The Train Daddy is back, delivering sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk all for one reason: to make you, the people of Middle Tennessee, laugh. I hope you always learn something new reading this article, it’s all about saying ridiculous things, laughter, giving my personal opinion and hopefully making some readers think twice about a subject.
Sometimes I may say things others deem offensive. I make zero apologies . . . except one time I used the word “retard” as a noun to describe something distasteful. Well, that made some of you mad, and I received multiple emails calling me retarded for using the word “retard” in that manner. So, I vowed to try and eliminate the word from my vocabulary. We all make sacrifices!
Before we dig too deep into this article, check out a new column debuting in the Pulse this issue— “Spiritual Matters,” on page 38. If you’re looking for something refreshing and uplifting with no talk of hate or judgmental views, check it out! I know the brain behind that article, a good man who loves God and family, a man I strive to be more like. That article and this article couldn’t be more opposite, but sometimes, especially in my case, it’s nice to be humbled by others, so check it out!
Don’t let all that rare praise cloud your views of me as a writer. You know what the Train Daddy is about: sports and controversy. So, what shall we discuss? We’ll start with the controversial part, NFL defensive end Michael Bennett, and then I will heap praise upon the Nashville Predators as only I can do.
I promise I won’t rant about transgender athletes and how transgender women have an unfair advantage over natural-born women. The IOC and NCAA seem to disagree, but smart people know the truth . . . okay, sorry, I’m ranting.
Instead let’s talk about Michael Bennett, a successful and talented NFL player who excelled in Seattle and was traded to Super Bowl champion the Philadelphia Eagles. Bennett has been on my radar for years for reasons other than his play, and this latest allegation adds a sick twist to the story line. Bennett was recently accused of and charged with pushing and injuring a 66-year-old paraplegic woman who is wheelchair-bound and was a security worker at NRG Stadium during Super Bowl LI.
Bennett has emerged over the past couple seasons as “one of the NFL’s leading voices in athlete activism.” Bennett is a vocal supporter of Black Lives Matter, a figurehead for the anthem protest and a man who accused Las Vegas Police of racially profiling him.
Bennett was an innocent bystander in 2017 at a casino in Vegas where a shooting happened to take place. People were running away as cops were running towards the danger. An officer stopped Bennett to question him and a day later Bennett made headlines claiming the officers racially profiled him, threatened to blow his head off and physically abused him. The Social Justice Warriors were quick to demand action against the Vegas Police Department, despite the lack of evidence.
After Bennett and his lawyer made the allegations, Vegas Police quickly released dozens of videos from the casino and also a video of the exchange between Bennett and the officer. As the video makes clear, Bennett utterly lied. The video also proved the officer treated Bennett with immense respect. Watch it yourself on YouTube. Lying about being racially profiled is as bad as lying about being sexually assaulted. You can destroy the life of the accused, and what’s sad is that the accuser usually faces no repercussions.
The release of the videos quickly silenced Bennett, his lawyer and most of his supporters. Yet the left still see Bennett as a hero, an outspoken proud black man fighting the system, even after being a proven liar and now an alleged abuser of the handicapped, facing charges of injuring the elderly. In January 2018 The New Yorker featured a front cover displaying Michael Bennett, Martin Luther King Jr. and Colin Kaepernick all kneeling together.
What makes this situation even more perplexing and amusing is that Bennett released his first book this month, titled Things That Make White People Uncomfortable. You know what makes me uncomfortable? The idea of a 6-foot, 4-inch, 300-pound man pushing and injuring the handicapped.
Bennett’s book is probably a great read, full of white lies and insightful thoughts. I find it sad that a man who thinks so highly of himself is willing to treat others like trash at times. It’s even sadder that the left doesn’t care and is willing to praise Bennett still, simply because he supports their talking points. That was my so-called controversial rant; email me at titanman1984@gmail if you feel the need to defend a piece of scum like Bennett.
On to Nashville sports! It’s a hell of a time to be a Predators fan—a glorious time! Nashville enters the 2018 playoffs with the strongest and deepest team ever in franchise history. Can you say “back to back Stanley Cup Finals”? The city of Nashville proved to the world last year that it’s more than Titans football, country music and hot chicken. Nashville indeed is a thriving NHL market. It’s impossible to forget last year’s insanity at Bridgestone Arena, as Nashville fans showed the nation that there is no louder, more passionate NHL fan base in the league. Nashville also demonstrated that it’s a city whose people won’t destroy a bunch of property after a loss, and that makes Nashville superior to some of the other riffraff hockey markets.
The 2018 Predators have been built upon speed, both on offense and defense. The defense is superior to the offense, yet the offense is top-notch and the goaltending is on another level entirely. Goaltender Pekka Rinne is hands-down the most dominant goaltender in the NHL, the number-one reason behind the team’s success and a clear favorite to win the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league’s top goalie. Pekka Rinne, at 35, is aging like smooth whiskey—I say single barrel, the best of the batch with a smooth finish. Cheers!
Is there a bugaboo for the Predators? I don’t believe so. If there is, it’s probably the power play. Although the Predators dominate on penalty kills, the team has gone from excellent on the power play to struggling to capitalize. Aside from that, the depth is, as President Trump would say, “huge,” even “huger” than Roseanne’s ratings!
I was at Dick’s Sporting Goods the other day; Predator gear is expensive and can’t stay on the shelves unless you wear a size small. I’m 6 feet tall and weigh 250 pounds. Dick’s discriminates against us larger people. I need a 2X, man! Dick’s will pay for their size discrimination.
In all seriousness, stars have been born in Nashville. People can’t get enough of this team. Game after game has sold out, the average ticket price skyrocketing. It sometimes costs more to go enjoy a Predators game than a Titans game. Names like Forsberg, Ellis, Avidsson, Josi and Johansen have become synonymous with success. A fan favorite is obviously Pekka Rinne, and my favorite predator is P.K Subban, hands-down.
Someone should thank Carrie Underwood. I am sure she helped convince her husband Mike Fisher to come out of retirement, and immediately he is producing like he never left.
Watch out for young Saros, both in the future and now. It’s a rare thing for a team to have a backup goalie playing at his level. And he is learning from the best. He may be the future at goalie for Nashville. I mean, the kid did post a franchise record for most saves in a single game with 54.
What else is there to say? I mean, the playoffs are about to get underway, the Predators should have home ice advantage, the craziest fans, the loudest arena and more depth than any other roster in the NHL. Truly this Predator breakdown came from my heart, my opinions on paper. I could bore you with all the numerous hockey stats to prove my point and make this article more official . . . but screw that!
Last point on the Predators: it truly is amazing to see the difference between this season and last. Fans were jubilant last season after making it to the Stanley Cup Finals, and even after losing there was little heartache. The fans were proud of this franchise.
This season, though, has a different feel for fans and players. It’s championship or bust. Is that fair? I think players and fans realize how dominant this team is, and after last season the Predators have unfinished business. A Stanley Cup isn’t a foregone conclusion, so, Predator fans, get ready to cheer, get ready to support and get ready to watch this team turn Music City into a madhouse as the Predators advance towards a championship and future dynasty! Cheers!
That’s it, folks, time to wrap this up. I truly enjoy writing these articles. I have been writing for the Pulse for nearly a decade now, and I live and breathe Tennessee sports. Remember my saying, and live life following the 5 F’s: Faith, Family, Football, Food and Friends. Live by that motto and life will reward you. Train’s out the station. Choo-choo!
