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It looks like Becky was at Lowes or Homo Depot yesterday. And even though it is almost three weeks out from Halloween, the xmas decorations are on display and on the market. 

She sent me a short video of it and I had an immediate reaction. 

Holy Mother of g-d, Yukon Cornelius and Jason Kelce are the same person !!

How have I not noticed this before?? 

And so I mentioned it. If I'm totally honest, I was slightly astounded that Rebecca knew who Jason Kelce was. 

Travis Kelce has a cuteness quotient going on, but Jason is the fun one, hands down. More fun and funnier. He's not the Gucci wearing on game day brother. It's flip-flops or Crocs for Jason. 

No offense to Taylor, but Jason also has the better wife. 

But if you ever watch New Heights - the Kelce brothers podcast - it's almost immediate that Jason is the better brother. 

So in a matter of seconds - lit-rah-lly - I Goooooooooged Jason Kelce Yu....and then it just autofilled in with 'kon Cornelius'. It was less than a minute from reading Becky's IM to me when I responded with words AND images. 

While Gooooooogle is good at reading what little mind I have, I'm really thinking many others have already make this connection.  

....and they had. 

Clearly if you go to 'images' in your Goooooogle search, you'll find many like the above. Someone has already put in the work. 

I should be clear, it's not only a physical resemblance, but there are some mannerisms and vocal inflections that are similar. 

The association is just great and it lifts both Kelce and Cornelius' brand image. 

If there is ever a live stage production of Rudolph, casting should have Jason on speed dial. 

Song by: Melissa Ethridge

Poetic Justice

The Super Bowl game aside, I was kind of captivated by the half-time show. 

I know OF Kendrick Lamar, but other than a song here and there, and me having to SoundHound it because I didn't know the artist, I really don't know his work. 

I know he has a beef with Drake (whom I really don't know either) and vice versa - though that was probably a huge publicity stunt to drive sales for both of them.  (I have nothing to back that up.)

Visually, I thought Lamar's performance was amazing. A minimal stage, good choreography and colours. 

Musically, I liked the rhythms. I thought they worked nicely. 

In theory, I thought I knew what was going on, but lyrically I was in the dark. As I don't know Lamar's music and wasn't even sure if it was all new (or not) for this performance, I not only didn't know the words, I couldn't understand most of them during the telecast. 

I am painfully aware that a 61 year old white gay male is not his target demographic.   .....except for maybe his message. 

Or messages. 

Yes, as I didn't get the actual words of the performance, I looked them up. 

Allegedly, Samuel L. Jackson was not dressed up to be Uncle Sam, but Uncle Tom. 

Lamar's initial part of the performance had "The revolution is about to be televised; You picked the right time but the wrong guy." This was originally written by Gil Scott Heron in the '70s. 

The minimal stage set of which I mentioned was to have resembled a prison yard, and as all the performers out there with him were Black, it certainly sends a message on how incarcerations and sentencing guidelines are more prejudicial against minorities. 

Of course, the title image: there was more than a little play when it came to the American flag being represented. Again, all Black performers. It is speculated that it was an artistic telling on how this country was built on the backs of people of colour. 

And elsewhere in the performance he raps about “40 acres and mule, this is bigger than the music.”  

Now, I'm not sure if BLOTUS was still in attendance (as someone told me he left well before half-time), and if so, if he were listening and understanding. I'm sure his hip-as-hell family members who are down with hip hop are quoting back the lyrics to him.   (yes. that was sarcasm.)

To reference my last Sunday post: I'm 100% sure Kendrick Lamar will not be invited to the Kennedy Center to perform. 

Whether you like Kendrick Lamar or not (or don't know who he is), I have a vast amount of respect for his performance. Unlike Prince, Madonna, Beyonce etc, this wasn't a 'me me me!' half-time show. It was not a rehash of hits. It was a message. He used his time wisely. 

I'm 98.9% sure other 61 year old white males (probs not gay) are complaining about the performance. Not due to the message, as I'm 100% sure they didn't look anything up. But that it wasn't good American fun!

The video of the performance has been watched 24 million times in less than 24 hours. Plus all the people who watched it live. 

Song by: Kendrick Lamar

Hate (I Really Don't Like You)

I was hoping not to have to address Kansas City Chiefs kicker, Harrison Buttkick Butker, but as his teammate's girlfriend sang, "a hater's gonna hate" - and should be called out for it. 

At this point, many have you heard he gave a commencement address at some bullshit Catholic university - and a well prepared one at that. These are not in-the-moment comments he made. 

“I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you,” he said. “How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.

Zoiks!

At least he didn't take away their footwear or relegate them only to the kitchen, though I assume that was implied. 

Maybe the women in attendance were shocked, as I didn't hear one "boo" or "fuck you".  Or maybe, as it is a Catholic university, they were like, "yup, that's us!".  Either way, I'm disappointed 

He goes on to say how his wife is a "homemaker". And it's a great thing, since she can stay at home on his $20MM contracted salary. Most households will need both incomes.............dick. 

