The Secret History of Super Bowl LIII: Podcast

Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch talk about the deep and ever-changing political and cultural meaning of football's biggest game.

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The Secret History of Super Bowl LIII: Podcast

On Sunday, February 3, the New England Patriots will play the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII, one of the year's biggest sporting events.

For today's Reason Podcast, I talked with my colleague Matt Welch, who has written in depth about how the cultural, political, and economic aspects of sports often mirror and influence the direction of society. In a wide-ranging conversation, Matt and I spoke about how the Super Bowl has changed since its first iteration in 1967, how the relationship between fans and athletes in many sports developed since free agency, why politicians and team owners remain remarkably successful in bilking taxpayers out of money for stadiums, the gender dynamics of a sports-crazy father raising two daughters, and more.

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Comments

[Mongo]

My artsy friends -- and the Pacifica radio station I listened to - would always claim that spousal abuse would rise during the Super Bowl.

I simply said yer full of shit. It doesn't make sense.

[Brandybuck]

Because the superbowl is for plebes. Plebes are lesser people. Plebes do not listen to Pacifica.

[Sevo]

The asshole rev told us that.

[Last of the Shitlords]

Did the Hihnfaggot also opine on this subject?

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[Teddy Pump]

It depends if the husband won his bet or not! Especially, if the Refs stole it from him!

[Sevo]

BTW, the description here suggests this is less journalism and more op-ed between two guys who seem to think someone cares about their opinions.

[Mongo]

Hey Jacket and Welch - I was very entertained by your talk!
First off, completely surprised over your devotion to the Super Bowl and pro sports in general. I had you two down as East Coast literary intellectuals that only talked sports when the hype reached a certain level.

The scare tactic that the city government, local media, and jock-sniffers say when a Minnesoda sports team threatens to move if they don't get ca$h is "We don't want to turn into a cold Omaha."

[Mongo]

I have two close friends who have no idea who's playing in the Super Bowl on Super Sunday.
I'll amuse myself by asking them "Hey, who's playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday?"

One will usually play along and try to guess ("New England? And.... New York Yankees?)

The other one will always reply with "The Harlem Niggers and the Greenwich Village Fags - WHO THE FUCK CARES."

I'll then ask them if they don't run across it in the news media or overhearing a convo somewhere? Sheesh.

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