Among sports enthusiasts, nothing defines our culture more than American football. The sport holds a special place in society – beating even baseball or basketball in cultural significance. In fact, dissertations have been written on American football’s sway over our nation’s culture. But in order to fully understand the sport’s considerable import, one must first understand how it all began.
American football is named such because it had to differentiate itself from its English predecessor. When it was first introduced in the United States, the sport was fairly violent and there were no set rules. As it grew in popularity, so did the need for more formal and non-violent regulations. It was formally established in 1863, when the English proponents created the Football Association and incorporated various soccer rules. Since then, it has become a solid yet powerful background for a myriad of this country’s changing belief systems and values.
The sport was initially played by factory workers who needed a form of release. But the workers’ no holds barred style of playing led to the sport’s traditional violence, which would paint a dark and often dangerous picture of football.
In the early 1900s, as emphasis on civilized conduct was being promoted, the rules of the game changed as well. With such evolution followed values assovciated with the sport. In the 1920s, people were fascinated by the controlled fury the sport presented. Unlike soccer, baseball, or basketball, American football forced eleven people to perform as one – performing each task perfectly – in order to win.
The sport, however, remained naturally violent. The dissertations on American football qualify that the game can be likened to a representation of how we Americans view ourselves: tough, aggressive, and working together towards a single goal.
The authors of studies on the sport suggest that compared to other sports, American football’s structure and purpose are more relatable to citizens. Players’ personal lives strike a chord with the American society, largely the struggling working classes. There is also the fact that football attracts the most number of viewers; around eight million for a typical game and more than 100 million for the Super Bowl. It definitely has the power to convey metaphors about being American.