Jeff Budlong, Sports Editor

This week is one of conflicting emotions for me.

It is Super Bowl week.

On one hand, it is the pinnacle for one day sports events while on the other I can’t help but feel some sadness knowing that another football season is just about gone.

It is always nice to know that every Sunday for 16 weeks no matter what else may be on television there is going to be something worth watching.

After Sunday there will be college and professional basketball games, but that just doesn’t hold the same level of excitement for me as it used to.

There is just something about Saturday college football games followed by Sunday NFL that makes weekends fun for those few months.

I know NASCAR is a huge television and spectator sport, but as they desperately try to take all of the crashes and fighting out of the action I can’t make myself sit in the same spot watching one car lead 30 others around an oval track for three or four hours.

So, I will enjoy the Super Bowl (with the exception of the 14-hour pregame show), and then turn my sports focus to the next big event &045;&160;March Madness.

Until then here are some thoughts on Super Bowl XL.

– I am beginning to wish that Jerome Bettis grew up anywhere other than Detroit.

– All the talk about Pittsburgh being the favorite, wearing its away jerseys and not arriving in Detroit until Monday means absolutely nothing to me.

What means something to me is the fact that Seattle is a very good football team, and if Pittsburgh doesn’t have a plan to mix in a healthy run game with continued good play from Ben Roethlisberger it could be a long day for the Steelers.

– Win or lose the Steelers will be the biggest losers if offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt leaves to take the Oakland Raiders job after the game.

He has done wonders for that offense.

– Matt Hasselbeck could have a big game throwing the ball that would not surprise me.

Shaun Alexander going off on the Steeler defense, now that would.

– For a middle of the pack defense I have to say that I like the energy guys that the Seahawks have with players like Lofa Tatupu and Grant Wistrom.

Add to that a very solid secondary and that is a big reason why Seattle is in Detroit.

– I am a Steelers fan but if I had to answer honestly whether I wanted Mike Holmgren or Bill Cowher to be leading by team in a Super Bowl I would take the guy who has won one over &8220;the jaw&8221; any day. (Note: This is where I think Ken Whisenhunt comes in and levels the playing field a little.)

– Question: Why do they play a Super Bowl in Detroit?

– Being an NFL has to be great on so many levels.

Being a football player playing on Paul Allen’s team has to be so much better.

– Troy Polamalu is a great player who is redefining an entire position in the NFL, and this from a guy who could not get off the bench as a rookie.

Now I remember why I was so happy when Dick LeBeau came back to lead the defense.

– I love blitzing defenses that put a lot of pressure on quarterback s and hit the running backs on the way to the passer.

Here’s to hoping the Steelers do that Sunday.

– For all the talk about Hasselbeck’s success throwing the ball and Alexander running it the biggest weapon the Seahawks have is a massive offensive line led by a pro bowl left side.

– Here’s to hoping the Rolling Stones don’t have any wardrobe malfunctions.

Final prediction: Steelers 24, Seattle 21 (Jeff Reed is the next Adam Vinatieri)