A brief Exposition
Ah the Super Bowl. That one day a year where Americans and fans of American Football gather around the television screen to watch elite athletes compete for one of the most coveted titles in sport, at least as far as those of us in the United States are concerned. Where once baseball was (and for many is) “America’s Past time,” Football became the dominant ritual for sport. We can simply state one reason as basic economic calculation. After all, the NFL regular season is only 18 weeks with your favorite team playing 17 games. Compared to the MLB which lasts 6 months and 162 games per team it’s an easier commitment to make. The second reason we can assert is technological. Before wide adoption of television and the advent of high definition television, the pace of baseball was more attenuated to a radio broadcast or small screens in the corner of a bar. Moreover, the structure of a football game makes it easier to take the all important commercial break to “pay the bills.”
Losing Faith in the NFL
Having now completed its 58th season, the NFL still remains popular, in fact compared to 2023, reports indicate that viewership was up not down. Despite this the NFL has not been without controversy or concern for the average American. As an emergent popular phenomenon with billions of dollars at stake, other institutions sought to capture the attention and the hearts of the dedicated fans. One element found across major sporting events is the singing of the National Anthem and other Patriotic displays. To the unsuspecting patron these appear to be innocent displays of patriotism which is closely linked to sport historically. However, in the 21st century and the dawn of the terror wars the US Department of Defense doubled down on these efforts. They paid professional teams to keep these practices and highlight them. This was purposefully done as a recruitment effort to encourage Americans to enlist and fight in foreign wars. We can also recall the story of Patrick Tillman, a quarterback making millions of dollars a year who honorably gave up this life to serve in the Army. When his death was reported it struck at the heart of a nation who still believed we could “bring democracy” to the Middle East. However, important details were purposefully covered up, as the late Justin Raimondo wrote.
“First they told us Tillman was killed by hostile fire fighting for Bush’s crusade to export "democracy" to Afghanistan. Then they said he was felled by "friendly fire," i.e., by his own troops. These new revelations suggest – although they don’t conclusively prove – that this fire may not have been all that friendly.
What I want to know is this: how could someone who was apparently killed from 10 yards away – and was hit by three bullets in very close proximity on the forehead – be a victim of "friendly fire" from 90 yards away, as claimed?”
We should also mention the growing science around CTE or Chronic traumatic encephalopathy which the NFL tried to downplay which have caused many parents to reconsider whether they want young children as young as 8 or their teenagers to play full contact football. Given the millions of dollars a player stands to receive in compensation brain injury may be an acceptable trade off for the elite, but it is likely the sport will see a decline in participation at the lower levels because of the risk to the average athlete.
Finally, we have to factor in the growing politicization of the country and it’s affect on professional sports like football. It was a now-former NFL player Colin Kaepernick who (in)famously started a trend to “take a knee” during the National Anthem instead of standing which sparked major controversy across all professional sports. In the wake of riots and protests over the death of George Floyd, many other athletes followed this trend, and the NFL has adopted slogans such as “ending racism” which may seem a laudable goal to the unassuming, but to the practiced observer it’s an obvious political slogan setting up an impossible mission that divides people instead of bringing them together.
All of these factors has led many former adherents to the culture surrounding professional football and the NFL to question their adherents. For some the politicization has soured what was an enjoyable experience. Whether it be the brain dead commitment to left wing causes (and castigation of right wing concerns), or the parroting of government talking points forcing people to accept untested “vaccines” during the pandemic - many have left the cause.
Taylor Swift
For those who remain, the most recent wellspring of controversy has been the featuring of pop sensation Taylor Swift at Kansas City Chiefs games. Swift is dating Travis Kelce, who is reportedly one of the best tight ends currently playing, and the Chiefs are one of the best teams in leagues having just one back to back championships. There is more to say about the power Taylor Swift holds in the minds of Americans at the moment, but for many NFL fans she has become an easy target for hate and derision. For their wives and girlfriends however, the effect is the opposite. It is true that when the Chiefs are playing the camera often pans to her box, and the media commentary around the subject of Swift and Kelce’s relationship seems endless. What many people desperately want to prove either way is whether the relationship is genuine or a carefully crafted plot
RIGGED
Which brings us to another element of consideration. As more Americans become aware of the concerted propagandistic efforts pointed in their direction designed to capture their minds, many have come to question the validity of the sport as an authentic competition. Questionable calls by a referee have always been a part of sports commentary, but now with an added layer of conspiracy. There is an honest question at the core, are these really the best teams competing? Or the best teams for television ratings? Many have wondered whether the NFL is more akin to the kayfabe of the WWE than the pickup games we played as children.
Conclusion - I get it
I write the above paragraphs as someone who has never understood the fervor around professional football or professional sports in general. While I enjoyed being a part of the crowd cheering on my classmates at games, that never transferred to an emotional attachment to the professional or even the collegiate level. My interests were in the arts and later philosophy and economics. I write this to say if you’re reading this as a disaffected fan of the NFL - I get it.
I don’t watch the regular season unless I happen to be somewhere other than my home on a Sunday. As such, I don’t have an emotional attachment to the league or the sport. From this position I find the ire of some to be puzzling; more akin to a spurned lover than an honest criticism. That being said, I still enjoy gathering with people to watch the Super Bowl. Given our often atomized existence in present day America I think it’s a day to spend eating good food and maybe seeing people you don’t often have the time to see.
Do I cringe at the woke advertisements? Sure
Could it be that it’s all a grand conspiracy? Perhaps
I think the subtlety of surviving these times is not in reactive anger - that feeds the beast. If indeed it is that the NFL is no different than the WWE we know that people will still watch it in the millions. Most people just want to enjoy the show. Instead of rage quitting, playing the game with the full understanding that it is a game will give you the upper hand. That’s how we win.