Football The Super Bowl and Roman numerals: a match made in Kansas City - Page 2

**bevischief** · 01-31-2013, 12:40 PM

NEW ORLEANS – It is the most American of occasions, the showpiece of the most American of all sports, so why does the Super Bowl use Roman numerals to denote its grand event every year?

No other major American sport uses the Roman counting system, one formerly familiar to school kids around the country but now essentially obsolete to the iPad generation. Yet the Super Bowl persists with the tradition, has no desire or plan to change it, and the ancient characters will continue to appear just as they have since 1971.

That was the year when what was supposed to be Super Bowl 5 became Super Bowl V, at the insistence of pioneering sports entrepreneur Lamar Hunt, the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs and one of the most significant figures in the growth in the game’s popularity.

The Baltimore Colts emerged victorious that year, outlasting the Dallas Cowboys 16-13 thanks to a winning field goal in the dying seconds.

Lamar Hunt (Getty Images)Hunt was a man with plenty of ideas, most of them good. It was he who also coined the term Super Bowl ‐ coming from the children's toy, a "Super Ball" – and his numbering concept was considered successful enough to retain. The system has even been retroactively incorporated for Super Bowls I through IV.

"It was his brainchild," said Bob Moore, historian for the Chiefs. "I think people felt from the start that it had something to it, even if they couldn’t quite put their finger on exactly what it was. Before long it was just part of it. Now it wouldn’t be the same without it."

Hunt, who died aged 74 in 2006, was a stakeholder in seven different sports franchises and has been inducted into eight different ‘Halls of Fame’, but amid his multitude of achievements he was, according to his son, Clark, to be particularly proud of suggesting Roman numerals for the Super Bowl.

"It has been in place ever since," NFL official historian Joe Horrigan told Yahoo! Sports. "It is part of the Super Bowl culture, it is an established part of the magic of the Super Bowl.”

No discussions have been held to consider changing to a more common numbering system even with Super Bowl 50, sorry, Super Bowl L, just three years away.

"If you asked me to count up using Roman numbers I wouldn't even know how to do it," said San Francisco 49ers safety Donte Whitner. "But it's a good thing. It's the Super Bowl, man."

The fans love it too, according to a small sampling of opinion gathered on the streets of New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon.

"I don’t think you need anything to make the Super Bowl even more dramatic," said mother of three and Saints fan Ree Nygren. "But it does add something to it, it is kind of cool and timeless and important-sounding. There is no point in changing it, although it won’t be quite the same once it become Ls rather than Xs."

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--th...164002135.html

jjjayb · 01-31-2013, 01:49 PM

They are called McDonald's. We are McDowell's. They have the golden arches. We have the golden M. How much more different does it need to be?

listopencil · 01-31-2013, 01:50 PM

Prison Bitch · 01-31-2013, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

errr....SUPER Bowl. SUPER BOWL. That's the name. The name he came up with. Not Cotton Bowl or Orange Bowl or FedEx AT&T Apple Hardee's Sugar Bowl, SUPER BOWL.

That's new. That's original, get it?

SUPER BOWL

It's neither a new idea, nor original.

Prison Bitch · 01-31-2013, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjayb

They are called McDonald's. We are McDowell's. They have the golden arches. We have the golden M. How much more different does it need to be?

You motherF!!!! I was just about to post the Big Mick speech by McDowell himself! How did you beat me to this?

listopencil · 01-31-2013, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

You motherF!!!! I was just about to post the Big Mick speech by McDowell himself! How did you beat me to this?

Because you aren't all that quick witted?

Amnorix · 01-31-2013, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

It's neither a new idea, nor original.

Oy.

NSFW

Prison Bitch · 01-31-2013, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by listopencil

Because you aren't all that quick witted?

But you will admit: I get "creativity points" by your logic for pointing out a slightly different version of that movie scene. You see, I didn't really copy him-mine was technically diff.

And that makes all the difference in your feeble mind.

okoye35chiefs · 01-31-2013, 02:01 PM

While Thomas Crapper is commonly given credit for inventing the first flushing toilet in the late 1800s, the first version can actually be traced back to John Harrington who invented the toilet bowl in 1596

He should get the credit then?

listopencil · 01-31-2013, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

But you will admit: I get "creativity points" by your logic for pointing out a slightly different version of that movie scene. You see, I didn't really copy him-mine was technically diff.

And that makes all the difference in your feeble mind.

|Zach| · 01-31-2013, 02:20 PM

So Prison Bitch is stupid and wrong in other places on Chiefs Planet...it is not just DC.

mr. tegu · 01-31-2013, 02:24 PM

This thread went down the Crapper...err...Harringtoner real quick.

theelusiveeightrop · 01-31-2013, 03:45 PM

Mo Claiborne completely understands this.

