It’s finally here.

After months of preparation and endless promotion, Super Bowl XLIII will be played this Sunday. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 6:28 PM, but the pregame show festivities will begin at 10 AM with NFL Countdown on ESPN. If that is too early to begin your tailgating day, then tune into the NFL Network at 11:30 AM for their six and half hour NFL GameDay show. For those who are late arrivals to the party, NBC will begin their coverage of Super Sunday at 1 PM with Bob Costas hosting The Super Bowl Pregame Show that features a cast of thousands breaking down the premier matchup of the season.

All times ET…

NFL
Sunday, 6:28 PM: Super Bowl XLIII — Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. (NBC)

NBA
Friday, 7 PM: Boston Celtics @ Detroit Pistons (ESPN)
Friday, 9:30 PM: Golden State Warriors @ New Orleans Hornets (ESPN)
Saturday, 7:30 PM: Dallas Mavericks @ Miami Heat (NBA TV)
Sunday, 2:30 PM: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Detroit Pistons (ABC)

NHL
Friday, 7 PM: Pittsburgh Penguins @ New Jersey Devils
Saturday, 1 PM: New York Rangers @ Boston Bruins
Saturday, 10:30 PM: Chicago Black Hawks @ San Jose Sharks

College Basketball
Saturday, 12 PM: #22 Notre Dame @ #3 Pittsburgh (ESPN)
Saturday, 1 PM: Michigan @ #17 Purdue (CBS)
Saturday, 2 PM: #23 Georgetown @ #8 Marquette (ESPN Full Court)
Saturday, 6 PM: San Diego @ #25 Gonzaga (ESPN2)

Tennis: Australian Open
Friday, 3:30 AM: Men’s Semi-Final (ESPN2)
Saturday, 3:30 AM: Women’s Final (ESPN2)
Sunday, 3:30 AM: Men’s Final (ESPN2)

SPORTSbyBROOKS.com blogs that ESPN will not bring Emmitt Smith back to NFL Countdown. Along with many other folks, SnB rejoices at the thought of Emmitt-less Countdown.

Point being, if you stink at your job, you should get fired. ESPN finally woke up and smelled the roses, deciding not to bring Emmitt Smith back to NFL Countdown. PRO FOOTBALL TALK reports that Cris Carter will be brought in instead to torture give us the news on Sundays with Chris Berman & crew.

I would like to extend a hearty “WHAT THE HELL TOOK SO LONG?!?!?!?!?!” to everyone involved in this decision making process.

Emmitt is brutal. Personally, I’m not even a huge fan of him as the all-time leading rusher, but there’s not a whole lot any of us can do about that. Except maybe hope Tavaris Jackson figures out that he is, in fact, supposed to hit his receivers’ hands.

Finally though, what’s with this graduated move off of ESPN? Let’s make this whole thing happen, please. No Monday night, no Sportscenter, nothing. Stick him and Berman on a boat bound for that “Lost” island and let’s all just move on. Kthxbai.

Hear-hear to that last comment about sticking Smith and Berman on a boat. ESPN should blow up NFL Countdown and start fresh. No more talking heads – get some people in there that know the game/league and not someone who thinks yelling at viewers for two hours makes for good commentary.