Here’s the thing, football season is here and there are a few traditions (a.k.a. fun times) that occur which makes the season a memorable one. One that comes to mind is the ritual of donning your team’s jersey and gathering at the local pub or sports’ bar to eat, drink, and cheer your favorite team on. It’s an exciting environment and is one of those things you just can’t explain… you have to do it (if only once).

This actually leads me to my point (I’m cracking up already!). I did it once and that was enough. The end.

It’s really not the end, but that’s how I feel. I mean, being social is one thing (which I’m not… I try! I really do try! It’s just overrated, ugh!), but purposely leaving the comforts of my own home to be around potentially inebriated and rowdy strangers, where the chances of an argument/fight breaking out is like 97 percent doesn’t appeal to me. Really. I think of the sticky floors, the finger-flirting peanuts on the wet bar top, and the soiled bathroom that I try to avoid at all cost and I am literally drained by it all. Eek!

The flip side is sitting on my way comfy couch (with Hubby), in a climate-controlled atmosphere with all the trimmings (and the occasional nap during the game), and no need for shoes (I don’t know why that’s important.). Uh, I choose the latter.

So, please… enlighten me. Why, why (why!) do you continue to venture to these places?

This isn’t a professional sports’ story, but one of relevance none the less… What do you make of this?

High school, death, a coach possibly going to jail…

As I understand it, a 15-year-old lineman, Maxwell Gilpin, collapsed on a high school practice football field from a heat stroke and later died. Gilpin’s body temperature reached 107 degrees. David Stinson, the Pleasure Ridge Park coach with a reckless homicide charge, may be on his way to jail for alleged not giving students water on this day where temperatures reached 94 degrees. If convicted, the coach could face 5 years behind bars.

I wish I could get all the facts because there has been so much lost already. I know of many young people who find themselves in back-breaking practices and only want to appease their coaches to ensure playing time and personal growth. Well, then you ask a kid how they’re feeling and they say they’re fine. There are so many questions… Where were the other coaches? Is this normal? Where were the parents? A boy’s life is gone and for what (This isn’t a sarcastic or rhetorical question.)? It definitely stirs questions and emotions. What is the future impact?

Hubby and I were up late watching Hard Knocks, this special on the Cincinnati Bengals going through training camp and some of the preseason. There’s a newfound respect because you see the behind-the-scenes happenings that make everything look good on game day.

You get these great highlights of coaches pushing the players, along with rookies finding their way, and veterans enjoying the experience. The snapshots pinpointed one specific message… make every rep count…

The message resonated with me (For real!)… So, during training camp there are more players than what is needed. By the end of camp, if the player hasn’t made a positive impression they’re waived or cut. That sucks, right? Well, the whole point is to make every rep count and take full advantage of the opportunity.

Seeing this whole process and the urgency behind it all really helped me to refocus on the task at hand. I think it is a great lesson for us all. When opportunities present themselves (even when hard work is involved) count them as chances to make an impact and make your dreams come true. It’s all about the hard work… That’s what gets you to your end result.

Isn’t that apropos that Michael Vick becomes an Eagle?…

Something that can soar above obstacles, is powerful, and has a keen sense.

Now, like all of us, an eagle is flawed sometimes in judgment and uses its powers for less than the good of itself and the society around them. Vick’s past as a Falcon allowed him to fly at a high speed and change direction rapidly. Not an eagle! An eagle is steady and purposed on the task at hand.

Destiny seems to have a way of making things as they should be…

No, not that Michael…

NFL’s commissioner, Roger Goodell, reinstated former quarterback, Michael Vick, back into the NFL… with conditions. This means Vick is free to play if he is picked up by a particular team. There are also stipulations that Vick would have to adhere to in regards to when he can start playing. Vick hasn’t responded to this recent decision, but man, it seems like everybody has.

I mean the comments have varied from being glad that he’s being allowed to play again to only those who unknowingly do wrong should be allowed to get a second chance. I don’t know what to think because we are all flawed and deserve grace, but where is the balance, you know?

