Janet Jackson’s Wardrobe Malfunction Was Osama Bin Laden’s Fault

As Janet Jackson gets inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Friday night, it’s worth revisiting something she has in common with other members of the Rock Hall such as Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, the Who, Prince and Tom Petty. That’s right, we’re talking about the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

It’s interesting to note that at this time 15 years ago, Jackson was still reeling from that night – Feb. 1, 2004 – when the world saw a little too much of her during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston’s Reliant Stadium.

The New England Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers in that game, their second title in three years. The game was memorable … though not as memorable as the halftime show. Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” was seen by an international audience, and it created a backlash against the NFL and a hefty fine from the Federal Communications Commission levied against Viacom, parent company of CBS, which broadcast the game, and MTV, which produced the halftime show.

When Justin Timberlake, accidentally or not, grabbed a piece of Jackson’s dress to reveal her left breast, the FCC received more than half a million complaints. The FCC fined Viacom $550,000. Several years later, courts overturned that ruling and FCC officials admitted they had overreacted. But that was of little consolation to Jackson, who for a time had been blacklisted by Viacom and MTV following the incident.

Who was to blame for this fiasco? Osama Bin Laden, of course.

Here’s why: If not for the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Janet Jackson would have been the headliner in the Super Bowl XXXVI halftime show, and as a solo act, not with Timberlake. “She was booked prior to 9/11,” said Jim Steeg, the NFL’s VP of Events at the time. “But she wanted out after 9/11. She was afraid to be in the building, with all the security concerns.” Things turned out just fine for the NFL with that scenario, as they got U2 to perform the Super Bowl XXXVI halftime show at the Louisiana Superdome, a show that became one of the most patriotic moments in sports history.

Two years later, MTV was producing the halftime show for the NFL, and they were pushing a hip-hop agenda that the league wasn’t eager to embrace. In addition the Jackson, MTV favorites P. Diddy, Nelly and Kid Rock were scheduled to be on stage.

“Janet was the tame act,” Steeg thought at the time. “Timberlake was a completely late addition. We thought those were the acts that were gonna tone it down.

“Little did we know.”

Super Bowl memories: Phil Simms, Janet Jackson and the streaker

Am I the only one who feels old when I hear that Phil Simms will be calling his seventh Super Bowl this Sunday? Wasn’t it just yesterday that Simms was pitching his perfect game masterpiece for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXI?

Okay, well I guess that was 26 years ago. And now, perhaps, there are young fans who don’t even think of Simms as a former NFL quarterback, the same fans who didn’t realize that John Madden used to be a coach. After all, when Simms broadcasts Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans Sunday between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, only Madden (with eight) will have been the color man for more Super Bowls than Simms.

“I can’t believe I’ve done seven,” Simms said at a recent CBS Sports press event. “Of course I’m proud of it. And I’ve always said, ‘Sooner or later I wanna come out of one and be happy.’ … Broadcasting is a lot like playing in those terms. You go to bed and all you think about is the things you wish you’d have done.”

For the record, Simms called Super Bowls XXX and XXXII for NBC, then XXXV, XXXVIII, XLI and XLIV for CBS. Plenty of big moments from those games – John Elway’s first title, Tom Brady’s second, Peyton Manning, the Saints’ onside kick – but what’s the first thing Simms thinks about when he looks back at the big games he’s called?

“My most memorable moment probably is a bad one,” Simms said. “It’s the Janet Jackson thing.”

Ah, yes, Nipple-gate. Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime. Simms explained that he didn’t see it when it happened. But as he and Greg Gumbel made their way back to the booth before the start of the second half, he knew something was up.

“Before halftime was over, we had tons of executives running into our booth yelling, ‘Give us a replay!’ We had no idea.”

When Simms learned what the fuss was about, he shook his head in disbelief – not so much about what had happened as for the frenzy that followed. Simms had a job to do – call the second half of the Super Bowl. The Patriots held a 14-10 halftime lead over the Panthers, and a wild finish was about to ensue.

However, there was one more memorable Super Bowl moment that was unfolding. Players and coaches were pouring back onto the field for the second half when Simms noticed something odd.

“I just remember seeing the guy in the officials uniform. I saw him on the far sideline and wondered what he was doing there… because he looked funny.”

Indeed, it wasn’t an official. It was an imposter.

“He was the guy that got naked and ran onto the field,” Simms laughed.

Mark Roberts, a British streaker who has crashed several major events, probably would have received more notoriety for his Super Bowl stunt if not for the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction. Still, it was a big deal.

“So I spotted him first," Simms said. "I’m not proud of that, but I saw him.”

So Simms missed the nipple during halftime, but he got the Full Monty just a few minutes later.