If Jay Brinker has never heard a bad word spoken about Tony Dungy, then he must not be listening. Dungy is a notorious homophobe. Here's a link to a recent article relevant to Dungy. Brinker's elevation of Dungy to sainthood is reprehensible.
Better you than me around the SB hoopla, Jay. Thanks for the report. I've always relied upon the Hunter S Thompson essential truth about the Romanesque quality of the soul sucking week. Just like I tend to read his essay The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved most years as my contribution to the Derby festivities. Doesn't mean I don't watch the game and the Triple Crown races.
I'm always happy that Warren Zevon reclaimed his life and did not join HST in a self inflicted violent end. Now I am voting every day until the end of the month to help get Zevon in the Rock Hall.
Great Hemingway effort and an excellent account of the week that was. Didn't know there was so much live entertainment available during Super Bowl week - and at such exorbitant prices. Thanks but I'd rather spend a week (and my money) in a national park.
Let's not forget good, ol' Joe Morrison. Very, very good NFL career. Solid college head coach. Had the misfortune of playing on bad Giants teams. Is high up in Giants record books. Then there's Al Nelson; played corner for the Eagles for 9 years. Had 102 yd interception return, which set an NFL record.
There's Brig Owens. QB'ed UC to a 10-1 year as senior. Switched to corner in NFL and had long NFL career. Played significant role in '72 Super Bowl season for Redskins, including INT in Super Bowl. Retired, then went to law school. Pretty good resume, no?
Jim O'Brien kicked a game winning FG in the Super Bowl for Colts. Played some receiver for them, too. He caught a lot of Greg Cook's passes at UC. Bob Bell was a #1 draft pick for KC, had very nice career. Jason Fabini played for 11 years with the Jets, exceptional player. All these guys outweigh Derek Wolfe in my book. Let's not forget Anton Peek. He had a very solid pro career after UC, too. UC had 9 guys drafted last year. Sauce Saunders was just named Defensive Rookie of the Year. Lots of UC guys to consider when ranking them as pros.
Not sure how to rate 16th at Wastewater. Mostly Roman drunken orgy, part mini Fenway Park with baseball crowd attitude, part brilliant, part really stupid. It's getting more and more tacky, to be honest. I usually skip watching that hole, it's gotten so immature in the stands. And your comment about quiet really misses the mark. Quiet is integral to the game. It's one of the main draws of poeple to the sport. You commune with nature. You hear birds, the wind in the trees, You can see the sun rise and fall on a course. Built into it is a lot of fine tuning of the senses. To suddenly inject noise is such an 'ugly American' attitude; it's as weird as telling every one at the ball park they can only whisper. Tennis, like golf, respects and embraces quiet. The uniqueness of quiet at a large sporting event adds to its charm, specter, and dignity.
I understand why some of you think Travis Kelce is a half bubble off center but no one can deny his football ability and his love for UC. Not only does he frequently mention the university in various media appearances, he started a Health and Wellness endowment that will help the Bearcats in their physical and emotional growth. One might say he lacks in emotional growth himself but I disagree. If he was the rock head that many make him out to be, he would have built a new weight room or video game room for football players. He chose to spend money on mental and physical health for ALL UC STUDENT ATHLETES. Mental health is a huge issue across the country and certainly an issue with college age kids. We will never know whose life Kelce’s endowment may save which makes his choice to fund the venture all the more powerful.
That Kelce you don’t see on TV is so much more than the Kelce you do see.
Great writeup on the crazy week last week in The Valley. I was planning to go down from Flagstaff (especially if the Bengals were in it) but COVID had other plans (recovered fine).
I think some of the Phoenix traffic made its way up north to see Sedona and the Grand Canyon last Thursday and Friday. The traffic in Flagstaff those two days was awful. My parents live in Mesa and I don't think they left home at all last weekend because of the chaos.
My girlfriend is a Phoenix Central High graduate, class of 1997. In one of her yearbooks is a flyer for a Jimmy Eat World concert from the mid-1990s before they got big.
