The Soul of Soulpower

Super Bowl XLIV is tomorrow. For football heads, NFL heads in particular the world stops for a day depending on how much of party you have with it. In general I don’t attend Super Bowl parties because I actually watch the game end to end.  This is year is a great one too. The Indianapolis Colts #1 in the AFC, representing my home state and the New Orleans Saints representing a city that I’ve lived in and loved for many years. Absolutely compelling, the Colts and the injury to Dwight Freeney, the future Hall of Famer (whom I refer to as my baby daddy J) Peyton Manning coached by Jim Caldwell, an African-American handpicked by the great former coach of the Colts Tony Dungy to lead the charge. The Saints represent a city and really an entire region that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a region which has been left behind and continues to suffer. The Saints have all the goods though, high powered offense, a stud QB, opportunistic defense and all. The game is going to be a great one and though torn I’m rooting for the Colts.

I look forward to the game, but am not in my usual state of hyperventilation in anticipation of it. I’m not fired up because in the end, it is a game. In the end the cities that each of these teams represents will continue to have triumph and to have struggle.  The thought of zillions of dollars spent to “put on” an event of the magnitude, the thought of the gazillions of dollars spent to advertise at the event knowing that there are people on the street right now who don’t have Doritos or BMWs, they don’t need Viagra and aren’t going on vacation. Folks need a home and a hot meal.  Oh and let’s not forget to mention that high level security, FBI and CIA type security in addition to local authorities are now required for a sporting event of this magnitude. Yeah the new normal is the ever present (supposed) threat of terrorism that will require fans attending the game to get there HOURS early to get felt up and have their bags rifled through. Yeah that’s really fun times.

I love football, really I do, I’m hoping that once the national anthem is over I will be ready to settle in and enjoy the game with the same fervor as I always do.  We know that however it ends some NFL history will be made.  When the game is over, and the endless analysis is done and we step back into the real world, let’s be a bit more mindful.  Love your people, love those who can’t help themselves, love yourself, love your higher power those things will always trump sports and in the end, those are the things that matter most.