SUPER BOWL XXI : NOTEBOOK : ‘Experts’ of the Media Pick Giants to Win It

Everyone is entitled to make a prediction on today’s Super Bowl game between the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos, even sportswriters.

As is often the case during Super Bowl weeks, the media have turned their microphones and notebooks on each other. Both wire services released expansive lists of predictions from writers. The selections turned out to be fairly predictable.

Not surprisingly, the Giants were the consensus choice as the winner. Also, most reporters from the cities involved selected the team they cover.

A few picks:

--Dave Anderson (New York Times): Giants, 28-17.

--Bill Verigan (New York Daily News): Giants, 17-14.

--Don Williams (Newark Star-Ledger): Giants, 31-7.

--B.G. Brooks (Rocky Mountain News): Broncos, 20-17.

--Joseph Sanchez (Denver Post): Broncos, 24-10.

--Paul Zimmerman (Sports Illustrated): Giants, 20-17.

The reporter who predicted the biggest rout was Jerry Green of the Detroit News. Green picked the Giants, 50-0.

Both teams went through light workouts Saturday in preparation for today’s game. Both teams also have left Orange County and spent Saturday night in hotels closer to Pasadena.

The Giants moved to the Beverly Garland Hotel on Friday. The Broncos practiced in Orange County Saturday and then checked out of The Newporter Inn for the Wilshire Hyatt Hotel.

Giant Coach Bill Parcells said Saturday that “the mood of the team is good.”

“They’re starting to get a little irritable. Last night (Friday), the bus ride over here was quiet.”

Added Parcells, who would not give a prediction on the game: “You never know what’s going to happen in a game, but we haven’t had any bad practices. Every day, we got something done.”

Giant players said that their pre-Super Bowl practices were noticeably more physical than normal. When Parcells was informed of quarterback Phil Simms’ comment that the hitting was hard in practice, Parcells laughed and said: “What’s he crying about? He’s a quarterback and nobody ever touches him.”

Apparently, it has not as yet become passe among the natives for Southern California to host the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XXI has not even been played yet at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, but the Los Angeles Coliseum is already lobbying to host the 1991 Super Bowl (XXV). The Coliseum Commission has even gone so far as to paint a Super Bowl insignia at the 50-yard line.

“We hope to draw some attention, maybe have CBS show it on TV,” said Scott Carmichael, director of publicity for the Coliseum Commission. “We think the game belongs here.”

Mark Bavaro, the Giant tight end not noted for his verbal skills, has become something of a media star this week for what he hasn’t said.

But the media probably should not take it personally. It seems Bavaro just does not like to pontificate, whether it be to the media or his teammates. Larry Guest of the Orlando Sentinel passed along an exchange between Bavaro and offensive lineman Chris Godfrey.

Godfrey: Hey, Mark, I hear you’re getting married?

Bavaro: Yeah.

Godfrey: When?

Bavaro: Spring.

Godfrey: Where’s the lucky girl from?

Bavaro: Home.

Godfrey: The wedding gonna be back there?

Bavaro: Yeah.

Godfrey: Decided when you’re gonna go on your honeymoon?

Bavaro: No.

But, What Will They Do In Flushing Meadow? Harvey W. Schultz, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection in New York, has issued a warning to area fans to “stagger their bathroom visits during the game.”

Schultz warned that mass flushing during halftime and timeouts could overtax the city’s water supply. Schultz seems genuinely worried.

“If millions of New Yorkers flush at the same time, we’re not too sure what would happen,” he said.