(Photo attributed to Chris Chavez on February
3rd, 2012 at 5:13 pm)
The Super Bowl, to be played tomorrow between the
New York Giants and the New England Patriots, has become a game that transcends
competition. It is more than a football game, more than the epitome of
what every football player dreams of. It has, in my opinion, become a
national holiday that possibly warrants a day off of school on the Monday
following the game. Families, friends, and mere acquaintances get
together for an evening of drinking, eating, and watching sports/TV ads. More
chicken wings are consumed on Super Bowl Sunday than on any other day of the
year, and over $10 billion is expected to be bet on biggest one-day sports
betting event of every year. Additionally, $3 million are needed for a
company to place a 30 second advertisement during the game. Simply put,
this game surpasses every other sporting event, without question.
The game itself figures to be a dandy as well.
Tom Brady vs. Eli Manning. Bill Belichick vs. Tom Coughlin. In a
game where legacies are on the line, the game figures to be eventful down to
the last minute. The subplots, from Chad Ochocinco and his acceptance of
the "Patriot Way" to Victor Cruz's meteoric rise to wide receiver
stardom, litters the game and provides matchup of incredible intrigue and hype.
My prediction, based on personal bias and lots of Sportscenter watching,
is that the New England Patriots will get their revenge for their 2008 defeat.
Tom Brady will cement his status as one of the greatest quarterbacks of
all time (GO BLUE!) with an MVP performance and a 24-17 victory over the Giants.
I really enjoyed reading this post as I was thinking the same exact thing: how much more the super bowl has become than just a football game. However, I am coming from a different perspective, as a rather uninterested spectator. I don't have a love for football or for watching football games. Yet, the super bowl always warrants my attention. It is quite comical that I will get dressed, go to a super bowl party, talk about what Madonna is going to be like in the half time show, yet I realistically know nothing about the two teams. Furthermore, I don't have any interest in the two teams: I am from chicago, not New York. Although, even if it was the Bears in the super bowl, which happened a few years ago, it still wouldn't be the actual football that would get me excited. As i said before, I never watch games prior to the super bowl; it is more about the social tradition that stems from the super bowl. I am drawn to the super bowl for social reasons: to celebrate in something my peers and family members enjoy. For me, the super bowl becomes more of a common ground in which I can connect with friends and family: It is a lot more about the social connections than the actual game of football.
ReplyDeleteBy: Taylor Rothman
DeleteThis is an ESPN quality post. Now having witnessed the part of the best single sporting game of the year as a disappointed fan, all I can think about is the level of competition and formation of legacies resulting from the events within and following the BIG game. Although I am a Jets fan, I despise the Patriots far too much to support them rather than the Giants. The game was well played and most certainly cemented Eli Manning's eventual matriculation into the Hall of Fame. This game at the end of the day came down to one last play to determine a legend. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoynUx3Z9NE (Copyrights of the NFL). Had this pass been completed Tom Brady would have been the best quarterback in NFL history, and had Aaron Hernandez made the diving catch, he would have overtaken Jerome Simpson for ESPN's top play. At the end of the day, Eli Manning was made the legend here. A man who deserves it due to the unjust criticism throughout his career to this point. This was a great post and an emphatic finish. What a great and entertaining game!
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