Internationally Relating

Globalization, depending on who you are, how you see it, and what you have to gain from it, has mixed connotations. Some see economic/political/technological interdependence as a positive step, whereas there are constantly anti-globalization rallies taking place in an attempt to halt the huge players in the international markets. Globalization, for what my opinion is worth, makes the world a better place. Coca-Cola is the most internationally recognized corporate symbol and ranks in the top three of all symbols; Starbucks is the fastest growing international corporation (expects to open in excess of another 12000 stores worldwide) and McDonalds is leading the pack in fast-food (having served over 99 Billion people). The ability to do international business just makes everything we do just a little easier and with governing bodies like the World Trade Organisation, the EU or NAFTA, parameters are set for all member countires and trade regulations are imposed. America, a global leader in entertainment and pop culture brings us to this week’s (Global) cultural topic of the week:

THE SUPERBOWL

Whether you care about the National Football League (NFL), you’ll undoubtedly have heard of it. In what is known as the world’s biggest sporting event, the two division champions (NFC and AFC) face off in the world’s second most viewed annual sporting event (number one is Europe’s FA Cup – other football.)

The first ever "supersunday" was 1967 when the then two American football league champions played each other. The Dallas Cowboys have the most appearances in the Superbowl with 8, and are in a 3-way tie for victories with 5 (tied with the Steelers and 49ers). This year's/Superbowl XLI match up: the Indianapolis Colts v. the Chicago Bears.

But wait, the Superbowl is played in the USA and never anywhere else. How does that make it an international event? Well, I watched it in England.

In a gathering of hundreds of mostly Americans, I headed down to (ironically) the Canadian bar, the Maple Leaf. If you’ve not heard the score already, you should probably stop reading pretty much right now. The Colts won. Watching the game was tough for me because I have this thing where I just don’t care about either of these teams. I guess I was rooting for the Colts, just because one time I was them and I didn’t get schooled playing Madden on Xbox, but other than that, no allegiances.

The Superbowl is such a big deal that prices start in the millions of dollars, while some huge companies dish out just to get their big break on the big screen. The most expensive ad ever aired during the Superbowl was one for Budweiser a few years ago, and since then, companies frequently premiere their own Superbowl ads during the big game. For many, the ads and the half time show are just as important as the game itself. We had an American satellite feed, so we apparently got the good ones – but none really stuck.

Most English people don’t like the NFL since they think that it’s just a shit-mix between “real football” and rugby. These are the same type of people who don’t like globalization. Americans love American football and with leagues now in Europe, maybe the English should just get with the bloody program – it could be worth millions.