Despite some speculation that Beyonce‘s halftime show might have blown out the power at the Superdome last Sunday, the stadium’s power company said Friday that a device meant to protect the power supply to the arena had failed during the Super Bowl.

Officials from Entergy New Orleans, the company that installed the device (called a relay), said it was put in to protect the Superdome from a cable failure between the company’s incoming power line and the lines that run into the stadium.

The faulty device, which performed without incident during other events at the Superdome, has been removed, according to the officials. Replacement equipment will be installed.

The failure of the relay cut out the lights in about half of the Superdome for 34 minutes during the Super Bowl on Sunday, and the power company spent this week trying to find the root of the problem.

Chris Culliver

Niners cornerback Chris Culliver apologized Wednesday night for comments he made during Tuesday’s Super Bowl media day, when he implied that the team would not accept a gay teammate.

“I don’t do the gay guys, man, I don’t do that,” Culliver said in a radio interview with Artie Lange, adding: “We ain’t got no gay people on the team. They got to get up out of here if they do. Can’t be with that sweet stuff.”

Culliver also said a player would need to keep his homosexuality a secret while playing, and “come out 10 years later.”

The team quickly rejected the comments, and Wednesday night followed with a statement purportedly from the player.

“The derogatory comments I made yesterday were a reflection of thoughts in my head, but they are not how I feel,” Culliver said. “It has taken me seeing them in print to realize that they are hurtful and ugly. Those discriminating feelings are truly not in my heart. Further, I apologize to those who I have hurt and offended, and I pledge to learn and grow from this experience.”

Welcome to Thursday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

THURSDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NHL: Sabres at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN)
NHL: Penguins at Rangers, 7 p.m. (NHL Network)
NBA: Grizzlies at Thunder, 8 p.m. (TNT)
NBA: Mavericks at Warriors, 10:30 p.m. (TNT)
College basketball: UConn at Providence, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Illinois at Michigan State, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Drexel at George Mason, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)
College basketball: Penn State at Iowa, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Arizona at Washington, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Arkansas at Alabama, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Oregon State at California, 10 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Gonzaga at Loyola Marymount, 11 p.m. (ESPN2)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ Almost two months after 26 students and faculty at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., were gunned down, a group of 26 students from the school will sing “America the Beautiful” as part of Sunday’s Super Bowl pregame show. The performance will be broadcast live on CBS shortly before Alicia Keys sings the national anthem.

The News Times in Connecticut reports that an anonymous donor provided the money for the trip. “It’s an honor,” an unidentified local parent said.

Choir members from the school recorded “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with Grammy-nominated singer Ingrid Michaelson earlier this month.

♦ The Lakers had won three straight games before losing to the Suns on Wednesday night, but coach Mike D’Antoni still found himself dealing with controversy. The latest issue surrounded center Pau Gasol, who was upset about being benched in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s victory over the Hornets.

Said Gasol: “I’m a competitor, I’m a guy that thinks I bring a lot to the table, and not being on the floor is something that I don’t like, I don’t appreciate.”

Considering the players talked about a renewed focus on team success over individual issues earlier this week following a recent team meeting, D’Antoni was especially disappointed.

“Well, you know, ‘all for one’ didn’t last [very] long, did it?” D’Antoni said. “Forty-eight hour shelf life. That’s not bad. We’ll take what we can get.”

♦ Former Penn State football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky‘s bid for a new trial was denied Wednesday, as a judge rejected his argument that his lawyers did not have enough time to prepare for his trial last year that resulted in his conviction on child sexual abuse charges.

“I do not think it can be said that either of the defendant’s trial counsel failed to test the prosecution’s case in a meaningful manner,” Judge John Cleland wrote in his 27-page order. “The defendant’s attorneys subjected the commonwealth’s witnesses to meaningful and effective cross-examination, presented evidence for the defense and presented both a comprehensive opening statement and a clearly developed closing argument.”

Sandusky is serving 30-60 years in state prison for the sexual abuse of 10 boys.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On Jan. 31, 1971, in a 6-0 rout of the Blues, Bobby Orr scored twice to become the second defenseman in Bruins history with 100 career goals. Who was the first?

