Did you know that only 39% of Americans regularly watch football? If we’re in the other 61% who doesn’t, we’re ashamed to admit it around this time of year. Seems like everyone you know watches the Super Bowl in February. It brings some excitement to an otherwise dreary month. And then there are the parties—the drinking, cheering, eating and adrenalin rush when your team scores a touchdown. Luckily, I married a man who shares my same interests, and neither of us has to pretend to like something we don’t. But we always watch the Super Bowl, and yes, my husband does understand the game. I was looking forward to it this year, because age provided Super Bowl drama.
Here we had the Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s quarterback, 43 year old Tom Brady, pitted against a man who is young enough to be his son. Would wisdom prevail? Does experience matter? Any of us who’ve experienced ageism in the workplace believe that it does. And yet, we’re frequently pushed out by some recent college graduate who’s half our age. Last night at the 2021 Super Bowl, we saw the battle of the ages played out before our very eyes.
Betting odds on the afternoon before the game strongly favored youth. They predicted an easy win for 25 year old quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. But at the last minute, the big time gamblers put their money on Brady.
In a profession where physical fitness and agility is important, brains and wisdom may not win in the end. Brady could have stopped when he was at the top of his game. But you have to admire his courage in sticking it out. Are you over the hill at 40? Let’s hope not.
As it turned out, wisdom prevailed in the Super Bowl, with the Buccaneers out thinking, out playing, their younger opponents. Tom Brady deserves an award from AARP for a win in the fight against ageism
