Greatest show on turf? I thought it was a game?

A show is exactly what 103,219 in the stadium and billions worldwide tuned in for last night, as always with American football and American sport there's so much more to it.
When at half time you see hundreds of dancers on the pitch with flashing boxes for heads you know it can only be in America at the biggest sporting event in their calender. Perhaps what usually eludes other big showpiece finals elsewhere around the word is a good match to go with it. This wasn't the case here with Green Bay and their 100,000+ owners won their 4th Superbowl in a thrilling 31-25 game. But whereas that will always be seen in the record books and remembered by Green Bay fans forever, the armchair fans around the world will probably remember it for other reasons.
As i woke up this morning and scanned the BBC website, the biggest news was that Christina Aguilera had fluffed her lines singing the national anthem and that the Black Eyed Peas had performed at half time with Usher coming down from the stadium roof on a rope midway through their performance. This could resemble what happened in Superbowl XXXVIII (38 to a normal human) and the infamous nipplegate incident involving Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake. Does anyone outside the States remember who won that game or even played in it?



The game result isn't seen to be as important news compared to the half time show

As Aaron Rodgers and his Green Bay side return to Wisconsin as heroes and 'world champions' the rest of the NFL wonder whether there will even be a season next year. As players and owners discuss new terms into what could be a possibly extended season from 16 to 18 games. If both sides can't negotiate then a strike could happen not only damaging reputations around the world but especially in the UK where the 4 regular season games the past 4 years have brought forward the possibility of a Superbowl or even a British team in the NFL. If this strike was to occur, it will be a lot to come back from for the British fans to forgive as their own country's football stars demand more and more money year on year.
The damage may not be as large over the pond, but it once again puts in perspective how much does the game itself mean to TV companies and owners alike who are willing to spend millions on a 30 second advert during a time out or try to expand their 'brand' worldwide. If a deal can't be met international fans of the NFL may decide not to stay up till 3am watching the finale of the season for years to come and the NFL international revolution may not have just hit a roadblock but a brick wall that may not ever be moved again.