The Train Daddy is back with the pain daddy, and the heat is on here in the ‘Boro with triple-digit temps and in Miami as King James owns the city and the championship. This heat sucks, especially when you work construction as I do; I am not going to cry, but 113 degrees is hot on the sack.
It’s an exciting summer, the summer of the London Olympics. I love the Olympics—every game, every sport, every event, competition is competition, and I love it. It’s not even fair for the other countries! They should all just become one giant supercountry and it would still be a challenge to outdo the US in the medal count. For America, a country full of fat overweight slobs who love fast food, I salute all the dedicated Olympian athletes who somewhat overshadow that stigma by the way they represent this country on a world stage.
Of course, Happy 4th of July to this beautiful country. And how do we celebrate? We blow crap up and watch Joey Chesnut eat 50+ hot dogs in ten minutes.
I love this country and I love sports, so keep reading because if you don’t, you’re not a true patriot like my man, Mel Gibson.
The opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics kicks off on Friday, July 27, and the show and festivities get bigger and better every time. The projected number of nations participating is 197, and 10,500 athletes are estimated to compete in the events, which consist of 26 sports and 302 different events. London is the first city to host the games three times—previously in 1908 and 1948. The celebration was short-lived; 24 hours after the good news for London, their public transport system was attacked by terrorists. There are crazy people out there in the world and London’s security force for the games is unheard of; not even Fievel and his mouse family could make it into the country.
So let’s break down the number of total medals won by the US, just to show you how crazy America’s dominance really is. In the total medal count from 1896 to the present, the US kills it with 2,549 total medals, dominating in the summer games with just 253 coming from the winter games. The next closest country is the Soviet Union with 1,204 total medals and in third, Germany with 1,099 followed by Great Britain, France, and Italy. So what’s the explanation of dominance, when this country is full of fat, fast-food enthusiasts? I am no Olympian, but I do enjoy the games and appreciate the athletes. I am ready to see what my pot-smoking friend Michael Phelps will do; he already has an all-time record 14 gold medals and is 2 medals away from being the all-time medal holder (currently set at 18). The battles between him and some say equally talented American Ryan Lochte should be the most exciting events in this year’s game. Gold and silver in every race will be nice; it’s the Phelps vs. Lotche saga 2012.
To my loyal and passionate Titan fans, training camp is in session and there are many things to be excited about. Let’s start with the sexy additions Bud Adams and company added to the stadium—big ass TVs, baby! These monster HD video boards are almost as big as the ones big pimpin’ Jerry Jones put in the Cowboys stadium; we now have the second largest video boards in the league. Standing at 54 feet tall and 157 feet wide, one on each end of the stadium, the Titan’s organization spent millions so the fans can have the home theater feel at the game. So all you lazy people who say you rather enjoy the game from home, well no excuse now; your system isn’t nicer than this. Some other new additions include a new sound system and large LED ribbon board, which is great for updates for fantasy football fans at the game, and two large banks of high-speed elevators that lead to the upper deck.
Alright, so let’s talk quarterback controversy, is there a quarterback controversy? I love this quote from nfl.com: “If the Titans are Linus from the “Peanuts”, Matt Hasselbeck is their security blanket.” Everyone knows he is the security blanket that Linus loves so much, he is a veteran, a game manager with solid NFL experience; he is just Hasselbeck. Then there is Jake Locker. Unlike Matt, Locker represents youth, promise, and in my personal opinion, the future! Locker, an undeniable talent selected eighth overall in the 2011 draft, spent last season under the wing of the coaches and the veteran Hasselbeck. He wasn’t thrown into the lions’ den like Andrew Luck will be this season. He played in the second half of many games last season and made some phenomenal plays. Coach Munchak has declared an open competition this training camp, and this is where opinions fly and the debate begins for “Who should start at QB?”
Yes, Locker is without a doubt my favorite choice but maybe not the right decision to start. The Titans are a playoff potential team with the division being weak and key positions being strong like running back, defense in general and some great receivers, with one potential superstar in Britt. Although, the receivers need to stay healthy and hopefully the big boy at tight end gets cooking. Look at the Titans’ start of the season: New England, at San Diego, Detroit, at Houston, at Minnesota and then a Thursday night game vs. Pittsburgh. That is a hell of a first six games. I would start Matt for the season, and after those six games, evaluate him. If he has a failing grade, I pull him and put Locker in. The road gets much easier after the first six games. Locker is the future, but that is the smartest way to weave him into the system. No reason to kill your rookie. He can still learn much more as it is only the beginning of his second season. Locker will be there sooner than we realize, and I am damn excited for the kid and the future!
So let’s wrap it up, which is always a good idea, Gentlemen. I hope 2012 isn’t the end of the world; all you crazy people, “No man knows the time”, so quit trying to predict it! Good luck in the Olympics, America, God Bless football and Happy Independence Day, and God Bless the men who lost their lives for this country. I respect and honor those men in my prayers! I love sports, I love this country and I love my family. Those things make me happy. What about you?
