0n what day in midwinter can you say: "Everybody into the pool"?
Super Bowl Sunday, of course.
But it's not just a day for bettors. It's the nation's No. 1 day for home parties, according to the folks at Hallmark.
In honor of that, have we got a proposition for you.
Actually, we've got a dozen of them. They're "proposition bets" you could use at your Super Bowl party. In recent years, such wacky wagers have caught on as a way to add to the evening's fun.
The idea originated with the oddball "proposition bets" offered in Las Vegas, where people wager on anything from the last player who scores to the length of the longest field goal.
Don't worry. With our list, you don't have to know a quarterback sack from Saks Fifth Avenue. You don't have to gamble any green stuff, either. You could keep score for fun or for a gag gift. And though at least one sharp-eyed person will have to be glued to the tube, that duty probably won't last past the halftime show.
Our questions are numbered, and all you have to do is clip this form, copy it, and pass it out for people to write down their answers. It's OK to compare answers. Ballots should be filled out by 6 p.m., because the national anthem begins shortly thereafter.
You'll need a watch with a second hand or a stopwatch. Finally, first means first after the anthem.
1. Time it takes country star Faith Hill to sing the national anthem.
2. Number of closeups of $1 million, 15-carat diamond worn by Hill. (The Ashford diamond, which will be given away later, is owned by Ashford.com, a Web site that figured this publicity was cheaper than a 30-second ad.)
3. First talking animal (nonhuman) in a commercial.
4. First brand of beverage in a commercial.
5. Body part hurt in first gamedelaying injury.
6. Type of celebrity in first closeup in stands (player, player's wife, owner, supermodel, politician, TV star, movie star, etc.)
7. Number of visible bounces on first punt that hits the ground.
8. First sport (besides football) featured in a commercial.
9. Yard line where ABC first puts its computerized yellow stripe to mark a first down.
10. Time of first mention of Disney, which owns ABC and is staging the halftime show.
11. Dominant color of outfit worn by pop star Christina Aguilera during halftime show.
12. Number of people at your party who actually entered this month's Publishers' Clearinghouse sweepstakes. (No asking until all ballots are filled in.)
