We have to put a stop to half-time shows, and pre-game shows, post-game shows, and music concerts in general, when attached to any kind of sporting event. Please join me in sending letters to our senators, congressmen, and local magistrates.
The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl® last night (February 11, 2024).
As a Kansas City Chiefs fan, I now expect happiness and joy to rule supreme in my heart. After all the energy and emotions I have invested in the Chiefs this year, and each year preceding, I just know that now I will see significant increase in my quality of life. At least until the start of next season.
It’s a funny thing, isn’t it? Here I am, all stressed out about the success of a bunch of young men who are well compensated for playing a game. Who have no idea that I even exist! Most of these guys I wouldn’t even recognize on the street, and I can only name about a handful.
It’s like the old Jerry Seinfeld routine. I’m cheering for laundry. I want nothing more than for the guys who wear the clothes I like to pound the guys who wear clothes I don’t like. This, despite the fact that I’m kinda a fan of the Niners QB, Brock Purdy. For all I know, if Brock Purdy and I ever met he’d probably want to be my new best friend and we’d hang out all day and he’d let me run routes in the backyard while he threw passes to me.
Patrick Mahomes, on the other hand, may be all like, “Ken, sorry, I can’t play pass today. I’m really busy. Gotta meet Jake and record some State Farm® ‘mercials.”
“But you said that yesterday!”
“Yeah, I know, but we’ll play toss tomorrow. This time I promise.”
You can see why my allegiance to the Chiefs may not make sense, since the relationship is so one sided. I’m investing in this relationship, but what am I getting in return?
But I’m just playin’. Of course my dad, I mean, my favorite QB Pat would never do me like that. He’d always make time for me…if he knew I existed.
I’ve been trying to think of all the opportunities that came my way after the Chiefs won the Big Game in 2020 and again in 2023. What certificate or sense of accomplishment did I gain? What access do I now have for being the fan of an NFL championship team?
Furthermore, what did I have to do with the victories in all these ring-bearing contests? Did I contribute to the training, the strategy, or the execution of the game winning plays? Some would argue that I had very little to do with any of those things.
Yet I’m expected to feel elated when the Chiefs win, and deflated when they lose.
Cheering for the Chiefs is an exercise in contentment. Like Saint Paul told the Philippians, “I have learned to be content in all situations. When the Chiefs win I’m content, and when they lose I’m content. It doesn’t matter. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians chapter four. Look it up.
This is why I watch football, to practice amor fati (love of fate). How can I control my reaction, knowing that my reaction, not the football game, is the only thing I can control? If the Chiefs win, yay! But what diff does it make to me? I’ll be happy, and may even gloat for a day or two, but that’s only when I’m reminded they even won. The victory doesn’t even put money in my pocket or food on my table.
Additionally, I may have to deal with people in the world who aren’t aware that the Chiefs won, or that they played, or that they are a thing. How can I expect one so oblivious to culture-changing events to treat me with the respect I deserve as the fan of the top-ranked American football team in the world?
On the other hand, when the Chiefs lose (which is rare these days), nobody deducts money from my bank account or labels me a degenerate. It’s almost like I suffer no ill consequences. How can that be when I’m so on edge about the outcome of the game? Surely something terrible must happen to me when Coach Reid and his boys suffer defeat.
Nope. Just that feeling of disappointment. And I’m sure there are worse things to be disappointed about, like why I care so much that we can’t have an athletic competition without also be subjected to a truncated set of “best of” medleys by artists who were popular when I was single. Who knows?
Pretend Triathlete 
A resounding Yes. These profit seeking people, or anyone else with ulterior motives other than true athletics, ruin the integrity of sports.
Wow…the game gave you alot of thoughts and words! My only thoughts on the game was how great Reba sang and how awful the half time show was. Really… Usher trying to mimic MJ with moves and a white glove and then roller skating like a Teenage Nija Turtle to gang music with words one couldn’t makeout for the noise…Was really hoping Usher paid to bring Taylor down to save the evening! Just my thoughts.