Merry Christmas Ryan Tannehill!
The Train Daddy is back with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard! This is legit my favorite article of the year and I can’t believe I have been contributing articles to the Murfreesboro Pulse for nearly 10 years straight! I am proud and grateful for that.
It’s become tradition that I give you, the reader, my annual Christmas article. I give shout-outs and say Merry Christmas to the year’s most interesting characters. We say Merry Christmas to a wide variety of people from sports figures to politicians to folk like me.
Merry Christmas to the Mayo family! That’s right, I want to start off saying Merry Christmas to the family behind the scenes of this publication. Husband, wife and their little man Jr. make this free publication possible for the people of Murfreesboro.
It’s serious work keeping the Murfreesboro Pulse rolling as many years as they have. Murfreesboro is lucky to have this family and I wish them a Happy New Year and an exciting 2020 full of many blessings and good health.
Merry Christmas to the Tennessee Titans! I am passionate about being a Titans fan. This team has shown heart, grit and fought for some special victories. As a Titans fan what else can you ask for? Okay, we could ask for a Lombardi trophy, but for now I am content with a team that has an identity and keeps progressing. The bandwagon fans love a good winning streak but for me and my crew, we love this organization through all the good and heartache. God willing, I plan on cheering for the Tennessee Titans for a minimum of another five decades. That will put me at the ripe age of 85. I expect at least one championship in that time.
Merry Christmas, Ryan Tannehill! What a surprise for Titans fans. You have been playing like a top-five QB since starting for the Titans. More than likely you will get the franchise tag for 2020. I guarantee other teams will be looking at him more closely after this season wraps up. After defeating the Colts in Indy, something rarely seen for the Titans, Ryan Tannehill has started his career 5–1 in Tennessee. Tannehill is positioned to cash in and make this Titans team his own.
Merry Christmas to you, the reader. I do this because I enjoy it. I believe the most gratifying part of doing this same column for nearly a decade is hearing from you, the reader. My purpose of these articles has always been to make you, the reader, laugh or maybe learn a thing or two about sports and social issues. I sincerely wish you a Merry Christmas. Live life by my motto the 5 Fs: “Faith, Family, Football, Food and Friends.” It’s an awesome way to look at life. Email me at titanman1984@gmail.com. I appreciate any feedback good or bad.
Merry Christmas, President Trump! A living legend, love him or hate him. I may not be the biggest Trump fan in the world but he is my president and I can appreciate the good he has done while at times cringing at some of the words that spew out of his mouth. I know one truth, that President Trump will dominate the electoral map once again come 2020. The Democrats have made fools of themselves during these debates and especially during this impeachment process. I imagine any free-thinking individual can see the Democratic party is willing to do anything to get this man out of office and I don’t think the majority of Americans will stand for it come 2020. I truly don’t look forward to the extreme divisiveness I expect next year. Hopefully America will get through it just fine.
Merry Christmas to the Alabama Crimson Tide! Some of the closest people in my life bleed Crimson. I know many Bama fans. I have had to hear “Roll-Tide” screamed at me for over a decade while my Tennessee Volunteers struggled. After Alabama recently lost to Auburn and was knocked out of playoff contention Alabama fans have become bitter. Bama fans and Coach Saban will enter 2020 saying it was unfair. A second that shouldn’t have been? A dirty trick play to end the game? Or did Alabama just lose because Jordan-Hare stadium is Alabama’s bugaboo?
Merry Christmas, Tennessee Vol Nation! My respect to the Tennessee football program after closing the season with a winning record. That’s a long way from that loss to Georgia State and with progress comes relevancy and a bright future. This 2019 team may have saved the direction of this program for the next few years to come. The Vols are a hot team with a 7–5 record going bowling!
Merry Christmas, Marcus Mariota! Ah man, Marcus, Marcus, Marcus! What can I say? Let me be absolutely honest. As a Titans fan you and me spent many years together. I loved you at one point, bro. This is hard for me to say, but I think it’s time we officially separate! I wish you success with another team, truly I do, but you were a bust. The best word to describe you is “inconsistent.” Signs of greatness entwined with some of the dumbest interceptions/sacks I have ever seen. I know one truth, you gave it your all and your heart was never questioned by me. So, go easy Marcus, go with my blessing and farewell forever!
Merry Christmas Tom Terrific Brady! I know it makes you sad that so many people hate you. No matter what, you’re the official GOAT. It’s not even up for debate. You’re hated because your team was caught cheating multiple times and even when you’re not cheating you still win. I will be in awe if this man, at age 42, makes it back to another Super Bowl.
Merry Christmas, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson! Not much to say, this dude is a straight-up baller. A worthy MVP this season, can the rookie keep it up? We will see come playoffs.
Merry Christmas to Colin Kaepernick! I wonder if Kaepernick thinks Christmas is racist or even merry? Recently the former NFL signal caller spent his Thanksgiving celebrating Un-Thanksgiving. It’s an event that brings attention to the past, bashes America and brings awareness to the opinion that Thanksgiving is a racist holiday. It must be miserable living life thinking like Kaepernick does. I laugh when people say the former quarterback is being blackballed by the NFL. Colin has made a mockery of this entire process. Even if Colin could benefit my team, I wouldn’t sign him, nope! No one wants the circus that would follow.
Merry Christmas to Tiger Woods! It was a long time between victories in Majors for the legend. Tiger managed to get his 15th major championship with a stirring performance in the 2019 tournament at Augusta. Just shows you that a bunch of sexy blondes, alcohol abuse, getting old and running into Johnny Law doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the end for a champion like Tiger.
Merry Christmas to David Ortiz! The former Boston Red Sox star was shot this past June in the Dominican Republic at a bar and lounge. Luckily Big Papi healed up nicely after spending some time in the ICU. I am glad Big Papi is doing well, that’s a cool dude!
Merry Christmas to LeBron James! A great basketball player no doubt, though we all know Michael Jordan is the real GOAT. Jordan had six championships in six appearances and an aging LeBron is 3–6 in the finals and missed the playoffs entirely last season, although the Lakers have made a turnaround and are on fire right now. I only say this right now to poke fun at a friend who gets bitter when people say Jordan is better than LeBron. He is a LeBron fanboy. Ha-ha! In all reality everyone knows Jordan had a better career and was a better ball player. LeBron may be able to make a case when it’s all done, but right now it’s case closed!
Merry Christmas to the Nashville Predators! I love hockey, it’s one of my favorite sports after football. I need the Predators to have a Merry Christmas because come the new year they have work to do. This 2019 team is struggling right now. Luckily, aside from the Stanley Cup champs the Blues, the Western Conference is pretty tight, so anything can happen. In the new year I will focus a lot more of my article space on the Predators. Hopefully things will turn around for the Predators, who have been pretty clutch over the past couple of decades, making to the playoffs 12 times in their 20-year history.
That’s it, time to wrap this article up. Here are a few honorable mentions. Merry Christmas to Antonio Brown and Team USA soccer. Merry Christmas to Howie Mandel and Snoop Dogg. The U.S. military would like to wish a Merry Christmas to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
I also would like to wish one last Merry Christmas to my hero The Rock. Alright, I think we wrapped it up well. Never take my words too seriously—sometimes I write and shake my own head in pure astonishment. I do wish you, the reader, and your family a truly Merry Christmas! Let your 2020 be blessed, and remember life is too short to take everything so seriously. Have fun and enjoy it. Choo-choo! Titan up!
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