We should have today off -- to recover

It's a shame we have to go to work today.

Hopefully it snowed and I don't have to, but even if the streets are clear we shouldn't be on them.

The Super Bowl should be a national holiday and all schools, banks and businesses (except Wal-Mart) should be closed today.

Seriously, the Super Bowl is practically a holiday already.

There's no other sporting event like it.

The last time I bought this much food was New Year's Eve, and the government is kind enough to give us the first day of the new year off. Why do we need that day off? So we can go shopping? We should be working our hardest on that day.

I saw a woman leaving the store last week with two shopping carts full of food. Oddly enough, on the bottom of the cart were three cases of diapers. I guess they were having chili and clearly she was going to need some time to clean up afterwards.

So why not give us Monday off, if for nothing else but to grieve because football season is over.

As for the game itself, it was exhausting. It was the most exciting Super Bowl I've seen since 2000, when the Rams beat the Titans.

I don't know which was more disappointing, the commercials or the halftime show. (By the way, did anyone catch that slip at the end of the halftime show? Oops.)

The only grievance I have is against the Panthers. The Patriots chose to be introduced as a team, just as they did two years ago against the Rams, instead of the usual individual introductions.

The Panthers thought it would be nifty to do the same.

Instead it was unoriginal and cheesy and I hated it. Obviously, it didn't work.

Take today off and start fresh on Tuesday with your week ahead:

Tuesday

Todd Bonacki said he'd pay your way into this game, and if I were you I'd hold him to it. Ryan Delph is just 11 points shy of 1,000 in his career, and he'll undoubtedly achieve that Tuesday night. Central and Notre Dame at the Show Me Center for a girls-boys doubleheader.

Wednesday

Rick Pitino was quick to lay down the reins to the Louisville basketball team. He was just as quick to get them back. Pitino, back from his medical troubles, leads the Cardinals into Memphis at 9 p.m.

Thursday

It's rivals week for Southeast Missouri State and it starts on Thursday. Tennessee Martin comes to town to face Southeast at 5 p.m. The men play at 7:30.

Saturday

Maybe it's time for Southeast Missouri State to change its slogan. There's not too much excitement going on at the Show Me Center right now. But there should be plenty for this one. Murray State at Southeast 2 p.m. The women will follow at 5.

If you didn't get enough while you were in Memphis on Wednesday you can make like Marc Cohn and walk in Memphis on Saturday. St. Louis University at Memphis at noon

David Wilson is a sportswriter for the Southeast Missourian and a student at Central High School. His column appears every Monday.