This past weekend, in response to an article at The Bulwark, I posted the following: “People who pay attention to what athaleets have to say (even the "good ones") are the people Mencken had in mind 97 years ago when he said "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public." Professional athletics are what they have always been, going back as far as you can to find evidence of their existence: a distraction. Aaron Rodgers and Bugs Bunny operate in the same space, except Bugs has a brain.”
Had not heard of Aaron Rodgers until this essay. Did some reading. Unimpressed. Listening to celebrities of any stripe is a good way to be a failure in life.
You wrote: "There were rumors he’d been “fragged,” which I thought when I heard them would have been an appropriate karmic end for a useless asswipe."
I confess. I had to look it up. And yes, it WOULD have been karma to perfection. I'm curious. What would be a likewise karmic end for the useless one who now does his grifting down at Mar a Lardo? I indulge myself with fantasies, but haven't yet found the perfect one to soothe my troubled soul!
As for foolsball, I spent over 20 years making the long and tedious trip from Houston to Baton Rouge to watch a team that was literally the mortal enemy of my own alma mater. And on weekends when LSU wasn't at home, the TV was tuned to ANYTHING that had a ball in it...no matter what the sport. So, when I was finally in charge of my own life, I took an extended vacation from all things with balls and feverish fans. It's been almost twenty years now. Of peace.
I agree with you on most things you wrote here, especially about the disgusting POS Aaron Rodgers, who absolutely should be fired, ostracized and everything else. I disagree with you on one thing......while watching paint dry is more interesting than a World Series baseball game, have you ever tried to watch golf???? Enough said. Also, my sport of choice (for watching) is hockey. I have been a hockey fan since I was a teenager and even now am hooked. It's fast, thrilling and exciting. If you haven't gotten into it, please do, especially if you can to to a game in person. Go Lightning!
I’ll say one thing because you tied up any loose end possible and then some regarding Rodgers. Except when he cited Dr. Martin Luther King during his lying diatribe. I threw both slippers at the TV.
And then you mention Bull Durham. Ooo-la-weee! What a movie. Must see.
The reveal I thought most about was your shower scene. Dang, TC. Sizzlin. The secret dream of every long term victim of a bully. But you know what? We all have that in us. To get out from under the shadow of a bully. That’s why I think of the former that way…as nothing more than a bully. As during the length of his business career bullying any “apprentice” and then during his casual choice to be an ill informed piece of sh*t president. And look at all the men (and some women) who follow him starstruck at his ability to get his way in an illegitimate fashion both legally and morally. Bullying is synonymous with greed and getting what you want at any cost. But it has an Achilles heel.
And that’s why I tell people on the other Substack forum. The key to better messaging and response to the current political brawl is see it as scary if one chooses, but—Do.Not.Be.Afraid.
All it takes is having at least one and at most one story in your life when you chose fight and not flight. And prevailed. One doesn’t ever forget getting a piece of sh*t off one’s back.
It is the well from which courage springs.
Thanks for the great sport of your post, TC. I laughed out loud several times. I grew up in a sports family. It used to be more fun. Has a desperate edge anymore.
Speaking about ski racing which like most forms of individual racing has been a passion of mine since the middle of the last century, I could care less about Rogers, he's beneath contempt, I would like to call attention to Buddy Werner, a Coloradan like you, who was a member of 3 consecutive US Olympic teams starting in 1956. He is the only American to win the Hahnemkamm in Kitzbuhel, Austria except for Daron Rahlves in 2003 who won on a fog shortened course. That race is by far the most dangerous downhill on the calendar each year. Buddy won it in '58 or '59 when we had almost no presence in international ski racing. If my memory serves me right Klammer has won it multiple times and I have watched every one of them. To win that race you risk your life, it's safer now than it used to be with multiple layers of catch fences, it used to be that you went into the trees 20' up at 80 mph if you caught an edge. I used to race downhill, I was never in that class, I didn't start early enough and I wasn't big enough, size matters in downhill. Sadly Buddy was killed in an avalanche near St. Moritz in the spring of '64 while filming of all things, my family stopped in Steamboat Springs in June of that year so that I could pay my respects at his grave. I had been racing downhill for 3 years by then so I was very much aware of who he was. Reading your letter instantly brought his name to my mind so I was moved to mention him. If anybody would have been a model for Redford's character as a winning capable American racer, I would think Buddy would have been in the mix. You have to have some serious stones to race downhill , being a pampered quarterback with some really big guys protecting you, is in no way comparable, Rogers opinion, to me is comparable to my used toilet paper, if you get my drift. ;-)
The only thing missing from your Aaron Rodgers "critique " was the Jeopardy theme music in the background !! What bothered me most is that he was so willing to jeopardize his other team members!!
