So. You think the Super Bore Will Be "Over" by Tonite, Do Ya?

[Smarmie Doofus]

Think again.

A week... maybe two... of $$$ media post mortem of the actual "contest"; endless analyses of "best" commercials ( as if they weren't ALL vomitously manipulative, from conception to implementation.)

More hyped- up soap opera re. deflated balls, spousal abuse ( no I'm NOT minimizing the importance of that phenomenon; just it's artificial inclusion into the larger Super Bore narrative) apologies, explanations, qualifications , weirdly , creepily-staged "news conferences".

(There should be a special Academy Award category for these peculiar exercises alone.)

I used to like sports. I used to like football, actually. ( Anyone remember Bart Starr vs. Len Dawson, SB #1? I do.) And I remember being at least moderately interested thru the Joe Montana era. ( He was exciting to watch, I'll give ya that.)

But whatever they're selling now has NO relation to any of that.

So... what's going on here, REALLY? Is the idea that this idiotic cultural ritual will crowd out discussion of *real* stuff.... like income disparity, wars in various sectors of the empire, the burgeoning Nat'l (Technology) Security State?

Are these "football players" the historical equivalent of the Greco-Roman gods? Do they serve the same function for us that Apollo and the gang served for our ancient kin? Should I care? Should *anyone*?

I'm going out to eat at about 7 pm to celebrate my son's birthday. If I hear or see that damned "game" on during that meal I shall, I pledge to you, "run *amuck*."

Thank you Clifton Webb ( I think it's from "Laura&quot and thank you all and god bless our men and women in uniform and the united states of america.

(Cue the bombers.)

[HappyMe]

1. The super boring complaining will go on for a week.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. OP reminds me of the Puritans who stayed up all night worrying somebody had fun./NT

[HappyMe]

4. lol! Yeah.

Somebody somewhere had a good time!!1 Now, to find them and lecture them!!1

[Smarmie Doofus]

12. Hey, you lifted that from Mencken.

Alas.... he was usually right, esp about puritanism.

But he died way before the money changers dreamed up this .... this THING.

Even Mencken would be all over this.

But go ahead, go ahead.... have your "fun".

[ND-Dem]

36. +100. Watching the christians get thrown to the lions was fun, too.

[ileus]

2. RIP 2014 football season....we're waiting on July now.

Football camp will be the week after the 4th...that marks the "start" of this years season for us.

[oberliner]

5. The spousal abuse angle seems to have dissipated

Have heard little to nothing on this subject since the early part of the season.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

6. We could run the planet on the energy spent

on such passionate expressions of indifference.

[marions ghost]

7. I'm with you

Stupor Bowl Sufferers Anonymous.

It's sad that we have so few cultural bonding rituals --& that this one is so commercially manipulative. I have nothing against sports and certainly there is skill in football, but I don't like what I see in this phenomenon as a super-hyped, super profitable mass cultural conditioning device.
That's what's super about it. Way way way overblown.

The urge to root for a home team comes from early patterning, where sports are promoted to a ridiculous degree, instilling an aggressive "us vs them" attitude (works well when you want to sell wars). Children learn that these games mean everything. It has negative impact.

There's a thin line between this and Idiocracy. Welcome to Zombie Weekend.

[appalachiablue]

40. I get the insanity of mass following, the hero spectacle & hyper commerialization for profit.

It's faux warfare, combat a la Las Vegas. As to the us vs. them think, the longer I live and the more people I know, I realize that the competitive, put down, other is bad mentality exists in most places (except maybe highly religious or Utopian communities).

I've seen this in borders states where I've lived where guys denigrate the neighbor state/place, on any pretext; rural vs. urban attitude and visa versa; North Europeans who feel superiority over southern nations; and Asian north Indians who put down those from the south and Pakistan, and visa versa.

The mindset is universal, strongly associated with tribal dislike and distrust of possible enemies or competitors for resources. Much derives from our basic aggressive, animal nature. I find it's most prominent in men who may have to fight and women who are very territorial. I'm coming to accept it although I don't like it.

[marions ghost]

41. yes it's all too human

to otherize others, to see threat and competition where there isn't any --or where it doesn't need to be. But do we have to whip it up and do nothing to encourage the other side in this country? It profits many of those in power to keep us divided and pushing like pigs at a trough.

We who see it and dislike it are forced to put up with it. These days we live in a climate where there is a neurotic need to one-up everybody you come into contact with, where any sort of trust is a razor thin bond, where people use friendships to see what they can get out of it or how they can profit. We have lost the ability to pull together for the common good in so many places.

This can change. I don't think we have to give in to our basest instincts or accept that's the way things are. That's too passive for me.

