Superbowl Football Wars?

The Big Game

So, the 2025 Super Bowl happened in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 9. On a national stage, much of the country watched. Nielsen estimates 127.7M households viewing, with a peak of 137.7M during the 2nd quarter, up 3.2% over 2024. But from a local perspective, as the city just started into Mardi Gras (begins Jan. 6, Epiphany or 12th Night/Day of Christmas in the Christian calendar), it was a one-off sideline/distraction before getting on with the main event/season, which continues till Fat Tuesday on March 4.

Big Game Blow Out/Disappointment

The Kansas City Chiefs had won the last two Super Bowls. And leading up to this one, there was buzz of a possible “three-peat.” That experience would triumph over youth and talent. That if the Chiefs took three in a row, they could become an unbeatable dynasty, led by one of the best QBs ever. But nothing’s a sure thing and action on the field can shift the narrative in moments. So, this game got away from the former champs, with the Philadelphia Eagles winning 40 to 22, in what’s been described as a blowout, not much of a game. And, how the mighty have fallen, the ex-heroes suddenly morphing into losers. Philadelphia’s underestimated QB was quickly reevaluated. And should some of the old guys think about retiring, like say Taylor Swift’s boyfriend?

Shadow of Violence

Everything happens in context. And this game took place in the shadow, a little over a month earlier, of the New Year’s Eve French-Quarter terrorist (lone wolf, but with an Isis flag) ramming that killed 14 and injured dozens. The perpetrator shot, but did not kill, a couple cops and was shot and killed himself. Backstory of how this could have happened: bollards to limit road access to Bourbon Street had apparently been removed but not yet replaced. The NO Department of Public Works website slated completion of a project to install new stainless-steel bollards for Feb. 2025. But that seems to have been optimistic: Years of warnings preceded Bourbon Street attack as bollard repairs lagged. (Rona Tarrant. CBS News. Jan. 6, 2025). The “city that care forgot” is not always timely in taking care of business. After-the-fact security measures likely focused on allaying the undertow of worry the city’s reputation/perception for violence could kill tourism and convention businesses that are its only remaining “industries.” When I travel, folks are intrigued when I mention living near New Orleans—the exotic, raffish, charm, the music, the food. But US News and World Report ranks the city #6 of most dangerous cities in the country. And then there’s the heat, humidity, severe weather. So, always and ever the city’s on the edge of falling off the itinerary.

Watching and Not

Have to say I was not among those watching. Viewing sporting events not my idea of fun, after spending a good part of my young life at baseball games. My dad was on the where-the-sausage-gets-made end, teaching young players basic skills and fixing struggling teams, so he probably lost more than he won. At least it felt that way. The hard work did eventually payoff: his Baltimore Orioles won the World Series in four straight games the year he died (1966). But I emerged with limited optimism for whatever team I might consider supporting. With this Super Bowl, I rooted for the city to make it through without another major violent incident. Fortunately, the tight security did seem to work, nothing big occurred except for the president being in attendance for the first Super Bowl ever. No throwing out the first pitch, as in baseball, which he probably would have liked. But he had photo ops, posing with surviving ramming victims and first responders. Were they gifted comp tickets?

Spirit of the Age

Recognize large events like the Super Bowl as public pageants, enacting/reflecting/mirroring currents coursing through the culture and the spirit of the age. Symbolism looms even larger in chaotic, confusing, confused, contradictory, confounding times like these, when multiple themes and voices crisscross and intertwine. Consider racism or not: some 53% of NFL players identify as Black or African American. But the NFL, perhaps responding to DEI bashing, decided to remove “End Racism” slogans from the end zones (Louisa Thomas. The End of “End Racism” In the End Zone. New Yorker. Feb. 9, 2025). However, the league also seemed conflicted, hosting probably the blackest half-time show ever. Does this suggest Kendrick Lamar was contracted to perform before the election? Whatever, black commentators shared thoughts. “I was there live, watching Kendrick give the world a masterclass in revolutionary music and imagery.” (Karlton Jamal. Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show Was Filled With Political Symbolism While Trump Watched On — Here Is Everything I Noticed Live From The Super Bowl. BuzzFeed). And “During Black History Month, with Donald Trump of all people in the audience, Lamar called out the streak of anti-Blackness that pervades this country’s past and present.” (Nadira Goffe. Kendrick’s Super Bowl Performance Pulled Off a Double Whammy. Slate. Feb. 10, 2025), with a “color-coordinated formation of an American flag.”

American History

And then, there was performance of the Black National Anthem. Recent practice has been to have it follow the Star-Spangled Banner. And frankly, James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is a much more melodic tune. (Ledisi stuns Super Bowl, with Black National Anthem. NY Post Video. Feb. 9, 2025). The singer was backed by 125 NO high school students, representing the song’s 125th anniversary and, we can hope, the future. But what might have been heartwarming stirred MAGA controversy. Some called the performance “divisive,” even threatening to boycott future Super Bowls. AI summary: “Some people view its designation as a separate anthem for Black Americans as divisive, implying a separation from the national identity, while others see it as a powerful expression of Black pride and a recognition of the unique struggles faced by African Americans in the United States.” Underlying message? Black entertainment is an old trope: take the money, entertain us and shut up. But black players and entertainers seem to have moved past that and out into worlds of their own making and vision.

