I’m not much of a sports fan, and to those that are, today is the high holy day for football.

I think that participating in sports is an important part of life – whether individual fitness focused activity like biking, yoga or weight lifiting, or competitive and team sports like racquetball, softball and soccer. Not only do we gain strength and endurance, but we learn about ourselves and our ability to stretch, persevere, and meet challenges.

I’m not nearly so certain that spectator sports is all that life altering, although sports fans would disagree with me. I just don’t get the appeal or value of watching others compete, it’s boring to me. Nonetheless, it’s a multibillion dollar industry that operates across multiple sports, makes superstars, and entertains millions around the world.

Professional sports seems to be a modern analogue of the ancient gladiator system. Corporate tycoons own teams of elite competitors, and field them against each other for public consumption. The public attends sporting events, and eggs competitors on for more violence, more blood, more spectacle. The elite competitors become megacelebrities, feted with endorsements, privilege, wealth and women, and are only allowed to retire when disabled beyond all ability to continue playing. The only thing that’s missing from today’s system is the emperor’s thumbs up/down ruling on live or die at the end of a match.

Maybe the value of fandom to those that follow sporting events is catharsis – the vicarious expression of bloodlust, aggression, violence and victory in a society that no longer permits those more primitive behaviors. Perhaps it’s more simple – admiration and envy for a level of physical prowess that the average person can never hope to achieve.

There are serious fans that never miss a home ball game, year after year after year. Others travel to spring training every year, go on team cruises, collect team memorabilia and play fantasy sports leagues. My husband is proud owner of a pair of Seahawks season tickets, and during away games, sits in his recliner screaming at the tv. I laugh at him – I just don’t get it – but I’m glad he’s enjoying himself.

So, today, on Super Bowl Sunday, Bryan will immerse himself in the game — in spite of the Seahawks flaming out in the playoffs. I will watch the occasional commercial, but I don’t have the attention span for an entire football game. We will put together some great snacks and drinks, and make an afternoon of it.

And then, football will be over for the year, and peace will reign in my living room again.