“The key element of social control is the strategy of distraction that is to divert public attention from important issues and changes decided by political and economic elites, through the technique of flood or flooding continuous distractions and insignificant information.” – Noam Chomsky
The Super Bowl is a cornerstone of American sports and culture. Great parties, lots of beer, lots of wings, expensive but sometimes funny commercials, featuring star performances at halftime, and much more. This year’s event features some of the top coaching minds, multiple All-pro talents, and the best Quarterback in the game. Normally, I’d be excited for such a matchup but after sitting on this for almost 2 weeks, I am still not overly thrilled for this year’s game.
It could be because the Lions’ 2nd half collapse in the NFC championship game, due to overly aggressive coaching, robbed us of the year’s best feel good story. It could also be neither the Bills nor Ravens could beat, what some would consider, the weakest Kansas City team of the past 5 years. The NFL MVP Lamar Jackson could only muster up 10 points in the AFC championship game and the Bills got ultra conservative down the stretch and left the game in the kickers…er…foot, which has never worked out well for Buffalo. Both have left me feeling a little deflated.
“Two things only the people anxiously desire — bread and circuses.” – Juvenal (Roman Poet)
It’s undeniable that our world has been rocked by ongoing turmoil since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Conflicts rage in Ukraine and the Middle East, Red and Blue political parties are further dividing the country with media outlets acting as propaganda wings for each side. Our country sits to re-elect either a deranged old man with a vengeance or a pathological lying, geriatric senior who is essentially a vessel for the liberal elite.
Misinformation is more rampant than ever and the intentionally manipulative voices are loader than ever. Narcissism runs rampant throughout the culture and the more people submit themselves to the algorithmic echo chambers the further they decline into madness. Atheistic and Satanic values dominate pop culture and we see adults perverting children’s bodies and God’s image in the name of inclusion and empathy.
So Thank God for Sunday’s distraction!
I, for one, will enjoy not thinking about politics or the decline in societal moral values for one day. Show me Taylor Swift 30 times, It’ll be better than the constant footage of how illegal immigrants are funneling into our country or the many court battles Donald Trump brought on himself.
Give me Christian McCaffrey and Patrick Mahomes scoring touchdowns. Give me Usher and Company singing the hits. Give me funny, stupid commercials that just might bring some laughter and calmness to the politically divided so that we all might experience a nice “Feel Good” with one another again.
Sometimes, the current reality can seem overwhelming and dire but the problems of today will be there tomorrow. God wanted us to rest on the 7th day so try and clear your mind of pain, angst, and worries. Drink a beer (and water), eat some wings or chips and dip, laugh with one another and enjoy the show. For that’s all it is, a Show.
Let’s all be distracted one more time, for the good of humanity. This year will be a rocky one and we’ll find out what the Elites were up too next week, and if you’re not in the club, then there’s no reason to even stress about things you can’t control. Hug someone, laugh together, love one another, and be Entertained!
For it’s just football on Sunday. Good old fashion American Entertainment.
Prediction: Niners cover -2. Final Score 24-21.
The Other Side of Sports 