Read the rest of this entry »

Randy Moss

Niners receiver Randy Moss, making his first appearance at Super Bowl media day since 2008 with the Patriots, made it clear that he has not lost any confidence in his game despite sitting out all of last season.

“Now that I’m older, I do think I’m the greatest receiver to ever [play],” said Moss, who had 28 receptions for 434 yards and three touchdowns this season. “I don’t think numbers stand, because you talk about this and this. This year has been a down year for me statistically. The year before I retired was a down year, and then in Oakland [in 2006] was a down year. So, I don’t really live on numbers. I really live on impact and what you’re able to do out on that field. So, I really do think I’m the greatest receiver ever to play this game.”

(Responded Jerry Rice to ESPN’s Adam Schefter: Put my numbers up against his numbers.”)

One area in which Moss has struggled is winning. He has yet to capture a Super Bowl title in his 14 NFL seasons with the Vikings, Raiders, Patriots, Titans and 49ers.

“I’ve won a championship on every level, and I’ve already told myself that I wanted to win a championship on this level,” he said. “To have a Super Bowl ring, my career would be complete.”

Moss came close five years ago, when the Patriots lost to the Giants.

“In ’07 with the Patriots, we were riding high, being undefeated going up to the Super Bowl,” he said. “I think that’s just something we wanted to accomplish as a whole team, something to set ourselves in history. But being here with the 49ers, they were so close last year with a couple of mishaps [against] the Giants in the NFC championship game. I think just by the way we practice, the way the guys speak in the locker room, they were determined to get back here. And I just wanted to be a part of it.”

Moss’ teammates raved about his impact on the team, but Moss said he did not join the 49ers intending to influence the younger players, indicating it happened in an organic way.

“I never considered myself trying to be a leader,” he said, adding: “I just wanted to come in and play football. … If there’s anything I’ve been able to give back to the younger guys, it is my experience. That’s something I’ve taken to heart. Just looking at the younger guys and how they look at me is something I never imagined.”

Moss reiterated that he plans to return next season.

“I’ve thought about it,” he said. “I really want to play another year.”

However, he was sure he would re-sign with the 49ers, saying: “I don’t know about that.”

Ray Lewis

According to a Sports Illustrated report, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis appears to have used a banned substance to help him recover from a torn triceps earlier this season.

Almost immediately after Lewis’ injury in October, a company called Sports With Alternatives to Steroids (S.W.A.T.S.) sent Lewis a number of items, including a deer-antler spray that contains IGF-1. That substance is banned by the NFL.

S.W.A.T.S. owner Mitch Ross recorded a phone conversation with Lewis hours after the player’s Oct. 14 injury. In the conversation, Ross explains to Lewis how to use the spray (under the tongue).

According to the SI story:

Ross prescribed a deluxe program, including holographic stickers on the right elbow; copious quantities of the powder additive; sleeping in front of a beam-ray light programmed with frequencies for tissue regeneration and pain relief; drinking negatively charged water; a 10-per-day regimen of the deer-antler pills that will “rebuild your brain via your small intestines” (and which Lewis said he hadn’t been taking, then swallowed four during the conversation); and spritzes of deer-antler velvet extract (the Ultimate Spray) every two hours.

Also from the story:

Toward the end of the talk, Lewis asked Ross to “just pile me up and just send me everything you got, because I got to get back on this this week.”

Asked about his relationship with the company, Lewis tried to downplay it, although he acknowledged asking for “some more of the regular stuff” after his injury.

Said Lewis, shortly before ending the interview: “I think a lot of things helped me.”

Lewis was asked about the story during Tuesday’s Super Bowl media day and had little to say.

“Two years ago that was the same report,” Lewis said. “I wouldn’t give that report or him any of my press. He’s not worthy of that. Next question.”

Mark Wahlberg is a passionate sports fan, especially when it comes to Boston sports, but it appears that passion may have gotten him into some trouble with his family according to an ABC News story.

Wahlberg, a Boston native, was so upset that the Patriots lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 that he kicked all of his friends out of his house and then got into a confrontation with his wife when she told him to calm down. The incident has banned him from watching the Super Bowl at his home again.

“She was so upset I wasn’t able to make it up to her until Valentine’s Day,” Wahlberg said. “She said, ‘You know, you’re never watching the game again (at home),’ but now she just hopes that the Patriots make it back to the Super Bowl so she can go on, like, a week vacation.”

