My friend Will e-mailed to remind me that a certain sporting event looms nigh and that hundreds of...dozens of...tens of...okay, two faithful readers are depending on me. "When are you going to get round to the most important post of the year? When do I get to read the most interesting post of the year?? Who's going to win the Super Bowl???"

You see, each year I predict the Super Bowl winner based upon The Parseghian Principle, my theory that the winner of any sporting contest can be determined by counting the number of Notre Dame alumni on the active rosters; the team with the most Fightin’ Irishmen wins (obviously). Sometimes circumstances require that I put a bit more work into it, such as roster/depth chart considerations, Notre Dame player position, analysis of the offensive and defensive styles of the teams involved, etc. but this year I won't have to do that. Statistically, in the decade or so since formulating The Parseghian Principle, I have been wrong twice but The Principle has failed only once; last year, I was foolish enough (or perhaps blinded by Tom Brady love) to publically go against my very own Principle but while I might have been wrong, The Parseghian Principle held true.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, in an astonishing lack of forethought, have not got one single Notre Dame player on their roster. The Arizona Cardinals, in contrast, have two: defensive end Bertrand Berry and guard/tackle Mike Gandy. Thus, an Arizona win is indicated. This is good news for Will, who was feeling slightly pro-Cardinal anyway.

In unrelated news, today is my husband's Happy Birthday, which means it is also my mom's Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday, Mom & Alan!!!