Countdown for Detroit Super Bowl 2006

If audience appeal is the sole criterion, Super Bowl is the biggest sports event in the United States.

Latest update: Steelers beat Seahawks, clinch Super Bowl after 26 years
With the Super Bowl win Pittsburgh Steelers now shares record for maximum number of Super Bowl titles with Dallas and San Francisco.

28 January 2006
MUMBAI, INDIA

Super Bowl was founded in 1966 as a platform to host the champions of the National Football Conference and the champions of American Football Conference. The play-off was to determine the best side in America and probably the world.

Though Super Bowl came into existence in 1966 only, the history of American football dates back to a century.
American football evolved from rugby imported from motherland England in 19th century by northeastern US colleges.

The Intercollegiate Football Association was founded in 1876 during a play-off between Harward and Yale universities and the rules for football, known or Americanised rugby, were set.

Four years later, Walter Camp of the Yale university was instrumental in bringIng about change of rules ushering in what is now known as American football.

It may be noted that one of the key decision of in the evolution of the game was the introduction of the forward pass in 1906, literally paving the way for a great march of a success story.

Gradually many professional teams began to emerge as the popularity of the game soared. About ten professional football teams formed the American Professional Football Association (APFA), prompting more changes in the rules.

The APFA is considered the predecessor of the National Football League (NFL).

As the game continued its evolution, various leagues also sprang up, but only the American Football League (AFL) was anywhere near the popularity of NFL.

Finally, these leagues were brought together under the banner of NFL creating the American Football Conference and National Football Conference.

The champions of these play in Super Bowl finals to determine the best team in the US.

Though football and rugby came to the US around the same time the dashing element of aggression gave rugby more popularity in America. Social scientists say this could be more due to the fact that aggression was more associated with masculinity.

Today’s game is a toned down version of violence associated with it as can be gauged from the fact that after a violence marred game in 1905, President Roosevelt had to threaten to slap a ban on the game which had a high chance of injuring players.

Moreover, the American urge to create an identity of its own also might have contributed to the frequent rule changes during its early stages.

It is worthwhile to note that US most popular sporting events, rugby and baseball are not that popular anywhere else in the world. So much for American identity.

The Super Bowl is also a much televised event, with millions watching the spectacle on the idiot box and advertisers reaping the benefit of a huge television audience. Such is the popularity of Super Bowl that many contests have started with concerts of pop icons like U2.

It may be recalled that during the live halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVIII organized by MTV, pop star Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson’s right breast during a live performance. This led to delayed live telecasts worldwide, following a barrage of criticism.

Halftime shows are regular features in American football, which costs millions to stage.

The annual Super Bowl Sunday has become a holiday and billions of dollars spent on television commercials by corporate giants and live performances during halftime have ensured that the game is held after sunset. The last game to be held before sunset was way back in 1977.

According to estimates, around 80 to 90 million watch Super Bowl on television throughout. The number of people who tune in to watch superbowl on TV at least for some time goes up to 130-40 million.

Stevie Wonder, Joss Stone and John Legend will perform during the 2006 Super Bowl. Aaron Neville, Aretha Farnklin and Dr John. Roling Stones will rock the halftime show.

This years’ Super Bowl will be held on Sunday, February 5 in Detroit, Michigan.

Incidentally, Detroit, along with Minneapolis are the only two cities in northern part of United States to host Super Bowl. Normally venues are in the southern part due to the wintertime weather consitions.