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Today's Superbowl will take place in Minneapolis where the temperature is -16c.

 

For those that don't know much about it, or even care, join the club. But will probably watch it anyway, as it's on TV.

 

Americans really gouge on loads of beer and junk food for this game, and this game has a huge cultural significance for them.

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In fairness the game itself is played indoors this year, since the Viking stadium is a dome, but anyone outside tailgating (another cultural institution in the US - basically instead of going to a pub before a game a lot of people will bring beer and food and even little BBQs to the parking lot and just make their own little pub outside from the trunk of their car) will be dicing with death.

 

I normally get my weekly shopping done during halftime because the shops are completely empty and will do the same this year.

 

Sales of pizza and wings go through the roof, and at a conservative estimate, 12 gallons of Anheuser-Busch products are consumed by every man, woman and child in the country.

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And I hope the Patriots win. They are, roughly speaking, the Bayern of the US. Everyone who isn't a fan despises them because of their win-at-all-costs ethic and recent success, although unlike Bayern they're not the most popular team in the country - that would be "America's Team", the Dallas Cowboys, who enjoy massive nationwide support despite their best years being well and truly behind them, their last Super Bowl appearance and win being in 1995. The Patriots are a modern dynasty, just as the Cowboys were in the 90s, and as such they are widely hated. I just want to see the seethe if they manage a second consecutive win.

 

The Super Bowl is unbelievably huge and popular here but we're in the midst of a political realignment and pro football is not exempt. This could be the high watermark for revenue for a few years. I think it's somewhat indicative that Justin Timberlake is the half time show this year, and he doesn't like football and won't let his son play it due to the undeniable health risks. A weird moment.

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In fairness the game itself is played indoors this year, since the Viking stadium is a dome, but anyone outside tailgating (another cultural institution in the US - basically instead of going to a pub before a game a lot of people will bring beer and food and even little BBQs to the parking lot and just make their own little pub outside from the trunk of their car) will be dicing with death.

 

I normally get my weekly shopping done during halftime because the shops are completely empty and will do the same this year.

 

Sales of pizza and wings go through the roof, and at a conservative estimate, 12 gallons of Anheuser-Busch products are consumed by every man, woman and child in the country.

 

What are the wifebeating statistics like in the USA on Superbowl day? Are they comparable with, say, an average Rangers league game?

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They are seen as a ruthless, unsportsmanlike organization, who will bend the rules in order to win. See for example 'deflategate', where the Patriots were found to have partially deflated the football in the AFC Championship game (basically the semi-final before the Super Bowl) a couple of years back. This went all the way to the US Circuit Courts, i.e. the second highest court in the land after the Supreme Court:

 


 

They've been caught cheating in ways like this several times, there's no denying it, but there's also no denying that they've built an absolutely incredible team.

 

Their coach, Bill Belichick, is by far the longest-serving NFL coach and runs the Patriots as a fiefdom. He appoints his own staff and decides a lot of his own transfers, which is pretty unusual, but you can't argue with the results. All five of their Super Bowl wins have come during his tenure, and they've won the AFC East in virtually every year he's been there. When he retires he will probably be considered either the greatest or the second greatest coach of all time (after Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of Green Bay and Washington. And to put into perspective how revered successful coaches are here, the main freeway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth is named for a former Cowboys coach, Tom Landry. It'd be like having part of the M8 named for Jock Stein.)

 

The Eagles, on the other hand, are hugely popular but relatively unsuccessful, tending to fall at the last or second-last hurdle. They have one of the most rabid fanbases in all of US sports but one that isn't repaid by any real success. Their last championship was well over 50 years ago, and their last Super Bowl appearance was in 2004... when they lost to the Patriots, naturally.

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I was living in the states when it was Superbowl 3 and I've followed the game since 1969. I love it and will be glued to the box munching waffles and fried chicken. Normally I'd prefer an AFC win but not tonight. Anyone but the Pats and that cunt Belichick.

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They are seen as a ruthless, unsportsmanlike organization, who will bend the rules in order to win. See for example 'deflategate', where the Patriots were found to have partially deflated the football in the AFC Championship game (basically the semi-final before the Super Bowl) a couple of years back. This went all the way to the US Circuit Courts, i.e. the second highest court in the land after the Supreme Court:
 
 
They've been caught cheating in ways like this several times, there's no denying it, but there's also no denying that they've built an absolutely incredible team.
 
Their coach, Bill Belichick, is by far the longest-serving NFL coach and runs the Patriots as a fiefdom. He appoints his own staff and decides a lot of his own transfers, which is pretty unusual, but you can't argue with the results. All five of their Super Bowl wins have come during his tenure, and they've won the AFC East in virtually every year he's been there. When he retires he will probably be considered either the greatest or the second greatest coach of all time (after Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of Green Bay and Washington. And to put into perspective how revered successful coaches are here, the main freeway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth is named for a former Cowboys coach, Tom Landry. It'd be like having part of the M8 named for Jock Stein.)
 
The Eagles, on the other hand, are hugely popular but relatively unsuccessful, tending to fall at the last or second-last hurdle. They have one of the most rabid fanbases in all of US sports but one that isn't repaid by any real success. Their last championship was well over 50 years ago, and their last Super Bowl appearance was in 2004... when they lost to the Patriots, naturally.

 

 

...so it's Bayern Munich vs Liverpool? 

You address me by my proper title, you little bollocks! 


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What are the wifebeating statistics like in the USA on Superbowl day? Are they comparable with, say, an average Rangers league game?

 

Actually not as bad as you'd think, but they generally run a commercial about domestic violence during the game (an inducement not to do it, rather than to enjoy it.) I'm not sure why that is but I think it's because the NFL is actually quite popular amongst women, particularly middle-aged women. Yes, it's a male pastime first and foremost, as professional sports usually are, but watching the NFL on a Sunday is also very much a family thing in many households, particularly among fans of the old working-class teams like the Packers and the Steelers. Mom, dad, and the kids will all watch the game together. 

 

I haven't looked it up but I'd assume that drunk driving spikes significantly on Super Bowl day. It certainly does on other booze-soaked holidays. I was out working over the festive season and saw plenty of dodgy drivers. One I actually called in to the police while on I-820 because he was weaving so badly and came extremely close to hitting a truck. When people leave bars and Super Bowl parties the streets will be absolutely full of people who've been drinking since noon. Even with Uber and the like, driving to/from drinking occasions is simply part of the culture here and although it's nowhere near as bad as parts of Latin America it's not getting better as quickly as it should.

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...so it's Bayern Munich vs Liverpool? 

 

Eagles fans aren't ambulance-chasing, self-regarding "craic" merchants. They're just regular Philadelphians, which is to say they're rude and brusque. I quite like them.

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I was living in the states when it was Superbowl 3 and I've followed the game since 1969. I love it and will be glued to the box munching waffles and fried chicken. Normally I'd prefer an AFC win but not tonight. Anyone but the Pats and that **** Belichick.

 

See, I totally understand why people feel that way, but I like winners. Bill Belichick is a winner. So I like Belichick.

 

I read recently that the two most successful coaches in the US at pro and college level - Belichick in the NFL and Nick Saban in the NCAA - are both of Croatian Catholic descent, and how incredibly unlikely that is in terms of the stats.

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Half time 'entertainment' is for girls. Get some chicken down yer neck

 

I went out and bought my high fructose corn syrup rations for the week, as is my custom. There was no queue. Cashback!

 

That 4th down pass from Philly right there before the timeout was pretty fucking impressive but I don't bet against Tom Brady so I think they're going to get the turnover on the next drive.

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