It doesn't happen every year, but occasionally the Super Bowl gives you something to remember. And I don't mean the game. If you're like me, you have to think really hard just a couple of weeks later to remember who was in it.

No, it's the stuff around the game that usually makes you remember a game. And it's not always bad, like Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon mooning a TV station helicopter or Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis watching two people get killed, then clamming up about it.

Those are the two extremes, of course, but the one thing people always remember, whether they actually saw it, is Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" back in 2004. Football players acting like jerks (or watching people get killed) soon disappears in the midst of time, but let .7 seconds of a not really naked woman hit TV screens and everybody loses their mind.

This is the part where I'd normally insert a joke about wishing we would have had a repeat of said malfunction during Beyonce's halftime appearance, but I'll let you come up with one on your own.

The thing this year, the thing that most people will remember long after the game has faded, was the power suddenly going out for half the Superdome. After some scintillating commercials, we came back to a sideline reporter telling us half the building was dark and power to the CBS announcing booth had dropped out.

I know what you're thinking. Why couldn't this have happened during an actual play on the field ("He's flings it downfield and….. um, well, something happened, I suppose") or, even better, during Beyonce's halftime extravaganza?

The partial blackout not happening during game play (and during a commercial break, no less) was just pure coincidence. But, as later reports showed, Beyonce brought her own generator so her show wouldn't drain half the power from Louisiana as she was parading around the stage in lingerie, making untold numbers of American women feel bad about themselves.

From what I could see, the field still looked pretty well lit. I've seen outdoor games played at night where the field wasn't any brighter, but I guess they wanted to make sure there would be no room for mistakes (heh) in an NFL game.

There wasn't much happened during the partial blackout. Players roamed around on the field, coaches were (probably) blaming it on the other team and the pre-game broadcast team talked about what affect the 34-minute delay would have on the two teams.

Being a city that is as known for being dangerous as it is party central, the crowd remained remarkably calm as crews worked to turn the lights back on. Rumors that Ray Lewis tried to cover up a couple of muggings were proven to be untrue.

As to what affect it had on the two teams, there was a marked difference once play resumed. The Ravens were steamrolling the 49ers 28-6 when the lights went out, but just minutes after play resumed, or so it seemed, the score was 31-29 and the Ravens couldn't have played their way out of a wet paper sack.

Anybody who cares knows how the game came out. The partial blackout, while rather dull in retrospect, will be remembered long after people are struggling to remember who was even in the game. I guess two brothers coaching against each other might keep it a little fresh, but unless you live in San Francisco or Baltimore, you'll forget.

Just to prove it to you, who was in the Superbowl three years ago? Heck, two years ago? No, seriously, I'm trying to think who it was and I can't remember.

Next year might be easier to remember. Not because it'll be two legendary teams or even a legendary game. No, it'll be memorable because they're holding it in New York City on Feb. 2. Outdoors. Where the average temperature for that location in that time of year is under 40 degrees.

I was looking forward to that halftime show, but now they're saying they probably won't even bother as there's a good chance the game time temperature could be 20.

But I can guarantee there wouldn't have been a wardrobe malfunction.

michael.thomason@advocateanddemocrat.com | 442-4575