This Sunday, millions upon millions of human beings will gather around their television amidst piles of beer, cola and greasy food to celebrate the annual tradition that is the National Football League's Super Bowl.
In these modern days, nearly 40 years after the event's inaugural "touchdown," the Super Bowl seems to be losing its focus. It's turned from sport to Hollywood movie premier. Each year the tradition seems to get just a little more off-the-wall and a lot more expensive.
Ticket prices shoot sky high for the game and fans go to great lengths to find a seat at the respected venue each year.
This type of championship sacrifice, by the way, is a concept Indiana fans are not too familiar with.
The game still does (arguably) put the best of the best out on one field for one night of glory, but it also shows off the athletic world's dark side.
Glitz and glamour found all over, its the NFL's Oscar night and we've got the sportscaster after sportscaster analyzing the game like Joan Rivers' does dresses. Sure, there is a title on the line, but is John Madden's opinion really anymore valid than Howie Long's?
It's still just a game, is it not?
There are other low-lights of the event, too.
Midway through, the game slows down to bring us actual "Hollywood" events. Please welcome the musical interlude that is half-time.
Insert: Nipple.
Enough said.
Let us not forget the excessive marketing, though. The game has long been known for its often humorous and clever advertising spots that rake in millions of dollars for the network which airs them. In recent years, however, many advertisers have moved their "game" from the tube, to the field. As the Wall Street Journal reported last week, many companies are opting to give out free samples and involve game attendees in interactive displays. Other companies, in the wake of aforementioned nipple, have toned down their racy ads altogether.
Maybe there is hope for a more sport-centered game, after all.
The bottom line here is that the Super Bowl has gone from the world's largest sporting event to to world's largest display of marketing and glamor. Will the game ever make it back to its roots? No, and we're not suggesting nor saying that it can or will. It does make you wonder, though.
In actuality, the event has become a competition between marketing warriors and gridiron gladiators.
And in this game, it is up to us who wins.
Hike.
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