American football is a popular sport played on the field that’s enjoyed by many countries, but in the United States, it’s been dubbed “America’s sport”.
What is it about this hard-hitting game that draws so many fans? The competition and intensity? Its rich history and camaraderie? Because it gives people, no matter their background, a sense of belonging and pride? Perhaps it’s the rivalries and Cinderella stories? It’s hard to say, other than that it must be an invigorating concoction of all of those things.
Watching the Game is Just Half of the Fun
Then again, maybe it’s just the food! Sports fans get hungry and thirsty (albeit for blood in some cases) as a natural result of the length of the game and the social aspect of watching games with friends and family. This is where a whole new dimension of watching football really comes into play. This is where you realize that watching the game is only half the fun.
Whether you’re home alone watching a football game or at a party with friends, you’re bound to run into food. As social beings (and hungry beings) food plays a significant role in all that we do. In light of what we refer to as football culture, nothing demonstrates this point better than the Super Bowl.
The Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is one of the greatest days of the year for 100 million Americans who tune in to the game. It’s the climax of a gullet-stuffing feeding spree that begins on Halloween and endures through several more American holidays.
What role does food have on Super Bowl Sunday? According to Harry Balzer, an expert on America’s eating habits, who has been tracking food eaten on Super Bowl Sunday since 1981, the thought of food is reason enough for many Americans to tune in to the game. What does food and football have in common? Not a whole lot. Yet they remain inseparable.
Balzer and other prognosticators say that you are certain to see a consumption increase for the following foods:
- Chicken Wings (Total of 1.25 billion: source)
- Chips & Dips
- Pizza
- Vegetables
- Desserts
- Fried Chicken
- Grilled Meats
Is your mouth watering yet? The list continues…
- Sub Sandwiches
- BBQ Ribs
- Burgers
- Nachos
- Jalapeno Poppers
- Hot Dogs
The Best Way to Entertain Your Guests
Okay, okay the Super Bowl isn’t representative of the rest of the season. But it’s nevertheless a trend. Not only does food pile up in living rooms and sports bars across the nation on Super Bowl Sunday, but it also piles up on tailgates and picnic tables on game days. Some examples of this include college game day, Sunday Night Football on NBC (the most watched TV series of 2012) and Monday Night Football on ESPN.
In the end, wherever people play the game, you can be sure that food and drink will also be there. Bradley Smoker knows better than anyone that it’s all about good food, good friends and good fun. And Fall is the perfect time to fire up the grill or electric smoker and entertain guests, because it’s the beginning of football season. What better way to entertain your guests than with your Bradley?
Looking forward to your comments, as always.
