Football is a symbol of American exceptionalism. It is a game that few others around the world play, yet it is arguably the most popular sport in our country. It is a game that requires both thought and talent, of players and coaches alike. It is so physical that players must wear protective gear on (almost) their entire bodies. It is a game of planning and execution. If you are outcoached and outplayed, you lose. If you outcoach and outplay your opponent, you win.
Soccer is a great sport, too. It would simply be false for me to say anything else. While it would be easy to argue that football is superior because it has a better system for determining its one champion, a better length of season, and some of the greatest athletes in the world (there are 300 pound, 6’6” football players who run like the wind), this is not what sets football above its European counterpart. Football is more than just a sport; it is a symbol of America.
Watching a football game can be like watching a carefully planned battle. Every individual has a specific role. If one individual fails to do his job, all of his teammates suffer. The quarterback must serve as a field general, leading his fellow men deep into enemy territory. The running back takes pressure off of the quarterback by serving as a decoy of sorts. The infantry on the offensive line must protect their leader, while the wide receivers run carefully planned routes in attempts at gaining ground on their opponent. Meanwhile, the defensive line attempts to push the offensive forces back into their own territory, while linebackers roam the field looking to stop anyone who might make their way through the first line of defense. The secondary covers their own territory, and, if used effectively, can also help push the offense back.
Football is America. It is Manifest Destiny in a stadium. It is the clash of Titans and Giants on a one hundred yard field. It is Texans defending their territory against Raiders. It is a contest between Patriots who seek to overcome Buccaneers. It is an event in which Eagles soar and Lions roar, and in which Colts and Broncos try to gallop to victory.
While the world pours into stadiums to watch men who flop to the ground in tears, Americans pour into our stadiums to watch our men be forced to the ground and rise again, only to be forced down once more on the following play. It is a game of tenacity and toughness, of poise and persistence. The rest of the world may not get it. They may think we are odd for our love of this game. We know the truth though, that it takes both brains and brawn to conquer the rest. We know dominance can only be achieved through overcoming adversity, and for rising from the ground only to wipe the blood, dirt, and sweat from our bodies so that we can pick the ball back up and go right back at our opponents. Other nations might not appreciate our way of doing things. We may be alone in our love for this phenomenon that we call a “sport.” But sometimes, you are alone in supporting what is right, and for us Americans, what is right is more important than what is popular.
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