Sports Which team do celebrities think will win Super Bowl XLIII?
Annual poll reveals choice of actors, sports stars and musicians January 29, 2009 1:05 PM The Steelers are going to squash the Cardinals this Sunday. That's the opinion of a narrow majority of the celebrities who participated in the 20th annual Scripps Howard Celebrity Super Bowl Poll. Out of the 100 famous folks who made predictions, 49 believe that the Pittsburgh Steelers will win Super Bowl XLIII, while 48 picked the Arizona Cardinals. Three celebrities jokingly picked other teams or couldn't make up their minds. Many celebrities said they picked Pittsburgh because of its vaunted defense. "Pittsburgh's defense is going to get Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner," said Fox TV host Bill O'Reilly, who sees Pittsburgh winning, 24-17. O'Reilly may be on to something. He's correctly predicted the winners of the last five Super Bowls in the Scripps Celebrity Poll. Olympic speedskating champion Apolo Ohno predicts the Steelers will win, 31-21. "Pittsburgh's defense is amazing," Ohno said. "Warner might get sacked hard during the game and those Pennsylvania boys are coming hungry. Their defense is just too strong for Arizona's offense." Other celebrities picked the Steelers for more eclectic reasons. Actor Alan Cumming said, "Pennsylvania came through for us in this election. Arizona, not so good." Mike Hayden, the CIA Director, likes the Steelers to prevail, 27-17. "The Cardinals are on a roll, but it's tough playing against a team of destiny," he said. "Blocking is blocking, and tackling is tackling." If the Steelers win, it will be the 13th time in 20 years that a majority of the celebrities has picked the Super Bowl winner. But last year only 36 of the 100 celebrities participating correctly guessed that the New York Giants would upset the New England Patriots. This year's Celebrity Poll was the tightest since 2000, when 42 celebrities incorrectly predicted that the Tennessee Titans would win Super Bowl XXXIV, while 41 celebrities correctly picked the St. Louis Rams. The quarterback for that Rams team? Warner. Most of the celebrities who picked the Cardinals this year considered Warner as the difference-maker. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice picked Arizona, "because quarterback Kurt Warner is Number 1." Tennis star Serena Williams likes Arizona to win, 21-17, because, "Kurt Warner usually does something amazing near the end of a game. He's an incredible quarterback." The celebrity who picks the winning team and whose guess at the final score comes the closest to the actual final score wins the Scripps Howard Super Sage Award. Last year's winner was Dr. Pat Robertson, who picked the Giants to win, 20-14, just three points off of the actual final score of 17-14. This year Rev. Robertson picked Pittsburgh to win, 35-22. If the Steelers do win by that score, Robertson would join tennis legend Martina Navratilova (1998) and actor Dennis Farina (2005) as the only two celebrities in the history of the Scripps Howard Celebrity Super Bowl Poll to have picked the winning team and gotten the score exactly right. Celebrity picks The celebrity who picks the winning team and comes closest to predicting the score will win the Scripps Howard Super Sage Award trophy. MAYA ANGELOU, poet and author: Arizona, 27-16, because the Cardinal bird is so poetic. SERENA WILLIAMS, tennis star: Arizona, 21-17. It's going to be tight. Kurt Warner usually does something amazing near the end of a game. He's an incredible quarterback. CONDOLEEZZA RICE, former Secretary of State: Arizona because quarterback Kurt Warner is Number 1. ARNOLD PALMER, golfer, 2003 Super Sage Award winner: Pittsburgh, 28-14. The Steelers defense is very strong. That will be the dominating factor in the game. I know and like (coach) Ken Whisenhunt from his days with the Steelers, though, and think that the time he spent as the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh will help him prepare for the game. JACK NICKLAUS, golfer: Pittsburgh, 