BTW, what does your mother - a medical physicist at Emory University think of this. Better yet, what the fuck does he think of his mom? Sounds like embarrassed she has a job outside the home!

The problem is bigger of course. Everyone is focusing on the women's portion, but no worries - he got in LGBTQI+ digs in too: 

• Butker encouraged graduates to have Catholic pride, but “not the deadly sin sort of pride that has an entire month dedicated to it.”

• He criticized President Joe Biden, who is Catholic, and other unnamed Catholic leaders for “pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America” — an apparent reference to transgender rights.

• Butker also waded into the DEI debate, saying, “The world around us says that we should keep our beliefs to ourselves whenever they go against the tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Diversity?  Huh Harrison (btw.....GAY name!). I cannot wait for training camp to start with a team that mostly made up of minorities whose right have been squashed for centuries - right down to BLM, which the NFL does not support - no matter what they say. 

Yeah Yeah - the NFL is "distancing" themselves from Buttkick's comments and say they don't reflect their views, but they kind of do - except for all the female viewers who have flocked to watch football, whether due to Taylor Swift or not. The NFL still wants that cash. 

But here's hoping your locker room experience going forward isn't a good one. Let's hope the "diverse" team doesn't "include" you - you fucking racist, sexist, homophobic pussy. 

I don't even want him walking back his statements. They'd be untrue - and lying is a sin Harrison. 

Song by: Plain White T's

Backfired

Ugh - this country. The U.S. that is. 

I get that everyone isn't from here, but even I have to believe that anything Taylor Swift related is global news. Whatever you think of her as a musician, she's a cunning (no 't') business woman.  ...and she knows how to work social media. 

Her bf, Travis Kelce does too. I believe he and his brother have the #1 podcast with New Heights. I know Travis and Jason are from my town, but they are fucking hilarious. It's fun to watch that shit. 

But OMFG - the GOP. 

Besides the paranoia of the rigged NFL shit, but that the republican snowflakes (yes, they are actually the ones who are über sensitive, not the liberal folks) are allegedly planning some kind of counter-attack due to Kelce and Swift. Something that hasn't even happened.

This. Is. Brilliant. 

Seriously. On so many levels. 

In a land of 342 million people (161-168 million registered voters), the GOP is so seemingly incredibly fragile that two people - 2 !!!!!! - can take down a political party that has been in place for over 200 years. 

Should that be the case - and it might be - then the GOP should be scared as fuck. 

Me?  I'm hopeful as fuck. 

Yes. Me !!!   I just typed that. 

Backfired. My man, your plan backfired in your face. 

Swift has the financial means to purchase every single ad slot for the Super Bowl with just the interest on what she makes annually. Can you imagine if each and every ad was her singing about Pappy Joe while riding the Bud Light Clydesdales while holding boxes of Plan B?  

You think men of this country were melting down over seeing 42 seconds (!!) of her during a 3+ hour play-off, just think of chaos that would happen? 

Swift has personally been responsible for making the NFL / Kansas City Chiefs and additional $331 million during this last regular season. That's a lot of money to me and you. It is a drop in the bucket to the $16.8 BILLION the NFL rakes in annually - but it's more than a blip, considering it was an untapped female market. 

Let's be honest - no one is fucking with the half-time show, and I don't even know who is performing. If Kelce does anything during the game not football related it will be to propose to Swift. That alone will send the GOP screaming, though I'm not sure why. I thought they were for traditional marriage. 

Who doesn't appreciate a good conspiracy theory this guy is toting around?

But I love how this X'er in the image attempts to debase Kelce for being vaccinated.........like three years later. And yes, Kelce is a spokesperson for Covid vaccinations. And you know this dipshit twatter has been vaccinated too. Why is there such pride in promoting others to die due to non-vaccination?  Maybe his biggest concern is that Kelce won't die due to it. 

Still, there is chatter about a counter-offensive should any of the predicted happens. Except, they're not going to develop a plan and not launch it - even if Swift stays in Japan and doesn't attend. The GOP is basically the premature ejaculators for the political party system. 

I mean, they can't abort their own baby............can they? Maybe they will...............if it's not viable. 

Song by: Debbie Harry

Sick of Myself

Blah. 

No real post today. 

I've down and out physically for about two days. Stomach bug of some sorts. 

Rest has barely been gotten, even though all I have done is lay around. I mean there is a lot of getting up and down with a stomach thing going on.  Still, no gym. No running. Barely walking the dog. 

On the plus side, I might make my goal weight, though it's not the kind of weight one ever keeps off. 

So, while I've had all the time in the world to compose a blog post, this is the one you're getting .

