Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez – My Review

I watched the three part documentary Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez which is about the late New England Patriots tight end and convicted murderer (well kind of) Aaron Hernandez. Aaron Hernandez is an interesting person to say the least. His story is almost Shakespearean. I remember Aaron Hernandez’s football career very well and I’ve seen several pieces about him in the media before watching the Netflix documentary. But Killer Inside offered some new information.

Family dynamics are interesting and Aaron’s family was full of complicated relationships. Aaron grew up a male dominant household. His father is Puerto Rican and seems to be very traditional. Aaron looked up to his father and was devastated by his death. He had a very close relationship with an older female cousin who loved Aaron like he was her own son. She was a mother of two children dying of cancer and served a prison sentence instead of testifying against Aaron.

The female cousin was married at one time and her husband left her for Aaron’s mother after Aaron’s father died. Aaron had animosity and resentment towards his mother because of her new significant other who sat next to her during Aaron’s trial. Aaron had a male lover who was featured in the documentary. Aaron also had a faithful fiance who was the mother of his daughter. Her support for Aaron never wavered.

I think it’s telling that Aaron allowed his cousin and fiance to suffer for him. He seems to be very self centered and without a conscious. We’ll never know if his sociopathic behavior is the result of nurture, CTE or celebrity privilege. The film implied that Aaron was driven to homicidal madness due to having to hide his same sex attraction while being immersed in the hyper masculine culture of sports.

Aaron was convicted of killing a man named Odin Lloyd in cold blood. Odin Lloyd was his fiancee’s sister’s significant other. Aaron appealed his sentence and later hanged himself while incarcerated and awaiting for the chance to appeal.

A Massachusetts law states that if a person dies while on trial there will be no conviction on the record books. Therefore, Aaron Hernandez is not a convicted murderer. He was also accused of killing two other men in Boston but was not convicted.

Aaron Hernandez was a brain damaged, bisexual, homicidal street thug, a football star who was a part of a sports dynasty with the undying loyalty of two women, a contemptuous relationship with his own mother and a father of a young girl who committed suicide at age twenty seven. His suicide may have outsmarted the Massachusetts legal justice system. Aaron Hernandez was not a sympathetic character but he was nonetheless compelling. Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez was an interesting film even if you already know quite a bit about the man.

Hot Girl Summer: “Believe It”

Summer 2019 is behind us and you know what, I didn’t do a darn thing. I didn’t visit one beach, pool or amusement park this year. My “Hot Girl Summer” consisted of going to work, going to church going to brunch a few times. All of my adventures and drama came from reading. That’s a good and bad thing at the same time. Ice could have been covering the ground and it would not have made much of a difference to me. I’m going to share and review what I read this summer.

My last Hot Girl Summer book review is “Believe It” by NFL quarterback Nick Foles. I ran across this book while I was working my part time library job. My first reaction to the book was I couldn’t imagine anything more boring than an autobiography of Nick Foles.

believe it

But then I remembered his practical and heartfelt MVP speech after winning Superbowl LII. It touched my heart. A lot of the victory speeches that people give at events such as the Oscars are sugary sweet nonsense that sets people up for failure. I don’t believe that most celebrities tell the entire truth about how they become successful.

I checked “Believe It” out and indeed some parts were boring but overall I enjoyed the book. I am not an Eagles fan so I skipped over the parts of the book where Nick Foles detailed the Playoff season. I remember that Playoff season but I am not an Eagles fan and I was following other teams. All of the teams that I cared about had been eliminated by the end so I gave my support to the Eagles simply because they were playing the heavily favored Patriots which get on my nerves along with most of the rest of America.

In case you don’t know here is the backstory. Nick Foles is the NFL quarterback that led the Philadelphia Eagles to their first Superbowl victory in 2018. Nick was a back up quarterback at the beginning of the season to Carson Wentz who was sensational. Carson Wentz got hurt at the end of the regular season and couldn’t continue to play. Nick had to step in at a critical juncture of the season and not let his team mates and the city of Philadelphia down.

