A halftime controversy? Really?

By David Lewis, Editor

Surprise!

There was a controversial moment during the halftime show of Sunday’s Super Bowl.

No, it didn’t come from Madonna. At the age of 53, the former Material Girl was doing good to get around the stage. I almost expected someone to hand her a walker so she could get through it.

No, the controversial moment came from one of the side performers, some rapper from England who bills herself as M.I.A.

M.I.A. was one of the young hotties that Madonna included in the show in an effort to look relevant. At some point in the show, M.I.A. flipped off the 100 million people watching the show.

For you readers of delicate sensitivities who maybe don’t know what I’m talking about, the singer used a vulgar sign that involves sticking the middle finger up in the air while holding the other four fingers down. If you don’t know what it means, you can always look it up on Google.

I don’t know why the Super Bowl halftime show always manages to include moments like this. The game is one of the biggest events of the entire year, and families everywhere — all around the world — gather around the TV to watch.

A few years ago, it was Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction,” which resulted in the singer flashing a naked breast. Jackson got lots of publicity from that stunt, which she denied was planned.

Nobody has heard of M.I.A., except maybe Madonna, so I’m sure she thought Sunday’s halftime performance would be the perfect way to get some publicity of her own.

Mission accomplished.

Actually, I think I do know why the Super Bowl halftime show always manages to include moments like this. The people who plan these extravaganzas don’t go into it thinking about the kids and grandmas who are sitting around the TV. They go into it to make a splash so they can enhance their resumes.

So, bring on Madonna — who used to be a controversial figure and can still be provocative, even at her age — and the likes of M.I.A. Who cares about the kids and grandma? This is the Super Bowl, man! Can’t we show some skin?

Here’s my idea. Eliminate the halftime show. Put the teams back on the field in 15 minutes and get on with the game.

That’s what it’s supposed to be about anyway.

E-mail: editor@postsignal.com.