Orbanek: Out of Bounds
The Super Bowl: Overrated?
Steve Orbanek
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Sports
Last update: 2/3/10 at 10:37 PM EST
The Super Bowl is overrated. There, I said it.
Every year, so much hype and hoopla goes into this one single game, but is it even worth it? What makes "the big game" so great?
I understand that for fans of the Super Bowl's two teams, the game represents the pinnacle of the world of sports, but what about the fans of the 30 other NFL teams? They're forced to sit back and just wish that it was their team playing on that final NFL Sunday.
I cannot say that I won't watch the Super Bowl because I know I will be plopped right in front of the TV come this Sunday night. But I can say there are other sporting events that I would rather be watching.
Take March Madness, for instance. Sixty-five different college basketball teams duking it out in a battle to claim college basketball's ultimate prize. Along the way, countless upsets occur, and it is almost impossible to predict a definitive winner.
With the Super Bowl, though, there is almost always a heavy favorite. And in the last 10 years, we have seen only two upsets; the Patriots victory in 2002 and the Giants victory in 2008.
Also, how often does it seem as if the Super Bowl is about everything but the actual game itself? Advertisers throw millions of dollars into commercials that often seem to overshadow the game.
Let's also not forget about the halftime extravaganzas either. Super Bowl XXXVIII was one of the greatest football games in recent memory, but instead of being remembered for this, the game is remembered for an infamous "wardrobe malfunction" at the hands of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake.
The Super Bowl is supposed to be the biggest game of the year. What it really seems to be, though, is the biggest opportunity for advertisers to show off the latest fads of the new year.
Then again, maybe the Super Bowl is as great as it's made out to be, and maybe I'm wrong. Or maybe I'm just bitter. I am a Cleveland Browns fan after all.
Every year, so much hype and hoopla goes into this one single game, but is it even worth it? What makes "the big game" so great?
I understand that for fans of the Super Bowl's two teams, the game represents the pinnacle of the world of sports, but what about the fans of the 30 other NFL teams? They're forced to sit back and just wish that it was their team playing on that final NFL Sunday.
I cannot say that I won't watch the Super Bowl because I know I will be plopped right in front of the TV come this Sunday night. But I can say there are other sporting events that I would rather be watching.
Take March Madness, for instance. Sixty-five different college basketball teams duking it out in a battle to claim college basketball's ultimate prize. Along the way, countless upsets occur, and it is almost impossible to predict a definitive winner.
With the Super Bowl, though, there is almost always a heavy favorite. And in the last 10 years, we have seen only two upsets; the Patriots victory in 2002 and the Giants victory in 2008.
Also, how often does it seem as if the Super Bowl is about everything but the actual game itself? Advertisers throw millions of dollars into commercials that often seem to overshadow the game.
Let's also not forget about the halftime extravaganzas either. Super Bowl XXXVIII was one of the greatest football games in recent memory, but instead of being remembered for this, the game is remembered for an infamous "wardrobe malfunction" at the hands of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake.
The Super Bowl is supposed to be the biggest game of the year. What it really seems to be, though, is the biggest opportunity for advertisers to show off the latest fads of the new year.
Then again, maybe the Super Bowl is as great as it's made out to be, and maybe I'm wrong. Or maybe I'm just bitter. I am a Cleveland Browns fan after all.
Be the first to comment on this story
By posting an article comment, you agree to the Terms of Use policy.