Nick Foles is kind of like a live action version of Charlie Brown that won the Superbowl. His life isn’t very dramatic but nothing came easy for him. He was picked 88th in the NFL draft. I didn’t realize the numbers went that high. He played second string to superstar quarterbacks Mike Vick and Carson Wentz. He also played back up to one of my favs Alex Smith.

charlie brown and lucy

He was a starting quarterback on the St. Louis Rams which was a struggling franchise at the time. He was in that lead position briefly and was fired. After his winning Superbowl season Nick played with the Eagles briefly and then became a free agent. He started the current NFL season as the starting quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars but his collarbone was broken in the first game against my Kansas City Chiefs.

Nick told other anecdotes of being awkward and things just not going quite right. I think many of us can relate to this book even if we are not athletic or particularly competitive. Prior to the Superbowl reporters covering the event confused Nick with a different player. That’s easy to believe because he is a pretty plain looking guy.

nick foles

He went into a restaurant in Philadelphia and went unnoticed by fans that loudly expressed their lack of faith that Nick could bring the championship home. The woman that he fell in love with on sight and later married was dating someone else when they first met. The proposal that he planned was a comedy of errors. A lot of celebrities try to be relatable and it comes across as very phony and condescending. But I think everyone can gain something from Nick’s encouraging MVP speech. Please watch.

I recommend “Believe It” even if you don’t enjoy football. I enjoy the game and I skipped parts of it because I still interested in the Eagles Superbowl run and I don’t need to read about it in detail. But Nick is a likeable and sympathetic character. Everyone loves an underdog and he was the lead underdog on a team of underdogs. It would be hard not to like “Believe It”.

My Disenchantment and Disappointment with NFL Football and it’s Players

I have been a sports fan for a long time. I have loved it and pro sports has brought a lot of enjoyment into my life. I admire the athleticism and grace of the athletes. As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned to admire youth more and more and pro sports is a celebration and display of the blessing of youth, strength, good health and a competitive spirit. I’ve looked up to pro athletes for years and they’ve been heroes to me.

But it’s not only important to have a strong body and have physical gifts. You also need to have a strong mind, spirit and sense of self. I’m not sure that most pro athletes have that. Recently the significant other of a man that plays for the San Die…I mean LA Chargers posted a video of herself, her baby daddy Jaheel Addae, some other Black NFL players and their non Black significant others at dinner making a toast to light skinned babies.

There is something creepy and sinister about a blonde haired, blue eyed woman making a toast to eugenics and promoting social engineering. It was like we were getting an inside look at a Hitler youth meeting that Black men were allowed to join due to their annual earnings after taking a pledge of allegiance to White supremacy and it’s standards of beauty.

I am a dark skinned, Black woman that is forty four years old, never married and without children. A lot of people are going to belittle what I am saying and write it off as jealousy and bitterness. That’s usually what happens when dark skinned Black women try to speak out against being belittled as women or question European features being put on a pedestal. But I am not jealous nor am I bitter. But I am questioning if I should invest in an institution that is made of men that devalues Black people and run by people that seem to be using it as a vehicle to assert White standards of feminine beauty.

I feel the need to say that I am not against inter racial dating, marriage or mixed race children. The United States is an ethnically diverse country and friendships and romantic relationships are bound to happen in this day and age. Great. The strange thing is the way that these relationships get glorified and glamorized at the same time that Black women with two Black parents are often put down and degraded.

I’m not really surprised by the toast that was made and broadcast over Snapchat because I’ve always known that light skin, so called good hair and White features have been esteemed among Blacks for centuries. I just never knew how much it was valued and how much Black women that look Black were vilified until social media became such a presence. I’ve come to see what so many people really think.

I also think it’s very strange that this woman posted that video on Snapchat. I think it was very bold and it seems hard to believe that she and her baby daddy wouldn’t know that the toast would rub some people the wrong way. This came after a Chicago Bears player proposed to his White, fair haired girlfriend and then old tweets of hers became public. She made some rude remarks about race and she said that she loves to see Black men with White women and Black women with White men because she knows they will have cute children. This type of thinking has always made my flesh crawl.

The player that verbally made the toast didn’t say cheers to the lovely ladies in our company or cheers to true love and happiness or prosperous families. He said cheers to being light skinned, the closest thing to White we’re ever going to get. That’s it. They were celebrating being welcomed into White society and leaving Blackness behind.

