Super Bowl Site Not the Most Popular

In one week, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks will face off at Ford Field in Detroit, the site of Super Bowl XL -- that’s XL as in 40, not “extra large.”

Most football experts agree that great offensive balance and defensive tenacity are characteristics of both teams. Greg Cote of the Miami Herald wrote of another similarity:

“Travel-industry analysts say the teams are distinguished by being the only two groups in America looking forward to being in Detroit in early February.”

Added Cote: “In an effort to bestow a touch of local flavor, the host committee has announced it has arranged for out-of-town journalists arriving at the Detroit airport to be greeted with cups of beer thrown at them by jeering Pistons fans.”

Advanced bookings: If you’re planning to attend any of the upcoming Super Bowls, you’ll be happy to know you can pack for warm weather. Miami will play host to Super Bowl XLI next year. Super Bowl XLII will be played in Glendale, Ariz., in 2008, followed by Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla., in 2009. Miami is again the host city in 2010 for Super Bowl XLIV.

Trivia time: Who was the youngest individual winner of an Olympic gold medal?

Cowbells calling: When brothers Gavin and Joe Maloof, co-owners of the Sacramento Kings, were asked by the folks at “Best Damn Sports Show Period” about bringing controversial forward Ron Artest to their team, Gavin said, “Well there’s no question we’ve been struggling.... We had to mix it up a little bit and we had to make a change. I think the fans will welcome the change. Sometimes you need a new beginning.”

Amen.

Asked if they will keep Artest -- who was suspended last season after the brawl at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Mich. -- on a short leash, Gavin said, “We’re not disciplinarians, in case you haven’t noticed.”

Catchy tunes: Spring has sprung early again for the folks at BaseballSavvy.com, who, while waiting for pitchers and catchers to report, compiled a list of “Glove Songs,” including: “Can’t Buy Me Glove,” “Glove Will Keep Us Together,” “Glove the One You’re With,” “Love to Glove You Baby,” “Glove Me Do,” “Glove Her Madly,” “I Glove L.A.,” “For Your Glove” and “Glove Lies Bleeding.”

Trivia answer: Marjorie Gestring, who was born in Los Angeles, is the youngest Olympic champion, winning the springboard diving title at age 13 years and 268 days in Berlin on Aug. 12, 1936. She died in 1992 at age 69.

Looking back: On this day in 1988, the Detroit Pistons rewarded the largest crowd ever to see an NBA game -- 61,983 -- with a 125-108 victory over the Boston Celtics at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich.

Today’s game between the Lakers and the Pistons, who lead the league in attendance, is sold out, but only 22,076 are expected at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

And finally: Conan O’Brien, on reports that Leonard Nimoy will appear in a Super Bowl pain-reliever ad: “Star Trek fans were excited by this news and asked, ‘What’s the Super Bowl?’ ”

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Bob Rohwer can be reached at bob.rohwer@latimes.com.