Nothing against those who enjoy sports. But the degree to which the mega sports and their heroes have become the dominant distraction (pacifier?) for a frustrated populace is disturbing. In recent years I have to support the theory that this level of competition and black/white thinking stimulates aggression. The mega sports are not the only offender in this respect--but part of a big picture problem.

[appalachiablue]

44. Right, why do so many follow & worship a commercial spectacle that celebrates

Champions and spectators in antagonism and competition. Such pagentry and intensity, highly theatrical intent and very nationalistic. The events expansion in 30 years is huge, so is increased global economic inequality & brutal regional conflict. Definitely relates to the steady portrayal of warfare via satellite, actual or surrogate. We are missing more common, basic interests in this profoundly corporate age as you say. Sports has become global big business in my lifetime, promoted by media, govts. and international fans whether cricket in Jamaica, soccer in Pakistan or rugby in Europe. Viewing is effortless, a large part of some people's identity and provides fans with steady conversation and ample rewards from the herd. The hype and devotion certainly are curious but more harmful activities exist. Until the time when people find more imaginative and worthwhile pastimes, pass the nachos!

[Kingofalldems]

8. My take on the game:

https://twitter.com/History_MLB/status/561895835429269504

[NightWatcher]

9. Pitchers and Catchers start reporting to camp in 17 more days

Just in time.

[Kingofalldems]

10. Yep.

[FSogol]

20. Go Nats!

[John1956PA]

11. I, too, watched the first one when is was aired.

I began to lose interest after the 1970s Steelers' four championships over six seasons.

I am glad I was tuned in for the 2008 game when Eli Manning scrambled and connected with David Tyree who snagged the football between his hand and his helmet.

To each his own. I am not planning my day around this evening's "Big Game."

[Smarmie Doofus]

13. Actually that sounds interesting. Manning and Tyree.

Have to look for that on youtube.

The thing is: it becomes OBLIGATORY to suffer through the endless weeks of hype and all the fake, media-conflated drama, that one ( THIS one, anyway) just has to block it out completely at some point.

That's what I've been doing for 20 years. It's a coping mechanism.

[John1956PA]

15. I agree with you that the hype is nauseating. I scrupulously avoid it.

I am snowed in here in Western Pennsylvania. If I tune into the "Big Game" it will not be until sometime after it starts. If I do, it will be on in the background while I do some desk work or browse the Internet and post on my blog.

Also, I do not watch the commercials. If in the coming days there is buzz about a few commercials, I will view them on the Internet. I have already viewed the Danny Trejo Snickers commercial and the yanked GoDaddy puppy commercial.

[hfojvt]

14. when has the public discourse ever been about inequality?

and the commercials are sickeningly manipulative? There is zero chance that I am gonna buy a Budweiser in the next month, no matter how many times I watch the puppy video. There is not even a chance that I will buy a Snickers. More than zero maybe, but Danny Trejo doesn't really do it for me.

YMMV

One thing I noticed in the 1990s, is that the price of a case of pop always went up by a dollar or two after the Superbowl. It was almost like Pepsico needed to pay for their ads. (From Feb 1993 until March 1995, I worked at a factory and passed a gas station on the way home from working the night shift. So I was checking the pop prices there, at least, every day. And for two years I noticed a jump in January (not exactly a scientific test, but I cannot help but have my suspicions).

[WilliamPitt]

16. Yup...income inequality, the national security state...it's all football's fault.

I'm sorry the game passed you by 48 Super Bowls ago.

Me? I'm making queso and watching the shit out of this game. Tomorrow, I'll go back to work trying to solve income inequality and the problems of the national security state, because *gasp* I can actually walk and chew gum at the same time.

Go Pats.

[Smarmie Doofus]

18. You're so bitter.

What else is new?

Are you in pain?

I just decided: I'm rooting for the Pats also. You need a victory.

*Badly*, sounds like.

[WilliamPitt]

21. A victory would not suck.

But speaking of bitter, what drives me batty is people who deploy SPORTS IS JUST SO STUPID AND IGNORANT AND POVERTY AND WAR YOU GUYS talking points on the day of a big game. Some of us have devoted our lives to improving the country and the world as best we can, and some of us enjoy sports as a necessary diversion to keep from being emotionally eviscerated by the work. When these ZOMG PEOPLE WHO WATCH SPORTS ARE DISTRACTED DUPES posts show up - and they do, every time - it's personally insulting.

I'm not bitter. I'm annoyed at you. Deploy your coping skills, the way I do when I get called dumb for taking three hours away from working for the things you believe in to enjoy myself.

[trumad]

37. Now that was an ass whooping.

[WilliamPitt]

39. Only matched

by what is about to happen to the Seahawks.

Bloodbath impending.

[marions ghost]

42. I don't think sports are stupid at all

--I like to watch and participate in some of them. But ya gotta admit that mega sports have mega issues. That's all I'm saying. Today seems a time to say that, before it's over and forgotten.

