To avid professional football fans and others, Super Bowl XLII comes this Sunday. It means a lot to them and others who care.

Most Americans will have the TV tuned-in by game time. Many others will have their TV on and tuned-in to the right channel well in advance of kickoff.

Some will turn on the TV or switch to the right channel after the opening kickoff, and may miss … well, some action they will regret.

Still others will miss most of what is happening on the field due to distraction, real or rationalized; and a segment of those individuals … well, could care less … for football, or … ?

Many described above will actually be in their own home or the homes of family, friends or neighbors. More folks than we football fans like to think will gather just for the party (think of it as 'indoor tailgating.)

Now, let’s click to another channel for another sport — of sorts. In this other sport, the season is just under way. The Super Bowl for this other sport happens not this Sunday but this November.

In this sport, all regular season games are played on the road. So far, teams have played away games in Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan and South Carolina. And, as you read this, yesterday in Florida, where people gathered for the party in caucus and primary booths.

Later, on each of those party nights, they and some of us turned our TV on in order to learn the score. In professional football and presidential politics there are similarities and differences; we have touched here on just a few.

Both are real. But, one is, after all is said and done, a game. While the other is — really real!

In this Sunday’s Super Bowl XLII, the teams are called Giants and Patriots. In Super Bowl 44, coming this November, the teams are called Democrats and Republicans (and perhaps, some wild cards).

In Super Bowl XLII, you know the names, individual records and contributions to team, league and even society of the individual performers. Even their character is well known or easily found for review and assessment.

In Super Bowl 44, we know the names of all the wannabes, but do we know their individual records, their individual contributions to state, country and our society as well as their character; and are the information and facts easily found for fact-check and assessment.

Like most of you, I have a favorite in football’s Super Bowl XLII. But, whoever wins this Sunday, no one really loses.

The other Super Bowl to elect President 44 is another matter.

Come November, all parties best put only real Patriots on the field!