It was Super Bowl Sunday 1991 and the game was being played in my adopted home town of Tampa – in the old Tampa Stadium where the popcicle Bucs began their days.
It was an all New York Super Bowl – the New York Giants vs. the upstate Buffalo Bills. I always thought that “Bills” was a really silly name and a lousy play on words. I mean, couldn’t the league think of anything better?
It was cloudy that Sunday; ominous TampaBay winter clouds reflecting the weird lighting in the old Tampa Stadium.
And it was only a week since the first Gulf War commenced on the command of Bush the Greater with the goal of liberating Kuwait from Saddam.
There was much patriotism on display that Sunday in Tampa. Some had questioned whether of not the game should be postponed but that was never seriously considered.
We’ve all heard the national anthem prior to sporting events. It’s a difficult song to sing and many simply don’t have the voice to pull it off. Others play with the song. Rarely is it performed memorably.
But not this day.
This day Whitney Houston would perform the most electrifying national anthem ever sung at the Super Bowl. Millions have heard it. If you haven’t you should.
Whitney Houston performing one of the greatest national anthems ever at Super Bowl XXV in 1991.
P.S. The Giants won 20 – 19.
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I know nothing about US Football, but I do recall her singing your anthem. Not that I watched the game, her segment was shown here on the news the day after.
As for the Buffalo Bills, I would have called them the Buffalo Bisons.
Because the animal called a buffalo in America is really a Bison, and a Buffalo is something entirely different. That would educate sports fans, as well as confuse them. 🙂
And “Go Bisons! sounds better to me than “Go Bills!”.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m with you on Bisons Pete. There is a college football team however that already uses that name. I think its North Dakota State. Some one will correct me if I am wrong. Maybe that was the issue. Buffalo Bills is a really dumb-ass name. Besties.
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Then again the Buffalo Bisons really doesn’t work either! Sounds repetitive to American ears! 🙂
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I agree, greatest rendition of the NA, an exciting game for watch…except for the awful ending. My Buffalo BILLS Lise on a missed field goal and the rest is history. Excellent defensive game plan by the Giants, and who was the defensive coordinator? Bill Belichick, the long time successful Patriots head coach. I’m going to stand and listen to Whitney. Enjoy today’s game.
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Hi srbottch! I remember that game well. It was the first of four trips in a row for Buffalo to the S.B. – and 4 loses. Yikes. I was working in New York by the 4th one and a colleague from up state was ready to slit his wrists. Best regards and enjoy.
P.S. – Sorry – but the name is lame.
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What? It’s a great name. We even have the ‘Buffalo Mafia’, the fans of the Bills. But there is a Buffalo Bisons, the minor league baseball team, the Buffalo Sabres hockey team, the Buffalo Bandits pro lacrosse and a possible new pro soccer team heading this way. It’s a big sports town for a small market. The Bills got their name owing to a survey asking the public for names. Apparently, the fans liked naming the team after the famed frontiersman, Buffalo Bill Cody.
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Sorry. Bill Cody or not, Had I voted it would have been for the Buffalo Bisons.
🙂
Best regards from Tampa Bay.
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Wonderful voice. Not a football fan, I did love listening to her sing the anthem.
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