As I’m sure you know, this Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday.
This day is a near-holy day for many football fans and it’s always a great excuse to get together with friends and family to enjoy an American past time and to partake in some delicious culinary traditions–cocktail wienies, nachos, bean dip, beer, to name a few–regardless of your team preference.
Although, there are a few of us whose team preference happens to be “the humanities”, but that’s not to say we don’t get excited about the Super Bowl.
For starters, the Super Bowl has a rather interesting history. Take into account these fun facts:
- The first Super Bowl was held on Jan. 15, 1967.
- The first Super Bowl was played by the NFL championship team and the AFL championship team; it wasn’t until the leagues merged in 1970 that it became the championship game of the NFL.
- Legend has it that then NFL commissioner had wanted to call the first game “The Big One”.
- The first celebrity appearance at a half-time show was Ella Fitzgerald in 1972
- Since Super Bowl XXXVI, the Super Bowl has been considered a “National Security Event” (which is also why we don’t see blimps any more).
Additionally, sports references and the often-cliched play-by-plays of commentators are chock-full of humanities references:
- The over-used sports cliche of the “Cinderella Story” is fairly explanatory in its reference to the classic folktale with roots all the way back to the 1st century b.c.
- Iconic football commentator, John Madden, once said in reference to a play ”Had this worked, that would’ve been a thing of beauty. The fact that it didn’t work, makes it very, very ugly.” He may not realize, but this references a very famous poem by John Keats (A Thing of Beauty (Endymion)).
- Packer’s player Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila has been nicknamed “KGB” by various commentators. Although obviously his initials, it also conjures up a sense of intimidation because of its dual reference to THE KGB: the former Soviet Union’s secret police who once aimed to control through suppression of unorthodox beliefs.
- Dennis Miller, formerly of ABC Monday Night Football has made such references as “When the hell is Warren Moon going to retire? I mean, this guy is older than the cuneiform in Nebuchadnezzar’s tomb” and “Their offense is shakier than Katherine Hepburn after an all-night espresso bender at Starbucks”–although kind of rude, they are indeed both humanities references.
SO, in the spirit of football and the humanities, we are asking you to keep your eyes open and ears out for anything that occurs during the Superbowl that you can tie to the humanities–commentary, references, half-time events, even commercials. Make a note if it and then come back here at your leisure and share your findings in the comments. By 4 p.m. next Monday, the reader who can make the most connections–even if they’re stretches–wins. “Wins what?” you ask? Well, it won’t be anything as shiny as the Vince Lombardi trophy but you’ll have bragging rights, for sure.
Actually, due to the current economic climate and our non profit status…that’s about all you’ll get, but hey, that’s pretty awesome!
Information in this post was compiled from www.wikipedia.org, www.nfl.com, http://ag.nfl.com, and various Minnesota Humanities Center staff.
Terms overheard: “Blitz” – Also the name of the German’s incessant bombing of London during WWII. For 57 consecutive nights during 1940 and 1941. It is shortened from the German word “Blitzkreig” or Lightning War”. More than a million homes in London were damaged or destroyed. Many families sent their children away from London to stay with family outside of the city. One such family (fictional) is the Pevensies of The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis.
“Bootleg” – refers to the making or transporting of illegal liquor. The term is thought to trace back to the hiding of flasks of liquor in the leggings or “boot legs”. America has a long and complicated history when it comes to alcoholic beverages. In 1918, congress passed the 18th Amendment, prohibiting (hence: The Prohibition) the manufacture, transportation and sale of intoxicating beverages. The Amendment was passed because of significant pressure by the Temperance movement – a number of organizations made up of people who believed that alcohol was the cause of most of society’s ills. The Prohibition was unpopular, but since they had passed an amendment, it was difficult to reverse. It was not until 1933, when the 21st Amendment was passed that the Prohibition ended.
Somali Pirate Ship – In the fall of 2008, there were many instances of groups of Somalis hijacking and seizing ships and gas tankers, then demanding ransom. Since Nov 2007, Somali pirates have received over 150 million US dollars in ransom money. The piracy is a result of the brutal civil war that has been fought in Somalia since the early 1990’s and continues today.
Budweiser Commercial – “Coming to America” , shows a Clydsedale horse coming on a boat across from Ireland. In the first half of the 19th century, immigrants from Ireland made up at least 1/3 of the total immigrants. Part of this was caused by the potato famine in the 1840s. Immigrants from Ireland endured racism (not the right word?), as many Americans saw them as less than human. “Help Wanted: No Irish Need Apply” was a sign frequently seen in windows.
In the pre-game, they referenced F. Scott Fitzgerald.