蜜芽传媒

Whilst Super Bowl XLIX will see a competitive contest on the field between the current champions Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, its back drop, the state of Arizona, is a microcosm of some of the biggest issues in American society.

Tent City Prison
Phoenix is home to a jail with a difference. We take a tour of Tent City Prison - the only open air facility in America. Temperatures have been clocked as high as 145 degrees fahrenheit, resulting in criticism from Amnesty international. Our tour guide is the equally controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio - the man behind the idea. At 82 he is as divisive as ever and preparing to fight for a 7th term as Sheriff in the 2016 election. The prison houses people convicted of minor offenses, and was once the home to NBA legend Charles Barkley, but does Tent City deter crime or dehumanise those detained there?

Mexicans, Migration & MVP's
One of only four states to border Mexico, Arizona has the toughest immigration laws in America, which has caused tension in the sizable Mexican community. Alongside the recent decision from President Obama to offer an immigration amnesty, the issue is likely to be at the heart of the presidential election in 2016. We talk through the issues over tacos with Horacio Llamas, the first Mexican NBA player who was on the Phoenix Suns roster, local conservative talk show host Mike Broomfield and 'undocumented' Erica Andiola.

Native Americans
As well as a sizable Mexican community, Phoenix is home to the 3rd largest Native American community. We鈥檙e on the Ak-Chin reserve finding out about how they protect their ancient culture in modern America and the delicate balance they strike between supporting the Super Bowl and challenging the use of symbols and words in American football, such as the Washington Redskins.

Super Bowl to Super Hole
It鈥檚 not just the Super Bowl taking place in Phoenix this week. One of golf鈥檚 biggest tournaments is too. We鈥檙e on the 16th tee at the Phoenix Open - the world鈥檚 only 鈥榮tadium鈥� golf hole!

Muhammed Ali's local
We spend time at the Keep Punching Gym, the gym closest to Ali's home in Scottsdale, Arizona. We hear from former Olympic champions and ex world title holders on shadow boxing in the shadow of a boxing legend.

Media Scrum
We look at one of the events unique to the Super Bowl... Media Day. All the players in one place at the same time, one hour on the clock and all 4,500 members of the press trying to get their question answered. We sharpen our elbows to take part in an event where hundreds of spectators pay $33 for the privilege of watching people interview players!

Sporting Witness... goes back to 1967 and one of the most famous matches in American Football history. Played in temperatures of minus 40 celcius, it pitted the legendary Green Bay Packers team of the 1960s against the Dallas Cowboys. The Packers narrow victory helped make the reputation of Vince Lombardi, the coach after whom the Superbowl trophy is named.

(Photo: University of Phoenix Stadium. Credit: NFL)

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