Super Bowl 2012

After watching Lee Evans fumble the football in the Ravens end zone and Billy Cundiff missing, a what should have been an easy field goal, I wanted to protest watching the Super Bowl at all this year. But, just like every other year I was sucked into the appeal of glueing myself to the couch with the rest of America to watch the 2012 Superbowl.
What is the appeal? Why do we find so much joy in this sporting event? The Superbowl is one of the most watched televised sporting events of the year. Even if it isn't your home team playing, you will find yourself with some of your closest friends and family watching this game.
Is it because we want to be able to talk about it with your friends the next day and understand what they are talking about, when they talk about Brady's safety?
Or is it the halftime show? Watching an 80's idol attempt to be 20 years old again.
Or is it the commercials? Those advertisements that companies spend millions of dollars to air during that single game.
I don't know what your reasons are for tuning into the game Sunday night, but my reason was pure love of the game.  Sure, I do not know every ruling of the NFL, nor do I understand what is happening sometimes, all I know is that the act of watching football has become an addiction of sorts to me. Every sunday, you will find me with my Boldin jersey on, glued to the televison. If there isn't a Ravens game on, I am glued to the broncos game, watching Tim Tebow. My Dad has been an avid sports fan my entire life. And from a young age, I have been glued to watching sports, watching ESPN every morning before I went to school.
My friends often make fun of me because I am "interesting to watch a football game with." They claim I glue myself to my seat and am completely un-responsive to everything around me, during this time. I have at times even found myself yelling at the television, as if the players and coaching staff can hear me.
So for someone who simply, loves watching the game, my verdict on Sunday's Superbowl was boring and mediocre.
It could be my biased, due to the fact that my beloved Ravens were robbed of their chance of being in the game. The game was tight, when the Patriots, would advance, Eli and the giants were not far behind to close the gap. The last two minutes of the game were the most exciting, just when you thought Brady had lost his touch, they closed the gap. But, then with an "accidental" touchdown by the Giants, Brady and the Patriots are given one more chance, but time was their enemy as they watch the clock run out and the Giants take the title.
I think the appeal of the Superbowl is that it has something for everyone to enjoy. If you don't care about the game and it's players, theres alway halftime to entertain. This year Madonna took the stage. Which to say the least was, interesting. If not for Madonna, a middle-aged woman trying to act like a 20-year-old again, there was singer/rapper MIA giving America the finger.
And then theres the commercials.  Usually, we change the channel during a commercial but not during the Superbowl. These commercials are suppose to be the best of the best. And just like most other things that we tend to escalate in our minds, are usually disappointments. This year was filled with disappointments (in an advertisement perspective that is.) What stands out most? David Beckman, sporting his underwear line or a baby stealing Doritos from his older brother?
Whatever it is that draws you to watch the Superbowl, you and the rest of America are tired and little bit fatter after viewing sundays game. And for Giants fan, there a lot of pride in their home team and theres a lot of Patriots fan who missed work Monday morning. When you truly think about, it a weird concept, how we can become so consumed by a football game. We spend endless amounts of money and time on something we build up in our minds, simply to leave disappointed. Much like a first kiss or first job or the Bahamas. The Superbowl is another phenomenon in today's changing society that is perfectly imperfect.