Celebrating the Super Bowl

<p>A <em>de facto</em> American national holiday and phenomenon the Super Bowl claims a spot as one of the most significant sporting events in the world and the most widely celebrated feasted and feasting event of the year- with $14+ billion at stake commercials costing $7 million for a 30-second spot record-setting broadcast ratings and 113+ million viewers. More avocados (105 million pounds) are consumed and more beer is drunk (325 million gallons) on the single day of Superbowl Sunday. But there is much more at play than partying at our annual sports extravaganza as this scholarly researched yet readable volume demonstrates: Here you will read a historical perspective that includes discussions of the meta-event's economics (stakeholders host cities advertising gambling and media) fandom ratings halftime entertainment the roles of mythic spectacle and religion football's sexist militaristic language gender issues like cheerleaders and sex trafficking the Puppy Bowl medical concerns like concussions and violence tailgating and foodie ideas-all along with tidbits about your favorite team(s) and player(s). Touchdown!</p>