ABOVE AND BEYOND SUPER BOWL XLV

                       Sy Schechtman

 

   As of now,with almost two weeks still to go as of this writing,-- before that momentous TV event—Superbowl 45---commences, the very good news,at least for Fox News stockholders,isthat all available commercial time during the game has been sold for an estimated $2.8 million to $3 million for each thirty seconds.A few years ago this almostevanescent but then standard time slot presentation went for about $256,000 per 30 second availability.  Butthe lessening grip of the recession is probablyhaving its very welcome financial effect.  Also entering into the crucial economic equation is the make upof the contestants.  If the New York Jets makeit past the Pittsburgh Steelers it will greatly enhance the public interest.  The whole eastern seaboard fan base will then be involved.   Thebest fan base, of course,would have been San Francisco (the Forty Niners) against New York (the  Jets),   a coast to coast fan “entrapment”!    Since that happy eventualitywill not be forthcoming ---all the west coast teams   have been eliminated--the next best lucrative outcome should stillemanatefrom the increase in another distinct and disparate group of fans.  The kind and gentle feminine sex!

       Yes,in this era of genuine “smash mouth” football, where we are beginning to wonder about the long term health of our noble and mostly very courageous football heroes,in this obvious concussion creating activity women are now an important, if still peripheral aspect.  That is,in theestimated over 100 hundred million or more who will be sporadically tuned into the over four hour broadcast, an estimated 20 or more percent will be women;  watching not so intently the play by play nitty gritty action on the gridiron but the very numerous commercials, many brand new for the vast super bowl  Sunday audience, hitherto all beer swilling and mostly unfettered masculine hedonisimbut now ofa more amorphous questionable sort.   And most probably tryingfor some sort of same sex parity in this once unquestioning bastion ofmale dominance and superiority.   With supposedly knowledgeable female commentators on the game’s progress as well as on more general alluring products that both sexes and their children would enjoy.  

       That this is a world wide TV saturation for one day both my wife and I personally can attest to.In one of the last four years ---2007--- on a Holland American cruise ship in the Caribbean on Super Bowl Sunday,we watched the Giants on ship wide TV beat the New England Patriots while we were half way through the Panama canal!ArdentGiant fan that I am,needless to say,this almost miraculous event capped what has indeed a very memorable cruiseand great season for my Giants.Since then the outlookfor them has been frustratingly dour but unfortunatelyI do pray for some serendipitous event again that will rekindle that seemingly impossible time.. In the classic joke we have, the poor but rabid fan is praying to God for help, and the heavenlyresponse was imperiously peremptory ---“Schmuck!!.First you have to buy the cruise tickets!”   But I too, can be rather stubborn at times.   And the recession/depression has left the Lord, God, Creator in the rather unenviable position of providing now even the rather hard to come by essential cash for this marvelous fantasy to occur…..But perfervid hope does spring eternal!    The still small voice within still murmers stubbornly….remember the Sea of Reeds parting just in time for the Jews and then swallowing up the pursuing Egyptians….But….but then Tom Coughlin’s agonizied TV faceis still no holy Moses…..etc.etc.  Maybe a new coach would be the best way….etc. etc….

       The hard reality at the moment is that over 25 countries will be televising this latest football epic and at least providing much needed solace or even splendor for the winning devotees!(And it is now several sessions into this article and I now know what two teams are left for this championship
Super Bowl extravaganza!)So, dear reader,be comfortedwith the sure security that wherever you may be that landmark Superbowl evening---the game starts at 6:15 on Sunday Feb. 6^{th ----}almost wherever you may be on civilized Planet Earthyou will be absolutely currentwith the unfolding struggle. And the contestants the Green Bay Packers and PittsburghSteelers.

       But somewhat beyond the present very pleasant positive --which also includes rather large salaries and signing bonuses for all, even including neophyte rookies who start at close to one million dollars,there are long term doubts.   Consider, however,that the average career is a little more than three and a half seasons, and the question of long term injuries,starting with present probablebrain concussions and lingering long term arthritic events is being finally addressed.Various congressional committees have even held hearings on football injuries; no random thousand sample retired football playerstudy has yet to be taken and there is growing public concern about possible long term effects of effective currently approved and effective “smash mouth” tackling and blocking.I certainly enjoy watching onhigh definition television the total battle of contestingteams offensive and defensive struggles and the teamwork, strategy, and sheer heroism of the quarterback,standing coolly behind his few blocking protectors---in the so called “pocket”---with less then ten seconds to discern the most eligible receiver downfield and estimatewhere,two three to three seconds later, his throw should arrive.  Andthen after absorbing a resounding thwackacross his body by the defending pass rusher--- still risingup eagerly from the blow of the malevolent(?)tackler to see the result of his eager, intrepid behavior ----maybe, perhaps,a touchdown pass completion!  Or even better,----- that,long almost one hundred yard kick-off return, the runner threading artfully, and with almost balletic gracepast many frustratedmissing tacklers,and in the last few goal line crossing yards waving the ball in one hand triumphantly held high!