On a side note:  watching Jason Kelce watch his brother make two touchdowns in the playoffs was just fun. I'm not saying he was drunk, but I'm not not saying that either 

Either way, this is what Taylor Swift can look forward to every Thanksgiving. 

Oddly (not really) the elder Kelce had never met Swift, as he plays football in another city, so the playoff game was their first. More importantly Jason K befriended a young Buffalo Bills fan and got her to meet Taylor Swift. Sure, he put Swift on the spot, but who cares. 

Ok. I'm done. I gotta rest. 

Song by: Matthew Sweet

Adorable

It's been a while since I've had a sports crush. 

I won't link it here, but you can do a search on Travis Hafner shoud you be interested in my last one. 

I know everyone is about Travis Kelce, and you know, I wouldn't kick him out of bed or anything, but there is someone WAY cuter. 

....and hotter. 

In that order. Honest. 

Nick Bosa. 

I could look at that man all day. 

....and I do mean look. I mean, I wouldn't turn down any of the other senses either. I'm only human. 

He played for Ohio State and now plays for San Francisco. Just because he plays for gaytown, doesn't mean he has loafer lighteners. Allegedly he has a girlfriend.   Boo!

But I can still look. 

I won't lie - I want to BE his warm-up shirt. 

I don't think I'm going to be the future ex Mrs. Bosa, so I'll take what I can get. 

Song by: the Drifters

Love Story

Can I tell you how much I don't care how people pretend not to care about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce?

I honestly, save one song, don't really know or care for Swift's music, but she is a musical business genius - or at least someone on her team is. In a world of Vegas residencies, she sold out every show that was 3-4 times the size of any Vegas venue. And in Vegas, you can't play more than something like 90 minutes, because it affects the casino cash.  Honest.  She plays for 3.5 hours. 

There was an article a few weeks back that only Swift can save the music industry - and they might be correct. She takes stands professionally, business-wise and political wise and has the power to get away with it all. Streaming service seem great, but will legit kill the music business, and companies buying up all musical rights aren't helping matters. 

Back to her date. 

If Fox "news" comments on it, and in a negative way, for fuck sake, pork that football players brains out. Or at the very least, pretend to. 

The brand is just pissed that the Chief games are on CBS or NBC, and viewership has rocketed on the hopes of seeing Swift in the stands.

And well, Swift is an ally to the LGBT community, stands up for civil rights and talks down Tennessee politicians and BLOTUS himself.  Fox's problem is her popularity and what her outspokenness can do. Kelce is one of the few white football players to take a knee. This coupling is a threat to Fox and their viewers. Of course they don't want to see this. Or want anyone else to see this. 

I want to hear about people seeing it. On the surface, I don't give a rat's ass who dates anyone, but if this makes others bristle, it's probably a good thing. I'm fine with them putting up a facade of liking each other, even if they don't. 

Of course, I like the rumours that the other Kelce brother is dating Jake from State Farm, since he was with the mom Kelce. Jake seems more in touch with his feelings than Taylor. 

Song by: Taylor Swift

the Walls Came Down

Let's take a break from Washington for a sec, shall we?  That shit show will be there when we return. 

Howz about that Carl Nassib? 

The first truly openly gay NFL foolball player (sorry, Michael Sam - you didn't get the job, so technically.....) now has a bf. 

Yeah, yeah, he had to go outside the country to nab him, but I don't really know where gay football players have to get to get laid. 

Apparently Denmark. 

And apparently, it has to be another athlete, because us normies would never do. So Carl went for an Olympic swimmer from Denmark - as if you couldn't tell by the chest and abs with not one strand of hair remaining. 

In a way it seems mundane. But it really is not. Whether you like football or not, a gay player, who is going into playoffs, is knocking cleats with another dude. Officially  Not just on the DL under the bleachers.    .......though the bleachers thing is possible, I suppose. 

This isn't a sport that has embraced men going down on their knees.  Sure sure........to hold a ball in place for a kicker. And sure sure.............for the occasional fellatio.  Just as long as they are not black and doing it to support lives of black people. 

It shouldn't be unimaginable for a pro-sports figure to be a 'mo and to have a normal life with a person of the same sex..........but in the NFL (or NHL, ABA or MLB) it seems taboo to a degree......though it shouldn't. 

We've seen Brian's Song - if that wasn't two dudes in a love story, I don't know what was.  Yeah, Brian Piccolo had to die instead of move in with Gayle Sayers, but that had to do more with interracial relationships more than gay-acting. 

But seriously...............

What is seemingly a small step forward, is a giant leap. 

Maybe some kid playing ball in high school will see this and go, "hey..........yeah.........that's just like me". 

The wall comes down a piece at a time. Good for Nassib (and his chest) to help make it happen. 

Song by: the Call

Down for the Count

Once again, the NFL (read: Roger Goodell) got it wrong. 

I went to the gym yesterday, which every TV (well, all 4) are always on an ESPN, most likely not the Ocho. 

