Friday, July 24, 2009

NFL Americas Game: San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl XXIX

Prior to the 1994 season, quarterback Steve Young had already enjoyed great success in the NFL. A two-time All-Pro with the San Francisco 49ers, Young was considered one of the NFL's most nimble and accurate passers. But Niners fans felt differently about him. In their estimation, Young had a flaw that was difficult to overcome: He wasn't Joe Montana. Montana led San Francisco to four Super Bowl victories. Young, as the starter, had yet to win one. So the team was determined to build a champion around their talented quarterback in '94. The front office went on a shopping spree in the free agent market, landing, among others, superstar cornerback Deion Sanders. Those additions -- and a career year from Young -- helped put the team in the same class as any of the 49er clubs from Montana's era. San Francisco went 13-3 to earn home-field advantage in the playoffs, where it swept past the Chicago Bears, and its chief rival, the Dallas Cowboys, to reach Super Bowl XXIX. There, Young surpassed his legendary predecessor with a record-breaking performance against the San Diego Chargers. Join NFL Films as they retell the story of the '94 49ers, a team truly young at heart. America's Game uses exclusive interviews with Young, Brent Jones and Merton Hanks to recount San Francisco's fifth world championship season.


Football is proverbially seen as a man's sport, an excuse to get together with the guys and drink until the final touchdown. While men do seem to be the most common demographic (perhaps they can relate to the idea of men knocking each other unconscious and screaming) there are many women that do actually enjoy the game. This is not simply referring to women who tolerate the Super Bowl parties and serve up BBQ wings to the army of NFL fans walking through the door. These are actually female fans that keep track of the score, root for the home team and would kick the average guy's butt when it comes to organizing a Super Bowl party.

What is to explain this phenomenon and why don't more women enjoy football? Realize that some sports parties are characterized by gender bonding. If men want to hang out with their friends then, nothing personal, they may not warm up to the idea of a wife or girlfriend crashing the party. The man may even fear that the women will bring an awkward energy to the event, such as criticizing some guy-like staples or focusing on the negative aspects of football. The man may be afraid of such a scenario and attempt to keep the game as mysterious and unwomanly as possible.

However, some guys are open to the idea of their spouse joining in on the Sunday fun, especially if she is a natural follower and enjoys watching a good show. The woman may warm up to sports in an effort to bond with her spouse or to make more friends. They may find exhilaration in showing the team spirit, having the common enemy and foe as their mate. When you think about it, football is a rather operatic sport; at once an expression of primal human emotion and a gladiatorial battle between giants. People live vicariously though these sports figures, and so both men and women find human aspiration thrilling and maybe even inspiring.

Then of course there are women who just love football for the same reason that men do-because it's fun, because they enjoy making predictions and cheering on their favorite teams, and because they've watched every Super Bowl since 1975. Men are not the only ones who can become obsessive over sports. There are some female NFL experts out there who can feel the same rush of adrenaline that comes from watching Tom Brady throw a game-winning pass. Everybody loves a good competition and football is America's most competitive game, with the most passionate of fans. It is at once, a patriotic event (watch the city of Atlanta be humbled by Dallas, while New York feuds with Green Bay) and a riveting thriller involving real life heroes and villains who grab that ball for dear life.

There's only one thing more satisfying in life than watching the Super Bowl with the guys, a bucket of wings and a pint of your favorite beverage all to yourself-all that plus a girl by your side who never asks to change the channel.

Catch every NFL game on DIRECTV NFL Sunday Ticket. The NFL Network will air live games along with replays and in depth commentary about whats happening around the league (only guaranteed with Satellite TV). NFL Superfan on DIRECTV will replay each game in 30 minutes commercial free for those die hard fans on a limited schedule. NFL Superfan also allows you to watch live football games from your PC or laptop. Visit DirectStarTV today for the best Direct TV Deals. Direct TV has the exclusive rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket. If you need to catch your out of market games, this is where you need to be.

sunday football nfl

No comments:

Post a Comment