24-17. Pittsburgh has been a strong and steady team all year. My emotions tell me I would love to pick Arizona, but I just think Pittsburgh's defense is too strong. And as we saw against a stout Baltimore defense, their offense can't be overlooked. APOLO OHNO, Olympic speedskating gold medalist/"Dancing with the Stars" winner: Pittsburgh, 31-21. Pittsburgh's defense is amazing. Warner might get sacked hard during the game and those Pennsylvania boys are coming hungry. Their defense is just too strong for Arizona's offense. MIKE HAYDEN, CIA director: Pittsburgh, 27-17. The Cardinals are on a roll, but it's tough playing against a team of destiny. Blocking is blocking, and tackling is tackling. KEN SALAZAR, U.S. Secretary of the Interior: Arizona, 21-14. JIMMIE JOHNSON, three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion: Pittsburgh, 31-21. Even though I grew up in San Diego watching the Chargers, I always liked Pittsburgh especially when Bill Cowher was there. PAUL PIERCE, NBA champion Boston Celtics: Pittsburgh, 31-17. The Steelers won't be overwhelmed with all the hype of everything. PENN AND TELLER, magicians, 2007 Super Sage Award winners: Pittsburgh, 27-17. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has an unbeatable motivation: the NFL promised that if he wins a second Super Bowl, he can put an umlaut on his uniform. WOLF BLITZER, CNN anchor: Pittsburgh, 42-10. I think Pittsburgh is a much better team. Period. BILL O'REILLY, Fox News: Pittsburgh, 24-17. Pittsburgh's defense is going to get Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner. CHRIS MATTHEWS, MSNBC "Hardball" host,: Pittsburgh. PLACIDO DOMINGO, opera star: Pittsburgh, 31-17. MATTHEW MODINE, actor: Pittsburgh. With the Giants and Jets gone, I lose interest. JENNA FISCHER, Pam Beesly on "The Office": Arizona, 27-24. Pam is rooting for Pittsburgh since she is from Scranton, but I'm rooting for Arizona since they used to play for my hometown of St. Louis. It's a little tense around here. Luckily, Pam is so focused on getting ready for the post-Super Bowl show she can't come to my party. Otherwise we might have had a real fight on our hands. DON RICKLES, comedian: Pittsburgh, 24-21, but Kurt Warner makes me nervous. HOWIE MANDEL, "Deal or No Deal," ''Howie Do It": Pittsburgh, 21-14. Because, and I won't mention who, I have gotten some notes from two players on the Steelers that they are fans of my show "Howie Do It." PILAR LASTRA, "Deal or No Deal" briefcase girl No. 14/Playboy's Miss August 2004: Pittsburgh, 28-24. They have both an amazing defense and their offense is right up there with Arizona's. PHYLLIS DILLER, comedienne: Arizona, 23-20. They're counting on Warner. ROSEANNE BARR, comedienne: The great prognosticator from the Pitch Dark Ages, Nostradumbass, (not to be confused with his more famous cousin with a similar name) has prophesied: "When the small but mighty red bird who has floundered for ages in the desert confounds the proud prophets of the Pigskin Council and soars into the Ceremonial Bowl that is most mighty, the haughty warriors of Steel from The East shall be humbled and the multitudes and moneychangers will be vexed and chastened ... Translation: Arizona, 24-21. JUDY TENUTA, comedienne: Hot throbbing studcicle quarterback/comeback king, Kurt Warner (along with feisty receiver Larry Fitzgerald) will blast through the Steelers' killer defense led by beefy burrito Troy Polamalu and big Ben Roethlisberger, powering the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl victory in 60 years. It could happen! WAYNE NEWTON, singer: Arizona, 31-24. Having spent a good part of my youth in Arizona, I have to go with the Cardinals. MICKEY ROONEY, actor: Arizona, 21-14. They both fought hard to get there, they're both American teams. Whoever you pick, there are no losers. ANDY WILLIAMS, singer: Arizona, 31-20, because of Kurt Warner's Super Bowl experience. DICK CLARK, TV host: Arizona, 24-21. Kurt Warner's Super Bowl experience will be the difference. JOAN JETT, rock star: Pittsburgh, 