I barely follow football for the teams in my home state or home town. Cincinnati is pretty much Kentucky so I don't really count them.  n

Since I get to the gym well before the sun rises, I rarely see any news before arriving, so I missed the Buffalo - Cincinnati game news where a young player up and had a cardiac arrest during the game. Tragic on any level, right? 

I don't think it's know if an actual play in which he made a tackle spurred the MI or if he had an (un)knowng underlying heart condition. And for this next part: it doesn't really matter. 

Medical teams did CPR on Damar Hamlin for nine minutes! That is not a short amount of time. From what I could tell, no commercials were taken so hundreds of thousands (millions?) of people watch this unfold in real time - including the powers that be in the NFL. 

I get the NFL is a business. A big one. Billions of dollars riding on just about any and every thing. This is why Goodell & Co have turned a blind eye to players (and owners) domestic violence, rape, murder, attempted murder, sex trafficking, dog fighting / killing and deadly brain injuries.

Players play a game that brings in tons of revenue. Any disruption causes the league and owners money - and lord fucking knows - you cannot have that. 

Ironically, the turned a different kind of blind eye to Black Lives Matter. They really didn't think (read:care) it's an issue.  And let's face it, a majority of players are black or mixed race and only a handful followed the Colin Kaepernick to take a knee for a silent protest. Clearly, their paychecks were more important than the lives of their own gender and race. 

There is a reason when you Gooooooogle Kaepernick, the first thing that comes up is "American civil rights activist".  Not former football player. 

But here's where the NFL failed: again. 

They had every fucking intention of finishing the game at hand. Advertising slots were sold, money had already (I'm guessing) exchanged hands. Dead air.  ....and worse, One Day at a Time reruns to fill the air time. While I'm sure Bonnie Franklin's estate needs the $$$$, really?  Finish the game? 

Yes, an hour after the player collapsed, the NFL postponed the game. Don't thank Goodell for that.  Players and Coaches not only refused to go back on the field, they contacted their unions, who supported their action. Goodell's hand was forced. He had no choice. 

Men are brutalizing other men on the field - and in this case (maybe) almost to death. For sport. For cash. It's a modern day Glad-He-Ate-Her.......minus the lions and Russell Crowe in a harness and breast plate. 

Goodell is great for business and the owners. Not so great for the folks on the field. Unless you're a rapist, sex traffiker, murder, attempted murder, dog fight owner, domestic abuser who gets away with your actions, where any other profession would have fired your fucking ass for those things. 

But for the non-felons, the NFL doesn't really give a fuck about you. Not all of you are a Rob Gronkowski getting national endorsements that eclipse your actual salary. I've seen the numbers, and after taxes and your agent fees - you're not making much of anything for the short time you're in the sport. Most of you are in debt after your signing bonus. Mostly because  you're really really bad with money. 

I hear people for Goodell to go, but why would he?  Players aren't pushing for anything. They're protected even from the law. Owners?  Hand over fist in $$$$.   But their employment practices are abhorrent. 

Maybe the union will step in for better conditions for the players and coaches. But it's the almighty dollar we are talking about here.  Much like Mr. Hamlin, I won't be holding my breath. 

Song by: OK Go

Rumour Has It

I doubt any of you follow Cleveland sports. Hell, I live here and I barely do. 

Cleveland Browns, the football team for those who don't know, have rarely kept a quarterback for a full season. Each one a trainwreck in their own way. 

Our newest QB is, without a doubt, the biggest of our fuck-ups........and he hasn't even played a game yet - and quite honestly, might never. 

With full prior knowledge, the owners and coach signed some dick name Deshaun Watson. At the time of his draft, he had 22 (!!!!!) sexual harassment and / or rape charges filed against him.  He's 26 - so if he started raping women at birth, that's slightly less than one per year. 

Since he got drafted, at least two more women have come forward. 

Now the owners of the team are married. I get that Jimmy Haslam is probably the Robert Kraft of the AFC, so he probably thinks some poor woman who works at Massage Envy deserves what she gets.  But Dee, his wife, clearly picked the almighty dollar over 24 women. 

Oh - and they drafted him knowing there would be suspensions of games, where he'd get paid but not play. They took that "risk" figuring it would be a possible year of doing nothing and it was still worth a year of his - get this - $230 MILLION dollar contract. 

Now, why would Watson stop doing what he's doing?  He's not only gotten away with it, he's been rewarded for it. The NFL LOVES this behavior.  They are more than willing to talk about 'good conduct', but words and deeds are different.  That is why the NFL has hired and rehired murders, dog fighters, rapists, spousal abusers, alcoholics and drug users. 

You just can't kneel.  

But that brings me to Colin Kaepernick. 

The man was blackballed for kneeling during the National Anthem in support of BLM. That's the short version.  

