Michael Sam
It’s football time in Tennessee and the Me-Ma’s oxygen tank is working overtime in anticipation of the Titans’ fresh season. As always, I bring sports knowledge and life lessons with a sense of humor that would make your Grandma blush and the liberals in the media and D.C. cringe. There has been a lot of news surrounding Michael Sam and his sexual orientation, and for that reason alone I feel sorry for him. The NFL is a cutthroat business, and they could care less about anything other than the talent you present on the field of play. All this media coverage and inspiration talk is just added pressure to Sam, when all he wanted to do was find a spot on a NFL roster and progress his skills as a player. Equality and fairness for all is the goal here for Michael Sam followers, as it should be in the NFL. How can the man be an equal player in terms of treatment when his every move is scrutinized and social media has put him high on a pedestal?
Equality for all? Well, what about Tim Tebow, who was mocked for being a Christian? Now, Michael Sam gets praised for being gay. It’s a double standard, the way this country thinks at times. Some may say this argument makes no sense, but being gay is a lifestyle, being straight is a lifestyle, being a Christian is a lifestyle. Tim’s faith in God was never something he pushed on others unless they wanted to listen; it was truly his character as a man, and his haters were never called racists or bigots. These days if you speak out against a person like Sam in any way, well it’s the opposite and you will be called out as a hateful homophobic by some.
Michael Sam hasn’t pushed his sexual orientation on others, but social media sure has, and has turned it into a campaign of who is on the right or wrong side of history. Tim Tebow was famous for painting “John 3:16” under his eyes prior to a football game, some people cried out and the NCAA ultimately banned him from doing so. Imagine Michael Sam taking the field with “Gay Pride” painted under his eyes, and then the league telling him that’s a no-no. There would be no end to complaints of Sam being treated unfairly.
I wish Sam a successful career and I hope all this special attention directed towards him doesn’t mess with his training. It’s all about play, though, and what the coaches, scouts and experts see, they don’t care about anything else. Look at Richie Incognito, far from a popular player, but a solid offensive lineman, and recently cleared to take the field again. He will be picked up soon without a doubt, and many find that unfair, but it’s about skill. Signing Michael Sam is like inviting the circus into your franchise—all the media and attention comes with it. I agree with Tony Dungy—I wouldn’t sign him if I were an owner unless he was playing at a Pro Bowl level. Just like Tebow, I wouldn’t sign him unless he played like Peyton Manning; he also brought the circus act with him, everywhere he went. There is too much pressure on these coaches and teams for that. It’s sad, but maybe someday a gay player or an extremely passionate outspoken Christian like Tebow can play in the NFL without the circus following them.
The Bowl Championship Series is dead, and college football and its fans are better off for it. So let’s break down the new four-team playoff system, an exciting, fresh college era! So, why the change? Because the people spoke, and after 16 years of a flawed system, we have PLAYOFFS! Six bowls will host a semi-final four times over a 12-year stretch: the Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The title game will still change year to year, based on a bidding process. This year’s title game will take place in Arlington, Texas. There is a 13-member selection committee that includes notable members such as Archie Manning and former U.S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The committee is a talented group of high-integrity individuals with experience as coaches, student athletes, journalists and collegiate administrators. The role of this committee is to choose the top four teams, and also choose eight other teams to play in the other four major bowl games. They will also issue a Top 25 ranking each week starting Oct. 28. My hope is someday they will change from a four-team playoff to an eight-team system . . . slow steps, I reckon.
Imagine though, an eight-team system would be ideal; it would give all five power conferences an automatic berth and another could be given to the top-rated team from the other five conferences. That would still leave two spots for at-large teams, and never again would we cry that a deserving team got left out. I should be happy enough with the death of the BCS, and the birth of the playoffs. I am thrilled to death even with a four-team playoff.
Enough of that—it’s football time in Tennessee, and whether you’re cheering for the Titans, Blue Raiders, the Commodores, a smaller college or a team far away from here, I have one solid piece of information to enrich your tailgating or house party on a game day. Big fat sausages! I’m speaking truth here, my friends. Batey Farms, located in the ’Boro not far from the Avenue, has beaten the meat into a tasty treat for all to enjoy. Come game day, there is nothing better than being with friends and family and watching meat cook on top of a bed of charcoal. My first choice is Batey Farms Kasekrainer, a polish sausage filled with Wisconsin Swiss cheese, (my personal touch is to marinate it in a mustard-base BBQ sauce). The second option is jalapeño cheddar bratwursts, packed with flavor; grill ’em up until the cheese oozes out. Women, vegetarians and the manliest of men will worship the sausage laid upon their plate. No one can deny the flavor explosion of goodness. Batey Farms offers their product at numerous locations in Rutherford County (check out bateyfarms.com for more information).
Josh Gordon
After Ray Rice beat his girlfriend (now wife) in an elevator, and received a controversial two-game suspension, the NFL has toughened its domestic-abuse stance. The rules state that now, a first domestic abuse charge brings a six-game penalty, the second charge a lifetime ban. Good for the NFL—two games was far too lenient. Some people compare Ray Rice’s suspension to Josh Gordon’s year-long suspension for testing positive for marijuana, stating, “What the hell?” Most don’t realize Gordon had already previously failed a test for THC and he was entered into a last-chance program, where he failed to comply. With the direction this country is headed in regarding the legalization of marijuana, many disagree with the length of Gordon’s suspension. This will be the first time since Jim Brown that a player led the previous season in rushing or receiving and missed the next season. It’s a deep conversation for players that pound their bodies day in and day out—pain pills or a little weed for the pain? I would vote for a little weed. I have seen firsthand what pain pills do to people. It’s a quick and awful addiction that is ravaging this country. Doctors pass them out left and right, kids take to medicine cabinets, and they are as simple as pie to get on the street. Just saying, a little weed never destroyed a life as far as I’m concerned. Ask Brett Favre and millions of others: pain pills destroy lives, fast. That’s it, the Train is out the station. Can’t wait for some football, baby. Choo-choo!
Tennessee Titans 2014 Schedule
Sunday, Sept. 7 @ Chiefs 12 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 14 vs. Cowboys 12 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 21 @ Bengals 12 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 28 @ Colts 12 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 5 vs. Browns 12 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 12 vs. Jaguars 12 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 19 @ Redskins 12 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 26 vs. Texans 12 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 9 @ Ravens 12 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 17 vs. Steelers 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 23 @ Eagles 12 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 30 @ Texans 12 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 7 vs. Giants 12 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 14 vs. Jets 3:05 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 18 @ Jaguar 7:25 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 28 vs. Colts 12 p.m.