Gin Blossoms were great, but I was always more of a Meat Puppets fan myself (completely different style of music). Calexico is another great band, from Tucson.
The Kelce's would certainly rank at the top of Bearcats in the NFL with Gardner in waiting. Neither of the former's play at UC would ran them that high. Those accolades would go to Greg Cook, Tony Pike, Marty Gilyard, Derek Wolfe, Amad Bins, and more. It is the same argument with Pro vs. college basketball. There is a continual dispute about who is the greatest player of all time. The big O is hardly in that conversation, perhaps top 10, but he is in my opinion the greatest player to play college basketball. Enjoyed the column.
Thanks for the Super Bowl update, Jay! It's the week we all recognize the excesses of capitalism and celebrate our love for our new violent national pastime. Throw in gambling, drugs and alcohol, and the unfortunate likelihood of human trafficking and you can see where we may be heading collectively these days. Very allegorical in my humble opinion.
Question: I'm not a Bearcat in any sense but where does Desmond Ridder fit to your best of UC football? Definite maybe?...
Irish Bearcat - I am actually in lockstep with you. My wife and I moved from Bethesda (sound familiar?) to Huntsville, Alabama last September after 26 years in the DMV. I maintained my subscription only because the WAPO green eyeshade department dropped my digital subscription rate to about $1.75/month and I receive a perverse pleasure in perusing their always breathless, apocalyptic "news reporting" and predictable commentariat. One alibi: I loathe Ms. Buckner and all she stands for. She is the poster child for all that is detestable about that once great daily.
Jay, well done. And, thank you for affirming I WAS NOT ALONE recognizing, sady, the NFL had indeed seen a "moment like this" when Damar Hamlin was down at Paul Brown (Paycor) Stadium. Two things on the fact it happened before when Detroit Lions WR Chuck Hughes dropped dead on the field vs. Chicago Bears in 1971, and yes the final minute of the game was played after Hughes was taken off the field. 1) I was there at Cranbrook (Training Camp home of the Detroit Lions) when Chuck Hughes arrived between morning and afternoon practice coming from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Lions. We actually took Mr. Hughes into the "lunch room" and introduced him to his new teammates. 2) Again, with a certain sadness, I was in attendance at Tiger Stadium for the Lions/Bears game when Chuck Hughes collapsed on his way back to the huddle from running a pass route where he was not the intended receiver. NO HIT, NO TACKLE, he simply colllapsed, as you said, from a massive heart attack. (They called it "hardening of the arteries" back then). We, the fans, did not know he died on the field...until later. Different time....
If you subscribed to the Washington Post, as I do, you would have no problem finding negative commentary directed towards Tony Dungy. It is on-going and usually relates to his sometimes sanctimonious and tone-deaf positions on many social issues of the day.
Nice job, Jay, on your TVotSL. You captured the chaos well.
Another overhyped event last was the NFL Experience. One of the little brothers on my son’s club ball team said they waited in line for almost 2 hrs to kick a football. One of my clients took his kids and it sounded like a similar over-capacity story where you mostly stood in line. The grumpy old man in me says no thank you.
I love golf but it’s been almost 15 years since I went to a Phx Open. It’s fun to watch the antics on TV. At this point I actually appreciate it for the one-off event from the norm that it is.
Speaking of athletic events where the scenery, sunshine and suds are in the forefront I’ll be looking forward to your Spring Training report in a few weeks.
Good one, Jay. I like The Middle and can relate...to the lyrics, not the video. Love the Chainsmokers! Outrunnin' Your Memory, that's a still trying to...can't.
Hey Doc... Mick & The Stones - "Shattered" is the song - from the "Some Girls" album, I will await my prizes ... Jay, an awesome take on all things PHX during the last week. Agree that few cities could even think about hosting 2 monstrous events like the SB and a Tour event in the same month, let alone the same week.
