A travel writers’ Super Bowl special: Pico Iyer and Rolf discuss NFL football from the global perspective
Jan 31, 2025
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Pico Iyer, a novelist and essayist known for his insights on travel and culture, joins Rolf for a lively discussion on the Super Bowl. They reminisce about Pico's unique experiences following the game from abroad, including emotional reflections on how football serves as a therapeutic escape. The duo debates the greatest NFL players, shares personal stories tied to their fandom, and delves into the artistry of sports narratives, highlighting the profound cultural connections embedded in the game. Get ready for a global perspective on America's favorite pastime!
Pico Iyer reflects on how sports fandom serves as a cultural lifeline, connecting personal narratives to broader American traditions while growing up abroad.
The conversation highlights sports as a therapeutic diversion that fosters emotional connections and community among fans in a fast-paced life.
Deep dives
Anticipation and Anticlimax: The Super Bowl Experience
The speaker compares the buildup to the Super Bowl to the lengthy preparation for a colonoscopy, highlighting the tension and anticipation that culminate in an often disappointing event. This analogy underscores the striking contrast between the extensive hype surrounding the Super Bowl and the event's brief duration, which can leave viewers feeling underwhelmed. The discussion emphasizes the almost ritualistic nature of preparing for the game, particularly for devoted fans like the speaker, who shares a personal anecdote about the superstitious tradition of producing special podcast episodes during the Chiefs' appearances. It reflects on the emotional and cultural significance of the Super Bowl as a quintessentially American event, despite its potential for disappointment.
Literary Connections in Sports
A key highlight of the conversation is the unexpected literary connection surrounding the Baltimore Ravens' mascot, which is based on Edgar Allan Poe's works. This revelation prompts a deeper examination of how sports intertwine with culture, as well as how fans like Pico Iyer find layers of meaning in their sports allegiances. The speaker and Iyer bond over discovering these connections, showcasing the notion that even professional sports possess intricate narratives that resonate with literary themes. This dialogue showcases a unique perspective on sports fandom, illustrating how passion for football can intersect with literary appreciation.
The Narrative Power of Sports Fandom
The conversation veers into the broader narrative power inherent in sports fandom, where personal stories and experiences shape individual connections to teams and events. Pico shares his nostalgic memory of listening to the very first Super Bowl while in boarding school, detailing how sports provided a lifeline to his American roots while growing up abroad. This emotional connection is further illustrated through discussions of sports autobiographies, which reveal the personal journeys of athletes and the impact they have on fans. The speakers share their respective experiences of watching the Super Bowl in various countries, emphasizing how shared memories and narratives contribute to the rich tapestry of sports culture.
Emotional Engagement and the Role of Sports
Both speakers express how sports serve as a valuable emotional outlet amidst their busy lives and creative endeavors. They discuss the therapeutic nature of engaging with NFL highlights and the enjoyment derived from watching games as a way of detaching from work. Pico elaborates on how sports create opportunities for emotional connection, allowing fans to express vulnerability and excitement without the pressures of everyday life. Their dialogue highlights the sense of community that emerges around sports, even for those who may not be deeply connected to a particular team, as shared experiences can forge bonds among fans.
“My life has often forced me to follow the Super Bowl in unusual circumstances. The first Super Bowl found me in boarding school in England, huddled under my bedclothes with an illegal transistor radio.” –Pico Iyer
In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Pico talk about the novelty of two travel writers talking about the Super Bowl, and Pico’s NFL fandom (4:00); how sports can be a therapeutic diversion from the more serious aspects of life, and which players are Rolf and Pico’s all-time favorites (13:00); Pico and Rolf’s old articles for Sports Illustrated, and how narratives attach themselves to sporting contests (21:00); and what Pico’s plan and predication is for the 2025 Super Bowl (32:30).
