Best: Predictable hype over Super Bowl selection

Perhaps the strangest thing about the NFL Network's special covering yesterday's Super Bowl XLVIII site selection was that it didn't seem all that strange, given the hype that accompanies all things NFL.

Thirty years after Pete Rozelle was presented with the idea of televising the NFL draft and said, "Why would you want to do that?'' the NFL turned another non-sports event into a TV spectacular.

And it came with all the now-familiar trimmings of draft day, including reports from each of the bidders' "war'' rooms and word that each group was "on the clock'' when it was time to present.

Then there was the excited hosting of Staten Island's own Rich Eisen, who called it "an unprecedented sports television event.''

That was indisputable. In fact, many pointed to the network's decision to cover the event live for the first time as evidence the New York/New Jersey bid was a lock.

Maybe, maybe not. But conveniently there was a live shot of people celebrating the big news in Times Square - unless those were just confused German tourists looking for the TKTS booth.

"It's a testament to what this country is all about,'' Eisen said of the scene.

With other media outlets mostly left to follow the action on the league-owned channel, it did provide some interesting glimpses of a process that previously was conducted behind closed doors.

"You're watching the sausage get made right now,'' Eisen said as NFLN showed the voting process, conducted interviews - Giants treasurer Jonathan Tisch grew emotional when discussing the late co-owners Bob Tisch and Wellington Mara - and replayed snippets of the presentations to owners.

(Dick Vitale appeared in a video in support of the Tampa bid, which also touted the city's museums. Museums? Really? Why didn't New York think of that?)

The hype over the selection announcement was shocking and unprecedented, and some elements of it will be repeated four years hence - which is manna for the media.

Did someone mention potential weather complications? Well, yes.

Fox Sports chairman David Hill, whose network will carry the 2014 Super Bowl, said in a statement, "If we're really lucky, it will begin snowing right after halftime.''

Analyst (and former Giant) Michael Strahan added, "The way I look at it, anyone who is worried about snow or if it will be too cold doesn't deserve to go to or play in a Super Bowl.''

Naturally, weather also came up on the NFL Network set, where Jets owner Woody Johnson said, "We hope it snows,'' and Giants president John Mara said, "I'm not sure I agree with you.''

No matter. They agreed on making their pitch, surely with business considerations in mind. A naming rights sponsor willing to pay a few hundred million dollars would be nice, for example.

Along the way, the unique effort picked up some unlikely supporters.

Take NFL Network analyst and former Cowboy Michael Irvin. "I love South Florida,'' he said, "but New York says something, and it is calling me.''

The Meadowlands is on the clock. Only 44 months to go.