In the U.S. today, it's the premier event for football. I've never been much of an American football fan (I actually prefer soccer), but I do remember my grandmother yelling at the TV when the Baltimore Colts lost to the New York Jets during Super Bowl III in 1969. I also remember how stunned fans were over the Colts' middle-of-the-night move to Indianapolis in 1984. Fast forward; I watched a few high school games when my daughter was on the Athletic Training team in 2005, and, from my comfortable family room couch seat, cheered the Baltimore Ravens to victory during Super Bowls XXXV and XLVII--2000 and 2012 Champions. There you have it, my football history in a nutshell. I'm cheering for the Seattle Seahawks today--the weather in Seattle is similar to Utrecht, AND, ...
...more importantly, the New England Patriots beat the Ravens in the Divisional Playoffs, so obviously, I'm not supporting them! Interestingly enough, the Patriots beat the Indianapolis Colts during the AFC Championship game (clearly, I wouldn't have cheered for the Colts either)! The scandal that has ensued over the balls used in the Patriots vs. Colts game has been named Deflategate, and has led to increased security for the 108 official Super Bowl game balls! Now, for a person who does not follow football, I find the Internet quite helpful, hence the source for most of my information here.
My sunset image for today's Spiritual Sunday includes a statue located on Poseidonos Avenue in Palaio Faliro in Athens. The torch and five rings--arranged in their original configuration--commemorate the Olympics, which I had the honor of attending in Athens in 2004. Organized sports have certainly evolved since the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C. The Olympic creed was developed thousands of years later, and can certainly apply to all athletic events, including today's big game:
The most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight;
the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well.
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. (New American Bible, 2 Timothy 2:5) There will only be one winner today. May the game be a fair one, and may all fans show good sportsmanship as well..
My sunset image for today's Spiritual Sunday includes a statue located on Poseidonos Avenue in Palaio Faliro in Athens. The torch and five rings--arranged in their original configuration--commemorate the Olympics, which I had the honor of attending in Athens in 2004. Organized sports have certainly evolved since the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C. The Olympic creed was developed thousands of years later, and can certainly apply to all athletic events, including today's big game:
The most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight;
the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well.
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. (New American Bible, 2 Timothy 2:5) There will only be one winner today. May the game be a fair one, and may all fans show good sportsmanship as well..