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Americans around the country are gearing up for this weekend’s annual Football extravaganza known intriguingly as the Superbowl. This year’s commercially saturated athletic event takes place on Sunday in Indianapolis, with the New York Giants set to play the New England Patriots. Indiana’s governor Mitch Daniels signed into law just this week, a so-called “Right to Work” bill, that is aimed at defunding unions in the state. Tens of thousands of people have been protesting the passage of the law, with a major march in downtown Indianapolis. Many have now set their sights on the Superbowl as a forum for their outrage over the law’s passage. Boosting their cause is the NFL Players union having officially taken a position against the “right-to-work” law. Governor Daniels has warned that any activism marring the Superbowl will be akin to giving Indiana a “black eye.” But one Indiana union worker, Lou Feldman, told the press, “[u]psetting the Super Bowl—I couldn’t care less. This is about my life and my family.” Interestingly enough, the Superbowl is often touted as a job creator for host cities. The Superbowl Host Committee predicts that Indianapolis’ local economy will get an injection of $150 to $400 million. But any gains made are extremely temporary, as evidenced by job statistics from last year’s Texas Superbowl. This year’s Superbowl will also provide the backdrop for a eulogy for the late Joe Paterno, the famous Penn State coach, whose protegees have populated many teams. Paterno’s role in knowingly ignoring his assistant Jerry Sandusky’s sexual abuses, will likely not be publicly raised. Writing for TomDispatch.com, my guest Robert Lipsyte sums up the Superbowl saying, “its hard to go up against Jock Culture, which you’ll be watching in it’s full power and glory on Sunday. Then again, it’s hard to go up against the banks and the war machine, too. It’s time, in other words, to occupy football.”

GUEST: Robert Lipsyte, Jock Culture correspondent for TomDispatch, author of a recent memoir, An Accidental Sportswriter

Click here to read Robert Lipsyte’s article.