TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross
AP: a5f103b8-e9d5-4616-8bd6-433d8a2d0898

What did YOU think when the lights went out?

BY Dave Ross  on February 4, 2013 @ 5:26 am (Updated: 6:35 am - 2/4/13 )

It was very strange. The game was looking like a Ravens blowout, and our group was kind of bored, and then someone said - "Hey are you watching this? The Superdome is dark, and players are just wandering around."

Suddenly, the year's biggest sports event was like watching CSPAN waiting for a confirmation hearing to start.

And I have to admit my first thought was what Defense Secretary Panetta warned about last October when he said that foreign computer hackers could take down the power grid.

"An attack that would paralyze and shock the nation and create a new, profound sense of vulnerability," Panetta had said.

We did briefly flip to the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet, but how long can you watch a bunch of puppies fighting over a chew toy?

And then somebody said - let's check Twitter. The media vacuum was so intense that a bored nation was forced to turn to each other for entertainment.

And the marketers picked up on it instantly.

PBS tweeted that Downton Abbey would start in six minutes. Major League Baseball tweeted "pitchers and catchers report in 8 days." Walgreen's tweeted that they sell light bulbs. Oreo Cookies tweeted You can still dunk in the dark.

Entergy, the power company for New Orleans tweeted that the "power issue at the Super Dome appears to be on the customer's side." Just like MY power company says when I call!

The local disaster agency tweeted "power would be coming back on in 15 minutes, we ask you to stay calm." They always say 15 minutes, just like the airlines, and it never is.

Arianna Huffington tweeted, "Turning the power off -- classic little brother move."

Columnist David Corn tweeted "Finally, America cares about the infrastructure in New Orleans."

And Steve Martin tweeted "The Chinese again." My thoughts exactly.

Find more:
Photos: When the lights went out at the Superdome

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
More Dave Ross

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Comments (33)


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  • ron prevost wrote...
    'Dandy' Don Meredith had come back to life to 'sing' ont last time -
    February 4, 2013 4:57 am
    "Turn out the lights, the party's over."
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    BTW, Dave. Puppy Bowl was replayed in AP, what - 4 or 5 times?
    February 4, 2013 5:17 am
    So the chew toy crowd is more engrossed than you might think.

    But thanks for the reminder about Spring Training. .. Nice to remember we only have a week this winter to survive without real sports.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    For a moment, I thought we were in a corrupt third world country
    February 4, 2013 5:19 am
    then I realized we are.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cdbtx wrote...
    Aliens`
    February 4, 2013 5:27 am
    Intergalactic gambling resulting in one species attempting to throw the game...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bucket Dad wrote...
    No Aliens needed
    February 4, 2013 6:01 am
    In New Orleans, one of the most corrupt city in the country, my money is on some mob boss trying to cover the point spread of his bookie operation.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • PNWflowergirl wrote...
    Lights Out
    February 4, 2013 5:28 am
    The power outage was more exciting than the half-time show! Just sayin!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Concerned US Citizen wrote...
    Lights?
    February 4, 2013 5:55 am
    I thought 1. Who plugged in that one too many coffee pot? 2. Who was the electrical supervisor or head of maintainence who was going to lose his head this morning? 3. How big was the substation that blew and were there spare parts for it? 4. If it wasn't the substation was it a powerline coming in that shorted?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chris Halliday wrote...
    How fitting
    February 4, 2013 6:05 am
    I thought it fitting that the Superbowl played in 2013 had a bizarre occurance such as the lights going out. Many don't believe in the number "13" having an impact on events, but strange things happen all too often when that "13" is involved. I think "13" is God's little practical joke that He plays on us mere mortals simply for His amusement.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Teahawk wrote...
    The NFL turned the lights out
    February 4, 2013 6:51 am
    At that point the score was 28-6 and the game was about to spiral out of control for the 49ers. The most important thing about the Super Bowl is that the sponsors and advertising dollars are generated. If the Ravens were allowed to blow the Niners out, people would have changed the channel and that couldn't be allowed to happen. The NFL controls the commentators who would never suggest the obvious that this was a deliberate manipulation to get SF back in the game.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    I can't tell if the last two comments are jokes or not.
    February 4, 2013 6:57 am
    I'm hoping they are attempts at humor.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    What did I think?
    February 4, 2013 7:00 am
    "Uh, like wow, dudes! The lights just went out there". "Man! That's gotta suck for someone!"

    Then the lights came back on!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chris Halliday wrote...
    Zagnut
    February 4, 2013 7:10 am
    So Zagnut, is it that you don't believe in God or that many strange things have happened involving the number "13"? There is no 13th floor in buildings and there is no row 13 on planes as a direct result of educated people being cautious about avoiding that dreaded number "13". He!! no! My comment was not an attempt at humor. Having the lights go out in the 2013 Superbowl was God's attempt at humor. He got a kick out of it anyway.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DonVigo wrote...
    Jesus died...
    February 4, 2013 9:38 am
    ... So you could get a life. Honor the guy, and do so, would ya'??? Keep the crazy god talk at church, where it belongs please. Prime example of the kind of behavior that gives Christians a bad name, and gives Athiests such vitriol.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chris Halliday wrote...
    Zagnut
    February 4, 2013 7:22 am
    I almost forgot. No more space programs will be named with the number "13" in them as a result of the Apollo 13 mission's mishap.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    Now that I think about it,
    February 4, 2013 7:31 am
    everyone in the history of mankind who has made it to their 13th birthday has eventually died. Maybe you have a point.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }