I hate pizza.

That's not a secret to those who know me.

But I told Papa John's founder John Schnatter that.

He was walking around the Super Bowl media workroom passing out slices for live television shows.

When I told him the news that I wasn't interested, he stood there, gave a big smile and then did his damndest to convince me to try a piece.

"Pizza is nutritious. It has all natural ingredients. And it's delicious," said Schnatter, who created Papa John's from the ground up in 1984.

I know everyone loves pizza.

I know Super Bowl Sunday is the busiest day of the pizza industry, with more than 30 million pizza slices consumed while watching the game.

I know that 93 percent of Americans eat a slice of pizza at least once a month.

"I still eat pizza three or four times a week," Schnatter said. "I'm just passionate about the product."

But not me.

So I tried a piece.

I'm not saying I love pizza now.

But hate is probably too strong of a word.