FRI 30 JAN 2004
America’s NO. 1 national holiday is here again
By Jake RobleeArgonaut Staff
America is fully and totally based on one single thing: pure, unadulterated, emotion-driven competition.
America is controlled by it, partially due to our great free-enterprise economy and also to the sports that inundate the small towns and big cities of this country.
There is, however, one day — one shining moment in time — that is the Mecca of all sports competition. That one glorious day is known as the Super Bowl. One game, 60 minutes of total brutality and heart, all passion and balls. This day will live in infamy in the hearts of the losers and be told as stories and tales of the winners until the end of their days. This one day in the sun for few is not only for them; it is America’s day. This day is an American holiday.
This year’s Super Bowl will be held Sunday, setting the New England Patriots against the Carolina Panthers. This is the 38th installment of the annual event that has shaped this country as one that takes this day as seriously as any other. But there is much more to the Super Bowl than the presentation of the Vince Lombardi trophy at the end of the game.
No other championship means as much as this one game. All other major professional sports, with the exception of college basketball, end their championship with a series, culminating the whole season into a seven-game showdown. In the Super Bowl the two teams have only one game, only one shot and only one chance at football immortality. There is no second chance, no redo and no next game. Only the next season can provide another shot, and for some that next shot never comes.
Not only that, but also this game means more to the athletes involved than almost anything. As for the winning team’s fans and followers, it means a full year of bragging rights. For the losers and their fans, it means a year of knowing you had a chance.
Another interesting fact about the Super Bowl is that in years past there have been more fans outside than inside. The American tradition of tailgating was invented at the football stadium, and there it is still king. Beer, brats and partying with 70,000 of your closest friends. What more can a true fan want from a game?
But the Super Bowl is bigger than tailgating and a great game; it is a time to bond with friends and family. I know many people who plan their Super Bowl party a full month in advance. Close friends and family members gather for a single night of cheers, jeers and tears — both good and bad.
With all the meaning and pageantry of the game, the Super Bowl possesses the one thing that no other sporting event has. One amazing and earth-shattering feature draws as much excitement as the game — the commercials. These short breaks from the game will entertain even the most intellectual person. They will cause excessive side pains and rolling fits; they will also bring tears to the eyes of 50 million Americans as they watch the game.
The Super Bowl is America’s day, and so it is truly an American holiday. Everyone wants to know who won and what happened, both in the game and at the party. People will be talking about the commercials for weeks and will desperately be trying to recreate that single night for a year until the next Super Bowl rolls around.
Saturday
UI men’s basketball vs. UC Irvine, Cowan Spectrum, 7 p.m.; UI women’s tennis vs. University of Utah, Boise, 1 p.m.; UI track at Cougar Indoor, Pullman; Intramurals: men’s and women’s 3-point shootout entry deadline; Outdoor Program: Silver Mountain day trip, departs 6:30 a.m.; telemark instructional clinic at Silver Mountain.
Tuesday
UI men’s basketball vs. Idaho State, Cowan Spectrum, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday
Intramurals: wallyball entry due.
Thursday
UI men’s basketball vs. UC Santa Barbara, Cowan Spectrum, 7:05 p.m.; Intramurals: singles table tennis entry due; Outdoor Program: snowboard instructional clinics class session, 7 p.m.
Note: Intramurals — Entries for team sports will open one week before entry deadline. For more information call Campus Recreation Office at 885-6381. Outdoor Program — For more information call office at 885-6810.
Sports calendar items must be submitted in writing or e-mailed to arg_sports@sub.uidaho.edu by Sunday or Wednesday before publication. Items must include a date, deadline or some other kind of time element.
UI Argonaut, 301 Student Union, Moscow, ID 83844
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