Not Watching the Game? What to Do on Super Bowl Sunday
On average, 100 million people tune into the Super Bowl every year. Last year, it was estimated that 153.1 million viewers caught a portion of the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts battle for the Vince Lombardi Trophy (even if it was just to watch the halftime show). This year, fans will watch the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Green Bay Packers in Arlington, Texas on Sunday, February 6th. With so much pomp and circumstance (and profit) built around one game, it’s nearly impossible to avoid the hype and excitement. But whether or not you’re a football fan, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday that don’t involve actually watching men in tight pants tossing around a pigskin:
Get Physical Yourself
Before you chow down at that Super Bowl party (but hopefully not on these 10 unhealthy party foods), run yourself ragged in a race. Running clubs across the country organize Super Bowl Sunday races to help couch potatoes burn a few calories before a long evening of pizza, beer, and chicken wings. In New York City, the New York Road Runners Club will sponsor the annual “Gridiron Classic and Longest Football Throw Competition.” The football-throwing competition begins at 8 a.m. in Central Park, followed by a 9 a.m. race time. Registration is limited and required, so don’t wait to sign up. If you live in Sacramento, California, the annual Davis Stampede will take place on game day. Known as the unofficial kick-off to the Sacramento run/walk season, the 28-year-old Davis Stampede includes 5K, 10K, and half-marathon events. And there are dozens more races and walks being held across the country on Super Bowl Sunday. For more info, or to find a race near you, check out the “find an event” page at the Road Runners Club of America, or check with your local running club for more options.
Support a Charity
Many local charity organizations create their own events to raise money and awareness on Super Bowl Sunday, but one of the largest national charities is the Souper Bowl of Caring. Founded in 1990 by several South Carolina church groups, together they united around Super Bowl weekend and collected $5,700 worth of food and money for the needy. And in 2010, the Souper Bowl of Caring – along with 260,000 participants – raised an astounding $10 million in cash and food for local hunger-based charities. (This year the goal is $11 million.) Every group that participates in the Souper Bowl of Caring nominates a local hunger-relief charity, and 100% of all funds and food raised by that group goes directly to their earmarked charity. To search for a Souper Bowl event or group in your area, enter your zip code on the upper-right corner of their homepage. If no local groups are sponsoring a Souper Bowl event in your area, you can easily participate by donating online.
Watch Something Else on TV (If You Have Another TV, and It’s Not Showing the Super Bowl)
While it may feel like every channel on TV caters to football fanatics during this time of year, there’s plenty of cheeky alternative programming on Super Bowl Sunday that maintains the day’s spirit – minus the overpaid, gladiator-like superstars.
– Puppy Bowl VII, on Animal Planet
It’s the antithesis to the Super Bowl: Adorable puppy teammates, a Blimp piloted by a hamster crew, and a “puppy cam.” For the seventh straight year, cable channel Animal Planet will air its Puppy Bowl on Super Bowl Sunday at 3 p.m. EST. Watch adorable pups roll around on a field while an Emmy-Award-winning announcer details the action like a professional sports reporter. You can even see this particular bowl in 3-D. To see the starting lineup and past Puppy Bowl highlights, checkout the Animal Planet website.
– Toilet Bowl Marathon, on DIY Network
If do-it-yourself endeavors are your thing, DIY Network will be running a 17-hour marathon of bathroom renovation projects. Believe it or not, this is the Toilet Bowl Marathon’s fourth year, and DIY shows including BATHtastic!, Bath Crashers, 10 Killer Bathroom Projects, and America’s Ugliest Bathrooms will be airing all day long. With 22 million people completing bathroom renovation projects each year, according to DIY General Manager Andy Singer, the Toilet Bowl Marathon is sure to inspire (or make you feel depressed about the state of your own john). As an added bonus, DIY will give away 30 bedazzled toilet bowl seats to readers of its blog starting on January 27. For more info, visit the DIY website.
– Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, on CMT
This is a personal guilty pleasure, and if you’ve never had the chance to catch CMT’s Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, Super Bowl Sunday is the perfect day to watch a marathon of past episodes. Think “beauty pageant” meets “dance competition,” with a dash of ditz and glitz. Watch what it takes to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader from the initial audition, through the training process, and up to game day. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader director Kelli Finglass makes an Army drill sergeant look tame. And if you love watching beauty queens crumble under the pressure of big hair, makeup, tough questions and even tougher dance routines, this is one marathon train wreck not to miss.
Post from: BlissTree
Not Watching the Game? What to Do on Super Bowl Sunday