The Super Bowl is undoubtedly the single grandest sporting event in America. Outside of the crowded living rooms and man caves, the world seems to stop. We have propelled football into the spotlight and created a multi-billion dollar entertainment industry.

It has become more than a game. It is an escape, an outlet for unequaled passion and emotion. People will show more fanaticism for a fantasy football squad than they will for a real-life baseball, basketball or hockey team. After all, none of them have that great singular moment. That is part of the pageantry of football: a single game, a single opportunity to attain glory. There is no best-of-seven series. Victory is derived from one all-encompassing clash.

And while some feel the elation of this victory, others must stomach the anguish of defeat. This leads to the question, “Has our passion for football become an unhealthy obsession?” For two of this past Sunday’s losers, that line was crossed.

Iowa native Billy Cundiff had an opportunity to send the AFC Championship game into overtime, but the Baltimore Ravens kicker missed what many would describe as a simple chip shot. On the other side of the country, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kyle Williams fumbled a punt return, thus costing his team a potential shot at the Super Bowl.

As difficult as it may be for these men to swallow this disappointment, they must also face the anger of disheartened fans. Both the Ravens and 49ers players came to the aid of their teammates and played the “win as a team, lose as a team card,” but to the superficial superfans, the blame falls squarely on the shoulder of one player per team. Fans will laud their players until the going gets tough, but they turn on them at the first sign of trouble.

Williams was the victim of despicable acts by so-called “fans.” Thanks to the communication wasteland that is called Twitter, Williams received very public threats from upset fans. According to the San Jose Mercury News, tweets directed at Williams read, “I hope you, your [sic] wife, kids, and family die, you deserve it.” Others wrote, “please give Kyle Williams the game ball. And make sure it explodes when he gets it.” Upset fans trash-talking athletes is nothing new, but wishing death upon a player and his family is appalling and disgraceful.

It is not just the fans who have preyed on these weakened men. As days pass and reports surface, there is now news that the New York Giants players were made aware of Williams’ concussion history and made that a target. They hoped a few hard hits would rattle Williams and limit his focus and performance. Those players made a conscious choice to attempt to deliberately injure an opponent, all for the chance to play one more game. Twisting a knee or pulling on a shoulder is one thing, but focusing on a head injury is shameful.

Fame and fortune continue to play an amplifying role. There is no bigger spectacle than the Super Bowl, and the pressure to get there is enormous. According to Nielsen ratings, the championship game is by far the most-watched television program in America. Last year’s game was seen by an estimated 111 million people, surpassing the 2010 record of 106.5 million. The only other shows that even come close to Super Bowl broadcasts are Olympic ceremonies and the series finale of “M.A.S.H.”

Because of this, the Super Bowl broadcast is la creme de la creme for advertisers. According to figures from Fox News, a 30-second commercial during this year’s game will cost between $3 million and $4 million. These numbers have more than quadrupled in the past decade, all because of the media circus created by the Super Bowl.

I do love football, and I love the Super Bowl. But I enjoy the purity and competitiveness of the game. It is a phenomenal clash of warriors that blends strategy and knowledge with unabashed brawn and physical talents. However, we are pushing the game beyond those boundaries. Every year it becomes more of an exhibition than a football game.

Fans, advertisers and the media continue to drive up the demands and the integrity is lost. The players and coaches, the men we should be celebrating and supporting, become the ultimate victims.