TribalElder · 01-31-2013, 04:42 PM

So the super bowl got its name from one of Clark's toys

Roman numerals are cool but the L is gonna make people butt hurt.

Virtua Chief · 01-31-2013, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TribalElder

So the super bowl got its name from one of Clark's toys

Roman numerals are cool but the L is gonna make people butt hurt.

I hope not. Why would people be butt hurt? Does anyone call it super bowl ecks el vee eye eye? I think most say super bowl forty seven.

htismaqe · 01-31-2013, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TribalElder

Roman numerals are cool but the L is gonna make people butt hurt.

LOL WUT?

01-31-2013, 12:40 PM
bevischief .... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fargo Casino cash: $18265051	The Super Bowl and Roman numerals: a match made in Kansas City NEW ORLEANS – It is the most American of occasions, the showpiece of the most American of all sports, so why does the Super Bowl use Roman numerals to denote its grand event every year? No other major American sport uses the Roman counting system, one formerly familiar to school kids around the country but now essentially obsolete to the iPad generation. Yet the Super Bowl persists with the tradition, has no desire or plan to change it, and the ancient characters will continue to appear just as they have since 1971. That was the year when what was supposed to be Super Bowl 5 became Super Bowl V, at the insistence of pioneering sports entrepreneur Lamar Hunt, the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs and one of the most significant figures in the growth in the game’s popularity. The Baltimore Colts emerged victorious that year, outlasting the Dallas Cowboys 16-13 thanks to a winning field goal in the dying seconds. Lamar Hunt (Getty Images)Hunt was a man with plenty of ideas, most of them good. It was he who also coined the term Super Bowl ‐ coming from the children's toy, a "Super Ball" – and his numbering concept was considered successful enough to retain. The system has even been retroactively incorporated for Super Bowls I through IV. "It was his brainchild," said Bob Moore, historian for the Chiefs. "I think people felt from the start that it had something to it, even if they couldn’t quite put their finger on exactly what it was. Before long it was just part of it. Now it wouldn’t be the same without it." Hunt, who died aged 74 in 2006, was a stakeholder in seven different sports franchises and has been inducted into eight different ‘Halls of Fame’, but amid his multitude of achievements he was, according to his son, Clark, to be particularly proud of suggesting Roman numerals for the Super Bowl. "It has been in place ever since," NFL official historian Joe Horrigan told Yahoo! Sports. "It is part of the Super Bowl culture, it is an established part of the magic of the Super Bowl.” No discussions have been held to consider changing to a more common numbering system even with Super Bowl 50, sorry, Super Bowl L, just three years away. "If you asked me to count up using Roman numbers I wouldn't even know how to do it," said San Francisco 49ers safety Donte Whitner. "But it's a good thing. It's the Super Bowl, man." The fans love it too, according to a small sampling of opinion gathered on the streets of New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon. "I don’t think you need anything to make the Super Bowl even more dramatic," said mother of three and Saints fan Ree Nygren. "But it does add something to it, it is kind of cool and timeless and important-sounding. There is no point in changing it, although it won’t be quite the same once it become Ls rather than Xs." http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--th...164002135.html
Posts: 21,697

01-31-2013, 01:49 PM	#16
jjjayb Veteran Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Back in K.C. baby!!!! Casino cash: $1035324	They are called McDonald's. We are McDowell's. They have the golden arches. We have the golden M. How much more different does it need to be?
Posts: 4,368

01-31-2013, 01:50 PM	#17
listopencil sic semper tyrannis Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: :: In Partibus Infidelium Casino cash: $1081200	__________________ I am my own God. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.
Posts: 21,121

01-31-2013, 02:01 PM	#23
okoye35chiefs Starter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Death Valley Casino cash: $955008	While Thomas Crapper is commonly given credit for inventing the first flushing toilet in the late 1800s, the first version can actually be traced back to John Harrington who invented the toilet bowl in 1596 He should get the credit then?
Posts: 649

01-31-2013, 02:20 PM	#25
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $27135	So Prison Bitch is stupid and wrong in other places on Chiefs Planet...it is not just DC. __________________
Posts: 43,523

01-31-2013, 02:24 PM	#26
mr. tegu Wishing I was still there. Join Date: Mar 2012 Casino cash: $524	This thread went down the Crapper...err...Harringtoner real quick.
Posts: 5,128

01-31-2013, 03:45 PM	#27
theelusiveeightrop 2thdoc Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dante's Ninth Circle Casino cash: $22448	Mo Claiborne completely understands this. __________________ "We're both part of the same hypocrisy, senator, but never think it applies to my family."
Posts: 4,525

01-31-2013, 04:42 PM	#28
TribalElder The Osage Outlaw Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: late to the party Casino cash: $14760	So the super bowl got its name from one of Clark's toys Roman numerals are cool but the L is gonna make people butt hurt. __________________
Posts: 1,520

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