The actor said he’s still trying to get over the Patriots’ loss.

“It was bad. I always tell myself I’m not gonna get upset, but you just can’t help it,” Wahlberg said.

Wahlberg said even Patriots quarterback Tom Brady took the loss better than him.

“He’s doing good. He handled it better than I did,” Wahlberg said. “He came to visit me … and Tom feels like they’re going to win this year.”

Ah, the Super Bowl. The biggest game of the year is Sunday in Miami, and the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints will finally end the waiting as they fight for the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XLIV.

But what makes the Super Bowl the greatest game of the season is much more than just the matchup itself, even if few games have had as much hype as this year’s. Yes, the Super Bowl is the spectacle that it is because of the myriad betting opportunities it presents. And while Super Bowl squares are always fun, nothing is better than prop bets.

You can always bet the over/under or the spread, but isn’t it more fun to wager on whether Austin Collie catches the first touchdown or not? (He is at 10-1 odds right now.) So without further ado, here are some of the ridiculous prop bets to be watching for this year.

Okay, one quick disclaimer here: WEEI.com in no way, shape or form encourages gambling, even on the most hilarious of the bets below. Use your money for more important things, like party supplies.

Carrie Underwood’s national anthem: Over/under 1 minute 42 seconds

A little bit of research shows that Underwood, the country music star and former American Idol winner, sang the Star Spangled Banner back in 2006 for the NFC Championship game between the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers.

If you notice, that video is 1 minute 45 seconds long. It’s going to be a close call, but on an even bigger stage Underwood might embellish the performance a little bit.

Which commercial will have the highest rating on USA Today’s Ad meter?

The choices presented to us are Doritos, Coca-cola, Anheuser-Busch, Godaddy.com, Career Builder, Focus on the Family or other. Now, maybe the appearance of Tim Tebow will push the “Focus on the Family” ad to greater heights. Maybe there is a Budweiser commercial on the level of this:

But curiously absent from the set list is the Super Bowl commercial that could be the most compelling: the McDonald’s remake of the classic Larry Bird-Michael Jordan “Showdown” ad with NBA superstars LeBron James and Dwight Howard.

So many questions can be asked. Will either wear an outfit as terrible as His Airness? Will they bother to say no dunking? And why remake the best commercial of all-time with someone who can’t even shoot? Those questions alone could make it the most-watched commercial of the night.

How many times will Archie Manning be shown on TV?

The line is set at two and a half. But Manning has two allegiances in this game: the Saints, and his son Peyton. That means he can be shown whenever either team is being discussed. Drew Brees throws a touchdown? The former Saints signal caller could be on the screen. Manning hits Dallas Clark for a big gain? You bet they will probably show his father beaming with pride. This could be the easiest prop bet of all to predict.

Anything with Kim Kardashian

How many times will Reggie Bush’s girlfriend be shown on screen? What color top will she be wearing? Will she be engaged to Bush by July 31st if the Saints pull out the win? All of these are actual bets for this game. She might end up playing a bigger role in this telecast than Dwight Freeney.

What CBS show will get the most promos during the game?

The logical choice might be Undercover Boss, the new show that will follow the game. From this sneak peek, it looks pretty intense.

I suppose that makes it a drama? But don’t discount NCIS. After all, it is America’s No. 1 show, for reasons described here. Who would have thought a naval crime scene show could be so popular? Another darkhorse? Any of the CSI shows, which, of course, feature theme songs by a certain Super Bowl halftime performing band.

How many times will Pete Townshend perform his legendary windmill move?

That clip is 19 seconds long. In it, Townshend does his patented windmill move twice. With a set list that includes a mashup of five songs, Townshend will have ample opportunity to strut his stuff on stage and rock out. If this one doesn’t entice you, you can always bet on whether any member of the band will break a guitar, and if so, what it will hit first.

The game.

And here we get to the game itself. There are too many bets to list, from the coin toss to whether either team will score in the last three minutes of the game. The best of the best? The over/under on Drew Brees’ passing attempts, which is set at 33.3, and whether Manning will have throw for more yards than in the Colts victory in Super Bowl XLI, when he passed for 247 yards. In what could be a shootout, both seem ripe for the over pick.