24-17. DIERKS BENTLEY, country singer: Arizona, 31-26. I'm from Phoenix and went to the first Cards game in Phoenix when the team moved there in '87. Go Tom Tupa! BRANFORD MARSALIS, musician: Arizona, 27-24. The Cardinals match up physically, and Warner knows exactly how to exploit the blitz, which the Steelers do a lot. LEROY NEIMAN, artist: Pittsburgh, 28-17. It just seems like it's time for Pittsburgh, a great sports and football city, to win BIG. YOGI BERRA, Hall of Fame baseball player: Pittsburgh, but Arizona's not bad. It should be pretty close. BOBBY THOMSON, former N.Y. Giants baseball player who in 1951 hit "Shot Heard 'Round the World": Pittsburgh, 28-24. They look tough to me. RALPH BRANCA, former Brooklyn Dodger who threw the famous pitch to Thomson: Arizona, 31-20. They may be like the Giants. They're doing everything right. BOB COUSY, basketball Hall of Famer: Arizona, 17-10. I pick Arizona as the sentimental favorite. DICK VITALE, basketball announcer: Arizona, 28-21. Kurt Warner, Cardinals quarterback, is going to take the MVP trophy. MIKE ERUZIONE, Olympic hockey gold medalist: Pittsburgh, 28-10. Their defense is too strong. BRYAN CLAY, Olympic decathlon gold medalist: Pittsburgh, 27-17. I want Arizona to win, but Pittsburgh probably will. KARCH KIRALY, Olympic volleyball gold medalist: Arizona, 24-21. I like a wily 37-year-old QB who has come back to lead a second team to the Super Bowl, a team never having reached it before. KERRI WALSH, Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist: Pittsburgh, 27-21. I like both QB's and know they will both have great games. I think the Steelers defense is going to step up and hold the Cardinals a bit more than vice versa. Go Steelers! JENNIE FINCH, Olympic softball gold medalist: Arizona, 28-24. Kurt Warner and his experience, I think and hope he will lead the Cardinals to their long overdue championship upsetting Pittsburgh. I'm an Arizona girl. Gotta go with my team! NATALIE COUGHLIN, Olympic swimming gold medalist: Pittsburgh, 28-24. Although I will be cheering on the Cardinals, I think the Steelers will win the game. Unfortunately I think the Steelers defense is too strong for the Cardinals' offense. KATIE STAM, Miss America: Arizona. The Cardinals were the improbable underdogs, and I think this will be their year. CRYSTLE STEWART, Miss USA: Pittsburgh, 27-21. Arizona's offense has been flying high in the playoffs and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been playing out of this world (he can catch a pass from me any day!). But the Steeler Defense has been kicking butt, and more importantly, you have got to love the old-school black and gold uniforms. After all, gold is my favorite color. STACY KEIBLER, actress: Arizona, 28-17. Three weeks in a row the Cardinals have silenced the critics by not only showing up on offense, but by showing that their defense has the ability to get the ball back to their very capable offense. BOB WEIR, guitarist, Grateful Dead, 2004 Super Sage Award winner: Pittsburgh, 20-13. It depends on how many times Pittsburgh picks off Warner. They'll start getting pressure on him with a four-man rush in the 2nd quarter; 1st pick. 2nd pick in the late 3rd or early 4th quarter, and that will seal the deal. DENNIS FARINA, actor, 2005 Super Sage Award winner: Pittsburgh, 27-16. Why? Big Ben. MARK CUBAN, Dallas Mavericks owner: Pittsburgh, 23-17. De-Fense! DANICA PATRICK, Indy Car driver: Arizona. They are the little team that could. MATT KENSETH, NASCAR driver: Arizona. Everyone is overlooking them, but I think it's going to be a close game. JIM CAVIEZEL, actor: The Cardinals by 5. Because Warner is so talented and can pick up the blitz and the Cardinals have an unstoppable receiver in Larry Fitzgerald, which opens up the running game for Edgerrin James. They also have a solid defense. DR. PAT ROBERTSON, reverend, 2008 Super Sage Award winner: Pittsburgh, 35-22. Pittsburgh has more experience going to Super Bowls, and they are more hungry for this kind of win. DR. JOYCE BROTHERS, psychologist: Arizona, 47-44. If you believe in miracles, the Arizona Cardinals will find a way to win. JIM COURIER, tennis Hall of Famer: Pittsburgh, 24-14. It feels like it's their year. JAMES BLAKE, tennis star: Pittsburgh, 24-10. Pittsburgh is going to win because their defense is just too good. They have the No. 1 defense in the league and they will just shut down the Cardinals offense. FLORENCE HENDERSON, Carol Brady on "The Brady Bunch": Arizona, 23-17. I'm always for the underdog. BARRY WILLIAMS, Greg on "The Brady Bunch": Arizona, 31-27. They will surprise everyone. CHRISTOPHER KNIGHT, Peter on "The Brady Bunch": Arizona, 23-19. A banged-up Steelers team finds out the Cards are wolves in, well ... Cardinal costumes. ADAM WEST, "Batman": Arizona, 24-17. The Arizona coaches may be inspired by vengeance, warranted or not. They may feel enough insulted by a previous perceived slight by Pitt top dogs to have a real, contagious fire in their respective bellies. DAWN WELLS, Mary Ann on "Gilligan's Island": Arizona, 21-16. I'm really pulling for Arizona. RUSSELL JOHNSON, professor on "Gilligan's Island": Pittsburgh, 24-21. I'm from Pennsylvania. I'm glad to see at least one Pennsylvania team in the game. JERRY MATHERS, actor, "Leave it to Beaver": Pittsburgh, 28-21. I think honestly they play a tougher game of football. They hit harder. That's what's going to do it. TARAJI P. HENSON, Oscar-nominated actress, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button": Pittsburgh, 45-12. Since the Eagles are out, I guess it's going to have to be the Steelers. TRACY MORGAN, actor "30 Rock": Pittsburgh, 24-17. I love Pittsburgh. I love blue collar. They play blue collar, smash mouth, blue collar football. OSCAR NUNEZ, actor, "The Office": Arizona, 23-17. I am excited about Arizona. It's going to be a good game. Pittsburgh and Arizona. The Steelers ... the guy, the coach -- he's 36 years old -- the youngest coach to ever coach in a Super Bowl, so that will be exciting. TONY SHALHOUB, actor, "Monk": Arizona. I want a team who's not in the Super Bowl to win, so that's not going to happen -- the Green Bay Packers because I'm from Green Bay. But of the two teams that are competing, my money is on the Cardinals because they haven't been there before. The Steelers have so many trophies already, and I would just love to see Arizona take it. I going to predict it's going to be high-scoring. I going to say, like, 30s to somewhere in the 20s. KEITH POWELL, actor, "30 Rock": Pittsburgh, 24-14. Listen, I'm crying because the Eagles did not make it in. They were so close. And I'm a Philly boy. We came so close. I grew up in a house full of women so I had to teach myself sports, and I was screaming at the screen the entire time. But now that Philly didn't do it ... Steelers. MATTHEW SETTLE, actor, "Gossip Girl": Arizona, 21-17. Because my money is on Kurt Warner. HALEY JOEL OSMENT, actor: Pittsburgh, 27-21. WILLIAM SANDERSON, actor, Arizona, 27-20. I believe Arizona will win but I'm pulling for Pittsburgh because I live in Pennsylvania part of the year. ED ASNER, actor: Arizona, 21-14. They have a greater desire to win. They have luck. They want and need it more. MAMIE VAN DOREN, legendary sex symbol: Arizona, 28-21. Kurt Warner is a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and I grew up not far away in Sioux City. Warner is an old warrior, he's been there and done that. I know it's a long shot, but I always root for the underdog. I'd like to see him go out as a winner. MARISOL NICHOLS, actress: Pittsburgh, 24-13. Because my brother says they're the better team. PATRICIA DE LEON, actress: Pittsburgh, 27-24. It just depends if you like ballerinas, you stay with Cardinals. If you like tough bulldogs, then Pittsburgh is your team, and I like bulldogs!!! SHEILA KELLEY, actress: Pittsburgh, 37-24. Steelers all the way babyyyyyyyy! I'm a hometown girl, and that is all these mad warriors need to bring home the trophy! Seriously; Franco's Army, the Steel Curtain, need I say more? GENA LEE NOLIN, actress: Arizona, 20-17. Why? I