I WON'T BE WATCHING THE SUPER BOWL: NFL Nostalgia and the Ethics of Modern Football Fandom

Nostalgia for the pigskin parties of my youth clashes with the present disconnect I feel towards the NFL, a sentiment that surges as the Niners and Chiefs prep for the Super Bowl. My musings transcend the simple thrill of touchdowns; they're steeped in the camaraderie of shared moments with my grandfather and military buddies, the devotion to my Minnesota Vikings, and the subsequent disillusionment with a league that seems to have lost its soul. Walk with me down memory lane and through the fog of current controversies, as we explore the complex fabric of football fandom woven through my life's tapestry.

Amidst the backdrop of divisional rivalries and the NFC North's storied history, my unique stance as a Vikings fan who sometimes cheers for division opponents like the Packers, Bears, and Lions comes to light. We tackle the thorny suspicions of NFL game manipulation and ponder the impact of star power on team fortunes, as exemplified by Taylor Swift's influence on the Chiefs. This episode is for those who've ever questioned their sports allegiances, felt the twinge of ethical dilemmas in gameplay, or simply wonder how a love for the game can evolve in the face of its commercialization. Join me as we sift through these reflections and reassess what makes us tune in—or out—when the big game day arrives.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:18

The Niners and the Chiefs are going to the Super Bowl. I ain't gonna be watching. What's going on is the objective, jerk? And I'm said jerk, how is everybody doing? Hope all is well. There was some football games that went on. There was some posts that were posted. This is kind of crazy. So I don't know.

Speaker 1: 0:55

Okay, you know I'm American, I grew up in America and football was not like a major part of my life growing up, but Super Bowl definitely was, and like before I even watched really football, I mean, okay, I guess it was. You know, I see some pictures and stuff like that, but it was always around, you know. I mean I don't think I started watching it until like around 13. I started watching with my grandfather and at that time it was the Seahawks, but I was born in Minnesota, I grew up in Utah, but I was always around my uncle, who was also born in Minnesota, and so when it came time for me to pick a team, instead of picking the Seahawks, I picked the Vikings and just went from there. You know, and I'm so I'm still a Vikings fan, you know, I got hats and some stuff and whatever, but, um, so you know, I like, I like football. I wouldn't, you know, consider myself a nerd about it, just kind of like everything else. You know, like I, I know some players, I know some history of the Vikings and a little bit of the Seahawks, and you know, I remember, you know Montana and rice and stuff, you know. So I know probably a little more than a regular person, I guess, but it wouldn't be much more. I'm either right there or maybe a little more, but I'm definitely no. You know, encyclopedia, I don't, I can't, I don't retain touchdowns, the amount of touchdowns and yards and everything, and I don't know all the rules, even though they're always changing. So I don't think anybody does. But, um, so you know, but I, you know, I, I I liked football and when I was in the army, some buddies of mine, so if we got the, we helped pay for the NFL package and stuff so we could all watch football, watch our teams, you know, and stuff like that. And so you know it was, it was a part of my life. It wasn't I wouldn't say it was a huge part, but it was definitely a part of it. And and then you know, um, I can't, I don't know. So when did I watch? What was the last. I think the last thing I watched I'm trying to get the season it was probably the 2000,.

Speaker 1: 3:49

That was May 2018, maybe I think that was the last one where, actually where we kind of watched games and of course, at this time, you know, colin, colin, uh, kaepernick or whatever, and the whole kneeling thing, which that whole thing was kind of annoying. I didn't like him kneeling but at the same time it I didn't. It didn't really I don't know, it didn't really matter to me, but it did kind of. That incident, I guess, got me to notice Things you know about the NFL, like what you know, like it kind of got my first taste of like they, they don't really care about the game or the fans, they just they care about the money.

Speaker 1: 4:44

You know, whatever they can do to To bring in money and stuff you know. And Then I don't know, the next year was just kind of like kind of busy doing stuff and Family and house and everything, and then we ended up moving here and stuff and I'm, you can, I can watch NFL games here, but it's it's just it's more of a hassle. You know, I mean the States, it's on on Sunday. You turn on any local channel and you're gonna have some sort of football local team or you can watch. You know ESPN, what it's it's, it's it's much more accessible. So here you have to kind of work for it so you can get like a satellite and and you know there's ways to do it. But you know you have to work for it and plus it's like at a different time, like it's in the.

