How the Super Bowl Unites Us All

It’s the biggest non-government holiday of the year. But even President Obama will celebrate it in some fashion and hold a press conference about it afterwards. Super Bowl Sunday. Chances are, you’ll hear about it at school, work, or church. On that Sunday night, people will go to churches and bars for the very same reason: to watch the Super Bowl.

Without exaggeration, the Super Bowl unites people from all walks of life for the very same purpose. Not all viewers are avid sports fans, and some don’t even watch sports at all. Countless Americans claim to only watch the game for the commercials, but by the end of the game are exasperated from constant cheering for the team they just fell in love with. Others are self-proclaimed sports gurus, listing off the names of impact players whom you won’t even see due to retirement or free agency. Then you have the armchair quarterbacks who will tell Peyton Manning and Drew Brees exactly what they should be doing despite having no experience of their own. A few are diehard fans that have waited entire lifetimes to see their team in the Super Bowl; others will be diehards because they made an impulsive bet. The rarest of all are the true sports experts, who know quite a bit about the game but just sit back and watch without making many comments.

Regardless of where you are when watching the Super Bowl, all of these people will be watching it with you. Maybe even in the same room.

Think about it. With the state of our nation in financial turmoil, political schism, and social depression, not to mention the treacherous condition of the American family, all it takes to unite us is a nationally televised and over-commercialized football game. A game that will haul in billions of dollars, cause Republicans and Democrats to root for the same team, give fans something to cheer about, and allow some families to finally spend quality time together.

In the end, the outcome only affects the players, the bettors, and the diehard fans. But it’s the four-hour experience – including the memorable commercials, breathtaking halftime show, and enduring friendships – that makes the Super Bowl increasingly valuable to modern life.