Reply #53: A theater of two defining American obsessions: War and Law [View All]

Two over-specialized high tech armies are deployed by their respective high commands to battle violently for territory, but under strict terms set by an all-powerful and often arbitrary State. A 1000-page rule book meticulously lay out the details of clean and dirty HITS. Americans LOVE the idea of war as a civilized, regulated, repeatable activity with no doubt as to who won or lost! Every play ends on the sheriff's whistle. Most of the plays are followed by significant official rulings of many kinds: ball placement, in-bounds and out, possession calls, clock times, and, of course, 10-20 penalty calls that often determine the outcome. The rulings occasion deliberations and have even given rise to a body of precedent and jurisprudence. Unresolved cases are sent to an appeals court in the booth, and there is even a Supreme Court in the form of the Commissioner's Office and a legislature of team owners (These bodies play a more pronounced role than in most other sports.) In recent years, the opposing generals have even been given the right to pursue litigation.

And on top of it all, the corporations who broadcast and finance the show by advertising get to determine the time structure. It's a vehicle for 70 minutes of lucrative commercials and in-game promotions in just three hours air time.

(Refer to George Carlin's discourse on the comparative merits of football and baseball.)