To watch or not to watch? That is the question.
I still remember the first Super Bowl I ever watched. I had recently moved to Seattle, Washington, and the state's beloved team, the Seahawks, made it to this game of all games for the first time in a long time. It was big news. Seattle fans in particular are known for their loyalty (and their record-breaking cheering--as loud as a jet engine when they play at home). It was incredibly easy for my non-sports-following family to get swept up in the excitement, and for the first time in our lives, we wanted to watch the Super Bowl.
Which is always, we knew, without fail played on a Sunday.
Lucky for us, one of our neighbors had an ingenious plan: he would record the game, and we would hold our Super Bowl party on Monday. We'd stay away from media outlets (not hard on a Sunday) and all be surprised by the outcome Monday morning instead. Given how my family isn't big on sports, waiting wasn't hard for us, but for many, I can sympathize with the flaws present in this plan. It's so easy to just check score updates discretely between family dinner and scripture study.
Still, even if a few at our party had "cheated," a fun time was had by all and it was a great introduction to sports for me.
Now, many years later, the Seahawks are back in it. Since their last appearance, I got happily married to a sports enthusiast (who happens to cheer for the Broncos), which means, you guessed it: we're facing the question of whether or not to watch the Super Bowl this coming Sunday.
Over the years, I've heard arguments on both sides: sporting events are inherently rambunctious and can drive the spirit away, but they're also a great way to bond with family members and have an overall uplifting experience as we celebrate rich traditions together. With plenty of sporting now under my belt, I can see it both ways.
Personally, I think our family's choice one way or the other will have to be a gameday decision, but as a faithful Mormon in a Seahawks-Broncos household, I'm curious how many of you will be watching the Super Bowl this year.
Take the poll and let us know, then leave a comment about how you handle this sticky situation in your household.