On February 6th, 106.5 million Americans tuned into FOX to watch the Green bay Packers take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.  The Super Bowl is not just an event for sports fans and football spectators, it is an American experience. This is why the NFL incorporates so many aspects of American culture and tradition into the game itself.

Every year FOX network invests millions of dollars in solidifying an impeccable artist to deliver the pregame national anthem, and this year the role was apprehended by music icon and unbelievable vocalist, Christina Aguilera. As 106.5 million viewers paid their respects our country and turned their eyes to Aguilera for the singing of the anthem, they were outraged as she fumbled the lyrics. “Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight, What so proudly we watched at the twilights last reaming?”

No, that was not a typo. It seems that Aguilera recognized her mistake and combined the words “ramparts” and “gleaming.” Aguilera continued with her performance. Aguilera has become known over the course of her career for her ability to carry a strong note. However, were her vocal accomplishments great enough to mask her lyrical errors? It appears not. Aguilera issued a public apology to the Associated Press in the days following the game; “I got so lost in the moment of the song that I lost my place. I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through.”

Aguilera’s performance got an outrageous amount of coverage from the media. However, it seems to me that this mistake wasn’t the only ignominy of the game. During the military salute, Air Force jets flew over Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas in an effort to convey a sense of patriotism and nationalism upon the proud Americans who filled the stadium. But 1,200 of these fans were forced to stand due to the lack of seating in the pavilion. And although the image was incredibly symbolic and inspiring over television, no one in the stadium was even aware of the jets due to the fact that the roof of the dome was closed.

Given the Texan reputation for being a very conservative, proud, and patriotic part of our nation, it’s safe to say that Americans expected quite the Super Bowl performance. If you’ve read any of my previous articles, you know by this point in the semester that I’m a very proud and patriotic Republican. So needless to say, I was beyond excited to see Texas, the land where my beloved George W. Bush governed, display it’s renowned sense of superiority and American pride. And while the athleticism and sport of the day was far from disappointing, every other aspect of the spectacle was. It seems to me that the NFL, FOX, and Americans, especially Texas need to reflect on the meaning of the Super Bowl.

Yes, it is the championship game of the NFL but it is also a celebration of American culture. Though the flaws of the performance were not enough to ruin the game, they did impact the experience of the game. They took away from sense of Americana that the Super Bowl prides itself on. Texas, where “everything is bigger,” delivered nothing to enthusiastic Americans but a big Super Bowl fiasco.

aachambe@mesastate.edu