I have no idea who is playing in today's Super Bowl.
It is Sunday morning, 6:00 AM Pacific Time. I know the game will be played sometime this afternoon. I don't know by whom, or where, or who is in the halftime show.
I will watch a little of the game because my wife will be watching it. I am pretty sure Tom Brady isn't playing this year because I heard somewhere that he is both retiring and divorcing, and if he were playing I probably would have heard something about whether this will affect his playing. That is the extent of my knowledge.
I use the Super Bowl as a way to get understanding of American politics. Many people pay attention to politics the way I pay attention to professional football. They know elections are a "thing" that others get excited about, but they don't. I will watch some of the game only if someone makes it very convenient for me, for example if it is showing on the TV in the office where I write this. A family member essentially makes the difference between whether I see some of the game or not. In politics some people get dragged to the polls and they vote the way the person who dragged them suggests. If Debra tells me she is cheering for the Cowboys or Colts or Rams or whoever is playing, then I will go along. Why not?
The Super Bowl helps me understand people who vote for president and then leave the rest of the ballot blank. I barely care enough to watch a little of the game. No way I will watch it all.
Some years people ask me who I am cheering for. They seem surprised that I have no preference. I am not "undecided." I don't know and don't care. The world will stumble along the same way whoever wins the Super Bowl, so why should I care who wins? I think politics matters a great deal to the future of the world, but I know many people think it doesn't matter much either way. Football helps me understand those people.
I don't think who I cheer for will change the outcome of the game, so why bother picking a side? Many people don't think their vote has any real chance of changing the outcome of the election, so why bother picking a side and voting?
Politics is football, without the halftime show, and with worse ratings.
Like you, I pay very little attention to pro sports, but my wife and one of my children are very much into it, especially football. I do, however, take politics and voting very seriously and pay attention to whom and what I vote for.
Excellent analogy Peter. I too pay little attention to sports but a great deal of attention to politics. Your blog today helps me understand people better, and that is always a good thing