With the Super Bowl less than 9 hours away I can’t help but wonder whether, as a society, we’ve lost the essence of the sport of American Football. I’m sure we can all agree that the Super Bowl has turned into a complete media frenzy? Each year progressively worse in terms of ad buys and major retailer face-time throughout, and leading up to, the game.
It’s a commercialized radio-row- name-dropping-social-media-second-screen-mobile-astronomically-priced-advertising-media frenzy. My question stands, although mildly rhetorical, are we completely distracted from the actual game thanks to all the other crap being pushed in our faces?
(Have an opinion? Feel free to sound-off and “Leave a Reply” below.)
The facts are clear, we know that the Super Bowl is basically considered by some a “de facto American national holiday,” we also know it is the “second-largest day for U.S. food consumption, after Thanksgiving.
In addition, the Super Bowl has frequently been the most watched American television broadcast… Super Bowl XLV (2011) became the most-watched American television program in history, drawing an average audience of 111 million viewers and taking over the spot held by the previous year’s Super Bowl, which itself had taken over the #1 spot held for twenty-eight years by the final episode of M*A*S*H.” – source
In the words of a blogger who watches more ESPN that I do,
“[This week] I have had to resort to watching Kourtney & Kim Demoralize Miami this week instead, in an effort to avoid alleged “24 hour live Super Bowl coverage” on ESPN. I swear, if I have to hear Randy Moss assert that he is the greatest wide receiver ever to be in the league one more time….” – sheworeembellishments
So then, aside from most of the men that genuinely want to watch the 49ers tear up the Ravens, are the other millions of viewers simply viewing for the ads and halftime show?
I think that’s a yes. In which case, the NFL shouldn’t be as proud because they’ve lost the essence and humility of their sport which started as an 11 team association in 1920.
In memory of those years… a collage of black and whites.
If you do plan on watching the game tonight, why don’t you try to actually follow the game. Head over to the Game Center and get familiar with the “mind-blowing” stats before kick-off.
And of course, in honor of the brotherly head-to-head, the Harbaughs on Beefcake Central.
Slippers & Vino 
Good post Suazo. For me being a football nut, the NFL season is a journey. Weeks 1 through 11 are dedicated to my personal team (Go Pats) and my fantasy team (Go Flutie Flakes). Then come playoffs, which I will watch any game, any time. The Super Bowl, despite the media’s best attempts to deteriorate the experience, is a culmination of the time I’ve invested into watching all these games.
Now, what I can do without is ESPN creating buzz words like “Elite” or “Top” to describe players. This new trend fascinates me. Why does someone need the “Elite” tag next to their name? No player in the league cares about it. They care about getting paid, and winning championships…. and in that order. ESPN and other Sports Networks are creating this sub-culture that does not exist. They are taking their internal hypothesis amongst analysts and reporters, and assuming the players have the same conversations.
They do not though. And what the Super Bowl Media week has turned into, makes me do the same thing as your other blogger referenced; not watch ESPN. I’d rather watch House Hunters International and fantasize about not being stuck in NYC.
Go 49’ers. Beat those murderer-harboring Ravens.