I’ll stick to college football
(Written by kencraw)
(Sorry for the lack of posts. I may have a post or two now and then (probably a couple around signing day for instance and a few around spring practice) but it’s going to be pretty quiet for the next few months. I’ll be back in regular form when fall practice gets under way.)
I watched the Superbowl last night and reminded myself why I prefer college football. Who here thinks Beyonce’s halftime show is appropriate for 10 year old boys? I sure as heck don’t. Yeah, it was no nipple-gate, but still, that outfit and her gyrations were so hyper-sexualized that it frankly upset me watching my 10-year old (my oldest) practically drooling sitting 5 feet from our new LED-LCD HDTV (in a shock and awe kinda way… he hasn’t hit puberty yet).
I probably wouldn’t have thought much of the otherwise ho-hum performance if he wasn’t in the room, but watching him watch it, I thought to myself “uhhh… he shouldn’t be watching this… uhhh… do I make a big deal about it and get him out of the room (and thus giving it an allure) or do I just pretend it’s no big deal… uhhh… decision paralysis!?!” (I ended up pretending it was no big deal.)
And there were similar issues in some of the commercials too. (As an aside, what a weak year for the commercials… there were a couple good ones, but overall weak.)
It was so bad I’m considering writing a letter to the NFL. They pretend to try and be family friendly, and those pretenses used to have some moderating effect on the content, but I think they’ve abandoned any meaningful commitment to that in the last couple years.
And I thought to myself after watching the trophy ceremony and turned off the TV after 6 continuous hours (started watching at 2:30) of an amazingly over-hyped, over-produced affair, that I really, really, really prefer college football.
It’s far more family friendly and far more about the sport itself.
February 5th, 2013 at 9:12 am
Ken,
You are right on target. I only have grandbears around the age of your children. I am concerned for them and the exposure they get to the over done sexiness of the halftime shows and commercials.
Write your letter. You are obviously a sports fan and potential customer of the advertisers. If there is no feedback they will think that their marketing strategists are geniuses.
Enjoy signing day!
February 7th, 2013 at 1:52 am
I agree – as I’ve watched the NFL through this season I’ve been repeatedly struck by the many commercials during every game that are not suitable for children. I have a four year old and, although he doesn’t get much NFL football on the TV, such commercials are something I don’t want the boy to be exposed to while watching a purportedly “family-friendly” event.
It’s eryf unfortunate because I used to think that my son would grow up to be a Raiders or Niners fan but unless something changes I don’t know how much NFL we’ll actually watch in the future. And of course taking him to an actual game is not something I’m contemplating anytime soon given the general drunkenness and swearing that’s just rampant.
Conversely, the various spaces at the new Memorial (even including the bars though they serve hard liquor) are bastions of peace and quiet ideal for the wife and kids to sit down and take a break from the frenzied atmosphere of the game itself. Both little ones were able to get calmer during halftime and other assorted breaks from time-to-time.
Also wanted to thank you for the work you do which keeps us informed about Cal Footall in all its various aspects.
GO BEARS!
February 7th, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Ken’s 6 month old nephew really enjoyed Beyonce’s halftime performance. It was loud and had flashy lights. Both things he enjoys.
I kid and digress.
Next year’s Super Bowl will be an interesting experiment. Being a cold-weather game, there is already discussion about not having a half time show. It’s a logistical challenge to begin with, add in the cold and possible snow, and well…