America’s Game?

Over the years, while I’ve watched and not, baseball has been supplanted, and football has become “America’s game.” Baseball’s old nickname “America’s pastime” reflected deep rural, pastoral, roots, focus on individual skills, a slower pace. Football’s speedy aggression and warlike language, direct physical contact, emphasis on team rather than individual performance now seem a better fit for current national character. “There is no ‘I’ in team!” Other themes: Philadelphia fans are known for “football hooligan” behavior. Rioting, setting fires, fighting broke out in their home city during the game. So, we see sore winners as well as sore losers. Is this yet another expression of national jettisoning of any attempt at civility in interacting with each other? “President Trump…suggested [Taylor Swift, there to see her Chief’s fiancé play] was booed by his supporters.” Or was she? Philadelphia fans have even been known to boo Santa Claus. Trump later said, on his Truth Social site that, “The only one that had a tougher night than the Kansas City Chiefs was Taylor Swift. She got BOOED out of the Stadium. MAGA is very unforgiving!” (Taylor Swift booed at Super Bowl by heavily pro-Eagles crowd as she watches Chiefs. CBS News. Feb. 10,2025).

Athletes and Their Bodies

As with many big “shows,” there’s a lot of drama both on and off the field. Consider the players, who make it happen for everybody else. Male fans often played football in high school, know the rules, and may engage in wishful thinking that if they had just been a little quicker and luckier. This can lead to gladiator, “leave it all on the field,” expectations, with actual players viewed as making a lot of money and having the dream job. So, just shut up and play. The average NFL salary of $2.5M a year is skewed by big bucks going to high-ticket players. In fact, the real average works out to about $860K a year overall, with the average career, depending on position, about 2½ years. And these guys literally carry the whole enterprise on their backs, often at heavy physical costs. The NFL dragged its feet in acknowledging the concussion (CTE) scandal, which an estimated 90% of players suffer to some degree. We hear stories of former players who have descended into dementia, domestic violence, homelessness. So far, diagnosis can only occur with post-mortem study of the brain and players have donated theirs to help those coming up behind. Meanwhile, the NFL settlement with players remains problematic and flawed. “The ‘landmark’ deal promised payouts for suffering players. But strict guidelines, aggressive reviews and a languishing doctors network have led to denials.” (Will Hobson. The Broken Promises of the NFL Concussion Settlement. Washington Post. Jan. 31, 2024). So, there’s also a “What have you done for me lately?” effect. Here today but then forgotten.

High-End Amateur Hour?

Salary differentials reflect the class system among players. Big talent stars are not just paid much more. Individual name recognition opens the door to vastly more options after retirement. Case in point: Fox has paid Tom Brady, perhaps the greatest QB ever, $37.5M for a ten-year contract to do color commentary. The assumption seems to have been that he’d just automatically know how. But in real life, his rookie performances on regular season games turned out to be wooden and awkward. Less high-profile former QB Michael Vick acknowledged the steep learning curve, saying it took him 2 years to start to feel comfortable on camera. But the network went ahead and assigned Brady to call the big game anyway. No way they could send the GOAT to the “minor leagues” for seasoning. Criticisms abound (Mark Sielski. Column Tom Brady is on the verge of ruining another Superbowl. A no-show on Thursday. Here hoping he doesn’t ruin the Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl. Philadelphia Enquirer. Feb.7, 2025; Andrew Katz. Why is Tom Brady calling the Super Bowl? Explaining Fox’s big-money hire, Greg Olsen demotion. The Sporting News. Feb.8, 2025). Humiliating for Brady, but he comes out with the comfort of his big payday and can fade away to activities like part ownership of another NFL team.

Shadow/Specter of Sports Gambling

And over it all looms another shadow, the specter, of increasingly big-business sports betting. (Ben Fawkes. Sportsbooks win big on Super Bowl 59: ‘One of the best single-game results in company history’. NYT. Feb. 10, 2025). There’s history here too: most spectacularly in baseball’s Black Sox scandal, when gamblers bribed most if the Chicago White Sox team to throw the 1919 World Series. A little over 100 years ago, popular sentiment, when it all came out, was that fans should be able to trust in the integrity of outcomes, that they weren’t being cheating. But these days, gambling seems to have become embedded in the social fabric, while we look away from potential for corruption and addiction (WGBH Scratch and Win podcast). And folks don’t just bet on the big game; they can also bet on point spreads and individual player performances. We hear reports of college and professional players leaned on, threatened (sometimes including their families), even receiving Venmo requests to repay “lost” bets. (James L. Edwards III. The dark side of sports betting and its impact on NBA players: Death threats, racism and Venmo requests. The Athletic. Feb. 11, 2025). And we hear too of college graduates emerging with gambling debts on top of student debt. Does this too reflect the spirit of the age? I remember the words of the disillusioned boy to Shoeless Joe Jackson, one of Black Sox players banned for life: “Say it ain’t so, Joe.” Sadly, these days the boy might demand a refund.