Celebrities offer Super Bowl picks

Lebron James is going with the Patriots.

SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE

Twenty-five celebrities from movies, TV, music, sports, politics and pop culture predict the winner of Sunday’s Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and New York Giants. This is an abridged version of the 19th annual Scripps Howard Celebrity Super Bowl Poll. For the complete SuperPoll with predictions from 100 celebrities, go to scrippsnews.com.

PAUL NEWMAN, actor: As an Easterner, it’s delicious having two great “local” teams. I wish it were the days before overtime. Then, I’d root for a tie.

JOANNE WOODWARD, actress: Patriots, 28-14. I’m loyal to New England, and I’d pick them even if they weren’t favored due to a superstar named Brady.

JACK NICKLAUS, golfer: Patriots, 31-20. I am a Dolphins fan and the Patriots are an AFC team. Also, their defense is underpinned by an Ohio State guy in Mike Vrabel, and, believe it or not, I occasionally root for Michigan people, as in Tom Brady. I think Eli Manning and the Giants’ defense have done a fantastic job getting their team where they are, and while I wish them luck, I just feel the Patriots are a little too strong.”

ARNOLD PALMER, golfer, 2003 Super Sage Award winner: Giants, 28-21. I see Eli Manning coming into his own and the coach (Tom Coughlin) is anxious to win a Super Bowl.

GEN. MIKE HAYDEN, Director of the CIA: Giants, 28-24. The spread favors the Pats, but careful intelligence work looks beyond the obvious. The Giants are hot now. Three playoff wins on the road (like the Steelers before Super Bowl XL). Regular season finale shows they match up well against the Pats. Besides, nobody’s perfect!

MARTINA MCBRIDE, country singer: Patriots, 31-27. Brady will throw for three touchdowns and they will have one rushing touchdown. Manning will throw for one touchdown and they will rush for two touchdowns. Coughlin will be pissed off most of the game at the officiating, and will probably lose one of his challenges. Bill Belichick won’t throw any flags, as usual.

PLACIDO DOMINGO, opera tenor: Giants, 24-21. The Giants might be the spoiler by breaking the Patriots’ perfect season and playoff record.

SERENA WILLIAMS, tennis player: Giants, because of Eli Manning being the younger brother.

DON RICKLES, comedian: Patriots, 21-12. Brady is too good to be beaten.

PHYLLIS DILLER, comedienne: Patriots, 30-10. A rout. I love routs.

LEBRON JAMES, NBA’s leading scorer: Patriots, 34-14, because their offense is so powerful.

DWYANE WADE, NBA player: Patriots, 27-17. New England because they are destined to win.

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL, NBA player: Giants, 21-20, because the Pats have too much pressure to run the table and New York will take advantage of the situation.

KEITH OLBERMANN, MSNBC TV host: Giants, 27-21. Not a lot of people noticed that by December, Eli Manning had already made the first hurdle of greatness: eight fourth-quarter comeback wins in his first four seasons. First you figure out how to reverse a disaster-in-progress. Then you learn how to prevent a disaster. He has just learned.

BILL O’REILLY, FOX TV host: Giants, 31-30. Destiny.

MICHAEL PHELPS, Olympic swimming gold medalist: Patriots, 24-17. Well rounded team ... Good TEAM work ... great coach.

MITT ROMNEY, presidential candidate: Patriots, 28-14. Three words: Brady, Maroney, Moss.

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY, D-Mass.: Tom Brady and the Patriots are pumped for this one. They’re ready for anything the Giants throw at them.

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, Mayor of New York City: Giants, 31-28. Well, I can tell you that when I lived in the Boston metropolitan area, they did not have a football team so nobody can accuse me of having been a Patriots fan. I am a New York fan. There is a game and I don’t want to jinx it by talking about it but I think the best team will win and that’s clearly the Giants.

CHUCK YEAGER, first man to break the sound barrier: Patriots, 28-17. Although Manning is a good passer, I don’t think he has the strength or the maturity to take on the Patriots.

MICKEY ROONEY, actor: Patriots. Whoever is the favorite will win ... It’s all a matter of percentages in every sport.

YOGI BERRA, Hall of Fame New York Yankees baseball player: I’m hoping the Giants win — the score doesn’t matter. Also, Eli (Manning) was nice enough to give us his jersey (for a captains exhibit at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center).

STEVEN VAN ZANDT, actor, “The Sopranos” and musician, The E Street Band: Well, it’s a little bit of a quandary for me since I was born in Boston and grew up in New Jersey. I don’t really follow sports anymore. I don’t have the time. You gotta hope for the hometown team, don’t ya? I mean, they shouldn’t have been there, should they? I watched the last couple games and, you’re like, how are they doing this? They shouldn’t be winning! But Michael Strahan is a good friend of mine, so I’m very happy for him, and the team is just looking terrific. I mean, what can you say. I wouldn’t bet against them right now, I’ll tell you that. I predict right now the Giants will win outright. Let’s win by 6, what do you say?

WAYNE NEWTON, singer: Patriots, 35-30. As a true patriot and devoted chairman of the Celebrity Circle of the USO, I have to side with New England.

DANA DELANY, actress, “Desperate Housewives”: Patriots! Because I’m a big fan of Bill Belichick. I have no clue (on the score). I don’t even know what numbers mean in football. All I know is it’s about inches.

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