With the prospect of Watson being out for 2022-23, the Browns need a starting quarterback. I guess, 2nd, 3rd and 4th string players are there for their looks and to give locker room blowjobs? 

Rumour has it that Kaepernick is being considered for the interim position. 

Me? Personally?  I LOVE it. 

I think the town will revolt over such a might-be selection. 

Fans will abide having a serial rapist on a team, but would riot at the thought of a black man standing up for the black population by peacefully kneeling.  Because, THAT is disrespect. 

I own zero Browns gear. Never have owned a thing. If Kaepernick came, I'd be the first in line to plunk down $243 for a jersey*.

*I just assume that's what team gear would cost. 

Song by: Adele

Lies

Poor "straight" Aaron Rodgers. Caught in another probable lie. 

I'm not saying he's gay, I'm just saying he had a public tiff with a male roommate. You know, because many multi-millionaire professional athletes need someone with whom to split the rent. 

I have a feeling the break-up was over, "hey, did you eat my last yogurt?!  I was SAVING that!"

No, now he's having a hissy because he's been found to have publicly lied about having gotten the Covid vaccine.  

What a nancy-boy. It's no wonder he's a "packer".  Allegedly. 

Somehow he's mad at the "woke mob". He's made at whomever leaked the information. He's mad at the press for reporting it. Perhaps the person he should be mad at it right in the mirror.

Of course, the funniest thing about this shit is his admission that he went to Joe Rogan - a failed actor and now a flaky radio show guy - for advice on where / how to get treated for Covid.....for which he's tested positive. If memory serves me well - and it does - Rogan doesn't have a medical degree. Probably not a high school one either. 

But Aaron is a guy who has also takes (not past tense) ivermectin. So...........yeah. 

Oh, and his rationale is that he wants to be a father someday and you can't do that with the vaccine due to fertility issues. If that's an issue, then jerk off into a cup for later. But in reality, butt-babies aren't real things anyway, Arron!

Rodgers has at least one sponsor  - a health care system! - drop him. Honestly, I hope there are more. Though I don't know who normally hires professional rumoured gay football players as their spokesperson. Yeah, the company and Rodgers put out a joint statement saying they'd end their agreement, which they just signed a four year extension. I'm pretty sure Aaron didn't have a say in this termination. 

I have a feeling, the folks at Jeopardy are thinking they dodged a bullet not picking this guy as their new host. It'd be the second guy they'd have to fire in as many months. 

Song by: the Mavericks

Calling it Quits

I should be ok with the head coach of the Oakland Los Angeles Las Vegas Raiders resigning from his job after multiple instances of bigotry, racism, misogyny and homophobia.  Deep down, I'm a little pissed that the organization and the NFL didn't fire him. 

THAT sends a message. 

Allowing him to faux apologize and probably resign with his benefits and golden parachute is bullshit and says all the wrong things to the others in the NFL. 

Jon Gruden called Roger Goodell a 'faggot' and a 'pussy'. At least in email, if not to his face. I'm sure he meant 'a bundle of sticks' and a 'kitty cat', right? 

He said the head of the NFL union, who is black, that his lips were the size of Michelin Tires. 

He denounced any protesting by kneeling and made homophobic comments about the NFL trying to be inclusive by drafting Michael Sam, who would have been the first out player. 

There were comments about women too, of course.  Female refs?  

While, clearly, all of that is horrible, I think I was way way way more offended that he thought the league was too safety conscious. 

Yes, clear medical indications of playing literally turns a players brains to mush, but the league is being pussies about protection. And not just NFL, but down to pee-wee. 

This guy clearly had issues not performing well enough for his father as a tot - and grew up to be one big asshole.  But an asshole who got to leave - more or less - on his own terms. 

Once again, the NFL holds almost no one accountable for anything.  

Song by: Aimee Mann

Shake it Out

I'm not saying the Cleveland Browns turned Carl Nassib gay - but I'm not not saying it. 

Sure sure - he didn't come out until he was an Oakland Vegas Raider, but you know Cleveburgh had to play a role in it.  It gets cold here - you gotta cuddle with someone. 

But yay Carl - the first openly gay active member of the NFL. 

For those keeping score - that is one homo in the NFL's 101 year history. 

Of course, there have been others. Statistically there has had to have been. I'm sure there were suspicions. Or the folks we had hopes were..........

That's right Tom, I'm talkin' 'bout you. 

.....and you too Mike Vrabel

I'll be curious to see what the true reaction is.  Not the Pride Month reaction. The September, start of the season, reaction. Not the NFL/Raiders press release version, but the rubber hitting the road rendition. 

The NFL hasn't been great about dealing with domestic abuse, sex trafficking (yes, YOU Robert Kraft!), dog fighting, murder - or {gasp} racism.  Homophobia should be on their big list of oversights too, no? 

But good for Carl to pave the way. Maybe others will do the same.............Tim Tebow. 

......and I think Carl and everyone can be thankful he didn't play for Green Bay. 