think they'll win because they really want it -- "really" want it! It's a Cinderella story. OLIVIA MUNN, G4TV host: Pittsburgh, 24-21. Because defense wins football games. And the Steelers have the best defense in the country. ALEXIS GLICK, Fox Business Network host: Arizona, 24-17. Kurt Warner is on fire! They have the best wide receiver in the business in Larry Fitzgerald Jr., and we are starting to see some chinks in the armor of the Steelers. Maybe Ben's concussions are just getting in the way. JERMAIN TAYLOR, boxer: Arizona, 20-17. Gotta go with the Cardinals. They are the only birds left (Ravens and Eagles are out)! Steelers got great D, but offense is spotty. Kurt Warner comes through. KURT ANGLE, TNA/Olympic wrestler: Pittsburgh, 27-13. Being born and raised in Pittsburgh, there's no way I'm picking against my Steelers. The Pitt D will be too much for Kurt Warner, and the Steelers' offense will grind out a win late. STEVE SCHIRRIPA, actor: Arizona, 31-20. Arizona will win and be able to beat the blitz because of Warner's quick release and their talented wide receivers. TONY SIRICO, actor: Arizona, 31-21, because of the warm weather and their high-powered offense. Their offense will keep Pittsburgh's offense off the field. JESSE MARTIN, actor: Arizona, 35-34. GORDON CLAPP, actor: Pittsburgh, 38-16. The Steelers will win their record sixth Super Bowl. The prolific Warner will be stonewalled by the Steelers defense. Arizona will suffer an emotional collapse similar to that of the Devil Rays in the World Series. DUANE "DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER" CHAPMAN, bounty hunter: Arizona, 35-33. The Cardinals will finally prevail. Kurt Warner and all his team, I think, they'll pull it out. KAPTAIN ROBBIE KNIEVEL, daredevil: Arizona, 34-21. I really think Arizona is going to kick their (rear). It's not just Warner. It's their whole team. JON GOSSELIN, "Jon and Kate Plus 8": Pittsburgh, 35-17. The Steelers defense is unstoppable. SAMANTHA BROWN, Travel Channel host: Pittsburgh, 24-21. My whole family is from Pennsylvania. SUSAN ANTON, entertainer: Arizona, 34-27. This is clearly a time in America for dreams to be realized. Obama is in the White House and the Cardinals are in the Super Bowl ... you got to believe! TOBIN BELL, Jigsaw in "Saw" movies: Pittsburgh, 24-21. You can run but you can't hide from Troy Polamalu. TED MCGINLEY, actor: Pittsburgh, 20-17. My heart will be with Arizona as I sit in the stands with my son, but my money is on Pittsburgh. I think Pittsburgh's defense is too strong all the way around. STEPHEN ROOT, actor: Arizona, 23-20. I just feel that Arizona has the momentum and their front line will hold. SCOTT TUROW, author: Pittsburgh, 24-14. Their combination of offense and defense is a little bit better. Kurt Warner is a great quarterback, but when he gets knocked around, he's not any better than anyone else. ROB "VANILLA ICE" VAN WINKLE, singer: Arizona, 31-21. I don't know why I believe this. I'm just going with the gut on this one, and would like to see the old timer Kurt Warner get a win for the Cards. ALAN CUMMING, actor: Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania came through for us in this election. Arizona, not so good. TED GIANNOULAS aka SAN DIEGO CHICKEN: Arizona, 29-24. This is a no bird-brainer. They've got the hot hands in Warner and Fitz, their coach knows Pittsburgh as their assistant for 6 years and they've had easier playoffs, making them fresher for their beak, er, peak run. SCOTT ADAMS, "Dilbert" cartoonist: Pittsburgh, 21-14. Clearly a steelworker could stomp a bird to death. CARL LEWIS, Olympic track star: I'm boycotting talking about the Super Bowl. I'm still irate about the Eagles. CONNIE BRITTON, actress, "Friday Night Lights": The Dillon Panthers! DENNIS MILLER, comedian: Obama with 52.7 percent. http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090129/SPORTS/90129033 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "WebTV Dawgs/Dittos" group. 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