Twenty-two people fell silent. As if a gun had been fired and none wanted to confess. That kind of silent.
This happened multiple times Sunday, Super Bowl Sunday, at the party I attended. As you are all casual bystanders and now know the day to which I’m making reference, you might think that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Trent Dilfer just lifted a pass into the end zone. And now 22 people are waiting with baited breath for the thunderous finale of a touchdown catch.
Boy, would you be off base.
Silence was necessary not because the football action was intense, but because the new Pepsi advertisement had begun. Find no fault here, I couldn’t. The advertisements are a main — and sometimes only — draw for some who watch the game. Rather, the idea that disinterest in football commanded the party scene during the game, but ceased for the commercial time-outs and half-time show simply highlights a truth.
The Super Bowl is less sporting event, more congregation-friendly holiday anymore.
Somebody from Hallmark should get a hold of the NFL office a year in advance and see if they could get access to the day for which the Super Bowl is scheduled. The company ought to throw it on its calendars like the Fourth of July or Labor Day. Besides the potential day off from work those holidays provide, there really is little difference.
There’s barbecuing, socializing and banter.
And if you happen to be in the Guam public school system — though I believe most of us are not — the Super Bowl has become your ticket to a sanctioned break from school. The international dateline means the game is played on Monday rather than Sunday. Because of the high rate of absenteeism among students and teachers in years’ past, officials decided to cancel school.
Pack up, kids.
Is there something wrong with the fact that the game seemingly has become the least anticipated aspect of the final Sunday in January? That the contest’s importance is superseded by good company and commercials? Heck no on the former. Leave it to Beaver would have been an even better show in the presence of good company.
Perhaps on the second — though not if you’re an advertiser or CBS. With a countrywide viewing audience numbering 130 million, there surely is nothing sweeter for the Pepsi CEO than to hear that at Super Bowl parties nationwide mothers were patting babies on the back during the commercial breaks and letting them holler unattended at game time. And CBS? The network raked in a cool $ 2 million for a 30-second spot of time. What’s more, viewers were treated to more Survivor II promos than New York Giants’ turnovers (5).
In case you missed it, Baltimore won the game 34-7, and a man — Ray Lewis — who one year ago faced murder charges was named the Most Valuable Player.
But, seriously, how about those Volkswagen ads . . .
Despite the fact that I really was interested in the game — putting me in the minority at the party I attended — I have zero difficulty admitting that the Super Bowl, again, did its job.
From where I was sitting, there was laughter, heckling — at bad commercials — and continuous conversation. The spread of food was incredible and the hosts did a magnificent job. Part of which included the assurance that somebody would win money. There were over 20 people at the party involved in a pool that crowned a winner — based on the score of the game — after every quarter and then crowned a king at the end of the contest.
You’ve never seen people get so fired up about a touchdown without giving a single solitary crap who scored. The issue was whether the points caused the score of the game to fall in a way that would enable them to win money. Once CBS flashed the new score, revelers returned to their interaction. It was fascinating to watch.
And infuriating — I didn’t win a single penny. Meanwhile, the host rolled up over $200.
Which proves the point of all of this: Next year, I host.
Have story ideas? Let sports editor Jason Gallic know at 245-3681 or mailto:kauaisports@pulitzer.net
