The Super Bowl is the sporting event of the year, and not only for American football fans. On February 1st, at the 48th Annual Super Bowl, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals will be facing off in the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay Florida, and the number of viewers on television will reach record levels. Worldwide there are over 100 million viewers every year that cheer on their favorite team on tv during the Super Bowl.
After the media in 2004 with Justin Timberlake and duet partner Janet Jackson’s performance, we can say that people not only watch the Super Bowl for the football. The revealing of Jackson’s breast made headlines everywhere, and had critiques saying that it was a scandalous plan, but being asked interview after interview Timberlake replied that it was a simple wardrobe malfunction. But, this simple wardrobe malfunction made it evident that even the performances at half time are an important contribution to this highlighted sporting event of the year.
Although football outside the U.S. is not the most popular sport, many countries may not know the rules and regulations as well as baseball or water polo, but they all can agree on one thing: the fitness level of a football player is immeasurable with the power of their body making them legendary athletes. Matt Leinart, the 25-year old quarterback from the Arizona Cardinals is a real California boy. With numerous appearances in the U.S. series, he is alleged in the headlines with photos in the jacuzzi and verifications of his excessive lifestyle. Leinart measures 1.96 meters tall, and weighs 105 kilograms on the scale. But in the 2007 season, even being the tough guy that he is, he had a serious injury: a broken collarbone, making him out for almost the entire season.
In an interview with a U.S. media reporter Leinart talked of his tough training. "Monday and Tuesday I do the bench press, dumbbell training and chest flies," says the football star. Tuesday and Friday he also does training for his back, biceps and legs. Wednesday he starts out with a strengthening and endurance program. During the season he trains five times a week - of course, in addition to training as a professional with the club. "Even outside of the season I train four times a week," claimed Leinart. I do a lot of shoulder exercises. As a quarterback you have to train, especially the legs and shoulders, he continues. For fitness and strength, practices are planned for the NFL club players.
However, a teammate of Leinart for the Cardinals, Anquan Boldin, has to train a bit differently. Boldin is a wide receiver. In this position, he is under the greatest amount of pressure of the opposing players. Also Boldin (1.85 meters tall, weighing 98 kilograms) does strength training four times a week, but is also more fit, because he has to do a lot more running in the game. For fitness training, he either runs on the treadmill or jogs outside, for an hour each session. His strength training also takes about one hour. His specialty training on the field is our friend the good old Squats. Fast Squats with lighter weights for explosivity and knee bends with heavy weights for force.
Boldin reveals even more about his diet to have enough energy to last the four quarters of the game: "Before games, I eat grilled chicken breast, for protein."
Also, you yourself should review your diet to ensure a healthy viewing of the Super Bowl: at least try to limit yourself to low-fat chips.
From all at fitness.com, enjoy the game!
Time for the Super Bowl
