By Jayden Zhou ‘23, Sports Writer

The recent annual event of the Super Bowl once again brought together millions of people across the world through one of the many universal languages in the form of sport. Over one million people traveled to Miami to witness a timeless yet unique event this year. 

This uniqueness comes from the fact that the competition was missing one of the most iconic faces in football, Tom Brady (and the Patriots). The sports world was shocked that the 6-time ring bearer couldn’t take his team to the biggest event in football following an early exit to the Titans. Another surprise prior to the Super Bowl lay within the seemingly untouchable Ravens and their fearless leader Lamar Jackson. Coming off of a unanimous MVP season, Jackson suffered a loss to the up-and-coming Titans, disappointing millions of football fans who had their money on the frontrunners. After defeating two of the seemingly hardest teams to beat back to back, the Titans were beginning to shift fans’ bias but were put in their place after a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and another star, quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket, the powerhouse 49ers were setting the stage for a Chiefs-49ers Super Bowl, something fans would love to watch.

However, while the playoff race and championship game certainly provided for lots of tension and drama, the Super Bowl showed differently, uniting people all over the world through culture, music, and far more things. For example, the halftime show this year, consisting of performances from Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, spurred lots of talk for one of the best performances in the history of the event. Partially responsible for an unforgettable performance, Shakira brought in Latin American influence in the form of music in an American event, inadvertently making the bond between the two cultures even stronger. Additionally, Jennifer Lopez, of Puerto Rican descent, also helped bridge the gap between different cultures with her unforgettable show alongside Shakira. 

While thousands of people were able to enjoy the game in Miami, millions of people who tuned in on their TV at home also were able to share this special event with various people in their lives. The Super Bowl this year provided a great example as to why even in the midst of political campaigns and pressing world issues, there is always time to enjoy sports and music with loved ones.