Speaker 1: 5:43

So yesterday, no, what's today? It's Tuesday. So yesterday or Sunday well, I guess it was yesterday for me. So Monday morning was Sunday night for me and so that's where I was kind of keeping tabs and you know everybody's watching the game. So it's like you know usually at the, you know in the states that it's an evening time and then you're watching the game. Here it's not early morning but it's still morning and so it's the idea.

Speaker 1: 6:16

Same with like UFC. I love UFC. I wouldn't. I'd much rather watch UFC now, just to kind of for the support aspect of it. So I don't like supporting the NFL and I'm getting to that. Too much whiskey, no. But again it's like the fights. I mean, I guess probably the main event would probably like 10 in the morning or something, but it just seems weird to be watching that stuff in the morning and that's kind of what I'm most Active and motivated to do chores or do things and get things done is in the morning time. So I don't want to. If I sit and watch a football game or watch a UFC match, then the whole rest of my day is Screwed for me. That's just kind of how I am anyway.

Speaker 1: 7:12

So the fact that it's a you know the time change and and you know I have to kind of pay a little extra and and and do some whatever, it made it easier for me to To just Cut the NFL court, you know I mean. And so for me it was, you know it was like everyone else, I don't know it was. You know I first got here and then the scam Demik happened, and so you know, just football wasn't a priority, but once everything kind of was cooling off and everything, and then I think what really got me to just like, or the second thing that really was like man, well, okay, to be fair, you know, so you had like, you know you had like, you know, cap or neck, and then, and then you have the conspiracies of you know games being fixed so certain teams will go to the Super Bowl because those teams will draw more views and more money and all that kind of crap, right, and there are some compelling evidence. I think that's like, yeah, okay, I could see that. And then maybe it's a little bit of a stretch, but I could totally see, I could totally see them affecting like the game between the Lions and the Niners. You know what I mean. That happened on Sunday. I could see the NFL trying to make it to where the Niners go instead of the Lions, because they're thinking they're more bandwagon Niner fans than Lions and you know. And so there's that. And then when you had like the vaccine and kind of, and then what they were doing, like Aaron Rodgers and just kind of everything was just like what the crap?

Speaker 1: 9:10

So, and then by that time, and probably been about what two years or something since I really watched anything, so I was just like you know what, I'll just fuck it. You know what I mean, and that's kind of been my, that's been my, my stance, basically. And you know I keep tabs. You know my team is Minnesota and so I would kind of I wouldn't like, because the days and stuff here it's like different, like I forget what days. It is sometimes so. It's like you know I would miss that. You know I'll just see the scores or I'll keep track of how many wins and losses, but that's about it Now, if they went to the playoffs, I would have been, I might have paid to watch. I don't know, though, I might have just kept track. Now, if the Vikings went to the Super Bowl, I would definitely would, I would, I would watch that, probably just to be disappointed, but whatever, anyway, so that's kind of my. You know I'm still a Vikings fan and you know, someday I might get back into it or something, who knows, but I'm just not like in a big rush too, I guess. Anyway, so that's kind of my, my stance on the NFL right now, right, and then, with real quick, just to kind of do a little segue, I've never understood this, how I was going to start the podcast actually, and I just remembered maybe I should start writing down a little script sort of, or just little bullet points. You know I need to, maybe, but anyway.

Speaker 1: 11:29

So I never understood the whole rivalry, like I. Well, I understand the rivalry, like for my team, the, the, the North, you know, green Bay, minnesota, lions and Bears, right, there's that the, the rivalry, and, and so I get that during the season. But whoever out of, if you know somebody out of our I can't think of what's going on right now Not region, what is that? No-transcript are whatever. But if somebody you know the Bears, the Lions, green Bay, hopefully Minnesota, if they go to the playoffs or to the Super Bowl, I always kind of cheer for them because they're part of Division. You know our division. So it's like I understand like the, the, the, the rivalry, but like I don't hate Green Bay, I don't hate the Bears, I don't hate the Lions, I just like the Vikings more.