Song by: Florence + the Machine

Water on the Brain

Oh Rob Gronkowki is nice to look at.

Not exactly my "type", but if he axed, I wouldn't say 'no'. I'm not a fool.

While Gronk doesn't look like a brainiac, he was smart enough to retire from football at the age of 30. Considering the physical toll it takes on the body, and how it turns a person's brains to mush, is it any wonder he and Andrew Luck retired at a relatively young age?

Gronk is also smart, in as that he allegedly hasn't used any of his football earnings, living "only" on his endorsements.

He has a new endorsement for CBD products for pain relief.  While it may or may not work, there isn't a whole lot of science behind it and zero regulation.  It's supposed to be cannabis oil (or extract) without the THC, but that's probably not a reality in an unwatched market.

Part of his claim is he had liquid in his head as part of his playing. He's not saying he had brain damage, but his Tide Pods ad tells me differently.

via ytCropper



Song by: the Hollies

Too Young to Kneel

Ahhhh.....nothing says love of country more than forced patriotism.

The NFL is the biggest bunch of pussies I've ever had the pleasure of not meeting.

If you're a rapist, a murderer, assault your wife, have dogs fight to their death, rob folks, drive drunk, get high, assault your wife again - well, you're still good for their starting line up.

If you kneel during the national anthem, well..... you're shit out of luck.

If you kneel, the player and the team are subject to an NFL fine - though it seems the dollar amount is uncertain. The teams themselves can also discipline any offending player.

All of this was owner agreed to, no player involvement. Shocking.

The owners would rather bow to BLOTUS' criticisms than support their players. Scratch that - the owners would rather bow to the greenback a-dollar than support the players - you know, the guys that play the game that provide them greenbacks.  But BLOTUS supporters will financially hurt the ad revenue, so it all ties.

Yeah - I get that NFL teams are private companies and are not bound by the first amendment, but still, it is not a great example they're setting.

Oh, there is a compromise:  player can sit out the anthem in the locker room. Yes, a peaceful, invisible protest. I think that's what Rosa Parks did.

IF the NFL were so damned serious about "the anthem", cameras should be turned to the flag and only the flag. No panning through the crowds and the sidelines which are filled with product placement. It's not about Gatorade, it's about the fucking flag, people!

And shouldn't the fans be forced - yes forced - to watch the anthem. No talking. No drinking. No going out to buy 22oz beers and food. Shut down the concessions until the anthem is over.

Ohhhhhhhhh......right.   $$$$$$.    How quickly I forgot.

What I don't get - and I don't - is that save for the San Francisco 49ers  (where this all started with Colin Kaepernick ) who abstained from the vote, the vote for these rules were unanimous.  That's not the part I don't get.  The New York Jets co-owner said he would pay the fines if the players don't choose to stand.

DUDE!  I guess nice work on that one, but where was that fucking backbone during the vote??

Here's the way to win - if you're a player. Every one of them, take a knee. Every week. The rub is - the NFL can't play without the players. They can't play with a bunch of 3rd and 4th stringers. Well they can, but no one is gonna watch that shit.

The video below is quite awesome. I'm not a Golden State Warrior fan, but their coach, Steve Kerr, used to play for the Cavs. I love how he bashes - nicely - the NFL. And he's right to do it.

I'm tired of the 'disrespecting the troops'.  I'm sorry - I didn't realize the American flag was for them and them only. If you want to respect America, then do it for all of what it means. And since there isn't a law against kneeling, sitting or taking off your hat, then shut the fuck up.

I find it laughable that BLOTUS thinks the flag and anthem need respect when he does not give the country, or anyone else, respect. He doesn't know the meaning of the word.




Song by: Echo & the Bunnymen

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

There is an interesting article in the NYT regarding a 'secret' meeting last fall with owners and players from the NFL.

While the meeting subject wasn't titled: 'What To Do About Colin', it was, basically, what to do about Colin.

It 'seems' like a good-faith effort from the NFL to invite select players to said meeting, but it sounds (to me) like they wanted to use them to send a message back to the rest of the players.

The owners are / were so worried about BLOTUS and his tweets regarding Kneelgate, with falling ratings and burning jerseys that they needed a secret meeting..............which then they released the details of 5-6 months later.

Clearly, some of the owners are so far up BLOTUS' ass that they call him by his first name only, not by his last and certainly not by his office. To me (again) it seems more about friends helping friends than owners backing their employees.

Some of the players at the meeting discussed the blackballing of Kaepernick with the owners staying silent - as would be expected from rich pussies.  One player stated he should be on some roster - and I can't say I agree with that or not. If his playing abilities are up to par - absolutely.

The article comes of as the owners being dicks. I think they are dicks - but not just because of this instance. It's just sad to see....and read.

....and for whatever you do: do NOT read the comments from readers.



