Why Most of the Sports World Is Dreading February 9th
As a lifelong Detroit Lions fan, I can say with great certainty that this year’s Super Bowl is one I wouldn’t mind not tuning in for. This National Football League (NFL) season showed great promise for teams like the Lions, Ravens, Bills, and more. I was hopeful that this would be our year—the first Lions Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. But, I digress. After an unfortunate turn of events, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will meet again in yet another Super Bowl matchup on Sunday, February 9.
The Fumble
The issue here is that most NFL fans have a strong dislike for the Chiefs. Aside from formal research, I know this to be true because a quick Google search of “Why do people hate the…” shows the Chiefs being the 2nd most searched. Many online critics claim that the referees consistently assist the team in their wins through the penalties and play calls they make to keep the Chiefs on top. As they attempt to make history by becoming the first team to receive a Super Bowl victory three years in a row, everyone except members of the Chiefs Kingdom isn’t rooting for this.
PR’s Play Call
The internet has not been quiet about their distaste for this Super Bowl match-up, as it further leads to the conspiracy that the NFL is “scripted” and the teams who end up playing in the big game are not by chance, but by choice. I’ve been familiar with this idea for a while now. While I don’t 100% believe it’s true, it’s rather interesting how it always seems to line up.
Additionally, this adds to the NFL's already poor PR reputation. From player safety concerns to the rigged games, the NFL is no stranger to controversy. An article by 5W Public Relations shares tips for how the NFL can fix its PR problem. These tips boil down to accountability and reprimand. However, as the league is a successful multi-billion dollar industry, I don’t see their concern lying within their public image.
As I dry my tears (kidding, that’s dramatic) over the Detroit Lions once again falling short of making a Super Bowl appearance, I reflect on the internet’s outroar of disappointment. I can only imagine what will happen if the Kansas City Chiefs take home another Lombardi Trophy.
Kendall is a senior majoring in Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Digital Studies. Outside of GrandPR, she sits as GVPRSSA's VP of Programming for the 2024-25 school year. She is also a Digital Media Content Creator for GVSU Seidman College of Business. She has previously interned at Lambert by LLYC as a Public Relations Intern. After graduation, she hopes to work in social media or influencer marketing in-house.