The SuperBowl. Ask any
American and they’ll tell you “it’s the greatest show on
Earth.” Not the greatest game on Earth. Not the greatest match on
Earth. The greatest “show.” In some respects of course, they’d be right.
364 days of the year, you’d struggle to
find a Briton who knows the difference between a running back and a
tight end. So why then, does the SuperBowl become the number one
trend on Twitter in the UK?
Does the FA Cup final
trend in the US? How about Sergio Aguero’s 94th minute
title-clenching winner, arguably the most exciting sporting moment of
the last decade? Of course they don’t, but why not?
I don’t think there
can much case for an argument that “football” is a more exciting
game than “soccer.” The American game stops and starts every
minute, and the action to advert ratio is appalling. So why did such
a large amount of Britain stay up until the early hours of Monday morning to watch?
A minority may have
tuned in just to see Beyoncé do her thing at half time, fewer still
to see the tense drama as two brothers went head to head as coaches
on the side-lines. It’s safe to say the
majority tuned in for the spectacle. People want to see what all the
fuss is about, they want to be entertained.
America takes pride in
its national game. Millions of American’s gather to host SuperBowl
parties, it’s one big celebration of the game they love.
In England, we’re
lucky if a few mates gather down the pub to watch the FA Cup final on
a low resolution projector over a pint. And as for half-time entertainment, a lad from Stockport doing keepy-ups while the mascots
have a penalty shootout seems to suffice.
The truth is, our
football doesn't need Beyoncé belting out ‘Single Ladies’
while Fergie gives United the hairdryer out the back.
We love our game, and
most would tell you that they want it kept just the way it is. But
once a year, can we not put on a little bit of a show for the rest of
the world, and turn the FA Cup final into the spectacle it deserves
to be?
