The Best American Sports Championship

As you probably know, this Sunday isn't just any Sunday....it's Superbowl Sunday. This is a big deal. You don't have to care anything about football or sports to know that this is a big deal. You can tell it's a big deal because there are displays at Walmart reminding you to get your themed cups and napkins. There are glossy sales ads devoted entirely to must-have foods to eat while you watch the big game. In order to complete your game-watching experience, you've got to have ice-cold drinks, hot wings, cheese dip, and li'l smokies. Didn't you get the memo? What does any of this have to do with football? Nothing. And that's why the NFL has a better championships than any other American sport. They make people who don't even like football want to watch the Super Bowl. How have they managed this feat? Let's take a look at what the Super Bowl has going for it.

Super Bowl Parties
If you only get invited to one party all year long, it's probably on either New Years Eve or Super Bowl Sunday. You don't have to have a favorite team, you just have to like snack food and the company of your friends. Even if you don't have any friends, there is always someone to watch the game with. Whether it's at your church or a bar, somewhere there is a group of people who will cheer or boo along with you. You don't even have to understand the rules of the game. I guarantee someone at the party will be more than happy to explain the rules to you or persuade you what team is more deserving of the title. Why do people go to these parties? Most of them don't really care who wins, they simply want to be included in what has become an American tradition. These parties are now so common and well-attended that Super Bowl Sunday is the second highest food consumption day in the U.S., behind only Thanksgiving. The game itself has managed to become the most watched television broadcast of the year. Which leads me to....

Commercials
If you don't watch the Super Bowl for the game, at least watch it for the commercials. So many people do just that that companies are willing to pay $3 million for 30 seconds of our collective time. And with so much money on the line, companies don't put up some commercial that you've already seen 3 times during re-runs of House. They offer something brand new that will hold your attention and make you remember what it is you're supposed to buy. As a result, some of the funniest, most memorable commercials have debuted during the Super Bowl. If you can't think of one off the top of your head, let me give you a hint....WWAAAAZZZUUUPPP!

Halftime shows
Some of the biggest names in entertainment show up to perform at the halftime show of the Super Bowl. For a few years there, the show was like a who's who of current top 40, but it's gotten more conservative after the 2004 debacle. Still, getting the likes of Paul McCartney or the Rolling Stones to perform is no small feat. This year, we get to grove to the smooth beats of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The Boss may not be the draw he once was, but he'll still hold most of our attention longer than John Madden. And the NFL knows this. A general audience is only going to sit through a minute or two of game commentary before wandering off to get more cheese dip. So instead, the NFL and the network snag some big names, set off tons of fireworks, and try to keep you in your seat until it's time for the next million dollar moment.

It's Easy
Try explaining the BCS to a non-sports fan, and their eyes are going to glaze over in about 4 seconds. The beauty of the Super Bowl is that it doesn't require you to sit through a 7 game series or fill out a bracket of 64 teams you know nothing about. Sure, there are playoffs, but in the end, everything is riding on a single game on a set night. The Super Bowl is the one-night stand of sports championships. No commitment required. You won't even be faulted if you forget the team names a week later. Just go with whoever has the best looking jerseys and enjoy yourself.

So there you have it, the reasons I think more people watch the Super Bowl than the finale of American Idol or the Academy Awards. I realize that some people actually watch it for the game, but the point I'm trying to make is that football fans aren't the target audience of the Super Bowl broadcast. Football fans don't care about Bruce Springsteen, they care about things like the nickel package and whatever it is halfbacks do. The NFL knows that these people will tune in. The viewers they're really trying to get is the people who might be able to tell you that the Steelers are playing the Cardinals, but who might also have a hard time remembering whether these are the Cardinals from Arizona or St. Louis. So for all of you out there who don't care who wins, enjoy the game!