Visualize White football players taping a similar toast. Everyone would question if they were a part of the Alt Right. These young Black men are pretty much a part of the Alt Right whether they realize it or not.

If you think a person with one White parent and one Black parent is more attractive than a person with two Black parents then you probably think a person with two White parents is superior to everyone. That is racism in a nutshell folks. And the NFL has been feeding us images of men of African descent putting fair hair White women on a pedestal for decades now.

As time goes on I think that fewer things are organic and most things in the media, even social media are intentional and put in front of the public in order to manipulate the masses. That’s especially true when you’re talking about a money making juggernaut such as the NFL.

It’s not hard to see that the NFL uses their space in American culture to promote certain agendas. It’s also clear that they pander to a White audience. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to think that they would want to reach out to White women in a way so they feel as if they have a place in the NFL. This may seem far out to some of you but when I look at the media and other sources of information and apply some objective and critical thought it’s amazing to me how White people affirm themselves.

I’ve come to the conclusion that Europeans do not tolerate not being the center of, well everything. Even if something markets itself as a Black organization or event they end up putting a White or at least the Whitest, non Black American face to it that they can find. If the majority of Black ball players were married to wholesome Black women and created wholesome Black families I have a feeling some White people may resent the NFL and see it as a vehicle for Black prosperity. White people have a history of destroying anything that brings about Black affluence. If you don’t believe me search Rosewood, Florida, Black Wall Street or even labor unions.

I’m not even angry at the young men that made that toast to light skinned kids on Snapchat or the Bears player that proposed to the borderline racist woman on the field after winning a game that sent them to the Playoffs. I’m really just embarrassed for them. They are brawn and no brains, heart or pride. They are puppets desperately trying to gain acceptance from mainstream culture. It’s very sad to watch.

It’s like when you see someone doing something to make themselves look foolish and every knows they are being foolish except them and it’s hard to look them in the eye. The kindest thing to do is to look away and act like you don’t see what’s going on. That’s what I may have to do with the NFL which is sad because we have had some great times and I thought I would always be a fan. I’ve stood by the NFL through a lot but this is a bit too much to bear.

Tell Me What You Want: the Problem with Modern Feminism

The problem with modern feminism is that it’s hard to understand what feminists want. Do you want to be protected and have your femininity respected as women, or do you want to be thought of as able to compete with men on any level and in anything? I don’t think you can have both.

I’ve been reading a story of a young woman that aspires to play professional football. She hasn’t set her sights on a woman’s league. She wants to play in the NFL football. And she’s not a kicker.

I’m going to be completely blunt. This is one of the most foolish things I have heard in my life and it’s proof that brainwashing works. The fact is that there are biological differences between men and women. Men are physically stronger than women. I don’t believe there is any way a woman can compete in the NFL with men and not be killed.

Toni Harris is the young woman that wants to play in the NFL. You would imagine that a woman with that goal would be well over six feet tall and more than three hundred pounds. If that was the case I might be in favor of this pursuit if she was allowed to use steroids. (Fair is fair. Miss Spain was a transgendered female in last year’s Miss Universe pageant). But she’s not. She’s petite with a cute face. She’s a girly girl that wants a career where she will get tackled by the likes of Ndamukong Suh.

I suggest that Toni Harris research the name Mike Utley. He was a NFL player in the 1990s for the Detroit Lions. He suffered a hit that paralyzed him. He is not in his fifties and is still paralyzed. I’m an NFL football fan and I have watch some pretty rugged guys end up seeing stars after being tackled. I’ve often thought of playing football in the NFL as one of the worst jobs in the world. When you watch some of those tackles in slow motion they are absolutely brutal. I don’t know that I could survive one play in the NFL. Even if I didn’t die I’m sure something would happen to upset me a great deal.

It bothers me that the poster child for a woman in the NFL is a Black woman. Some years back a White woman tried out for the NFL as a kicker and she was awful. She didn’t make the cut and I’m surprised she even got the chance to try out. But Ms. Harris is wanting to play in a tackle position. Can you even imagine a blonde, blue eyed attractive White woman wanting to do this? I don’t think the American public would tolerate the thought of an attractive, young, White woman being tackled by the likes of a six feet something, two hundred pound plus linebacker.