Looks like the subject got your attention--why care about this? Most people are on your side. You don't need to stomp the (tiny) opposition. Denigrating the few on DU who dare to say anything negative is like eradicating the Seahawks...?! Overblown pre-game jitters...you'll get it back in perspective tomorrow.

I understand the pressure of doing what you do, Will. From many angles. But please don't take it so personally. Go watch the game and let DU air opinions, relentlessly as usual.

[lumberjack_jeff]

17. You can easily tell who's from California, Midwest and the south from these posts.

Go Hawks!

[cpwm17]

19. While you're saving homeless orphans this afternoon

Last edited Sun Feb 1, 2015, 07:55 PM - Edit history (1)

we lesser people are watching some football!:

[WilliamPitt]

22. What bar is that?

[cpwm17]

25. I just looked it up

Bokamper's Sports Bar and Grill in south Florida: http://www.bokampers.com/

The picture comes from here: http://www.naplesnews.com/entertainment/sports-bars-hot-spot-naples-fort-myers-bonita-fl

[WilliamPitt]

26. Heh

I figured it wasn't in Boston. I've left ass-prints on the barstools of every sports bar in town. Didn't recognize this one.

Thanks.

[Blue_In_AK]

23. We won't be watching,

but since it's obligatory for Alaskans to be Seahawks fans, I hope they win.

[ChosenUnWisely]

24. Football is easy to ignore including the fans

Don't watch football, that is easy

Don't go to places were football/sports is on tv ever, easy for me because if I go out I don't go to those type of places any way.

Don't associate with sports fans, all my friends don't care about football, hence we are friends.

Books have no commercial interruptions, great alternative anytime to TV.

If watching a game of millionaires playing millionaires for the amusement of the billionaires and the masses is enjoyable to people fine, let them have their fun. It is their life to live no matter how mind-numbing and pointless it is to me or you, it what they enjoy and as long as they don't hurt anyone who cares what they do.

Live your own life don't worry about what others think.

[Smarmie Doofus]

30. Easier said than done. Or as my grammatically correct...

mother would have corrected.... "more easily said than done." (Truth: I threatened to put that on her tombstone. She eased-up a little.)

Heading on out now for movie and BDAY party as planned. I don't get a veto.... much as I deserve it....over tv content/noise at bar/restaurant that I negotiated w. other attendees.

Amazing how easy it is to avoid all contagion of SUPER BOWL SUNDAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!! in the real world when some DUers can' t seem to pass over a single dissenting thread on the topic because the content ENRAGES them. ( Not YOU, BTW)

At any rate.... my threat to "run amuck" remains ON THE TABLE.

So don't push me.... Trattoria Spaghettini on Bleecker Street.

[ChosenUnWisely]

33. Some advice self medicate first, drink heavily and odds are there will be at least one

person who does not care either so you can bond with them or you will be so wasted you won't really give a shit what happens.

Always works for me.

[olddots]

27. Betty and I are going to a film festival today

The Art of Steven Segal at the Snooty Gallery .Now thats fucking entertainment !

[appalachiablue]

28. Sports teams are a source of identity for many people, along with providing entertainment and

athletic appreciation. And it gives people something to talk about, a local or national 'language' for conversing. What a convenient, effortless pastime that people have in common, look forward to and can share- rare these days. It's all ok if not excessive, obsessional or detrimental to people's lives.

[Atman]

32. "Athletice appreciation?" Are you serious?

Warriors in Spandex squeezing each other's asses for 17 minutes while the masters pay millions of dollars for a 30 second commercial to sell beer. Really? That's "athletic appreciation? That's ancient Rome. See where it got them?

[appalachiablue]

35. Didn't say it was the Olympics. Most players have high level college experience, are recruited,

spotted & trained by coaches & owners. If it's a complete sham, a pseudo game requiring no skill, only the ability to model costumes (twirl batons maybe?) & endorse products & that's why the public follows it so much, then you know something I don't & the owners are more devious and stupid than I thought.

[marions ghost]

43. I think mega sports can become

excessive, obsessional and even detrimental actually. (This has happened to someone in my family). But I agree we need bonding rituals. So I halfway agree with you. I just question some of the values being promoted in this most macho of annual rituals. I don't agree that it's all OK.

[roody]

29. About when the stupor bowl ends.

[Atman]

31. 17 minutes of game play, a week of hype.

Who gives a bloody fuck?

[zappaman]

34. Gonna make a nice pot of chili and enjoy the game!

You don't have to watch if you don't want to.
But I'll still give you a bowl of chili!

[trumad]

38. Big time ready

Homemade flatbread's, Pizza's and Sammy's Rebel IPA!