FOOTBALL RELATIVISMPhoto ObservationBy Andres OconCultural AnthropologyDr. Leanna WolfeJanuary 24th, 2016

I visited a local sports bar on January 24th, the day the Denver Broncos played the New England Patriots. The winning team would go on to play in the Superbowl, so it was a very popular game to watch. I visited the largest sports bar in North Hollywood called Big Wangs, which had a line outside the door of fans trying to come in. The bar was at capacity by the time the game started, so no more patrons were allowed in.

Inside the bar, 20 big screen TVs made sure every fan had a view of the game. Plus there were 6 TVs in the outside patio.Most people came in groups of 4-6, with a few people in pairs. There were also fans wearing NFL Jerseys that supported their favorite team/player. Fans come to watch the game in the company of other strangers, rather than watch it at home. There is a sense of community for football fans, and this is a place for people to celebrate the sport together.

This woman brought her baby inside the bar. There were no other children present in the bar and a bouncer at the door checked IDs, but this woman was allowed in with her baby. Most people frown upon taking a baby to a bar, however none of the patrons seemed to mind. The mother wore a Patriots jersey, so she was there to celebrate with fellow fans instead of just to drink, and it is clear she is bringing her baby up into football culture.

The bartenders dress in provocative clothing to attract customers. The majority of customers are men in their 20s and 30s. The intent is not to attract them for sex but to earn better tips. The ladies joke with customers and trash talk during the game. They help make the ambiance in the bar fun and have positive attitudes when serving.

A man cheers as the Broncos score. Nearly everyone at the bar drinks beer. Advertisements for beer from different breweries are all over the walls. The environment encourages drinking beer, where they have a large selection of different craft beers.

There is also a bloody mary bar where people can add the ingredients they like. The bar encourages drinking what you like, in this case vodka instead of beer. Bloody marys have become trendy to drink during for brunch or during the day on weekends, and this bar is keeping up with the latest trends. Most bars or restaurants will not allow customers to mix their own drinks, but this allows the customer to choose something to their own liking.

The Patriots make an attempt for a comeback. Everyone’s eyes are fixated on the TV screens as the game becomes more tense. Fans put their hands in the air out of excitement.

To share the excitement with a partner, mutual Patriots fans throughout the bar high five each other. The one man claps his hands high above his head. The clapping and cheering sounds show dominance for Patriots fans. Every time a team scores and as the game reaches the end, fans make more noise than the previous time.

In the final seconds of the game, the Patriots score a touchdown and need to try to score two more points to tie the game and go into overtime. These patriots fans nervously huddle together to support each other and their team.

The Patriots are unable to score, and they lose the game. The fans put their hands on their heads in disbelief. They sigh in disappointment and no longer make noise while Broncos fans cheer. The Patriots fans lose but they are together and still identify with their team. They hug and take the loss, and will continue to support the team next season.