When we were younger and were into skiing, Super Bowl Sunday was great: the slopes would empty out early ... particularly if the Broncos were in it. I loved Super Bowl Sunday ... wide open runs. I guess I'm in the small minority. I don't think I've ever watched the game from beginning to end. it's too long. Too much inane "pageantry" and not enough football if you ask me. And then Matt, if you will recall there was a period of time when the games were just bad ... earning the moniker as the "Stupor Bowl". And then of course in the four hour extravaganza there is what ... maybe twelve minutes of actual football? Count me out. I'll take a peek ... here and there.
Never heard the Stupor designation, Bruce, but there were some really lopsided affairs that make it an apt moniker for that era. The Bears over the Patriots in SB 20 [46 straight points sandwiched between a N.E. field goal and concluding TD] is one prime example. We've had a run of some extraordinarily suspenseful ones that are pretty much the norm now....and certainly one ingredient in the game's growing popularity.
The irony is that the games "growing popularity" is playing out against a data linking it to CTE in later life. In California - that old bell weather state with the good as well as goofy ideas - there is a grass roots movement to ban youth (tackle) football.
You watch the Super Bowl like a person reads a book. Very focused, wanting to take it all in, including all the commentary. Hard to hear the commentary with a lot of yappin' all around you! 🙂
I must confess that I find watching sports alone on the depressing side. I think it is inherently a social activity. If you go to the right sports bar, it can be social AND about the game.
One odd experience I can remember watching at a sports bar was for game 1 of the 2016 World Series. What happened was more excusable because it was an Indians blowout, but I met a guy there, and got so wrapped up (in a good way) talking about WAR and such that I had little awareness of the second half of the game. I suppose I felt guilty, that I did not do the game justice, although our conversation was more meaningful and memorable. It was unavoidable that I had to sacrifice one or the other, because I am not a multi-tasker.
There is certainly something pleasing about truly big events like the moon landing and Nixon's resignation topping the charts for most watched. One would kind of think eyeballs on televisions would reflect mania, a la being glued to the screen to see Taylor Swift cheer, rather than actual importance. I am not alone at despairing for our democracy. Configure those statistics anyway you need to, Matt, to give me more moon landings near the top!
By the way, in my opinion, rooting and gambling are things people gravitate to, whether they think about it this way or not, so that they can have company in their sports consumption. Or at least so thet can have activity. Maybe I am on firmer ground (and I do not represent a cautionary tale, I stress; I merely twiddle my thumbs when watching alone, or in years gone by, would snack neeedlessly) if I say that watching alone makes you more likely to take up gambling to fill the void.
Thank you. I doubt I would come cross across any better as a podcast guest or host than I did as a substitute teacher. But you certainly find topics that intrigue me.
When we were younger and were into skiing, Super Bowl Sunday was great: the slopes would empty out early ... particularly if the Broncos were in it. I loved Super Bowl Sunday ... wide open runs. I guess I'm in the small minority. I don't think I've ever watched the game from beginning to end. it's too long. Too much inane "pageantry" and not enough football if you ask me. And then Matt, if you will recall there was a period of time when the games were just bad ... earning the moniker as the "Stupor Bowl". And then of course in the four hour extravaganza there is what ... maybe twelve minutes of actual football? Count me out. I'll take a peek ... here and there.
Never heard the Stupor designation, Bruce, but there were some really lopsided affairs that make it an apt moniker for that era. The Bears over the Patriots in SB 20 [46 straight points sandwiched between a N.E. field goal and concluding TD] is one prime example. We've had a run of some extraordinarily suspenseful ones that are pretty much the norm now....and certainly one ingredient in the game's growing popularity.
The irony is that the games "growing popularity" is playing out against a data linking it to CTE in later life. In California - that old bell weather state with the good as well as goofy ideas - there is a grass roots movement to ban youth (tackle) football.
You watch the Super Bowl like a person reads a book. Very focused, wanting to take it all in, including all the commentary. Hard to hear the commentary with a lot of yappin' all around you! 🙂
I must confess that I find watching sports alone on the depressing side. I think it is inherently a social activity. If you go to the right sports bar, it can be social AND about the game.
One odd experience I can remember watching at a sports bar was for game 1 of the 2016 World Series. What happened was more excusable because it was an Indians blowout, but I met a guy there, and got so wrapped up (in a good way) talking about WAR and such that I had little awareness of the second half of the game. I suppose I felt guilty, that I did not do the game justice, although our conversation was more meaningful and memorable. It was unavoidable that I had to sacrifice one or the other, because I am not a multi-tasker.
There is certainly something pleasing about truly big events like the moon landing and Nixon's resignation topping the charts for most watched. One would kind of think eyeballs on televisions would reflect mania, a la being glued to the screen to see Taylor Swift cheer, rather than actual importance. I am not alone at despairing for our democracy. Configure those statistics anyway you need to, Matt, to give me more moon landings near the top!
By the way, in my opinion, rooting and gambling are things people gravitate to, whether they think about it this way or not, so that they can have company in their sports consumption. Or at least so thet can have activity. Maybe I am on firmer ground (and I do not represent a cautionary tale, I stress; I merely twiddle my thumbs when watching alone, or in years gone by, would snack neeedlessly) if I say that watching alone makes you more likely to take up gambling to fill the void.
We really should do a podcast sometime, David! Great stuff.
Thank you. I doubt I would come cross across any better as a podcast guest or host than I did as a substitute teacher. But you certainly find topics that intrigue me.