The Big Game.

THE BIG GAME is going to happen Monday night, for dedicated Buckeye Fans it is a chance for the team to gain redemption from a disastrous showing last year in the National Championship matchup against Florida (did Michigan bring some joy to the Buckeye soul by defeating Florida this year?). The Buckeyes continue taking a beating in the national press as they prepare to go up against the LSU this year.

Sports are an important part of our Popular Culture. It is important to Americans and we spend a lot of time and money on it, not to speak of the emotional investments we make. What values does it reflect in American society? Rituals in society give us a sense of belonging, meaning , and organizing our lives. What ever sport you follow, what ever team in that sport, it can be the central feature of your time. Our teams become our icons, we live and breathe Brutus Buckeye, or that sacred necklace of those ‘Doe Eyed Nuts” to hang around our necks at game time to help bring luck to our team and us.

This game coming up is important; being in a national championship brings a sense of excitement anytime. Even more so this year, as it is a chance to find redemption. Redemption is another important value for us. Being in competition, succeeding, gaining recognition for our efforts (vicariously through the team), maybe even physical fitness and teamwork, but redemption is a value we hold as important. Defeat is to be avoided, by in many aspects of our society we take pride in those who have fallen low but through hard work are able to pull themselves back up and succeed, in business, entertainment, in politics, and maybe even in sports.