The Train Daddy is back, bringing sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard! It’s a new season, with beautiful colors, cool temperatures, prime-time football and some great-tasting chili and beer. I say summer be damned, and welcome fall!
It’s football time in Tennessee, and if you’re a Volunteer fan, you may be singing the blues. Sorry, Rocky Top faithful, it’s excruciating to watch—cringe-worthy football. I have said in the past there is nothing more special than a dedicated fan, hell or high water you stand. So to all the Volunteer fans hanging in there, I salute your dedication, and to you bandwagon fans that have already dropped off, I hope the wagon runs over your legs, and breaks only one, because I am merciful. Loyalty is a noble trait!
I’m not here to talk about college ball, this is professional writing. The Titans are gods, they are the mighty, mighty Titans! Nashville is known as the Athens of the South, making the Titans’ name very appropriate. I am ready to get to discussing some NFL football, Titans-style. As always, we’ll discuss some random controversial topics and, as always, it will make some of you laugh, enlighten others and completely offend the more timid reader. Sorry, I can’t please you all. But I can say I appreciate all my readers.
Let’s talk NFL, specifically penalties. There has been an influx of roughing-the-passer penalties this season. There is now a new emphasis on certain aspects of the roughing-the-passer rule, ultimately creating an increase in penalties.
In 2009 the rule was tweaked due to Tom Brady getting hurt, placing emphasis on defenders going low. Last season, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone after a defender landed on top of him, ultimately the reason behind the new emphasis this year on a defender not being allowed to fall on the quarterback with most, or all, of his weight.
It is nearly impossible now for defenders to legally tackle a quarterback with the target zone shrinking, and games’ outcomes are becoming decided due to these penalties. Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott summed it up best: “I need to sit in the pocket and let them hit me more, simple as that.” The Cowboys offense sucks, sure, but he knows it’s easier to get that 15-yard penalty rather than a positive passing play!
The NFL wants to protect these superstar quarterbacks who equal ratings and the league wants to further the idea that football is safe after years of ignoring concussions and their impact on retired players. But at what cost to the game? The game is fast and violent, and these men get paid big money to play.
The problem is, will it turn off fans who feel cheated? There is nearly a united voice coming from players and coaches around the league voicing their disapproval of the new emphasis on the rule. The NFL already has enough issues with ratings and social issues, so let’s not add being soft to the list.
Clay Matthews called the league soft, Mike Tomlin said the games are harder to watch, and it’s a constant topic for the booth announcers during live games. It’s bad business when the fans, coaches and players all want the same thing, yet the league bigwigs recently doubled down, saying no change would come. Maybe the NFL is getting soft? That’s going to be a great motto for the new XFL league: “The not soft but HARD-hitting league.”
Time for the special segment—random controversial topics! I will end this article with some Titans talk, but first let’s get funky like a fat kid named Chunky.
Serena Williams is arguably the greatest female athlete to ever represent America. Last month she didn’t represent America, she embarrassed it. Most all of you know the details, it was international news for a week, but here is my quick take.
Serena was under pressure before the match started. This is the US Open, she was playing in front of a home crowd, and many fans hoped to witness history and see her tie the all-time record for tennis Grand Slams tournament victories (24). During the match her coach did admittedly, coach the player (something not allowed in tennis, evidently), Serena later broke her racket out of frustration and then called umpire Carlos Ramos a “thief” live for the world to hear. Simple math: 1+1+1=3 violations!
Serena cried sexism, screamed at the umpire and even pulled the mother card out, as if being a mother should keep her exempt from punishment. Ha-ha! Someone needs to give Serena a pacifier, tell her to chill out and quit laying blame all around for what was simply a bad day for herself.
On to HBO, the network that brought us the greatest television series of all time The Sopranos.
Dwayne the Rock Johnson may be the greatest living badass in the world, yet his hit show Ballers had to get crazy political. The show is a fictional story following the lives of NFL players, rich people, beautiful women and entrepreneurs, and constantly entertains the viewer with guest appearances from real NFL superstars. Players like Eddie George, Jared Goff, Antonio Brown, Don Shula, Julian Edelman and others help make the show feel real.
A recent episode dealt with a black NFL player named Ricky and his wife attending a party at their neighbors the Whites, who of course all happen to be white. As all white people do they were playing croquet and badminton and toasting champagne, making the black couple feel uncomfortable. I guess only average white people like me just barbecue and drink beer.
The scene then showed a group of ignorantly rich white men being friendly with Ricky, talking about money, praising Trump and saying how the flag protest is disrespectful. Ricky flips out saying “F Trump” then calls Trump a racist-expletive-expletive and then goes on to praise Kaepernick before storming away mad. The episode ends with Ricky tweeting “F Trump and F the Whites.” Good job, HBO.
It’s a shame that a show I love, a show that supposedly embraces diversity, filled with popular hip-hop culture and music, has turned me off. In one episode HBO just called out half the country as racist. Imagine an anti-Obama episode where a single white guy shows up at a party hosted by the Blacks and then goes on a tirade about how Obama is destroying the country and then that white guy tweets “F Obama and F the Blacks” to end the episode?
I think no matter who you are, if you are reading my article right now, you know what would happen to that show—it would get the Roseanne treatment. Bye-bye!
Let’s get to some Titans talk! Look, I want to keep this simple. Later, down the road, we will have more to go on. That said, this is a young team Titan fans should applaud, and coach Vrabel has done an excellent job managing this team so far.
It’s nothing new, this Titans team getting a lack of attention from the national media. This Titans team just beat two dominant teams in a row, maybe a little power-rankings love? I mean, the Titans did just knock off two teams in the Top 5 of the power rankings, Jacksonville and Philadelphia, back-to-back!
“It’s ridiculous that people don’t give the Titans enough credit,” Taylor Lewan stated. Boss Hog needs to be listened to.
This team has battled numerous injuries, concussions, losing superstar Delanie Walker, Marcus dealing with a hand injury and that horribly long game in Miami.
I told you last issue it is essential that Corey Davis steps up, especially now after that traitor Rishard Matthews walked out on his team. Davis caught the game winner against the Eagles with five seconds left in overtime and has been playing great this season. He is stepping up and becoming a true number-one receiver.
Corey Davis comes down with a huge catch in overtime
The running game remains a mystery; the Titans need better chemistry between Henry and Lewis. Marcus really has been great on the run when needed. He has happy feet!
There is nothing to say about the defense other than HULK SMASH! The defense has been on fire and I love the Smashville attitude. This defense has stepped up when the offense has struggled at times.
With all that said it’s still to early to critique this team or any other. I can’t wait for the next issue. It will be the beginning of November at the midway point of the season, and the landscape should be clear by then.
Create some juju, watch the games, go to the games, eat good food, drink better beer, and Titan up!
The schedule is about to get lighter and the respect will come with it.
That’s it, the Train is rolling into the station. Always remember the 5 Fs: Faith, Family, Football, Food and Friends. Live following that motto and life will reward you. Choo-choo!
