America's biggest party

For several years now, the Super Bowl has been the biggest party day in America and this year surpassed previous years. Look at the data:

8 million pounds of popcorn were consumed

28 million pounds of potato chips were eaten

53.5 million pounds of avocados were used to make guacamole salad

Over 1 billion chicken wings were served at parties and eating establishments

325.5 million gallons of beer drank

Because of the beer and mixed drinks consumed, there was a 20% increase in ant-acid sales on Monday following the game

7 million employees called in sick on Monday

More food is consumed during Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of the year except for Thanksgiving

And, for the first time, betting on the game in Las Vegas surpassed 100 million dollars, and that's not counting hundreds of millions bet illegally through bookies across the U.S.

The true nature of our culture comes out on Super Bowl Sunday in the shape of thousands of parties, both private and public, celebrated from coast to coast.

I've been going to Super Bowl parties for many years in several different states and a couple of foreign countries and by far the best I've ever attended were the parties at the old Elks Club right here in McCook during its heyday. Betting squares cost a hundred dollars each and that entitled the square holder to unlimited food and drink during the game and the Elks Club put on a spread of food that could compete with anybody anywhere. In addition, payoffs on the squares occurred after each quarter with thousands of dollars at stake and, in addition, there was always a person sitting at a table that you could place bets with on anything from the coin flip to the point spread winner of the game. It was quite the experience and something that hasn't been replicated since the Elks Club went out of business.

For the first time this year, I decided to watch the Super Bowl at home by myself. There were several parties I could have gone to but decided against it. When I'm home alone, I can actually listen to the game as well as watch it, wear what I want to wear, eat what I want to eat, and do what I want to do. I made a big crock pot of home-made chili, baked some chicken wings, mixed up a pitcher full of my favorite adult beverage and enjoyed the game in solitude. There's a lot to be said about a shared experience with others but being alone from time to time isn't a bad thing either.

Football surpassed baseball several years ago as America's favorite pastime and, although I still prefer college football to pro football, I get sucked into the party atmosphere of the Super Bowl just like millions of other Americans do. Some have even proposed that the Monday after the game be declared a national holiday because of the absenteeism from work as mentioned above. I don't think that's ever going to happen but it sure wouldn't be a bad idea. When you combine the number of people who don't go to work at all and compound that by the ones who do but aren't productive, it makes sense just not to do any business on that day.

Super Bowl Sunday is a celebration like none other and there's no reason to think that will change in the foreseeable future.