Over 110 million Americans tuned in to watch the Super Bowl in 2012, and for three straight years the Super Bowl has broken its own viewer record, priming this years’ (2013) to be, again, the most viewed television event in history (even before the official numbers come out). There is the typical build up and fanfare surrounding the event, and why not; it is the quintessential BIG American event. This year was different. The story lines set this one apart: two young coaches who are brothers (who probably have the fiercest rivalry and adoration for each other), an all-time great retiring, a mid-season second year backup quarterback turned sensation, and the list goes on. My favorite story line, albeit a quiet one, had to do with Joe Flacco.
News about athletes has been trending in the wrong direction over the past few years, more and more negative things, and we forgive them because they can jump high, run fast, or throw hard. Joe (yes we are on a first name basis) has kept his nose clean. He seems calm and collected at all times. Even during crunch time of the biggest games it looks like his pulse might peak at 75 beats per minute. His own father has even described him as dull. To ESPN “Joe is dull… As dull as he is portrayed in the media, he’s that dull. He is dull.” His father, not to beat the point to death, even speculated that some of Joe’s funny wedding pictures couldn’t have been his idea, because they were too funny. “I guarantee none of it was Joe’s idea.”