Off Topic post of the week

To become a norm: I will post off-topic posts of the week, but this week's focuses on my lovely experiences biking to work here in Dallas, which was edited and published on my good friend Patrick Kennedy's blog where such things are the topic of conversation.

http://www.carfreeinbigd.com/2010/05/guest-post-bicycling-in-dallas.html

enjoy!

Patrick Kennedy is an urban planner who is car-free, opinionated, and a fellow sports fanatic.

Blizzard Bowl!

Previously, you have learned that I regularly think the NFL is not only the No Fun League, but also, the No Freaking Clue League. Not this time. The league has made one of the best decisions in history recently by awarding the Superbowl to New York City! Whatever, New Jersey, New York, same difference. The point is still the same: outdoors, cold weather, big city. THIS is what football is all about.

When it snows, everyone grabs a ball and goes out slingin'. When the XBOX is turned on, every kid plays in a blizzard with Miami or San Diego set as the home team. We love it. We all remember when the dumb cowboy player slipped and kicked the ball and we all remember the Raiders vs Patriots AFC Championship. SNOW! Nobody on the planet can explain to me why this is a bad idea. Don't give me that whiney "what about a warm weather team?!" garbage. If weather really was an issue, why do we allow the 2nd most important games (conference championships) be played potentially at a cold weather city? Why did the Raiders (warm weather team) have to travel to play in a blizzard versus the Patriots? Why would it only be a valid complaint if it occurred one game later? Please!

Who's to say there is even going to be a blizzard or sub zero temperatures anyway? How does anyone know? Are we using the same fortune tellers that ESPN uses to tell us the latest "for sure" information about LeBron? Whether the game is played in a clear night in the 80s or a down right snow storm in the 20s, it's still the Superbowl. For 16 games + playoffs teams don't worry (or complain) about the elements, so why cry if it's the Superbowl? It isn't like one conference is played in the south and one in the north like its a freaking civil war reenactment. Not to mention, teams are filled with guys from all different colleges across the country and from different places before that. There is no true "warm weather" or "cold weather" team.

For once the game will be played like it should be. Good for the NFL for drive by mooning the AIGs, Goldman Sachs, and other corporate douches of the world who ruin this game annually. Good for the NFL for pants-ing the sassy glitzy Jennifer Lopezs, Ricky Martins, and Lindsay Lohans of the world. If you don't want to go, THEN DON'T GO! I am 100% positive someone will buy your ticket, even at quadruple the face value.

The celebrities, executives, and stupid pre game crap might disappear because its cold, but the game and its real fans won't. Now if only the NFL would embrace the spread offense....

Witnessing Stupidity

Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Cleveland, France, Uranus, etc. Who cares? I get it, he's the best player in the NBA, is 25, and is likely to turn around any franchise immediately into title contenders, but nobody out there knows what he's going to do or when he's going to decide.

As this was typed, I had Sportscenter on as basketball analysts around the country claimed they had "sources" tell them not only where he wants to go, but who he wants to coach the team. They don't know anything. Unless you're his best friend, his girlfriend (whom he's fathered two children with and has known since his teens), or his mother, then YOU don't know anything. Even if you're one of these individuals, chances are you don't even have a clue. Constantly beating us over the head with this issue is stupid. I have even witnessed gambling odds on where he is going to be (Chicago opened at 40-1 odds but changed to 5-2 after Cleveland lost to Boston the other night). Fox News,... um... I mean ESPN..., has these talking idiots on television stating "I'm for sure, without a doubt, that he's going to _________ (insert city)". Really? I hope he retires just to make these people look stupid, as if they need his help..

These are the supposed key components for his off season:

1. Basketball Decision

It is up to him, but if he wants to be a basketball player instead of an icon of the NBA, then he should sign according to who he feels best supplies him the resources, both athletically and financially as an organization. Where does that stand? I don't know. You cant rule out any of the major players, or even minor players. Bottom line: who said he wants it to be a basketball decision?

2. Financial Decision

Personally, he comes off as the type of guy that would be open to signing for less to bring in more. He is a team player, a great person, a great teammate, and a humble / responsible individual (suck on that those who think you have to go to college to "mature"). If he chooses to sign for max dollar (no matter who he signs with) then you also cannot blame the guy who came from absolutely nothing until he got to the pros (and if you don't believe me, then go read his book that talks about the gang activity that occurred as he rode his bike frantically out of the ghetto every night). Bottom line: who said he wants it to be a financial decision?

3. Location, Location, Location

This is actually the stupidest of all the talk, but I will address it. New York is a cool city. Chicago is a cool city. Guess what: The NBA season is not year round. If he wants to live in New York, Chicago, AND Cleveland, he can do that because he's a) extremely rich, b) has more free time than anyone's vacation on the planet, c) can own a jet / bus or whatever transportation to get him anywhere instantly. Saying he wants to live in NYC or Chicago is stupid. Bottom line: who said he wants to live in a big city (or even small city)?

He seems like a loyal guy, but that doesn't mean he needs to sign in Cleveland. But after these very simple and obvious points outlined here, just sit back and wait. Don't shove words down his throat or start rumors like it's Sally spreading rumors about Johnny's ex girlfriend servicing the football team in the boys bathroom because you come off immature and flat out dumb.

We know he's going to sign, he's going to get a lot of money, and he's going to play basketball for the next decade. Quit trying to solve intergalactic space travel and accept the singular variable that is still undefeated: time. Until that contract is offered, or even signed, please, for everyone's sake, shut up.