Spring Break
The Super Bowl is the quintessential American spectacle
Jamie Thomson
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Ed-Op
I don't generally watch football, but once a year one event takes hold of the collective American attention, and I just can't resist the urge to join the frenzy. This year's Super Bowl attracted more viewers than any year before, with a total of 97.5 million watching on 65 percent of TVs in the country in use at the time. But what makes the Super Bowl so special that it ranks among the top watched TV programs every year?
A large part of American culture centers on our national sports leagues. While Hollywood, our other primary source of idolatry, tends to thrive on scandal and intrigue, falsity tends not to be quite as acceptable in the sports world. When baseball was wracked with controversy over steroids, there was public disappointment and outrage; meanwhile, Hollywood stars get plastic surgery to help their careers all the time, and no one says a thing.
Granted, sports and Hollywood are two entirely different forms of entertainment, but for some reason in one realm it is acceptable to artificially augment oneself to get ahead. Athletes are pressured to be the legitimate, honorable breed, held to a higher standard. Ideally, they are our heroes, a source of legitimacy in an age riddled with fraud. We recognize them for their strength and perseverance, and it is because they are so real to us that we frequently feel so personally invested in their success.
What makes football the sport of choice? It's a uniquely American game, which is for some reason easy for many people to appreciate, as well as effortless to watch. The Super Bowl is just one game, unlike most sports championships which are determined by a series of games; it's easy for casual fans to get caught up in that solid chunk of action. The football format is such that a team must be at its best at all times, and prove its worth when it gets that one chance to shine. And as we saw on Sunday, the long shot always has a chance. But whether the underdog takes the trophy or the team with the better record proves its worth, it's always an all-American story of courage and dedication.
A large part of American culture centers on our national sports leagues. While Hollywood, our other primary source of idolatry, tends to thrive on scandal and intrigue, falsity tends not to be quite as acceptable in the sports world. When baseball was wracked with controversy over steroids, there was public disappointment and outrage; meanwhile, Hollywood stars get plastic surgery to help their careers all the time, and no one says a thing.
Granted, sports and Hollywood are two entirely different forms of entertainment, but for some reason in one realm it is acceptable to artificially augment oneself to get ahead. Athletes are pressured to be the legitimate, honorable breed, held to a higher standard. Ideally, they are our heroes, a source of legitimacy in an age riddled with fraud. We recognize them for their strength and perseverance, and it is because they are so real to us that we frequently feel so personally invested in their success.
What makes football the sport of choice? It's a uniquely American game, which is for some reason easy for many people to appreciate, as well as effortless to watch. The Super Bowl is just one game, unlike most sports championships which are determined by a series of games; it's easy for casual fans to get caught up in that solid chunk of action. The football format is such that a team must be at its best at all times, and prove its worth when it gets that one chance to shine. And as we saw on Sunday, the long shot always has a chance. But whether the underdog takes the trophy or the team with the better record proves its worth, it's always an all-American story of courage and dedication.
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