I am commenting on an old post because I don't want everyone to see it, just you, TC. I love the newsletter but at this time must unsubscribe because my brother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and I am trying to save as much money and time as I can to visit him as often as I can. I will be back.
Had not heard of Aaron Rodgers until this essay. Did some reading. Unimpressed. Listening to celebrities of any stripe is a good way to be a failure in life.
You wrote: "There were rumors he’d been “fragged,” which I thought when I heard them would have been an appropriate karmic end for a useless asswipe."
I confess. I had to look it up. And yes, it WOULD have been karma to perfection. I'm curious. What would be a likewise karmic end for the useless one who now does his grifting down at Mar a Lardo? I indulge myself with fantasies, but haven't yet found the perfect one to soothe my troubled soul!
As for foolsball, I spent over 20 years making the long and tedious trip from Houston to Baton Rouge to watch a team that was literally the mortal enemy of my own alma mater. And on weekends when LSU wasn't at home, the TV was tuned to ANYTHING that had a ball in it...no matter what the sport. So, when I was finally in charge of my own life, I took an extended vacation from all things with balls and feverish fans. It's been almost twenty years now. Of peace.
I agree with you on most things you wrote here, especially about the disgusting POS Aaron Rodgers, who absolutely should be fired, ostracized and everything else. I disagree with you on one thing......while watching paint dry is more interesting than a World Series baseball game, have you ever tried to watch golf???? Enough said. Also, my sport of choice (for watching) is hockey. I have been a hockey fan since I was a teenager and even now am hooked. It's fast, thrilling and exciting. If you haven't gotten into it, please do, especially if you can to to a game in person. Go Lightning!
Well said, no comment required.
I’ll say one thing because you tied up any loose end possible and then some regarding Rodgers. Except when he cited Dr. Martin Luther King during his lying diatribe. I threw both slippers at the TV.
And then you mention Bull Durham. Ooo-la-weee! What a movie. Must see.
The reveal I thought most about was your shower scene. Dang, TC. Sizzlin. The secret dream of every long term victim of a bully. But you know what? We all have that in us. To get out from under the shadow of a bully. That’s why I think of the former that way…as nothing more than a bully. As during the length of his business career bullying any “apprentice” and then during his casual choice to be an ill informed piece of sh*t president. And look at all the men (and some women) who follow him starstruck at his ability to get his way in an illegitimate fashion both legally and morally. Bullying is synonymous with greed and getting what you want at any cost. But it has an Achilles heel.
And that’s why I tell people on the other Substack forum. The key to better messaging and response to the current political brawl is see it as scary if one chooses, but—Do.Not.Be.Afraid.
All it takes is having at least one and at most one story in your life when you chose fight and not flight. And prevailed. One doesn’t ever forget getting a piece of sh*t off one’s back.
It is the well from which courage springs.
Thanks for the great sport of your post, TC. I laughed out loud several times. I grew up in a sports family. It used to be more fun. Has a desperate edge anymore.
Speaking about ski racing which like most forms of individual racing has been a passion of mine since the middle of the last century, I could care less about Rogers, he's beneath contempt, I would like to call attention to Buddy Werner, a Coloradan like you, who was a member of 3 consecutive US Olympic teams starting in 1956. He is the only American to win the Hahnemkamm in Kitzbuhel, Austria except for Daron Rahlves in 2003 who won on a fog shortened course. That race is by far the most dangerous downhill on the calendar each year. Buddy won it in '58 or '59 when we had almost no presence in international ski racing. If my memory serves me right Klammer has won it multiple times and I have watched every one of them. To win that race you risk your life, it's safer now than it used to be with multiple layers of catch fences, it used to be that you went into the trees 20' up at 80 mph if you caught an edge. I used to race downhill, I was never in that class, I didn't start early enough and I wasn't big enough, size matters in downhill. Sadly Buddy was killed in an avalanche near St. Moritz in the spring of '64 while filming of all things, my family stopped in Steamboat Springs in June of that year so that I could pay my respects at his grave. I had been racing downhill for 3 years by then so I was very much aware of who he was. Reading your letter instantly brought his name to my mind so I was moved to mention him. If anybody would have been a model for Redford's character as a winning capable American racer, I would think Buddy would have been in the mix. You have to have some serious stones to race downhill , being a pampered quarterback with some really big guys protecting you, is in no way comparable, Rogers opinion, to me is comparable to my used toilet paper, if you get my drift. ;-)
The only thing missing from your Aaron Rodgers "critique " was the Jeopardy theme music in the background !! What bothered me most is that he was so willing to jeopardize his other team members!!
I am commenting on an old post because I don't want everyone to see it, just you, TC. I love the newsletter but at this time must unsubscribe because my brother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and I am trying to save as much money and time as I can to visit him as often as I can. I will be back.
Wow! That's some dressing down! I'm not a fan either!