       Simply marvelous in sheltered living room easewith expert replay analysis at hand to bolster even more the armchair comfort of the distant live spectacle.But even more is the secure knowledge that no onenear or dear---no kin or progenyis on the field of action,the fabulous football gridiron.Still much better a dentist, lawyer, doctor, accountant, computer specialist or even in the front office of a sports enterprise. and the eternal vicarious joy or disappointment this somewhat removed involvementstill allows!  

       Indeed, whatinevitablyseems to be happening is the unwitting sanctifying of another neutral----non religiousand apoliticalnational holiday—another but somewhat diminishedrecognition of the necessity of maleness in some legitimate form or other.  Just a one day event and on a dull Sunday in February,not slowing any mail delivery or interfering with the stock market or any other exciting event,  andnot the long drawn out seven day baseballWorld Series baseball possibility.   But still a steadfast interracial male event that women can watch and admire but not really co-opt. That seems, logically, whereSuper Bowl Sundayseems headed.  A taming of male dominance—and ferocity--to the sports section of the daily newspaper with only few awkward consequences.However,in almost every otheraspect in reallife the most compelling and perhaps fundamental trend of American society has been for the emergence of growing female involvement and perhaps even complete equality or morein most aspects of our society.In the sports world there is now equivalent female participation levels and perhaps public interest in all aspects of the sportsworld except football,and one hopes that lack of high current male involvement will not be further impinged upon!  As inferred above, females have now a very healthy section of the survival pie already--- almost 60% of all college undergraduates, 53%of all managerial and professionaljobs,54% of all accountants, 35% of physicians, 50% dentists;most crucially now almost 60%of current admission applications are fromwomen!  Indeed, as of now  several higher level colleges are consideringaffirmative action for male students.   And,rumor has it,even now,that meremaleness raises admission chances quite a bit,even for poorold white students!!

       In   football we have the prestige of the ProBowl ,where the players themselves select their estimate of the best players at each postion.Both leagues then play each other in the annual“ProBowlClassic”.Which is remarkable for its almost injury free competitionbut rather lacklusterviewing.But there has never been anywhere a definitive random study ofat least one thousand retiredNational Football League players,and the game itself over the years certainly has become more “smash mouth”,faster and more aggressive.  And the average weight of the offensive and defensive linemen has increased many times over the years and it is not unusual for behemoth 300 pound or more opponent players consistently involved in accidently or deliberately forceably colliding, tackling,or falling on each other.   Mondays after Sunday game day,most of theof the players spend all day recuperating in bed,and it now takes a 53 man roster to field the necessary 11 men playing on the field at any one time in this 60 minute contest. Fortunately with many brief—45 second-- strategy huddles,and some time outs for needed other contingencies.There are also 6 umpires or referees constantly running up and down the field of play;people who must need be in excellent shape too,and who are occasionallycarted off the field after the unfortunate minor mayhem ofan accidental collision with a very earnest and preoccupiedplayer.

       Not so coincidentalis this week’s very influential New Yorker magazine,which has a very timely pre Super Bowl story about the growing awareness, and concern over,the rising incidence of football injuries.  While the article does not pretend to be totally comprehensive it definitely highlights more public concern about current physical injury in this growing “smash mouth” emphasis of what has avowedly always been a very physicalsport. And details many disabilities that some retired players are burdened with. Congressional committees, equipment makers,and concerned college officials---whose entire athletic budget is usually financed by their college football team’s attendance receipts—are being more attentive to the destructive aspects of the game.

       Hopefully the pendulum will not swing too far in the opposite direction.  We do not want the namby pambyism of the Pro Bowl event.Maybe the force of a physical hit can berecalibrated Nintendo style on a monitor up in thepress booth on a TV monitor application.It will still be testosterone manifested but only subtly sublimated.  And we can still have a Super Bowl Sunday with a somewhat refurbished and evolvedfootballtechnology-----probably more passing and less running.  But still part of the audacity of hope--- not just dubious wishful thinking!

       But, above all,let’s have thatstudy of long term disabilities now.So that we can still go forward realistically with the essence of the game of football;still a great combination of the superb athleticismof brawn and brains that can still win the day ---and future superb Sunday Super Bowls.    And not so many severe Monday recoveries!