The Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is always on Sunday, but we as a family had made a rule that we wouldn’t watch TV on Sundays. When my oldest brother became interested in following professional football and was interested in watching the Super Bowl he decided to do something about his dilemma. My dad was excited to have someone to talk to about sports and so encouraged him to find a solution, yet he did not see any reason to watch the game if they already knew the score or who won. So, they could not watch the game live because it was on Sunday, yet they could not watch it Monday night because they would have heard the score at work or school. To solve this problem my brother decided they could would wake up at 3am and watch a VHS recording of it. This time was early enough that they could finish the game in time for scriptures in the morning with the rest of the family and still get to school and work on time. My mom supported this tradition as well and would even bring us chips and salsa down at half time. Throughout the years each of us boys have enjoyed the tradition as a quirky thing we as a family do. Being exhausted at school the next day was a badge of honor and a conversation starter with all of your friends, something we would brag about.

This tradition is not one of a spiritual nature really, although it is for spiritual reasons we kept it. It was definitely a good tradition because it bonded us boys to our father, fostered a great story telling atmosphere with each other and our friends and was a mark of manhood when you were old enough to get up and enjoy the time together. It was not much a natural tradition although the time would come and we would always remember the silly tradition we had kept.

I do not think any of us still keep this tradition, although my parents have asked me each year I have been at college whether I would or not. I would not be surprised, though, if my brothers kept the tradition with their children when they are old enough, but for now it is not important enough for them. The thing about the game was that none of us were really that interested in football. We just wanted to spend the time with each other. Without that none of us are motivated to do the same.