I am turning over a new leaf.
I am gonna start loving when players celebrate every tackle, when players make a first down and point, when they make a throat cutting gesture, when they dance between plays, when they point to the sky when they win but never when they lose, when they do that rocking back and forth thing before the game, when a 50 year old head coach dances in the locker room, when the players have their hair halfway down to their asses, when coaches practice celebration dances in practice. I'm just gonna accept it and join in with the fun! Actually, except for Alabama(Saban seems to be hanging in there), I am not going to watch football anymore. Big deal, I know. But I have had enough of it. I am in the minority, I know . They are just showing emotion! I am old, I am not with the crowd, I could give a crap what Ray Lewis says in his new book that you just know he didn't write, I hate Sportscenter because they focus on all the crap that has nothing to do with playing. Everything that everybody thinks is so wonderful is what I despise and I am okay with it. Put me out to pasture. But I'll be damned if my kids ever act like Richard Simmons dancing to the oldies on a field. And the coaches, even if they don't like it, do not say a word. Why? because they are afraid that players won't want to come to their schools if they squash all that stuff. They are true cowards. Miami University in the 80's didn't win because they taunted other players or danced or got in trouble off the field. They won because of coaching and talent. Along the way, all of them created a way of acting that is shameful and is poor sportsmanship and is disgusting. I am sure that Gino Marchetti danced whenever he tackled someone. Actually he never did. Why? Maybe because he had been shot at in World War Two and he was a real man. Or maybe he would have rather quit than act like a fool. That's probably it.
Baseball has some jerks too. That pitcher for Washington who pours chocolate on players. Would he still do it if the cameras weren't around? I bet that he wouldn't. It is such bad sportsmanship, but the lines have become so blurred because everybody does it, and nobody wants to say anything because they will be seen as some type of person who saps the joy out of the game.. As if playing and succeeding is not enough. And if a player in basketball rubs chalk on his hands and claps them for some reason, isn't that a "me me me" attitude? Isn't that person, saying "I am better than everyone else?" If not, then everybody should do that crap, all the players, from the guy who never plays to the best player. Team sport.
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| Baugh and Manning |
Old fogey, I am. Need to be put out to pasture. Peyton Manning is cool. His career is ending though, and with that, the humble, real man is gone. You can put the face of Manning and Clint Eastwood right next to each other in a Mt. Rushmore of real men. That's not all- the NFL is done. The commissioner is , well I am not sure what he is all about. The fact that he lets players play after they beat the crap out of their girlfriends and wives and nothing happens seems strange. And did you see him when he was on stage at the Draft? He was jumping into the arms of the draft picks. How about a handshake? No, let me show that I can relate and show true emotion. What a fool. Jerry Jones is one of the all time biggest jerks too. If the player that he cares so much about was the worst player on the team, what would he do? Cut him and fast. The manufactured cheering of college game day, the signs, the painted faces, the punching yourself in the chest when you score even though the offensive line had perfect blocking so that you can celebrate all by yourself- all of it is wonderful.
Or maybe I will adapt! I will start off my celebration when I take out the trash, and when I catch a fish, I will do the electric slide, and when I start my car, I will really get excited, pouring Gatorade on my head. Nah, I'm just going to turn the TV off.
I am happier already.
Real Men of Football Hall of Fame
Earl Campbell
Sammy Baugh
Johnny U
Peyton Manning
Randy White
Russ Grimm
John Hannah
Joe Klecko
Jim Brown
Bednarik
Mike Webster
Bum Phillips
Tony Dungy
George Atkinson
Jack Tatum
Ken Stabler
Bob Brown
There are many more, but that's a good start. And it puts me in a good mood thinking about all of those guys.
