For many of us the Super Bowl might not mean a whole lot in terms of sporting spectacles, Chelsea v. Arsenal or the Ashes may be more important. But to a nation of some 300 million people, this game is the pinnacle on a vast sporting calendar.

The NBA, NHL, and MLB finals series are played over the best of seven games to decide a winner, the NFL however play only one game to decide their champion. Teams have 17 weeks to win as many games as the can to qualify for the playoffs, then they must win at least two sudden-death playoff games to qualify for a Super Bowl. This is one reason why the Super Bowl garners so much ceremony, so much hype and attention. Both teams go through media days, interviews, and endorsement deals, while also practicing and scheming for a game that at the start of September seemed so far away.

The hype around such an event is reflected not only in the hourly news reports, but also by the way it is celebrated by most Americans. The Super Bowl party is an institution, averaging 17 people per party all over the U.S. Soldiers in Iraq not on patrols will sit and watch, even if they don’t support either of the teams. Pizza deliveries will jump 200 to 300 percent above the average for a Sunday on the day of the game.

While this year it will be the Chicago Bears versus the Indianapolis Colts for the title, every America football fan will be glued to their television, not just for the game, but for the elaborate pre-game and half-time entertainment, as well as the assortment of very witty and funny, high priced television commercials that will air during play.

The NFL is a sport built to be marketed. Teams take timeouts during games to discuss strategy, while television uses this time to sell commercials and make more money. Corporate America loves the Super Bowl just as much as the die hard fans.

The Super Bowl is the perfect example of sports marketing on a scale unequalled anywhere else, except probably the FIFA World Cup. For four hours on game day people all over the world will be glued to their TV screens not because they are fans of the Bears or the Colts, but because the game means more than just crowning a champion. It is a celebration of sport and how far it has come since professionalism and multi-million-dollar contracts became part and parcel of the games we play and watch.

Despite all the hype, some forget that the game itself is a showcase of the sport. The high-powered offence of the Colts versus the dominating defence of the Bears makes this game a potentially explosive encounter considering also that the Colts defence has been spectacular, and the Bears offence has put up some impressive totals.

Brian Urlacher leads a Bears defence that is built on physically dominating its opponents, and they will have their work cut out against arguably the best statistical quarterback in the game, Peyton Manning. He has weapons all over the field, a cannon right arm, and the ability to coach his entire offense on the field without the help of head coaches on the sidelines.

Watch out for Bears return specialist Devin Hester, potentially the most exciting player on the field. His instincts, acceleration, and speed will give nightmares to Colts defenders on kick and punt returns. For the Colts, watch for defensive end Dwight Freeney and Bears left tackle John Tait to go at it for the entire game. Freeney is the most explosive end in the game, and Tait will have a hard time slowing him down.

It should be a wonderful game to watch, even if you don’t know the rules. The Super Bowl might be all glitz and glamour but once all is said and done there is a game to be played, and two teams ready to put it all on the line to achieve victory and be crowned as champions.