Speaker 1: 12:34

So, yes, I want those other teams to lose to Minnesota, but if those teams are going to Super Bowl or at the Super Bowl, I'm gonna root for them, you know, I mean because they're part of our division, like that's how I've always kind of looked at it. So I don't, I don't, if somebody I would like somebody, I mean I could look it up, I guess, but I'd rather have a little interaction from the audience Explain to me why, like, I would see like memes of Minnesota fans and it's like oh yeah, you know they're rooting for the Niners because they're playing against the Lions, like like why, why not have? That would be awesome if the Lions went to Super Bowl in one, that would be awesome, I think I Mean I'd rather Minnesota, but definitely don't want the Niners, I don't know. And plus, I've always kind of been the underdog, always like teams that haven't won or don't win. So you know, let's say, if it was like the Browns, I'd be rooting for the Browns, you know. So that's, that's kind of how I've always been, so anyway. So you know, the Lions divisional, playoffs or not even division, it's what do you call it they won their division. Anyway, see, that's, that's how much of a football. I can't remember terms and whatever the snap, but I Anyway. So you know, they were playing the last game of the season, the last, the playoff to go to the Super Bowl, right, and so they're playing the Niners and the Chiefs already beat the Ravens.

Speaker 1: 14:18

So yesterday I was, I did log on, I was like, oh crap, taze, you know the, the, the championships game. And so I looked, I saw that the Chiefs won, of course, whether they did or not, I don't know, I didn't watch but and then I saw that the Lions were winning and I was like, oh cool, you know, and so I was keeping tabs of the score while doing other things and I was thinking I was like you know what, maybe I'll watch the Super Bowl this year. I was like, if the Lions go, I May watch the Super Bowl, I'll I'll. However, I got to do it. I don't know how exactly, but I would figure it out and stuff like that, you know. So I was thinking about it and the Lions were whooping that ass and then suddenly just the San Francisco came back from way behind and came back and whooped their ass and I didn't watch it. I haven't seen anything.

Speaker 1: 15:16

But it is always kind of suspect, like I don't know. Like if you think about who would the NFL rather go to the Super Bowl, the Lions or the Niners? They're gonna want the Niners, man, because that's gonna bring more people, people that were huge fans of, you know, montana and them. And you know it's just, it's a, it's an old dynasty, like it just brings in. It brings in more views and more, more money. I think is what they're thinking, but to me I Would think like the Lions would. I don't know, but I could be wrong. I don't know, I'm not. All I know is I probably would have watched the Super Bowl if the Lions won, and now that they didn't, it's like two teams I don't give a fuck about and Probably didn't even really deserve to go to the Super Bowl. You know what I mean. So there's that right. So Another thing I want to talk about, which I thought was hilarious, was there was a Facebook post, like I've been getting.

Speaker 1: 16:18

I have. It's crazy how much interaction I've gotten over this one comment. Let me see, let's see, let's see I can go up to my comment. I think it's just one, or maybe I'm getting okay. So there's this comment on a post from Facebook, from front office sports, Taylor Swift has generated an equivalent brand value of 331 million for the chiefs in the NFL. Huh, the amount includes TV highlights, social media print, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Speaker 1: 16:51

So you knew Kansas was going to go, with this whole thing going on, whether you know, and they probably won fair and square. But if they didn't, or who's to say that? You know that they didn't, I didn't watch the game. So it's like you know. There are those games where, like, they're just horrible calls that are like what, and it really makes a big difference in the game. Is it possible that the refs were told to favor, you know, a team to kind of make them win.

Speaker 1: 17:34

You know, whatever this is not, it's not a complete atrocity, not atrocity, but it is. It is possible. You know what I mean. And to think that a big corporation that's all about the money would never think to do that, you're a fool. You know what I mean and that's another reason why I don't really care for that and fell anymore. But I know, if, if, and I don't blame Taylor Swift. I don't like her, I think she's annoying, but I don't blame her necessarily. I blame, you know. Then it fell, but you know they see this and then see, this is just now. Watch, there's gonna be a famous girl dating a football player every fucking season. I don't know, it's just gonna be annoying, but anyway.

Speaker 1: 18:27

So there's this, this post, right, and and this, I swear did the same comment Anyway. So I did. Yeah, I got a typo, I just realized it. Anyway, it says and as things like this is supposed to be, and it's, it's things like this, but it's things like this why haven't watched a Super Bowl in five years? That was my comment, you know, and that's not purely that, just that's just a part of it. You know what I mean.

