Super Sunday: This Is Is Why We Watch Sports

Most people associate the phrase "Super Sunday" with, you guessed it, the Super Bowl. This past Sunday was no different, but in a large way it was much more than that.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to hold off the Arizona Cardinals in one of the greatest Super Bowl's in history. In this game, we saw a once-lowly organization show us what heart and determination is all about.

The Arizona Cardinals trailed 20-7 and looked as if they could be on the verge of finally folding like they were supposed to in their first three playoff games. But it would not happen, not with this team.

Led by Kurt Warner and a massive fourth-quarter performance from Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona came back to cut the lead to 20-16. Then on a 64-yard strike to Fitzgerald, the Cardinals took the lead with just over two minutes remaining.

It seemed as if the Cardinals had shocked the world, and in a way, I believe they did. But the Steelers would drive down the field and Ben Roethlisberger found Santonio Holmes in the back of the end zone with 35 seconds left to seal the sixth Super Bowl for the Steelers organization.

That game alone would have been a fantastic sports day, but the fact is that down under in Australia early Sunday morning another epic battle started the day off and after watching it, you couldn't help but feel that this was a special day.

The two top tennis players in the world, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, faced off in the Australian Open Championship as Federer tried to make history and tie Pete Sampras' record of 14 grand-slam championships.

What we saw here in the states from 3:30 to 8 a.m. EST was two great champions battle each other into another five-set finish. Nadal found himself forced to a fifth set yet again as Federer showed the kind of champion he is. But Federer was overwhelmed in the final set and Nadal won his first Australian Open title.

This type of drama is what draws people to the arenas, even in a economic crisis. These two incredible sporting events show us the very best that sports has to offer. It is the feeling of being a part of something that is larger than yourself.

Fans are the backbone of every team, because without them there would be no team. The never-give-up mentality, even when your back is against the wall. The fellowship that athletes and fans have for one another as we saw with Nadal embracing Federer. The ability to lose yourself in a game and enjoy it with friends and family.

There are some critics around the world that always ask the question about why sports is such a large part of human culture. After all, it has no real significance as far as the ability to survive and in a few ways could even be a strain on fans' financial situation. So, why pay to see an event when money is tight and the world economy is struggling?

Well, this past Sunday is a day that every sports fan can point to and say, "That is why."