America’s Sport – Football and the Super Bowl
Football has always been one of Americas favorite sports for some time. Due to the popularity, of this sport, ticket prices are higher than ever. However, this has not stopped fans from trying to acquire the best seats possible. Super Bowl Sunday is the second highest food and drink consumption day of the year – following Thanksgiving.
The Super Bowl brings other big-ticket items to the table, like hysterical commercials. This is the one time of the year where people look forward to the commercials they will see – unlike any other television show in existence.
The Super Bowl was originally known as a showdown between the young and the old. However, this only lasted for three Super Bowls. By the fourth, the two leagues had successfully merged, creating the NFC (National Football Conference) and AFC (American Football Conference).
On January 15, 1967, the Green Bay Packers took their very first Super Bowl championship. The Kansas City Chiefs lost to the packers, with a humiliating score of 35 – 10. However, they are still known for playing in the first Super Bowl ever.
Their luck did not stop here. The Packers went on to win the Super Bowl the following year, along with five championships by the end of the decade.
The Vince Lombardi Trophy was name after the Packers’ coach during their run of fame – Vince Lombardi. These trophies are pieces of work. Each one is created at Tiffany’s, takes over 72 person-hours, and $12,500 – a great piece of art for an accomplished honor.
Each member, of each team playing in the Super Bowl, receives a championship ring. These rings, like the trophy, are of the utmost superiority. The winners’ rings cost around $5,000 and the losers’ rings cost around $2,500 each. (The NFL furnishes over 300 rings, 150 for each team, every year.)
As of today, the two leagues are equal, when it comes to the number of wins. Although the NFL / NFC is still ahead with 21 Super Bowl wins to 20 won by the AFL / AFC.
During the regular season, determinations are made for home field advantages and Wild Card teams. Wild card teams are those who are just behind the Division championship, or how played in the wrong division. Division winners are automatic shoe-ins for the playoffs.
After the season is over, and these selections are complete, the playoffs begin. Wild card teams do not have home field advantage, and play against other low ranked teams. Division champions, on the other hand, do have home field advantage, and play teams ranked around their level. Wild card teams, because of their ranking and home field disadvantage, rarely make it to the Super Bowl. However, four wild card teams have made it to the Super Bowl, and won!
Footballs long history has captured the heart of the American people. The grueling exercises, exciting games, exhilarating playoff and championship games will continue to captivate audiences for years to come.
Tampa, FL will be hosting Super Bowl XLIII this year on February 1, 2009. With the two teams playing in the game, this year, it is said that this will be one of the most enthralling games in history.
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