The National Football League awards the Lombardi trophy to the Seattle Seahawks following their victory in the Super Bowl XLVIII. The Lombardi trophy is won by one of 32 National Football League teams each year by winning the tournament culminating the American football season. This year the Seattle Seahawks will compete in their second consecutive Super Bowl, XLIX, against the New England Patriots. Photo from Forbes.com
By OWEN CHURCHWELL – Staff Writer
Every year, two out of 32 National Football League teams compete in the Super Bowl. Out of those two teams only one wins, making the Super Bowl not only the most watched sporting event in America, but also a game full of suspense, as two teams compete for their destiny of winning.
Throughout my childhood, I have watched the Super Bowl, even when I was too young to comprehend what was going on. In fact, the first Super Bowl I remember watching was when I was around four years old. Though I had no idea what was going on and probably would have much rather been in bed, I still made an attempt to watch it because I knew that my family cared about it and was very excited.
A few years later, I watched my very first Super Bowl that I could actually comprehend. Super Bowl XLII happened to be arguably one of the best Super Bowls in NFL history. It pitted the undefeated New England Patriots, lead by one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, Tom Brady, against the New York Giants who were lead by Eli Manning, a quarterback who, although known for his many interceptions and an inaccurate pass, still managed to bring his team to the Super Bowl.
Like many NFL fans, I was cheering for the underdogs, the Giants. The Giants made an epic final drive to win the game with their wide receiver David Tyree using his head to make a drive saving catch, later resulting in a 13 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Plaxico Burress to win the game with just 35 seconds left.
Though the game was one of the most exciting in NFL history, I mostly remember it for the celebrations that happened afterwards, which is really what makes the Super Bowl such a significant event. Without all of the fans who are determined for their team to win the Super Bowl watching eagerly from home, the Super Bowl wouldn’t be nearly as intense or as a prominent event in my life.