If Jay Brinker has never heard a bad word spoken about Tony Dungy, then he must not be listening. Dungy is a notorious homophobe. Here's a link to a recent article relevant to Dungy. Brinker's elevation of Dungy to sainthood is reprehensible.
https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/tony-dungy-tweet-nfl-homophobic-football-transphobic-rcna67322
Better you than me around the SB hoopla, Jay. Thanks for the report. I've always relied upon the Hunter S Thompson essential truth about the Romanesque quality of the soul sucking week. Just like I tend to read his essay The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved most years as my contribution to the Derby festivities. Doesn't mean I don't watch the game and the Triple Crown races.
I'm always happy that Warren Zevon reclaimed his life and did not join HST in a self inflicted violent end. Now I am voting every day until the end of the month to help get Zevon in the Rock Hall.
Great Hemingway effort and an excellent account of the week that was. Didn't know there was so much live entertainment available during Super Bowl week - and at such exorbitant prices. Thanks but I'd rather spend a week (and my money) in a national park.
Let's not forget good, ol' Joe Morrison. Very, very good NFL career. Solid college head coach. Had the misfortune of playing on bad Giants teams. Is high up in Giants record books. Then there's Al Nelson; played corner for the Eagles for 9 years. Had 102 yd interception return, which set an NFL record.
There's Brig Owens. QB'ed UC to a 10-1 year as senior. Switched to corner in NFL and had long NFL career. Played significant role in '72 Super Bowl season for Redskins, including INT in Super Bowl. Retired, then went to law school. Pretty good resume, no?
Jim O'Brien kicked a game winning FG in the Super Bowl for Colts. Played some receiver for them, too. He caught a lot of Greg Cook's passes at UC. Bob Bell was a #1 draft pick for KC, had very nice career. Jason Fabini played for 11 years with the Jets, exceptional player. All these guys outweigh Derek Wolfe in my book. Let's not forget Anton Peek. He had a very solid pro career after UC, too. UC had 9 guys drafted last year. Sauce Saunders was just named Defensive Rookie of the Year. Lots of UC guys to consider when ranking them as pros.
Not sure how to rate 16th at Wastewater. Mostly Roman drunken orgy, part mini Fenway Park with baseball crowd attitude, part brilliant, part really stupid. It's getting more and more tacky, to be honest. I usually skip watching that hole, it's gotten so immature in the stands. And your comment about quiet really misses the mark. Quiet is integral to the game. It's one of the main draws of poeple to the sport. You commune with nature. You hear birds, the wind in the trees, You can see the sun rise and fall on a course. Built into it is a lot of fine tuning of the senses. To suddenly inject noise is such an 'ugly American' attitude; it's as weird as telling every one at the ball park they can only whisper. Tennis, like golf, respects and embraces quiet. The uniqueness of quiet at a large sporting event adds to its charm, specter, and dignity.
I understand why some of you think Travis Kelce is a half bubble off center but no one can deny his football ability and his love for UC. Not only does he frequently mention the university in various media appearances, he started a Health and Wellness endowment that will help the Bearcats in their physical and emotional growth. One might say he lacks in emotional growth himself but I disagree. If he was the rock head that many make him out to be, he would have built a new weight room or video game room for football players. He chose to spend money on mental and physical health for ALL UC STUDENT ATHLETES. Mental health is a huge issue across the country and certainly an issue with college age kids. We will never know whose life Kelce’s endowment may save which makes his choice to fund the venture all the more powerful.
That Kelce you don’t see on TV is so much more than the Kelce you do see.
Great job, Jay. I’m fine reading you any day.
Great writeup on the crazy week last week in The Valley. I was planning to go down from Flagstaff (especially if the Bengals were in it) but COVID had other plans (recovered fine).
I think some of the Phoenix traffic made its way up north to see Sedona and the Grand Canyon last Thursday and Friday. The traffic in Flagstaff those two days was awful. My parents live in Mesa and I don't think they left home at all last weekend because of the chaos.
My girlfriend is a Phoenix Central High graduate, class of 1997. In one of her yearbooks is a flyer for a Jimmy Eat World concert from the mid-1990s before they got big.
