 "Photo: Kyle Pezoldt")
It has come to my attention that in the recent years the game that every patient sports fan foams at the mouth for the Super Bowl has become more of a America’s Best Commercial segment then a real sporting event. The actual game seem to take a back burner to the numerous halftime segments and over the top commercials that television watchers and sports fans alike wait anxiously for like children waiting for presents from Santa. But just like gifts you get on Christmas people become bored with these things and forget about them.
Most people I know cant tell you the final score of most Super Bowl games in the past few years but know exactly what commercial played and what happened second by second. There seems to be a loss of actual athletic spirit and the ghost of capitalism has risen from the grave. Most companies aren’t even seeing a need to work so hard to put out commercials for the big game because with times being hard still customers and companies alike don’t have that extra money they once did to get all the shiny new things that are available.
It seems that in all the hype that football and the pinnacle of professional grandeur once brought to fans all over the country has faded away. It is hard now to be thought of as a real fan as well if you are not decked out in all the latest gear and buy all the out of season games then you are out of the loop and thought of as “not a real fan” in the eyes of the sports industry.
There seemed to be a time when the game meant something more then who got the newest wide receiver for $20million but how you felt from the pride of being part of something that is legendary and special like a sporting event and the pride of “your” team as they score that touchdown in the last quarter with 50 yards to go. The love of the game seemed to be lost for the love of the fame. This is a all too common thing in most sporting events when the media get their hands on a story that has the potential to be something big it gets overplayed and trivialized for the sake of journalism.
Products are being marketed as the official brand of NFL and the chips eaten by Reggie Bush so it must be good because it is being used by a franchise and players that can have any item or product they want. People just want that one link that ties them to their favorite sport or team. And through the Super Bowl there is this outlet and people can feel just that much closer by eating drinking, and driving the merchandise that the great pastime has to offer.
People seem to be in love with the Super Bowl because it gives them a chance to claim a stake in something that they could only dream of and that is the success of their team. Through the watching of the games all season to the cursing and prayer every down that is accomplished a little part of the fan is brought to the game. The collective spirit of the Super Bowl gives people a reason to have pride and a reason to brag to all their friends about the game. It is like watching your child graduate it seems, having all your hard work come to actualization and the pride that follows.
There is also the aspect of bringing people together and even if you are not rooting for the same team you will still sit and scream your heart out next to and even at other fans as everyone swells with emotion whether it be joy or sorrow. There Is never a easy moment when the Super Bowl is occurring because it is the final stage for one strong team that has rose above the others and actually made something of themselves even if it is for only one night the glory and the rings are a lifetime accomplishment.
If people noticed these key factors it seems that the Super Bowl would become super again. Then people would want to actually watch the game and remember the score rather then quoting a ad during half time.
I hope that one day these games become more about champions and less about commercials. But until that day the game will always be Football versus Advertisements. And there is no overtime in this game and winners are blurry to see.
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