Speaker 1: 19:00

Every time I start thinking about it then it's like something like this kind of comes up and and you know stuff like that and dude man, like I've gotten 923, either thumbs up or laughs or hearts or whatever. And then there's like all these comments and and people are like, so like they, they're like upset. Some of them are not all, but like it's kind of funny, what the hell? Oh, now people are like posting porn shit or whatever. Anyway, so let me see. So I'll just kind of read some of them. I haven't, I don't have them like jot it down like the best ones. I'm sorry, but so that was my comment.

Speaker 1: 19:52

And then the first one was like they probably noticed in care, you know about the NFL. Like they noticed that I single individual wasn't watching in care, which you know, it's true, just me. No, I would not make a difference. But to be fair, it's not just me, though there is a lot of people. And then see, here's somebody that kind of talks about that. You know this Doug shoot some way, says they're going to eventually, pandering to the casual fan never works in the long run. Sure, it's monetarily beneficial in the short term, but it never works out in the long term. Wait till the NFL starts to come down from their high. Yeah, so it's true, that's like I said. So it's going to be, it's, you know. And then they end up losing.

Speaker 1: 20:40

Fans Prepare something miserable themselves, you know. See, then let's see for every I don't watch the Super Bowl, there's probably seven or eight, I don't know. Football was this fun and I promise their bank accounts don't show the difference and they're not wrong either. You know, I mean, but you look at Bud Light, you look at certain things and it's you know it can happen. You know they're like, oh. And then people like with Disney oh, yeah, I'm sure Disney, when people are talking about like I don't watch Disney films or Marvel films anymore and they're like oh, yeah, I'm sure they're, they're crying and they're into their money and stuff like that. You know, and maybe not right now, but and it's not just Bud Light, there's many other companies that are not looking to see what their true fans you know, hearing what they have to say, and they end up losing, losing money, and there's a noise going on outside.

Speaker 1: 21:44

It sounds like somebody's. I'm basically just liking every comment, whether it's calling me a weirdo or not? But yes, here's another one. No one notices that you watch the game, bro. Yeah, I promise you, even without your contributions, I'm sure the NFL will find a way to carry on. You know so most of them are. You know no one cares this, and that you know. And oh, what a special little snowflake you are, and stuff like that. But then there's some that you know it's like dude, he just he doesn't like to watch because of that.

Speaker 1: 22:22

You know, it's like it's just, you know, but it's just kind of funny. Like I was not expecting this much interaction, but it's like it's the whole, it's the whole tribal thing. You know what I mean. So you got people. You have people that that will watch football, no matter what I mean. They could bring out a bunch of kids in the middle of the field and assassinate them all and then clean it up before the game in front of everybody and then play the game, and people would still watch. You know what I mean. Like there's people that just cannot. They can't not change something like that from their life. They like it's. It means too much to them, no matter how bad they make themselves to be or whatever. You know what I mean and, to be fair, me moving here made it much easier. If I was in the States, could I say that I haven't watched in five years? Probably not, but I hope I could.

Speaker 1: 23:27

But you know, and it's just like, and then people talk about you know what. You know what I just said about the chiefs and maybe being kind of helped, helped to win, and dude, there's, there's plenty of evidence of teams cheating in the past, you know. And of course, when it's their team, they're you know, they don't care, and that's just like in politics and everything. You know they don't care that their side is cheating and murdering and doing all this kind of bad stuff. Their side is winning, that's all they care about. And so I think this whole thing, the, the argument, the post, the reception, it just says a lot about people's mentality. You know the whole, the whole tribal. Oh, you know, and you don't like, you don't like what I like.

Speaker 1: 24:22

So you know, it's just, I don't know, it's just, it's just crazy. People are crazy. Internet's crazy. Social media is crazy. Football's crazy. Sucks too, cause I would have watched 99.9%. Sure, I would have found a way to watch the Super Bowl with the Lions one, but they didn't. So no big deal, I guess. Anyway, let me know what you think. Send me an email, send me a comment, all that kind of stuff. Do you still watch football? Do you care? Did you ever care? What are your opinions? Whatever, I don't know, let me know. But that's it for me. Thanks for listening and I'll see you next time. Bye.