Gin Blossoms were great, but I was always more of a Meat Puppets fan myself (completely different style of music). Calexico is another great band, from Tucson.
Hey Jay - excellent writing. Did ya need to put the Biden thing in? It felt needless.
The Kelce's would certainly rank at the top of Bearcats in the NFL with Gardner in waiting. Neither of the former's play at UC would ran them that high. Those accolades would go to Greg Cook, Tony Pike, Marty Gilyard, Derek Wolfe, Amad Bins, and more. It is the same argument with Pro vs. college basketball. There is a continual dispute about who is the greatest player of all time. The big O is hardly in that conversation, perhaps top 10, but he is in my opinion the greatest player to play college basketball. Enjoyed the column.
Thanks for the Super Bowl update, Jay! It's the week we all recognize the excesses of capitalism and celebrate our love for our new violent national pastime. Throw in gambling, drugs and alcohol, and the unfortunate likelihood of human trafficking and you can see where we may be heading collectively these days. Very allegorical in my humble opinion.
Question: I'm not a Bearcat in any sense but where does Desmond Ridder fit to your best of UC football? Definite maybe?...
Irish Bearcat - I am actually in lockstep with you. My wife and I moved from Bethesda (sound familiar?) to Huntsville, Alabama last September after 26 years in the DMV. I maintained my subscription only because the WAPO green eyeshade department dropped my digital subscription rate to about $1.75/month and I receive a perverse pleasure in perusing their always breathless, apocalyptic "news reporting" and predictable commentariat. One alibi: I loathe Ms. Buckner and all she stands for. She is the poster child for all that is detestable about that once great daily.
Jay, well done. And, thank you for affirming I WAS NOT ALONE recognizing, sady, the NFL had indeed seen a "moment like this" when Damar Hamlin was down at Paul Brown (Paycor) Stadium. Two things on the fact it happened before when Detroit Lions WR Chuck Hughes dropped dead on the field vs. Chicago Bears in 1971, and yes the final minute of the game was played after Hughes was taken off the field. 1) I was there at Cranbrook (Training Camp home of the Detroit Lions) when Chuck Hughes arrived between morning and afternoon practice coming from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Lions. We actually took Mr. Hughes into the "lunch room" and introduced him to his new teammates. 2) Again, with a certain sadness, I was in attendance at Tiger Stadium for the Lions/Bears game when Chuck Hughes collapsed on his way back to the huddle from running a pass route where he was not the intended receiver. NO HIT, NO TACKLE, he simply colllapsed, as you said, from a massive heart attack. (They called it "hardening of the arteries" back then). We, the fans, did not know he died on the field...until later. Different time....
If you subscribed to the Washington Post, as I do, you would have no problem finding negative commentary directed towards Tony Dungy. It is on-going and usually relates to his sometimes sanctimonious and tone-deaf positions on many social issues of the day.
Nice tune, Paul. Beautiful Picture. Sucked me in. How I miss those sunsets....
Nice job, Jay, on your TVotSL. You captured the chaos well.
Another overhyped event last was the NFL Experience. One of the little brothers on my son’s club ball team said they waited in line for almost 2 hrs to kick a football. One of my clients took his kids and it sounded like a similar over-capacity story where you mostly stood in line. The grumpy old man in me says no thank you.
I love golf but it’s been almost 15 years since I went to a Phx Open. It’s fun to watch the antics on TV. At this point I actually appreciate it for the one-off event from the norm that it is.
Speaking of athletic events where the scenery, sunshine and suds are in the forefront I’ll be looking forward to your Spring Training report in a few weeks.
Good one, Jay. I like The Middle and can relate...to the lyrics, not the video. Love the Chainsmokers! Outrunnin' Your Memory, that's a still trying to...can't.
Hey Doc... Mick & The Stones - "Shattered" is the song - from the "Some Girls" album, I will await my prizes ... Jay, an awesome take on all things PHX during the last week. Agree that few cities could even think about hosting 2 monstrous events like the SB and a Tour event in the same month, let alone the same week.