Miss Toni Harris is being used as a sacrificial lamb to the modern feminist movement. I will never watch a game with a woman of small stature playing. I couldn’t bear it. There has always been a boundary around femininity that protects women. It is still there but it is being eroded by feminism and men are the beneficiaries.

In the #metoo era feminists need to decide what they want because I’m a woman and I can’t even figure it out. Is their mantra I am woman hear me roar or are they delicate flowers that want to be protected and made to feel comfortable at all times? They need to decide because I am a woman that is having a hard time sorting this out.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/super-bowl-toyota-ad-features-toni-harris-woman-who-wants-to-be-first-female-nfl-player/

Golden Tate

I was born and raised in the metro Detroit area and I became a football fan because of the Detroit Lions. They are one of the least successful teams in the entire NFL but they will always have a soft spot in my heart. If it wasn’t for them I don’t know if I would enjoy football today. Golden Tate was one of their star players over the last few years. He was surprisingly traded last season to the Philadelphia Eagles and they made a good run for another Superbowl appearance but they fell short against the Saints.

I can’t say that I have ever been a fan of Golden Tate particularly. If he wasn’t a key player on one of my teams I don’t think I would know him. But today I feel close to him and it’s because of this quote.

I have never played a sport competitively. I haven’t played sports for recreation much either. But I do know what it is like to feel like you have payed dues and you are ready for success. I also understand the fear that time is slipping away until you are in a different stage in your life and you may never have the opportunity to realize your dreams.

Golden Tate is only thirty which is young by most accounts. But as a professional athlete especially in a rough sport and playing a very physical position someone like his is more aware of time than most of us.

We all go through up and downs in life but after learning lessons, having false starts and paying dues you are ready for success. Whether it be a Superbowl ring, your own career success or relationship success you continue to work towards it and hope for the best. You run out of patience for situations that have little potential or that have a very uncertain outcome.

As you get older you become smarter and you learn what to look for in various situations. You’ve learned what red flags to look for that may make something a bad investment in your time and you’re not afraid to say no thank you and walk away never to look back again. As you get older you learn to value your time and even more important your energy. You become laser focused and you learn to assert yourself and ask for what you want.

My advice to anyone that is young that is reading this is to learn these lessons early and focus on whatever goals and targets you have. There will be distractions, dead ends and detours but don’t waste your time on things that you don’t really want. The most important thing to do is to learn what that is.

Youth offers opportunities that maturity often times does not. That is a failing of Western society. But even if your goals are not youth oriented like winning a Superbowl ring keep in mind that we all have limited time. Have a goal, make a plan and figure out how to get there while time is on your side.

The Last Days of the NFL

I think we are witnessing the last days of the NFL. I don’t think it will die out in a year or two or even five. I say give it ten to fifteen years and the NFL as we know if will be history. I don’t think any boycott on either side of the national anthem debate will hurt the NFL. They are way too big for that and I doubt the sincerity of those that claim to be boycotting.

I think the demise of the NFL is going to come about because of today’s young athletes. When I say young I mean 10-17 years old. Children are always listening and they are hearing and seeing the conversations adults are having about the flag, patriotism and police brutality. If football doesn’t fascinate an American boy in his youth the passion will probably never be there and that will affect the fan base and NFL recruitment.

I grew up in the Detroit area and I have vivid childhood memories of Detroit Lions games being viewed in my home. I recall one game when I was around three that I was watching with my dad and he threw a shoe at the TV. (If you know anything about the Detroit Lions you can understand my father’s frustration.) My mother was a Detroit Lions fan when they had their 0-16 season. And I remember many Thanksgivings being ruined because of the way the Lions performed on national TV. These memories never leave a person.

I live in Kansas City now and I’ve developed a fondness for the Kansas City Chiefs but the Lions are always going to be my team and the Chiefs are my backup team. But if the adults around me as a child weren’t interested in football or were angry at the NFL I don’t know that I would have much interest in the sport as an adult.

As a Black woman if I was the mother of a young son I don’t think I would encourage him to play organized football. I’m not sure I would encourage my son to play any sport for anything other than exercise and socializing. I’ve felt this way for years due to the rough nature of football and the fear of my son suffering permanent brain damage due to concussions. But I don’t think that pro sports is a good career choice for Black men anymore. Despite the money, fame and passion for the game I don’t think it’s worth it.