Song by: Sarah McLachlan

the Hanging Garden

Awwwww.......of all the felonious NFL players, why'd it have to be the only hot one of the bunch to up and kill hisself???

I don't even think it's arguable that of  all those crime-committing players that Aaron Hernandez was the hottest.

Murder accomplice, Ray Lewis?  ewww.   Rapist, Ben Roethlisberger? nu-uh. Dog killer, Michael Vick?  fuck no. Wife beater, Ray Rice? not so much.

To be fair to the late Mr. Hernandez (well......not so much late, as he's never coming), sure, he may have shot and killed one guy, but he did not get convicted of the two drive-by killings of two others. I mean, really, he was only 1 for 3.  So he wasn't all bad, was he?

To Hernandez, I can only imagine that his prison sentence seemed oddly unfair - considering those other NFeLons (see what I did there???)  who got little or no jail time at all. I'm not sure his ending brought any kind of relief to the family of his victim. Honestly, he was sentenced to life with no chance of parole. I'm not sure I wouldn't consider ending it too.

I can't rule out the possibility of being that hot in prison was too much pressure. While technically the man was a tight end, you know he was top bunk all the way.



Song by: the Cure

Smack My Bitch Up

Let's start off with the title of the post: yes, it's meant to incite. No, I don't condone domestic violence.

I haven't had time to weigh in on Ray Rice and his elevator antics. I mean, in theory, I'm six weeks behind the times. Or four months. Or three days, depending on which part of the video you saw...and when.

...and I'm still more timely than the NFL.

Rice clearly should have been axed from the Baltimore Ravens and the NFL during his first go-round. Yes, the NFL commissioner said, after the two-game suspension, that the league was too lenient in their punishment. And they were.

But at least they're consistent. You can go to jail for dog-fighting and the mistreatment and killing of dogs for sport and money, but you can be welcomed back to the field with open arms. Ditto when you on trial for murder.

Let's face it, if Pete Rose had only been in the NFL, he'd already be in the Hall of Fame....and with a pat on the back, I might add.

And what I am about to say will draw a lot of controversy (say that last word like Prince), so hear me out and here goes:

based on previous events, the Ravens and the NFL had no right to fire Ray Rice.




Hey!!!  I said hear me out.




Rice was suspended for two games for beating his then fiancée and dragging her out of the elevator. Ok, let me rephrase: it is possible he was suspended for dragging her out of the elevator. Allegedly the NFL didn't see the tape to know what happened inside the car.

Both Rice and said fiancée were charged with domestic violence, so it is inferred that what happened in the elevator to render her unconscious was via some type of battery.

So, now that the additional video just surfaced, which the NFL "claims" to have never seen before, now he gets shit-canned?

What. The. Fuck. did the NFL think actually happened in that elevator? That Janay Palmer fanned herself when she got the vapors after someone uttered 'drat' or 'egad', while twirling their waxed moustache, and subsequently slumped to the floor?

Since nothing really new surfaced - except the video - why did the NFL change their already carried-out punishment?

It was the same instance, the same crime, the same day and time. Nothing changed.  Ohhhh - except that all of America got to see it. Ohhhh - and now 45% of the NFL's audience are........wait for it.......female.

The NFL doled out their punishment for the same crime, of which Rice completed its requirements. So why the change of heart - I mean except for the video and all the females in the U.S. of A. who have been your financial supporters, as of late, now have their panties in a wad..............but only because they finally saw the video.

Kids - you're looking at a business decision.

This is not one about morals of players beating women. The same as a few dozen dogs or killing someone isn't really a punishable crime. If people will pay money to see these motherfucking losers play ball - a blind eye is cast. No apologies. No explanations.

But once you fuck with the business model - all bets are off.......for the players, that is.

As Bobbi Flekman would say: "money talks and bullshit walks".

Those same players can beat their brains to mush for the good of the game and the league will pay $750MM for all players ever affected - past and future (not that we know how many that will be) - as long as you, the consumer, keep buying overpriced tickets and their merch....just as long as you don't tape or show a game without the expressed written consent of the NFL.

That might infringe on their $8.8B broadcasting contracts.

And don't read too much into this, but Janay (how is she not a Real Housewife of Atlanta?) wasn't, at the time, married to this ticking time bomb. There were no ties, no children (?), no nothing.

I know anti-violence groups and NOW will treat me like they did DiGirno, but really - why not just walk away?

I've seen a few dozen of the #WhyIStayed explanations. Some hold water. Some do not. Sorry - but they don't. I get the bartering with yourself to stay or go for financial reasons, the children, the thinking it is something you brought on yourself, shame or lack of self-worth....I do.

I don't get the: "I thought he'd change".

DiGirno has a better rationale for staying in an abusive relationship than that one.

It's like people of today have never seen a Lifetime movie in the last three decades. This problem and lame explanation are not new and they are not swept under the rug. They are an every day occurrence that are in the media - be it the news, fiction, television or movies.

