Tough Reality: I Plan to Try and Not Watch The Super Bowl as Intensely As I Have Before

I lived it, I ate it, I breathed and was at times all consumed by it, but today I have already turned down a Super Bowl gathering and plan to not watch closely, and even miss parts of the game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.

This achievement, if I am able to perform it, would mean something to me, a small ripple of protest vs the monolith NFL and NBC.

In showing how misguided and deep my passion for the Super Bowl once was, I give you these arcane facts as an example of the intensity: this is the 5th “Supe” between teams with 8 letters in its nickname. The Dolphins (Miami) and Redskins (Washington D.C.) split in games 10 years apart, Miami winning in 1972 and Washington in 1982.

Other previous Super Bowl contests between 8 letter teams were a Patriots win vs the also 8 letter (Carolina) Panthers and a Seahawks loss to the also 8 letter (Pittsburgh) Steelers.

Still addicted to data that no one else writes about, consider this regarding Boston/Seattle sports history: The NBA Boston Celtics made that league’s playoffs 37 of 39 years from (1955-1993).

Only in 1978 and 1979 did the Boston team fail to qualify. In each of those years, the Seattle NBA team at the time, the SuperSonics went to the NBA finals, losing in 1978 and winning in 1979 vs the Washington Bullets.

Now the Seattle franchise is in Oklahoma City (nickname, Thunder) and the Bullets were renamed the Wizards in an inane, misguided attempt to curtail violence (how about not selling guns?)

Withdrawal, discipline and taking a stand all are tough tasks. An honest account of my day and perspective on the game here tomorrow.