Black men in the sports world are treated terribly these days. Cam Newton is one of my favorites and he has been treated like garbage by fans and the media. My favorite Chief Marcus Peters gets dragged on social media after ever game despite being a key player on a 5-0 team. He has consistently sat down for the national anthem this season and does not explain his reasons for doing so. I think he’s smart for that because he would be criticized for anything he said.

I’ve read stories about high school athletes being kicked off of their football teams for taking the knee. I saw a different story about a high school student that protested during the anthem and he was bullied on social media for it. I see no reason to encourage a young Black boy to participate in organized sports. There’s nothing in it for them unless they swallow their pride and become a prized animal of sorts for another man. It seems that America wants its pro athletes to perform for them, take the pictures but keep quiet like one of the horses in the Kentucky Derby.

I saw a documentary on TV once about football and concussions. An expert on the program said that if a small percent of American mothers refused to let their sons play football it would change the game. I can see many American mothers refusing to let their sons play football because of the national anthem controversy regardless of the side they fall on.

But if Black women refused to let their sons play ball or if Black boys decided to take interest in the arts or choir or horticulture the NFL as we know it dies. It will not survive. In ten years I will be fifty two. I will probably still be alive and completely coherent. I will remember men, athletes, performers named Neon Deion Sanders, Barry Sanders, Megatron, Tyreek Hill and Odell Beckham that lit up the football field.

The field of athletes that feeds into the college system and into the NFL will be weakened if American Black boys are disinterested in or hold disdain for the NFL and their fans. There won’t be many if any exciting, charismatic athletes like those I mentioned earlier in the future. And even if there are a few they may not have much competion which leads to the downfall of America’s favorite sport.

There are some good White football players. There are some great White quarterbacks, some good defensive players, kickers and punters and then there is Gronkowski and the man who makes my heart go pitter pat, Travis Kelce. But the NFL’s personality, style and soul has come from Black men and they aren’t going to find it again outside of Black Americans.

Without African Americans the league will be much slower, more reserved and honestly dull. No one, not even the fake hillbilly patriots are going to watch that. But the NFL juggernaut will go down without a fight. They will do something to try and reclaim their brand. In the future the NFL will probably be like gladiator matches in ancient Rome. They will probably release wild tigers into the stadium in order to speed up the slow pokes.

Or perhaps they will draft athletes. By that I don’t mean “Yaaay, I’m a first round draft pick so now I’m gonna buy my mama a house!” I mean please show up to this office at the appointed time or face consequences Marquiese. Marquiese will probably end up wrestling tigers too. In an ever increasing callous society that is infatuated with violence and doesn’t love people I think it could happen. At that point the NFL will be desperate for ratings and will do anything to recoup lost revenue.

I’m sure the NFL is at the end of its golden age. I’m going to enjoy it while I can and watch it’s slow downward spiral. I can’t be alone in having resentful feelings toward these controlling racists that demand that Black men salute “their” flag. I can’t be the only person that is appalled by the way so called fans talk to athletes on social media. Even with the promise of fame and riches it seems like a dead end and I wouldn’t want any son of mine entertaining hateful Neo Nazis or aveage Americans, it’s getting hard to tell the difference, while sacrificing his body. Nope, I’d rather my son be a dentist.

I’ve always enjoyed sports because it’s objective. There beginnings, religion, political and social connections were irrelevant. Athletes earned their spot in the NFL because they were the best and the team managers wanted to win. Now athletes are getting picked off because of their beliefs. The league won’t be as competitive and everyone that actually knows the sport will be aware of it. The NFL, just like American democracy itself is another institution that is suffering because of America’s commitment to racism and White supremacy.

The Las Vegas Raiders

So the Oakland Raiders are moving to Las Vegas. The Raiders are not my team so I’m not very interested in what they do. I don’t care for Las Vegas so I don’t have much concern about what happens there. But I don’t think this move to Vegas is a good idea. And I don’t think anything good will come of it.

