The Train Daddy is back with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard!

So, what do we have in store for you with this issue? The Titans and transgender athletes, a strange combination, I know, so enjoy! I am already looking forward to the next issue that will be dropping shortly after the NFL Draft that takes place later this month.

I could use this time to talk about the Tennessee Titans and the team’s needs at offensive line, or the fact that the Titans have nobody at the receiver position aside from Treylon Burks and how it would be a disservice to him if they don’t draft a serious receiving talent early. I mean, they refused to grab a receiver in free agency, so maybe the plan this season is Burks, Kyle Phillips, NWI and whatever no-name steps up in camp . . . yikes!

But, I have talked about that plenty over the months and I’d rather just wait and see what they do, who they draft, before I get too critical. Don’t get it twisted, I have been supportive of new GM Ran the Man, and I am assuming he has a master plan!

Ran Carthon took over a roster from former GM J-Rob that was a mess. I have applauded some of the tough decisions Ran has made thus far and I assume more tough decisions will come.

Any NFL general manager should tell you that the plan is to put the best team possible on the field. But I have a feeling that new Titans GM Ran “the Man” Carthon is looking more to the future, given the circumstances. I assume he will roll out Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry for the 2023 season with whatever new additions the team is able to grab, and evaluate them all throughout the season.

The Jaguars are looking solid and ended up winning the division last year, but I believe with those two players in place, a solid defense and a few surprises here and there (like not leading the NFL in injuries like the Titans have in back-to-back seasons), the Titans have a realistic shot at the AFC South. I believe that regardless of how this coming season plays out, Mr. Ran is looking to 2024, when this team will knowingly be in better shape regarding salary cap space. That will be the perfect time to make a splash as a new GM, when he will have the cap space to make numerous big moves.

I fully expect this will be Ryan Tannehill’s last season as a Titan. I have nothing but respect for Tannehill, he has given us fans some good memories and some bad. Ryan played good season ball and won many games, but let’s be real: playoff Tannehill leaves much to be desired. Unless Ran was willing to give the house away right now for a player like Lamar Jackson, Tannehill as QB1 this season is the only decision that makes sense.

Sure, the Titans have Malik Willis in the background, and they shouldn’t just give up on him yet. But Malik looked like a mess. He was benched for a QB off the street in essentially a playoff game against the Jags last year in the final game.

I really like Malik Willis. The man is a stand-up dude and has leadership written all over him, but I was far from impressed with him as a player. It was bad and I don’t know if it can be polished up. Malik was a third-round pick for the Titans, and many people seem to forget that. Those people need to stop treating him like a first-rounder that we absolutely must hang onto and develop.

I love this team with a passion that verges a tad bit on insanity! Look to the next issue coming out just a few days after the NFL Draft that takes place April 27–29. There will be so much new to talk about, I’m excited just thinking about it.

Let’s move on to another topic, something I have been talking about for years here at the Murfreesboro Pulse. I was writing articles over a decade ago for this paper warning people about the direction we were headed with transgender athletes and the unfair advantages that come with allowing biological males to compete with biological females. Well, all these years later, and I’ll be damned—I was correct!

We have long had gender separation in sports for a reason. Biological males have huge advantages in the strength and speed category. It’s a simple fact. I find it sad how scared some people have become to speak on this topic.

I believe we have three categories of people regarding this debate: those who believe biology matters and this mixing genders in sports shouldn’t just be allowed willy-nilly. Those who believe biology makes no difference, willy-nilly or not, believe a person should be allowed to compete with the gender they identify as, because of the athlete’s feelings and identity. Then we have the cowards—those people who tell us this topic needs more research, it’s a sensitive topic, and we should tread lightly, because they are too afraid to tell you what they really think.

I truly don’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings, but regarding this debate, in many instances the integrity of female sports has been thrown out the window over the last few years. I find that very unfortunate.

Now, getting to what I see as a recent victory regarding this ongoing debate, the World Athletic Council, which oversees track and field and cross country competition events and records, decided to ban transgender athletes from certain events, stating the unfair advantages in competition. Shortly after that decision, another domino fell with U.K. athletics applying the same rules on exclusion of trans women from elite female competitions, citing a need to protect the female category. Athletics officials in the United Kingdom said they want the women’s category to be reserved for those born female while trans athletes can compete in an “open” category alongside the men.

This fight is far from over, but this makes good news all the same. Biology matters regarding sports, and I will continue to scream it. If we as a society finally decide it doesn’t, we might as well end gender separation in sports and let men and women compete together. I doubt many would enjoy that outcome because we would then have a massive lack of female representation, and that would be shameful for female competitors since the future looks to be very bright regarding female athletics and its growth.

The world was recently fascinated with the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, which included only biological female athletes playing high-level, entertaining basketball. Throw a transgender athlete into that game and half the audience leaves due to a lack of integrity and principal.

Alright, I said what I said! This is America and we all have things we are passionate about and the freedom to scream it out loud, as I have been doing for daggum over a decade, trying to warn folk. I think it’s time I call it an article—got me in my feelings now.

We will see if the Predators can make a final push in the last few games of the regular season and make the cut to get into the NHL playoffs. Stay tuned for the next issue, all Titans talk after the NFL Draft. The Train is rolling into the station. Choo-choo!