The News Editorial: Creating controversy where there is none

Leading up to Super Bowl LVIII, I kept seeing posts and headlines on how no one was going to watch this year’s Super Bowl as no one wanted to see a rematch from four years ago.

Well perhaps “no one” watched but many did, in fact, according to Poynter senior editor Tom Jones in his Tuesday newsletter, a record number watched this year’s Super Bowl. Early indication is 123.4 million viewers watched the game across all platforms, meaning CBS Television Network, Paramount+, Nickelodeon, Univision, CBS Sports and NFL digital properties, including NFL+.

I personally watched on Paramount+ because my husband does not watch the NFL. I had taken a break for a few years and then started watching again last year because it is something I enjoy and life is too short to not enjoy the little things in life.

I watch TV, whether it is sports or crime dramas for entertainment. Occasionally I will watch a documentary for educational value but mostly if I am watching TV it is my opportunity to veg and decompress.

I do not look for hidden messages, I do not look for political meanings or controversy. I watch for enjoyment.

Specifically in this year’s Super Bowl, I started hearing about the “Black national anthem” being sung.

Well I watched the pregame and listened as Andra Day sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The announcers did not call it the Black national anthem. There was not commentary. It was a beautiful song. She came, she sang.

Then Post Malone sang America the Beautiful. Again no commentary. And Reba McEntire sang the national anthem and the announcers and Reba gave the anthem it’s proper reverence.

Then came the game and while I was disappointed in the outcome it was entertaining.

After the game I saw posts about someone with Taylor Swift making “demonic” symbols and wearing an upside down cross and how terrible CBS was to show that. (Note, they did not show the streaker, thankfully).

But, here’s my take, you have to slow down the video and look closely for her hands making possible demonic signs or it could be “hook ‘em horns” sign for the Texas Longhorns. The necklace, upon research was designed by Alex Moss, not meant to be satanic. In fact, according to Catholic.com, “The upside down cross is an ancient symbol of St. Peter’s crucifixion. Tradition tells us that when St. Peter was martyred, he insisted that he be crucified upside down as he did not believe himself worthy to be crucified in the manner of Jesus Christ.”

I don’t know if rapper Ice Spice is a Satan worshipper. What I do know is some people have way too much time on their hands to go looking for things to create division and controversy about.

Then last night my husband tells me the 49ers players did not understand the overtime rules. My reply. “So.”

He agreed but some sportscasters were making a big deal about it.

Would them knowing the rules better have changed the outcome? Possibly but I doubt it. They scored a field goal and Kansas City a touchdown in overtime. Maybe they thought they would get another possession? I doubt that. As much talk over the past few years about overtime and the change in the overtime rules I find it hard to believe players did not have some inkling on how overtime works.

Do not even get me started about the focus on Taylor Swift. I do not understand why this is a huge deal.

Every live sporting event shows family members and significant others of players and yes Taylor Swift may get more than her fair share, but is that really a problem. I have heard stories of young girls watching football with their fathers to catch a glimpse of her and my thought – quality time between a father and daughter just like when I would watch baseball with my dad (or when he watched an entire episode of Bonanza with me despite me falling asleep at the beginning).

Thus if the Super Bowl teaches us anything, it teaches us that when in the absence of real controversy, people will create it … just because they can.