The Super Bowl always reminds me of my father. He loved football. Oh, he had a healthy cynicism when it came to the multibillion dollar behemoth known as the NFL. I inherited that from him. He could compartmentalize though, tuning out the troubling aspects of the sport and the league long enough to enjoy the extraordinary athleticism on the field.
My dad played football in high school, which you’d never know because he never talked about himself much, but he was very good. I tried to play for one year in junior high school and was not very good (I’m good these days at tossing the pigskin around with my son, but hoops is my game, always will be). I loved my dad, so I loved watching games with him when I was a kid, before I really understood how the game worked. I loved the colorful uniforms (the midnight blue and silver Cowboys jerseys and the star on their helmets were early favorites). I marveled at the logos (an early indicator that graphic design was in my future).
So when I think of football today, I always associate it with things most people probably don’t even think about, like the aesthetics of uniform and logo design (which have both taken a nosedive since their glory days in the 1970s and 1980s). Most of all, I think about my dad. He died seven years ago. My eight year old son has taken an interest in watching the playoffs this year, which makes me smile (he loves the Bengals jerseys and unique, tiger-striped helmets—he has great taste in aesthetics already). We don’t care all that much about who wins or loses, though. It’s about time spent together. Fathers and sons. The cycle continues.
The Starfire Lounge 
Lovely post Michael, It’s touching to read your memories of your dad, and the new memories you’re making with your son. I still watch football with my old man. That’s Rugby League football, with six downs instead of four, and no blocking or forward passes.
I haven’t watched the NFL in years. I used to follow the Packers in the 90s, in fact I’ve still got a Brett Favre bobblehead, and a couple of his #4 jerseys. The American jerseys are far superior to European sport shirts, with their tacky designs festooned with sponsors logos.
I like the way the NFL teams rarely change their uniforms, although I don’t know why Tampa Bay dropped the creamsicle orange and the Errol Flynn inspired Buccaneer, for the pewter and red and skull and crossbones. I love the old Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers powder blue uniforms too. Enjoy your Superbowl Sunday!
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Thank you so my pfriend. It’s nice to make and have these memories with our dads, isn’t it? And you named two of my all time favorite uniforms! The Bucs’ creamsicle unis are a work of art, and those Chargers powder blues are gorgeous. I think the Bucs ditched the creamsicles because they associated them with a couple decades of (mostly) futility. A real shame though, because they are far superior to the pewter and red look.
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Keanu Reeves was in a football movie? Had no idea!
This is a wonderful post, the way you’ve included images from football’s past, and also your involvement in the sport with your father and your son.
Here’s to the Big Game today – may the best team win!
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Thank you my friend!
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Also, The Replacements is silly fun, and Keanu is his usual dreamy, great self in it!
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Beautiful post, Michael. I think of my Dad as well today. I think they are both watching the game from the stars.
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That’s so beautiful, and I like to think the same thing.
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