Where exactly do you stand?…

It seems that we hear story after story about professional athletes being where they shouldn’t, doing what they shouldn’t, saying what they shouldn’t, and just a whole litany of ’shouldn’ts’ that grows, seemingly, daily. Are they always at fault?… I don’t think so, but a good number put themselves in situations that, unfortunately, breeds confusion and accusations. What’s you take on this one?…

Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is involved in a civil lawsuit, where a 31-year-old woman alleges that the quarterback raped her in a hotel penthouse in July 2008. Now, I don’t even question why this is coming up a year later, because often times rape victims will wait years later to come forward. Now, Roethlisberger isn’t married, so there isn’t the question of why he was where he was (well, maybe, maybe not!). Anyway, my question is if these similar topics resurface time after time, why would (yet another) athlete put themselves in that predicament? A predicament to be judged, exposed, accused, and just downright inconvenienced, if they’re innocent…

Roethlisberger is denying the accusations and wants to focus on football and the upcoming season… But, why? Why and how did we get to this point? The plea is that athletes learn from other incidents and not put themselves in questionable situations where an accusation can even arise. Stay around those who have as much to lose as you and find someone to be accountable to… I don’t think this is rocket science.

And so the rape saga continues…

So, one good thing came out of the Michael Vick, dog fighting conviction and jail time… I mean, you know, outside of him being rehabilitated and the possibility of him getting his job back….

The exposure of this crime leads to the extreme exposure of the lucrative dog fighting industry around the country. Above that, over 150 leaders in these multiple rings have been arrested, saving over 500 dogs. Can you believe it? When I heard this, I was just taken aback by it all… Why is this pastime so big AND why is it so fun and interesting?

I’ve seen snapshots of what is done and it is the most devastating and gross thing I’ve ever seen (I wanted to say something outside of inhumane.). It just has me in this mind loop.

So, I’m glad that at least this awful act was brought to the forefront and animals were saved.

OMG! Derek Mason, the Baltimore Raven’s #1 wide receiver, has retired…

I couldn’t believe the headlines and the stories, but it is true. The thing is, it is so late in the season for such a dramatic change. This retirement will no doubt impact the Ravens like crazy. The truth is he was headed towards the end of his career, but I can’t believe he made this decision right before training camp.

The first thing I thought, including other analysts, was that he made this decision based on the recent loss of his close friend, recently retired Steve McNair. Mason spoke at McNair’s memorial and took the entire situation very hard and very personally.

Even with all of this, the really messed up part to this is the hole that is being left on the team. Mason was the best the Ravens had and now what?… The free agents and trade season has passed and whats left is probably slim pickings… I guess I can’t be too surprised by the decision. I mean, how many times do we make decisions that impact those other than ourselves? And although this might be on a bigger scale, it is still all so relative and therefore, the impact is the same.

When I heard the former NFL quarterback, Steve McNair, was killed over the weekend in Nashville I was shocked. But, then when I heard he was found near his dead girlfriend’s body, shocked didn’t even encompass it any longer.

Why… That’s all I could ask myself. It is such a waste. McNair was married with four boys. But then he was named on a Cadillac truck along with his girlfriend. Why?… (You see why I ask this, huh?)…

There are many details and so much to still be exposed, but my focus is on the children. They will be forever associated with the scandal of their father. How can this situation be explained to the children and who will be the brave person to explain it to them? The other sad part to this is that McNair’s on-the-field excellence is going to pale once compared to this turn of events.

Children never get a choice in these matters. They’re just collateral damage. My thoughts are definitely with the family and I hope any emotional scars the children incur will be healed and their lives restored.

So, the 2009 NFL draft was this weekend. Many dreams came true for a lot of young men on Saturday and Sunday… Those who dreamt as young boys about their names being called, finally got to the point of making their dreams a reality.

I like the stories behind the draft… The ones that tell you about the person rather than their stats. For me, it just reminds me of what this site is all about (You know?)… I mean, I love the game, but what makes this player relative and relevant to me? Here’s one…

Michael Oher, once an offensive tackle for Mississippi was picked up by the Baltimore Ravens. The thing is, he was once homeless. Just watching this guy and his humbleness brought chill bumps all over. He was just so thankful and appreciative for the opportunity. He said he was ready to start today. Man…

The family that took him in were there to share in the celebration and he, for me, just stole the show by his story and his desire to now be there for the family who took him in.

Man, I’ve got to follow this guy to see what he does… And, apparently, others have already followed his story… Oher’s journey was chronicled in a book, The Blind Side, by Michael Lewis. I’m sure the book will be a moving read.

Keep your eye on this guy…