout the regular season and the playoffs, Hartley stood out because he wants the chance to kick in the big situations. You want that in your kicker.

But really, it was all about Peyton Manning leading the Colts down the field for what we all assumed would be a game-tying touchdown, when suddenly, out of nowhere, came the pick. The pick six to put the game out of reach. To send a city and its fans to heaven. To send me into near cardiac arrest.

What follows is my Tale of the Tweets from the game, with some other awesome tweets thrown in for good measure. I couldn’t possibly do a compilation of all the #SB44 tweets from the game. It was insanity. The Twitterpocalypse had arrived.

Super Bowl Tale of the Tweets

Who Dat until further notice.

What is up with all the men without pants? #SB44

#SB44 RT @heathr: Is this many people rooting for the Saints making them play like the Vikings? #Superbowl (via @dwag29)

Dammit AT&T! Stop crapping out on me when I’m trying to live-tweet! #SB44 (via @dwag29)

Whoa. A Lance Moore sighting??? #SB44

I think I speak for everybody here when I say: “Effffffffffffffff.” #SB44 [after failed 4th and goal]

Inspired by #SB44 ads about pussy men, showed my friends the Sam Bee, “Attn: middle aged vagina men, sack the f*ck up” piece from TDS.

Who Dat gonna call an onside kick!!!!!! Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!! #SB44

Touchdowwwwwwwwn dance! #whodatsaydeygonnastopdemSAINTS #sb44 (via @dwag29)

RT @elsaul: Introducing… The Caldwell Face.

Abitas all around!!!!!!!!!!! #whodat #SB44

TY, Captain Obvious. RT @SportsCenter: Onside kick was gutsy but shifted the momentum towards Saints. Up to Manning to settle down & score. (via @dwag29)

Garrett Hartley is going to be making many babies tonight. #sb44 (via @dwag29)

Everybody agrees that Google ad wins the day so far. #brandbowl #SB44

My hex powers continue to work on opposing kickers!!!! #whodat #SB44

Mixed reaction in the room after Shockey TD. #bittergiantsfans #SB44

And 2 pt conversion! #whodat RT @elsaul: Touchdown! http://twitpic.com/11zxie

Interception Dance!!!!! #gameover #WHODAT (via @dwag29)

I think my heart just stopped. #omfg #picksix #SB44

And welcome back the Peyton Manning Face! #SB44

Twitter jinx!!!! RT @catelinp: There’s the Peyton Manning face!

Is this really happening? Laissez les bon temps roulez!!! #whodat #SB44

I wish I were in NOLA right now. #sb44 (via @dwag29)

Twitter died. Congrats Saints! #whodat #sb44

Post-game celebration Chez Rykoff #whodat http://flic.kr/p/7BuBD3

I’m going to watch the Peyton Manning pick six 753 times before I go to sleep tonight.

Congrats to Mark Brunell, Super Bowl Champion! #thingsineverthoughtidtype

MVT: Most Valuable Tweet

The greatest tweet of all came from ESPN’s Jorge Arangure, who posted this gem following Tracy Porter’s game-icing pick 6:

Hey I’m sure when Peyton Manning was growing up he always wanted to throw the TD pass that gave the Saints a Super Bowl win. Now he has.

Not much more I can say after that winner. Well, except maybe one last Who Dat!