Super Bowl commercials arguably have received as much hype as the game.

The ones from a couple of days ago again reminded us about our current state of life and its nuances.

There have been some classic Super Bowl commercials through the years. One in particular stands out to this writer - one that is always picked as the best or among the best ever produced for the ‘Big Game.”

The scene developed into an iconic moment, one that has stayed in our football minds for over four decades.

Pittsburgh’s Mean Joe Greene, who still was considered to be in the prime, filmed a commercial for Coca-Cola in October 1979, and it was an instant hit during the 1980 Super Bowl.

As he makes his way toward the locker room after a game, Greene is approached by a young boy who offers him a Coke and then begins to walk away. Greene yells to the young boy and throws him his jersey.

This latest installment of my look back at YESTERDAY - a trip back in time to the late 1960s, 70s and the early 80s - is a recollection of some of the memorable Super Bowl commercials, as well as some other notable games and items from football’s showcase.

A Monk, Broadway Joe, and Three Old Ladies ...

Around the same time as the Greene commercial, Xerox developed an unforgettable spot with Brother Dominic, a monk who somehow escaped the monastery and made his way to Xerox.

In the commercial, you see the now antiquated copy machine with the huge buttons and the slots on the side where you watched the copies released side-by-side. Does that bring back any memories?

Joe Namath was still a hot TV sell and he made a commercial in 1973 with Farah Fawcett-Majors – before her Charlie’s Angels’ fame – where she smears shaving cream on Namath’s face and shaves it. “Let Noxzema Cream Your Face” is the jungle, and Namath ends the cheesy clip by saying, “She has a great pair of hands.”

Wendy’s made an impact on the market with their Super Bowl XVIII commercial as part of the Washington-Oakland contest in 1984. One older lady asks the two others who are faced with open-face hamburger buns, the historic line, “Where’s the Beef?” Like the Greene spot, it is still getting play today.

Oldies, But Goodies

... The slogan and jingle, “Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz,” has kept Alka-Seltzer in the market for quite a long time. There have been a few variations of the commercial from the post-party scene, to the meatballs with the old Italian couple, and to a bowling team. A cartoon character named “Speedy” was the narrator for the mid-to-late 70s version that aired during Super Bowls.

A Super Bowl didn’t seem complete without the Budweiser Clydesdales, who have been part of football Americana since 1984. The commercials have always been brilliantly composed with an underlying message. After COVID played a huge role in the stoppage of the spot last year, Budweiser successfully brought back its concept with a single Clydesdale and a dog for 2022.

The Famous Hilltop song

... It was the panoramic shot from a hilltop in Italy where teenagers and young adults assembled on a hillside to sing “I’d like to buy the world a Coke,” an adapted version of the song, “I’d like to teach the world to sing.” We all have seen the commercial that has stayed the course of time. It was released in the summer of 1971 and made the 1972 Super Bowl.

A Groundbreaking SB Commercial

... In 1972, Vitals set a new standard when they had a young actress named Victoria Medlin in the Dolphins’ locker room in a spot for Vitalis Dry Control. She spoke about it with players mingling around her. Miami quarterback Bob Griese ended the spot by stating, “I use it ... but I am still Griese.” Corny ending, but it was taboo to have a woman in a men’s locker room in the 70s.

A Forgotten Masterpiece

... One of the best and likely most forgotten Super Bowls occurred in Miami in 1971 when the Cols played the Cowboys. Dom McCafferty was the Colts’ coach and Tom Landry guided the Cowboys. The game was a tight contest throughout until Jim O’Brien kicked the winning field goal with five seconds left for a 16-13 victory. The game was also historic as it marked the first time a defensive player was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, as Dallas linebacker Chuck Howley received the honor.

O’Brien’s fame was short-lived as he spent just two seasons in the league.

See You Next Year

... Dallas won the championship the following year with a convincing 24-3 victory over Miami in the 1972 Super Bowl. Roger Staubach and Duane Thomas starred for the Cowboys in that game. Ironically, it was Thomas’ last year with the Cowboys. A year earlier, he was the league’s Rookie of the Year.

See You Next Year II ...

Miami took the cue from Dallas, and embarked on its record-setting, undefeated, regular season in 1972 that culminated with a victory in the 1973 Super Bowl. The Dolphins defeated Washigton 14-7 in the Super Bowl in another forgotten game that was a nailbiter. This was the one in which Dolphins’ kicker Garo Yepremian attempted a pass off a botched field goal attempt, and the Redskins’ Mike Bass returned it for a touchdown.

In Your Living Room

... I never had this, but Tudor – the top electric football game producer – created a 1970 Super Bowl model. The field is an exact replica of the Super Bowl field that was laid out in Tulane Stadium for the game between the Chiefs and the Vikings. There also was a standing-free, cardboard cutout of the stands.

This is on my list to purchase.

McDonald’s To the Rescue

... In my opinion, the most clever commercial was the McDonald’s “uh….” ad. It certainly typified all of us in the drive-through line or at the counter.

McDonald’s rolled out a memorable SB spot in 1993 involving Magic Johnson and Larry Bird who play horse and make a crazy amount of incredible shots all over an arena. It continues until the final showdown that ends with both of them atop a large building releasing their shot onto an expressway.