FOOTBALL!

Nine years ago, I wrote in my unviersity newspaper a flamboyant assault on the TV overkill that went with Super Bowl XXIX (You remember, the last great 49ers blow-out). I mocked the endless pre-game show, the warbling Anthem singers, the painful halftime specials, everything. I was plenty nasty. Last night's extravaganza was worse in every respect: All-day coverage and analysis of NOTHING HAPPENING, tedious pre-game concert by a half-conscious Aerosmith, repulsive "tribute" to the Columbia astronauts, etc., etc. But I came away happier, because the game was so much better: a brusiing defensive battle in the first half gave way to an offensive slugfest in the second half, and the game was won in the last 8 seconds. Another competitive, watchable Super Bowl, of the kind we usually didn't get in the period of the 49er's ascendency.


It got me thinking: Why do we have all that other crap? Why did we have to MTV the Super Bowl? Is any footbal fan going to NOT watch the Big Game? No. Is any non-football fan going to watch it no matter how much they gussy it up? No. So can anyone defend this pre-and-post-game garbage? Can we just watch the game?