Let the Conspicuous Consumption Begin - Part II
The day is here. Super Bowl XLII. A day where people across America are reminded that the sky is the limit in terms of their consumption habits. A day where people across America forget about the matchup, history and well, the game of football in the midst of excess. This year, it seemed, would be different. The matchup mattered (Could the Giants pass rush apply enough pressure on Tom Brady?), history was a focus (Celtics or Patriots?) and Eli Manning was portrayed, justifiably so, as nothing short of God (What other quarterback has ever won three playoff games on the road, one of which in sub-zero weather?).
We were so close to caring about this game. Four days of the weeklong coverage focused on the Giants pass rush and secondary as well as Brady’s “probable” status. Three days, however, focused on Spygate, the ever-so-timely tale of Bill Belichick’s possible involvement in a videotaping scandal. Again, we were so close … Again, our media attempts to prove the unprovable in lieu of one of the greatest Super Bowl games of all-time.
If you think about it from a grassroots perspective, it is odd that football is the chosen sport — or religion — in houses across America on this very day. Baseball is America’s game (Please don’t tell me it’s too boring), but the World Series doesn’t get nearly the attention. Soccer’s World Cup is thrilling, many would say (Excuse me, this is America.) Basketball can be slow (Who wants to watch the playoffs for four-straight months, anyway?). Hockey? I don’t even know — it just doesn’t fit.
So we are left with football, a game that should seem barbaric but is entertaining and captivating. A game that is played by 300-pound men. A game that more resembles war than sport. Maybe that’s why American’s tune in in excessive numbers.
Barbaric or not, here’s my prediction for Glendale’s Super Bowl XVII.
New England 27
New York Giants 17
Tags: Bill Belichick, Eli Manning, Super Bowl, Tom Brady