Almost 36 years ago, the Soviet Union continued its push toward trying to win the Cold War by invading Afghanistan, adding more tension to the situation.
In 1980, though, the United States and several countries responded by boycotting the Summer Olympics in Moscow. President Jimmy Carter said the country wouldn’t participate in the Summer Games if the Soviet Union didn’t withdraw from Afghanistan within a month.
It never happened.
The United States Olympic team spent the summer on its homeland but saw the Soviet Union return the favor four years later. With the United States hosting, the Soviets boycotted the 1984 Summer Games.
With this year’s Super Bowl between New England and Seattle in the desert this weekend, another boycott is about to happen.
Growing up as a 49ers fan, I felt this season was tough to watch. Expected to compete for a title, the 49ers fell flat, not only missing the playoffs completely but regressing on offense and ultimately losing their head coach.
Seeing Seattle in the Super Bowl for the second year in a row is sickening. Granted, the Seahawks are playing their best football at the right time, although it still stings how last year ended in Seattle, especially with the Richard Sherman postgame antics on live TV.
My feeling toward New England is no different.
Since the horrible ending of the Raiders’ playoff loss in snowy New England and the Patriots’ cheating scandal before their Super Bowl win against the Rams, I have no respect for the Patriots. Their recent deflated football scandal has made it only worse and if the Patriots manage to solve the Seahawks’ defense, there should be an asterisk in the NFL record books.
This is where boycotting comes into play.
For the first time since the Steelers-Cowboys Super Bowl in the mid-1990s, I haven’t been this disinterested in the Super Bowl. I don’t even want to watch the pregame show or even the commercials. I’ll catch the commercial recap on YouTube on Monday.
But I don’t plan on boycotting the Super Bowl completely.
The 49ers’ last championship when Steve Young led the team to victory over San Diego will be on the TV, reminding the family when the 49ers were the best team in the country. You don’t have to be a 49ers fan to feel this way, either, as fans of several teams longing for a championship might consider watching the highlight reel instead.
I love sports, especially football. I love the Super Bowl.
But when it involves two teams I absolutely hate, boycotting is the only thing that makes sense.
Is it cowardly? Sure. But wouldn’t you rather do something else than watch your rival compete against a cheater for the ultimate prize in professional football?
Imagine what a Ravens fan went through when Pittsburgh played in the big game several years ago, or a Cowboys fan having to hear nothing but Robert Griffin III and the Redskins trying to win a championship.
Sunday’s game, regardless, could be one of the best in Super Bowl history. But even with all the historic implications, that’s not even close enough to sway me from wasting four hours of my evening.
There are better things to do than watch two of the most hated teams in the NFL compete for the Lombardi Trophy.
Thomas Ranson can be contacted at lvnsports@yahoo.com.