Opinion | Real ruler is the NFL, despite American Pharoah’s Triple Crown transcendence
Roger Goodell’s omnipotent empire dominates, while other sports rely heavily on charismatic performers
If one year is a lifetime, then 37 years would be an eternity. It most certainly is in horse years. One year ago, American Pharoah was preparing to end horse racing’s 37-year Triple Crown drought. He had captured the first two legs, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, and all eyes were on him as he entered the starting gate at New York’s Belmont Park.
Muhammad Ali, Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky, Secretariat was all that and more
In an event, and a sport, that had seemingly been withering in significance on the national consciousness, it was an opportunity to reassert itself. Not since Affirmed captured the Triple Crown in 1978 had the mythical title been achieved and for many the ponderous gap had signalled a death knell for big stake races, at least in terms of popular culture folklore. But like so much these days, perception often trumps reality.
If you want to blame anything or anyone for the diminishing grandeur of the Triple Crown, then blame the late Pete Rozelle. The visionary commissioner of the NFL made his game’s brand so omnipresent that it has basically suffocated much of the American sporting landscape.
In the 1960s, Rozelle took a downtrodden league and transformed it into a cultural phenomenon by institutionalising the significance of his sport. America is first and foremost a football nation, which is probably the only thing the entire country can agree on.
Granted, the corporate hubris and greed of current commissioner Roger Goodell and his feckless minions could still spell eminent doom for the game. But, for now at least, the NFL dominates viewing ratings across the board.
In 1973, it was a different story. Super Bowl VII was a lacklustre affair with the Miami Dolphins beating the Washington Redskins 14-7. TV ratings were very good for an event that was only starting to gain traction.
However, the Kentucky Derby was every bit the must see event that the Super Bowl was and by the time the 1973 Belmont Stakes came around, TV ratings were going through the roof and the reason was simple: Secretariat.