Sunday, February 07, 2010

Superbowl Sunday

After Mandarin Chinese, English is the most widely employed language on the planet. Spanish is third, and French and German are somewhere around numbers ten and eleven. When you first arrive in Scotland you wonder whether that noise coming out of their mouths is in fact even English, but after a day or two you get used to their dialect.

In the overwhelming majority of the English speaking world the word “football” refers to the much more civilized sport that we Americans call soccer. The American form of football is much like American politicians: not very bright and completely brutal regardless of the consequences. Deviousness is highly regarded in both endeavors.

One hundred years from now when people look back and discuss American football, with all of its attendant injuries (especially the brain damage), they will describe American football as being a horribly evil form of brutality. Not quite as bad as the Romans throwing the Christians to the lions. More like dog fighting is viewed in the early 21st century.

Then there are those who claim to watch the superbowl only to see the commercials. I go to a lot of effort either to mute commercials or using the DVR to fast forward past them. This year the television censors are allowing a right wing, anti-abortion spot, but they have rejected one that was paid for by a gay social group. Of the top 10 ads several were by Bud Light, Doritos, Coke, and Snickers. No wonder Americans are a bunch of morbidly obese diabetics.

This whole situation is sick and ignorant, just like the sport of football.

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