Beat me once, shame on him.......beat me twice.....well...........

Yeah. That does not hold water.

While the NFL cannot necessarily control the behaviour of their players, each contract should (and might) have a morality clause. Put it in there - and not just about domestic violence, make it more sweeping - and fucking stick to it.

"You fuck up: You're fired".   No pension, no buying out of your contract. You. Are. Gone.

It's amazing how fast these dumb-asses will fall in line when the almighty dollar is attached to it. But the underlying problem is they are coddled....by the team, by the league, their managers and agents. Behaviours and actions are hidden because to say a player failed is to say that all those people failed too....and when they fail, they get fired or at the very least, don't get paid. So the code of silence is in place.

The NFL is fucked. Goddell is fucked. No matter what (t)he(y) knew or when is almost irrelevant now. It won't stop the idiotic fans from watching or advertisers from spending, but hopefully there'll be a closer media eye on them.  I mean - except from the networks who broadcast their games (Fox, CBS, NBC and ABC/ESPN).   Oh yeah............never mind.

Maybe, just maybe whomever helms the Super Bowl half-time show will be smart enough not to book Chris Brown and R. Kelly.  But I'm not betting on that either.



Song by: Prodigy

Fan Mail

It's been a tough week for us here and believe it or not, I don't write about everything.

For some levity, I thought I'd just post a viral video about the Cleveland Browns.  Yeah, it is kind of a lame thing to do, but it is better than nothing, right?

Most of you might not care about football.  Hell, I don't.  But I hope you watch anyways.

As you read a few weeks ago, I've only been to two Browns games in 15 years - so clearly I'm not a fan - of the team or of the sport, overall.  For those who do not know, the "new" stadium (circa 1999) is build right along the lake front, which is where the old one resided. Rebuilding it there was a big bone of contention for many (myself included) on taking up valuable land.

Still I liked the truer fan's rant against our continually losing team.  It already has 600,000 more hits than any other YouTube video that features the Cleveland Clowns.





Song by:  Blondie

Field of Opportunity

For the second time in 16 years, 710 and I went to a pro-football game.  I know, we are so butch!

Last game, I don't even think counted. It was an exhibition game in July of some unknown year.  T-shirt, shorts and sandals were worn.  Hardly football weather.

The way some people find baseball boring (not me!), is the way I feel about pro-football.  I mean, I like Ohio State football and all, and while one could argue with all the exchange of goods and services for $$$ that go into that program one could classify it as 'pro', allegedly it is not.  Allegedly. 

I'm never sitting down on a Sunday (or Monday night) to watch a football game.  I just don't care.

I won't say I was duped into going to the Cleveland Browns - Seattle Seahawks game, but I certainly didn't ask the right questions when presented the opportunity. And even if I did,  I wouldn't have gotten the right answers, through no fault of our hosts.

One might have been led to believe that we were to be in loge or skybox.  One might take from that, that the seats were enclosed from the elements if need be.  For the record, Club Seats are not the loge/skybox.  They were nice.  They were padded.  They were outdoors.

Ruckiry (not Jon's boss), I don't think we could have had a nicer football Sunday.  Sunny and 62.  Granted, the sun was on the other side of the stadium, but it was still a no jacket kind of day.

One was also led to believe that food and drink were included in the - gulp - $200 per seat tickets.  Sorry, but for that price someone should have been peeling my grapes!

As it turns out, no longer in that price is food and drink included.  It seems at one time it was, but I suppose pro sports have fallen on hard economic times too.  And while our friends Tom & Sal got the tickets from work at no cost to them, we did feel the need to shell out for the food.  It was the right thing to do even if it was so-so food at not so-so prices.

I got a Philly Steak  & Cheese sammich......but I'm 99% sure it was brisket.  It was ok, but not what I was expecting....or wanting.  I get brisket at my mother's for Sunday dinner, not at a football stadium.  Still it was a small fortune price to pay to be out with friends.

Oh, and there was a game, I guess.  I know enough football so I wasn't a complete boob about it.  We sucked.  We won when we probably shouldn't have won, but to be fair, Seattle sucked too.  A game of three field goals.  Two for us.   Whoo-Hoo?

There was little passing from our end, and even when he tried, Colt McCoy (I know! I swear it's not a nom du porn) did little girly tosses going for 3-4 yards.  And "we" (like I have any stake in this) have no skill to be running up the middle it seems.  But a win is a win, I suppose.

The great thing, of course, is we got to hang out and laugh with Tom & Sal.  They are fun and funny.  They live three houses away and are just great to be with.

I also have to show you this pic of me.  I think it kind of makes my case for not posting 'smiling' pics.

First off, when did I get so many crow's feet laugh lines?  And secondly, it's that 'ancient Chinese secret' thing going on too.  And man, what a honker.  Yikes.



Song by: Neil Young