By Connor Small
Writer
We wait for it every year. The lights, the spectacle, the (usually) lame half-time show, the best-of-the-best commercials and, of course, the most hyped-up sporting event in America: the Super Bowl. What is it about the Super Bowl that is so attractive?
Last year, Super Bowl XLV had the highest TV rating of all time, with close to 170 million viewers tuning in for at least some of the game, most likely the commercials. These whopping numbers were a surprising bright spot for a football season filled with an array of new rule changes. It also marked the first time that the No. 6 seed, the Green Bay Packers, had reached the Super Bowl and we all know how that turned out.
This year’s contest, taking place in Indianapolis, pits the New York Giants against the New England Patriots, a rematch of Super Bowl XLII. As a Philadelphia native and diehard Eagles fan, I think I can speak for every Eagles fan when I say it tears me apart to root for either of these teams. Yet, I can’t help but admit that this will be a memorable Super Bowl. The two teams match up solidly and it should be a good game to watch, as both teams have high-flying pass attacks and sub-par pass defense, which should hopefully lead to a shootout.
Maybe the main reason why the Super Bowl has become so popular and such a vital event in American society is that it combines many of the elements of American culture. Ideas such as togetherness, competition, consumption, commercialism and pop culture are all prevalent during the event. Advertisements for every conceivable product are shown in creative and often humorous ways, and in fact, many Americans admit to only watching the Super Bowl for the commercials. In other words, there’s something for everyone.
Another crucial aspect of the Super Bowl, and probably my favorite non-football portion, is the half-time show. This year, the lineup looks promising with Nicki Minaj, Madonna and M.I.A. sharing the stage during half-time. Hopefully these three ladies will be better than last year’s entertainment consisting of Christina Aguilera, who forgot the lyrics to the national anthem, and the Black Eyed Peas, whose half-time performance left everybody scratching his or her head.
The Super Bowl has been, and will continue to be, a staple of American culture because of all the aspects of our culture that it combines. Everybody is kept entertained all the way through from the game, commercials and half-time show.
High powered offenses, hard-nosed defenses and the rematch of the century: one could not ask for a better Super Bowl. After a very memorable season that saw all varieties of ups and downs, this matchup seems to be an appropriate end. While some fans have been crushed, and many are on their way to a chance for a repeat title, I think, just as last year, that this Super Bowl will be a highly rated, highly talked about match and the best-commercial-of-the-night battle will be as competitive as ever.