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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – The Super Bowl isn’t always a close game. The event itself is infected with political correctness. A five hour pregame show assures that there will be more hype than actual competition.
But, consider for a moment, maybe the Super Bowl is more important to us than we realize.
What are the national events that bring our country together? What are the unifying events that Americans share? I would suggest there are only two: Thanksgiving, most of us still gather with family for a feast of thanks, and the Super Bowl – a uniquely American event that centers around a sport that mostly only Americans like. I left Christmas off the list on purpose. While most of us give gifts, we are no longer of one mind on the Christmas holiday means.
The Super Bowl grew into its place in Americana. The first game wasn’t even called the Super Bowl. It was the NFL-AFL Championship Game. Tickets cost $8. It wasn’t even a sellout. Today it’s such an event that tickets aren’t even on sale to the public. To get in, you have to know someone or buy your seats on the secondary market.
In a day when most homes have three or more TVs, this may be the one event where everyone gathers together to watch. This morning we’re all talking about the game itself, the big plays, the halftime show, and the commercials. You might say all of that is superficial. Perhaps. But I would say this to you. If we have no common experiences, what makes us Americans? For that, the Super Bowl might be more important than we realize.
Chris Conley
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