Six Wins, Seventh Heaven

With Sunday's win over the Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Steelers claimed their sixth Super Bowl victory. "A championship is the Pittsburgh version of seventh heaven," Robert Dvorchak wrote in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Post-Gazette labeled the team "Lord of the Rings" and summed up the thrilling game with "Harrison's immaculate interception, Holmes' dramatic reception seal Steelers sixth Super Bowl victory, 27-23." Receiver Santonio Holmes, named the game's most valuable player, was pictured the width of the page with arms wide.

The Arizona Republic was all about "Heartbreak" and a "Stinging end to a profound season." Dan Bickley began his front-page column, "In the NFL, they say that nobody remembers who loses the Super Bowl." But in a reference to inside content, the front page said, "Game will be remembered as a classic." "Cardinals nearly win first Super Bowl, then see it snatched away."

Eye on the (Foot) Ball

For the few who weren't tied to their televisions, news Web sites provided top Super Bowl headlines from quarter to quarter:

7:24 p.m.: USA TODAY: "Steelers taking early command."

7:33: The Arizona Republic: "Cards strike back; close lead in second quarter."

7:53 p.m. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Steelers 10 Cardinals 7. Second quarter in progress."

8 p.m.: The Tampa Tribune: "Cardinals go to their strength to close gap."

8:01 p.m.: The New York Post: "Jennifer Hudson returned to the spotlight ... with a flawless performance of the national anthem ..."

8:28 p.m.: USA TODAY: "'The Boss' lights up the Super Bowl."

8:59 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Cards' first drive of second half stalls."

9:02 p.m.: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Steelers fans get rowdy after late first-half TD."

9:05 p.m. Los Angeles Times: "Arizona: 7 Pittsburgh: 20."

9:18 p.m.: The New York Times: "Ads That Pushed Our Usual (Well-Worn) Buttons/Few commercials that ran during Super Bowl XLIII offered anything special."

9:28 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Fitzgerald touchdown gives Cardinals some hope."

9:50 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Cardinals lead on Fitzgerald touchdown."

9:52 p.m.: The New York Times: "Cardinals 23, Steelers 20/In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the momentum has shifted to Arizona."

9:57 p.m.: The Tampa Tribune: "Fitzgerald's Leap Breathes New Life into Cardinals."

10:01 p.m.: The Tampa Tribune: "Fitzgerald's 2 TDs Thrust Cardinals Into Remarkable Lead."

10:02 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Tampa shocker: Cardinals storm back."

10:09: The Washington Post: "Steelers Lead Cardinals, 27-23."

10:10 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Miracle season ends inches from title." It added: "The Cards lose a nailbiter in Tampa."

10:12: The New York Times: "Steelers 27, Cardinals 23."

10:14: The Tampa Tribune: "Amazing: Holmes Catch Regains Lead for Steelers."

10:15 p.m.: The New York Times: "Steelers Win Super Bowl."

10:17 p.m.: The Washington Post: "Steelers Capture Super Bowl Over Cardinals."

10:18 p.m. USA TODAY Sports home page: "Steelers Rally to defeat the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII."

10:19 p.m.: USA TODAY: "Curtains for Cards: Steelers win thriller."

10:23 p.m.: Post-Gazette: "Steelers 27 Cardinals 23/Late drive wins sixth Super Bowl."

Florida is No. 1

The University of Florida defeated Oklahoma 24-14 to win the BCS title game Thursday night in Miami. Hometown newspaper, the Gainesville Sun, celebrated with a "Three-rific" headline, a reference to the three national titles won by the Gators. A front-page note apologizing for the late delivery of the newspaper (blame the game's late start) accompanied a dominant photo, a main story and information on a victory event planned for Sunday. The Sun's Web site provided video highlights and photos of post-game celebrations. Disappointment appeared on the Tulsa World, as "OU Swamped. Gators hand Sooners fifth-straight BCS loss." The title game was played in Miami, where the Herald promoted the win by the in-state team with "No. 1!" Its front-page coverage was a photo and column -- "Game lived up to hype -- for unexpected reasons."

Thanks for the memories

The Rays fell to the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series, leaving the Tampa Bay area only with memories of what the St. Petersburg Times called a miracle season. The Times and The Tampa Tribune published photos of dejected players. The Tribune and the Times paired a column with a photo. The Times referred to full coverage in Section X, appropriately as another season is crossed off. Should coverage be different depending upon whether a team wins or loses?

Euphoria in Philly

There is celebration on Philly front pages and beyond after the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3, in Game 5 of the World Series. It was the Phillies' first Series title since 1980. The Inquirer proclaimed "World Champs!" and produces a 14-page special section. The Philadelphia Daily News was more poignant with "From Cursed to First ..." Elsewhere in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey and Delaware, front pages marked the moment with special designs. In the case of The Morning Call of Allentown, the sentiment was: "Phinally!"

Play Ball

In anticipation of the Phillies-Rays World Series, The Morning Call of Allentown, Pa. -- Phillies territory -- published an eight-page special section that wrapped around the day's newspaper. Down Rays' way, The Tampa Tribune referred to its special section from Page One, which noted that tonight's match-up is not just a game, it is "A Life-Defining Event." What other life-defining events warrant special sections?

Farewell to the House that Ruth Built

How do you say goodbye? When it came to the 85-year-0ld Yankee Stadium, saying goodbye meant past champions and fans, salutes and waves, aerials and closeups. However they chose to bid adieu, New York and New Jersey newspapers said it on the front page.

Road to Beijing

For many U.S. athletes, the road to the Beijing Olympics has gone through Omaha, Neb., and Eugene, Ore. That has meant exhaustive coverage of the track and field and swimming qualifying trials by The Register-Guard and World-Herald.

Sports mania in Detroit

Detroit newspapers faced a double challenge when the Red Wings played Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup finals and the Pistons met the Celtics in the eastern conference playoffs. Both teams lost, prompting both the Free Press and The News to use "The Pitts" in a main headline. About 2:30 a.m., the Free Press said on its Web site: "Still in control" after the Red Wings' loss in Game 3. There was no coverage of the Pistons. This morning's Freep used the entire front page in a Stanley Cup Finals Edition. It featured a column and the same sentiment as its Web site: "Wings aren't about to panic now." The Newseum's film "Press Box: History of Sports Reporting" reminds us that sports is news. And Detroit newspapers often prove it.

Fourth Quarter Politics

The race for the Democratic nomination for president has entered the fourth quarter, but a winner has yet to emerge. So it was a relief to find sports columnist Mike Lopresti on Page One of today's Indianapolis Star.

Lopresti, an Indiana resident, says his fellow Hoosiers are ready for the onslaught of campaigning in advance of the state's May 6 primary.

He writes in a column titled "We're ready for our close-up": "Curious, that this state is something of a high noon for the Democrats. When it comes to choosing presidents, Indiana is considered redder than ketchup. We're one of those states where the polls close at 6 p.m., and the networks make a projection at 6:02. Lyndon Johnson is the only Democrat to carry Indiana since 1936, and his election was 44 years ago. Since then, the state has been as Republican as a Bush family picnic. So this is kind of like the Ohio State Board of Regents meeting in Ann Arbor to decide on its next football coach."