Commentary
Celeb picks: Pittsburgh 49, Arizona 48
Updated: January 31, 2009, 7:13 PM ET
By David Nielsen | Scripps Howard News Services
Editor's note: For the 20th straight year, our friends at Scripps Howard News Service have spanned the globe to get the Super Bowl picks from some of today's hottest stars. And yesterday's. And a few from a couple of days ago. The winner gets the Scripps Howard Super Sage Award trophy.
Defending champ? Rev. Pat Robertson. He's going with Pittsburgh -- big.
Out of the 100 famous folks who made predictions, 49 think the Pittsburgh Steelers will win Super Bowl XLIII; 48 pick the Arizona Cardinals. Three gave joke answers ... though we'll leave it to you to decide how funny they are.
Enjoy.
| CELEBRITY | WHO THEY'RE PICKING |
|---|---|
| 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 and 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 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 forward | Pittsburgh, 31-17. The Steelers won't be overwhelmed with all the hype of everything. |
| PENN AND TELLER Magicians and 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 host | 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 Host, "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 the "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 ESPN 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, 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 Steelers' 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 and 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 second quarter, and get the first pick. The second pick will come late in the third or early in the fourth quarter, and that will seal the deal. |
| DENNIS FARINA Actor and 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 and 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 its 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, smashmouth, 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'm 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 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 The 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 he was an assistant there 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. |
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