Join us this week as we delve into a highly controversial topic: Taylor Swift and football.
In 2023, few people dominated pop culture like Swift. And as his seemingly serious girlfriend, record-breaking tight end Travis Kelce, prepares for the Super Bowl in two weeks, T. Swift's turmoil is clearly only going to continue.
Apparently, legions of soccer fans have been moaning about her presence at games and television attention for months. Meanwhile, in my house, and countless others across the country, my 10-year-old daughter let out a high-pitched, frenzied scream at the sight of her on the screen.
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This year both of my kids became obsessed with the NFL. They dove headfirst into a fantasy football team for the first time, and before I knew it they were rattling off players, positions, and stats – they couldn't accept or track as much detail as they already had. I could not do it. Then, when Swift started showing up at games, it felt like adding a pop culture cherry on top of our family's budding Sunday tradition.
Watching this collective interest unfold organically and enthusiastically in our home reminded me of the unfounded but real fears I had about establishing family traditions as a new mother. Ta.
I really want to create traditions similar to my own childhood, from holiday meals to summer vacations to silly, hyper-personal rituals that only we know or understand. I did. The presence of this new soccer fan was something I didn't expect, but it served as a reminder that the best traditions happen organically. They are not forced or planned.
It also reminded me of the bond I had with my own father through soccer. To be honest, he loved golf more than anything. Hearing the commentators' deep, soothing voices still brings back fond memories of relaxing at home on warm weekends. My father never had his own team when it came to soccer or baseball, but there were always games being played during his vacations. To this day, hearing John Madden's voice is as comforting as a lullaby or a Christmas carol. For several years after graduating from college, I traveled home to the Albany area to watch the Super Bowl with my parents. We probably talked more about the snacks, commercials, and halftime show than the game itself, but who cares? We were talking and I could tell that he especially liked having me in his home.
And that's the real beauty of using Swift in these games. She added a new level of fun and interest to a new demographic of people that didn't exist before. The Washington Post published a full story about how her fathers are enjoying the opportunity to bond with their daughters through soccer. “I'm going to take advantage of any way I can to be closer to my daughter,” one New England Patriots fan told WaPo.
But the flip side of this NFL Swiftie love fest is that fans are complaining about how she's distracting from the game, or not. Speaking purely from experience, she is happy to report that they are very easy to ignore. It's also no wonder she thinks Swift is a good role model for her daughter. She is extremely talented, driven and, by many accounts, a kind person. My daughter loves music and she loves reading about her. She's also looking forward to watching gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles cheer on her husband, Jonathan Owens, on the sidelines at Packers games. Now she talks about one great role model. When it comes to respectable women, my daughter and the NFL could do much worse.
I certainly haven't spent a lot of time wandering the halls of NFL executives, but my gut feeling is that many of them are interested in Swift's presence (and what she's saying, drinking, etc.) I think he's nodding in agreement with the fans who are complaining about who he is, what he's doing, what he's wearing, etc. This is far from the basics of football. But I also believe those same executives recognize her value in introducing a new layer to a sport that, unfortunately, has been plagued by the devastating long-term effects that bad behavior and competitive violence have had on athletes. I hope you recognize it.
For these reasons, and the fact that my kids absolutely love the heart-wrenching teams (Browns and Bills), my enthusiasm for the sport was somewhat cautious. But for me, there's only one way to look at the relationship between Swift and gaming. It's a gift. At a time when we are struggling to connect as humans for a variety of reasons, from the lingering effects of the coronavirus to our obsession with technology, Swift's presence will help countless little girls and young women connect on Sunday. An afternoon spent cuddling with my dad on the couch. You could say that this in itself heralds the arrival of a new era.
Emily Clucas spent nearly a decade as a reporter and editor at the Syracuse Post-Standard before leaving to become a mother, but it was her most difficult assignment yet. She lives in Strathmore with her family and we look forward to discussing what it's like to be a recent parent.Please email her at [email protected].
