Look, I’m Gonna Say It
I don’t get it. I honestly don’t. Why does the Super Bowl still have this weird grip on America? I mean, it’s just a football game, right? But no, it’s this big, bloated spectacle that everyone loses their minds over. I’ve been in this business for 22 years, and I still don’t get it.
I was at a conference in Austin last March, and this guy—let’s call him Marcus—was going on and on about how the Super Bowl is the pinnacle of American culture. I asked him, “Marcus, it’s just a game. People eat too much, drink too much, and then argue about commercials. What’s the big deal?” He looked at me like I’d just told him Santa Claus isn’t real. “It’s about the experience,” he said. Which… yeah. Fair enough. But is it really that deep?
My Problem with the Super Bowl
Okay, so full disclosure: I’m not a huge football fan. I mean, I like it, but I’m not one of those people who plans their entire Sunday around the game. But even if I were, the Super Bowl just feels… I don’t know, too much. The halftime show? The commercials? The ridiculous prices for everything? It’s like they took a regular football game and injected it with steroids until it became this unrecognizable beast.
And don’t even get me started on the ads. Every year, it’s the same thing. Brands drop millions on these 30-second spots, and everyone loses their minds over them. “Oh, that’s so creative!” “Wow, that’s so emotional!” Look, I get it, advertising is important, but it’s still just a commercial. It’s not a piece of art. It’s not a life-changing moment. It’s a commercial.
I had lunch with a colleague named Dave a few weeks ago, and he was telling me about how he spent $87 on a single pizza for Super Bowl Sunday. $87! For pizza! I told him, “Dave, that’s insane. You could feed a small village in some places with that kind of money.” He just laughed and said, “That’s the price you pay for the experience.” I mean, sure, but is it really worth it?
The Super Bowl as a Cultural Phenomenon
Now, I’m not saying the Super Bowl is completely without merit. It’s a cultural phenomenon, and cultural phenomena are worth talking about. But I think we’ve lost sight of what it’s actually about. It’s about the game. It’s about the players. It’s about the sport. But somewhere along the way, we’ve turned it into this big, flashy event that’s more about the spectacle than the actual football.
And honestly, I think that’s a shame. Because football is a great sport. It’s physical, it’s strategic, it’s exciting. But when you wrap it up in all this extra stuff, it’s easy to lose sight of what makes it great in the first place.
I remember watching the Super Bowl back in 2008, when the Giants beat the Patriots. It was an amazing game. But what I remember most isn’t the game itself, it’s the commercials. And that’s the problem. We’re so focused on the extras that we forget to enjoy the main event.
What’s the Alternative?
So what’s the solution? I’m not sure. Maybe we just need to scale it back a bit. Maybe we need to remember that it’s just a game. Maybe we need to focus less on the halftime show and more on the actual football.
I’m not saying we should abolish the Super Bowl or anything drastic like that. But I do think we need to take a step back and remember what it’s really about. It’s about the game. It’s about the players. It’s about the sport. Not the commercials, not the halftime show, not the ridiculous prices for everything.
And if you’re looking for some practical advice, here it is: don’t get too caught up in the hype. Enjoy the game, but don’t let it consume you. And for the love of all that is holy, don’t spend $87 on pizza. There are better ways to spend your money, trust me.
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Anyway, that’s my take on the Super Bowl. It’s just a game, people. Let’s not make it more than it is.
Tangent: The Time I Went to a Super Bowl Party
Speaking of the Super Bowl, I once went to a Super Bowl party back in 2015. It was at this guy’s house—let’s call him Greg—who had turned his living room into a full-on sports bar. There were TVs everywhere, there was a buffet table with enough food to feed an army, and there was a keg of beer in the corner. It was insane.
But here’s the thing: no one was actually watching the game. Everyone was too busy talking, eating, drinking, and arguing about the commercials. It was like the game was just background noise. And that’s when it hit me: the Super Bowl isn’t about the football. It’s about the party. It’s about the experience. It’s about the spectacle.
And honestly, that’s kinda sad. Because the game itself is amazing. But we’ve turned it into something else entirely. And I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
About the Author
I’m Emma Stone, a senior magazine editor with 22 years of experience in the sports journalism world. I’ve written for major publications, covered countless games, and interviewed more athletes than I can count. I’m passionate, opinionated, and not afraid to speak my mind. I live in New York City with my dog, a rescue mutt named Buster, and I spend my free time hiking, reading, and complaining about the state of modern sports coverage.
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