You get the picture. This isn’t a freezing tailgate with shirtless fans and brawls breaking out. Yet, it’s still a Football Party and a grand celebration of The Game. Expect to see die-hard fans of the Patriots, some young bandwagoners cheering for the Seahawks, and a few grown-ups who can’t stand the Pats and are rooting for the other team by default.
Among the attendees are fathers who once played college sports but now work in fields far removed from athletics—a lawyer, a writer, a filmmaker, and a banker, to name a few. The mothers also boast diverse careers, including a designer, an artist, and a culinary teacher. My husband, a magazine editor with a kind heart, is one of those gentle souls who loves the rough-and-tumble nature of football. His love is complicated, though; he has a simmering disdain for his favorite team, the Redskins, for their refusal to change their outdated, offensive name. Whenever “the Washington football team,” as he calls them now, messes up, you can hear his frustration echoing through the room. His mood shifts when they lose, but not so much that anyone would tease him about it. (Anyone = me.)
Most of the men, along with some of the women, are football aficionados. I grew up in a household where football was a staple, and my own gentle father has been a lifelong Jets supporter. To me, the best part remains the ambiance—the comforting sound of Cris Collinsworth’s commentary, the referee’s booming mic, and the stadium’s hum. As a child, John Madden’s voice felt like a warm hug.
Interestingly, a common thread among guests—including those who aren’t keen on football—will be their reluctance to let their sons play the sport. Naturally, they wouldn’t allow that! Flag football is an option for boys who aren’t into soccer, but it’s about as related to tackle football as ice skating is to wrestling. It’s a game where speed is key, not size or strength. In fact, soccer and basketball are surprisingly more physical!
Most of the boys at this Super Bowl gathering will be glued to the screen, munching on chips and spouting stats, yet they will likely never step foot on an actual football field. If they’ve ever played tackle football, it’s probably been cut short once they hit an age where risks of injury loomed larger. This hesitancy stems from various factors—regional preferences (my state is a solid blue with no Friday night lights), personal disinterest, and most importantly, parental discretion. Once primarily the mothers’ domain, more fathers are now stepping in to keep tackle football off the table for their sons.
We’ve heard a lot about the NFL lately. Even my sports-loving husband edited a headline-making profile of Roger Goodell, which raised questions about the sport’s future. High-profile incidents like Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson have forced a national conversation about the violence and culture of the game, leading to increased concern about the dangers of football, especially for younger players. Studies suggest that starting tackle football before the age of 12 may lead to serious health issues, including concussions, dementia, depression, and suicidal tendencies.
Yet, from where I stand, football seems to be holding steady—the money, the hype, and the NFL’s clout appear unchanged. However, a subtle shift might be occurring, eroding the game’s status as America’s beloved pastime. A recent Bloomberg Politics poll revealed that half of Americans wouldn’t let their sons play football.
I’ll ponder this as I navigate the Super Bowl party, just like many others will. I’ll try to keep my thoughts from turning political—avoiding the role of Debbie Downer hovering near the snack table. But the temptation will be there. It’s hard not to point out that none of the boys at this gathering will actually play the game their fathers adore, a game that’s increasingly difficult to justify in its current form.
How long can we relish the excitement of the game, knowing what we know? Devouring it with zeal while recognizing it’s become a sport meant for other people’s children? I won’t dive into the disparities in health and wealth that come with this billion-dollar industry—everyone there already understands the underlying issues without me saying a word.
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Summary
The Super Bowl is a cultural event where many enjoy the game while grappling with the complexities surrounding football, especially regarding youth participation. As awareness grows about the dangers of the sport, more parents are opting out of allowing their children to play. This article explores the conflicting emotions and thoughts of attending a Super Bowl party while reflecting on the future of football in America.