Super Super Bowl

Original post:  Feb 2, 2015

What a whipsaw of emotions. I could not believe how many swings of fate there were in the game. To make matters more interesting, my seven year old had declared earlier in the week that he was rooting for the Seahawks. He even brought home an art project with a "football guy" in blue and green. All through the game, he kept up a steady stream of needling comments. When Seattle jumped ahead in the second half by ten points, it just added salt to the rapidly developing wounds. As the Patriots slowly fought back, he still remained confident. He was very sure that they would repeat their heroics at the end of the first half and score the winning touchdown. As they flew down the field and added a miraculous circus catch, he was certain of victory. To be honest, I completely expected it. Then the impossible happened and the Pats got an amazing interception by a rookie to pull out the win.

While the rest of the family started to celebrate the unbelievable finish, my wife noticed the sobbing heap in the corner. My little guy was inconsolable. It took a good 20 minutes before he was composed enough to get to bed.

As silly and inconsequential as sports seem, they still have an ability to tap into some of our deepest emotions. They can draw us in and find ways of making us care in so many ways--often even more than we would care to admit. For a little while, they can even help us feel more alive. Of course, tying your fate to the unpredictable nature of professional sports can also expose us to crushing defeats. Having survived both sides of the equation, I can speak from personal experience. Still, I'm glad my boys are becoming sports fans. Life itself has its share of ups and downs. As devastating as the losses can be, our ability to persist in the face of adversity can help guide us toward ultimate victory.

Once we had safely tucked the boys in bed and lights were out, my wife decided to call it a night. She went upstairs and then came down again fairly quickly. In the darkness, she had heard my older son (the Pats fan) climb into his brother's bed and console him. I could not have been prouder of him.

Obvious in retrospect

Original post:  Feb 2, 2014

This post is going live just before 6 PM on Super Bowl Sunday. By the end of the night, the game will be over and a champion will be crowned. When we look back, there will be any number of people who will claim that they knew the outcome of the game before it started. Or they might claim that if we just analyzed this fact beforehand we would have obviously known who would have won.

It's funny how all of these specific variables will become so obvious in retrospect since they are still hidden now.

As for me, I am secretly hoping for an exciting game featuring at least one play or outcome that we have never seen before. Maybe it could be the first overtime game. Whatever the case, I don't have much of a rooting interest, but I do love the conflict because I am a huge fan of sports.

Whether you like American football or not, I hope that you can appreciate all of the effort by the unsung cast of millions who help to make this secular holiday such a spectacular event. From the players and coaches to the front office personnel constructing the teams to the entertainers and fans, there are so many who have dedicated so much to take part. You might even include the hosts of all of the parties that are taking place as I type or the creative geniuses who attempt to get us to pay attention to the widgets they hawk in between the numerous breaks in the action. This game is more than just a game--it is a celebration of the brash culture that America stands for!

UPDATE 2/3/2014:  Well, I did get something that I had never seen before. The safety on the first play from scrimmage was something completely unexpected! We also should have known that the Seahawks would play suffocating defense and win, 43-8. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.