However, what was once a battle of the two best or luckiest (I'll let you be the judge) teams in football square off has become a glorified circus. Seemingly more important issues such as who is performing at halftime or what was your favorite commercial seem to overshadow the beauty on the field. Aaron Rodgers did not play a great game as he missed several throws and others were dropped by his skilled receivers (again I’ll let you be the judge). Though some of the throws he did make were amazing he seemed the ball throughout defenders to his receivers and is the reason the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I did enjoy watching the game and sad as it sounds didn’t even mind the halftime show. Though the point I am trying to make is that the Super Bowl needs to get back to football and focus less of its attention on the sideshows. One may argue this will hurt ratings, though I have to believe true fans of football who will invest in the NFL and as a result continue to generate a healthy profit for the league will continue to show up and support. Heck the city of Dallas paid $31 million just to host the game not including what they have paid for the construction of the new home of America's so-called team the Dallas Cowboys. I understand this may sound bitter though the X's and O's of football are beautiful and need to be fully appreciated.
Until next time.
As I was reading your entry, I could totally relate to what you were saying. It reminded me of a tennis match that has become something more than a tennis match--i.e., the "Battle of the Sexes" between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. While it has been conveyed as being arguably one of the most important events in women's sport history, the match itself was mediocre. Interestingly, I might not have even watched it (because of all the hype) if not for being asked to be a line judge. In retrospect, I am glad I could be there. But like you, I am a 'purist' and prefer to see a great match that demonstrates skill at its highest.
ReplyDeleteIan glad to know that you were not the only one to think that the Black Eyed Peas halftime show was not completely awful.
ReplyDeleteSince you are on the BG Football staff, I appreciated hearing a true football insider's perspective of the Super Bowl.
I think that your post ultimately separates people who watch football into 2 categories. One category is those who have an understanding of the X' and O's and know what a Cover 2 Defense or a Zone blitz is. The 2nd category is fans who are casual observers who are drawn to the spectacle of football.
As far as your comment that "Super Bowl needs to get back to football and focus less of its attention on the sideshows" I can totally understand where you are coming from. As someone who has devoted his life to football it must be a little frustrating to hear the media focus on such story lines whether Christina Augliera's National Anthem was the worst ever instead of whether Troy Polamalu's pre-snap alignment made it easier for Craig Jennings run a corner route and score touchdown. However I do believe the NFL does it best to balance both the sport and entertainment aspects of football.
Ultimately, Superbowl XLV was the most watched event in American Television history. As a football coach, that must be make you excited that the state of your sport seems to be as healthy as ever.
It may have been as healthy as ever when the Super Bowl was played, but that was before the Union decertified and the NFL owners locked them out. Why, oh why did they do that?
ReplyDeleteScott,
ReplyDeleteI cant thank you enough for your insightful comments it frustrates me beyond belief that now on the Monday morning news the headline is the wardrobe malfunction not the wonderful performance by the quarterback or offensive line of the winning team. Footbal is a such a tactical and strategic game that takes hours upon hours to get a handle on. To see this facet of football be overlooked is extremely frustrating and in my opinion unacceptable by the NFL. I do have to agree though that at the time of your post football was becoming a dominant fixure in our everyday lives. Though as Dr. Spencer mentioned what is going on now is ridicilous and unacceptable.
Ian, I agree with you completely. The super bowl is getting less and less about football by the year. It is just another example of how the media and buisness corporations will use any situation to turn a profit. I remember when I was younger, sitting on my dads lap watching the game. He would tell me about the players and i would immitate his cheers and frustrations about the plays. But recently I have found myself paying more attention to the commercials and the half time shows. It is hard not too. There are more commercials about who is performing the halftime show the week prior to the game than the actual teams playing are discussed. I agree with you that it would be nice to see a little shift back to the olden days and show the true meaning of the super bowl again.
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