Footage of Past Sporting Events

The phenomenon of recalling, with narration, a sporting event from the past is something endemic to American Culture. These clips of former glories and failures are dredged up, as sort a universal “hoary old chestnut” and are to be discussed in wistful terms. The footage becomes nostalgic conversation pieces: central referents to culture and current events, and audience members distributed across all demographics stop, and listen and watch.

They are shown in slow motion, buttressed by a musical score of some epic origin, and voiced over by commentary in a deep and confident timbre. This commentator is not merely giving us a play by play; he is recounting an intrinsically historical event.

Whether the footage is from two decades ago, or ten minutes ago, it is, without a doubt, tinged in a grainy sepia, and distressed to a scattered patina to make it appear as if it had been holed up in a vault since at least the Eisenhower administration. The affectation shall remain unquestioned. This ceremonious presentation and doctoring of footage speaks to the hallowedness of the events portrayed. It validates the spectator’s investment. Yes, spending twelve hours on the couch that one Sunday was, in fact, important. See! - this contest was historical.

We cover the Roller Derby