First of all, this move is just plain douchey. Raiders fans are some of the most passionate and loyal in the NFL. I feel bad for the Oakland fans. This is a slap in the face by the Raiders management. I’ve only been to the airport in Oakland so I don’t know much about the city. But it seems like a hometown kind of town. I bet if you polled adults on the streets of Oakland most of them grew up in Oakland. It seems blue collar and a little bit gritty. In other words, it’s my kind of place. The Raiders are leaving Oakland behind for an artificial tourist town with a large transient population.

Vegas is OK. You can have a nice vacation there and it may be a great place to retire but it has no character. There’s no soul to Vegas. It will be interesting to see if the Raiders will actually gain new fans in Las Vegas. Seeing as how most of the population is transplanted from outside of Nevada the new Raiders may be a tough sell. The impression that I have of Nevada outside of Vegas is that it is made up of people that want to live off the grid and take little interest in pro sports.

The city of Las Vegas is planning on building the Raiders a glorious new stadium. There is something about it that is a bit creepy to me. It’s like something out of the “Hunger Games”. The NFL is relying on public funding to help build this stadium. This happens all over the country and it always upsets me.

The NFL has plenty of money and I don’t understand why they need to turn themselves into high class welfare cases in order to build or renovate their stadiums. Their excuse is that the team will help the local economy. That’s true but I don’t think any city’s economy can be based on a sports franchise. And if the Raiders are really interested in helping a local economy they should be concerned with what they are doing to Oakland’s economy. Oakland could surely use the financial boost more than Vegas does. I don’t see why Las Vegas needs the help.

I think the move to Vegas is going to be a big problem for a lot of the athletes. People pass judgment on pro athletes when they misbehave but they are young, rich, popular and privileged. I think a lot of them do well in their lot in life considering the temptations that are thrown in their faces. If I was one of them I sure would have been a holy terror.

So the Raiders want to take their team that is made up of young men that are probably on average aged 27. The town is known as Sin City and prostitution has been normalized and is legal in parts of Nevada. Other NFL teams will have to pass through Vegas when playing the Raiders. Does the NFL really think there will be no drama resulting from this move? To me it’s really kind of cruel. The NFL is setting these young athletes up for failure.

For years pro sports didn’t want sports franchises in Vegas because they were worried there would be a conflict of interest between the gambling business and sports. I don’t understand what changed other than we live in a world where politicians and business leaders have less integrity than they had even a decade ago. The Raiders had a great season last year but wouldn’t it seem a little fishy if they made it to the Superbowl next year? A lot of fans already suspect that the NFL is rigged.

Anyway, I hope this all turns into a disaster and I want to see the Raiders try to return home to the bay with their tail between their legs only to find out that their once loyal fans now support the 49ers. I hope the good people of Las Vegas replace all of their flunky politicians that act in the interest of big business instead of acting in the best interest of the tax paying citizens.

My Analysis of “Catching Kelce””

I know I’m way late. But I was a bit busy. In fact I didn’t even see the finale of “Catching Kelce” at the time it aired a few weeks ago. I had to have my mom DVR it for me and I watched it several days later. For those of you that don’t know, “Catching Kelce” was a dating show patterned after the “Bachelor” where Kansas City Chiefs tight end looked for love from a group of fifty starry eyed NFL wife hopefuls. I thought about trying out for the show myself but I am far too old. Yes, I looked into it.

I’ll skip right to the end. He picked a young woman from Kentucky named Maya Benberry. I was glad that he picked Maya because she is Black or at least mixed or something. I always cheer on Black people regardless of the contest. It could be the Olympics, a pageant, pro sports, political election or game shows. Before you label me a racist keep in mind that Black women are the least likely demographic to get married. And if you’ve ever watched “The Bachelor” you know that the Black women rarely even make the qualifying round. I’m a Black woman so I support Black people especially women. And regardless of race, if I was a betting woman I would always put my money on the long shot. Black girls are the long shot in everything.

So I’m really glad to see a handsome prosperous bachelor choosing a Black woman but I kind of wish he hadn’t picked that one. Maya was actually one of my least favorite people on the show and even from the field of Black women on the show I think he could have chosen better. I hope Travis is happy because I love him but I just don’t see it. But hind sight is 20/20 and I think she was his favorite from the start. The heart wants what the heart wants I suppose.

My favorite contestant on “Catching Kelce” was Cee Cee from Michigan. I thought she was super cute with a bubbly personality. She was light hearted, funny and didn’t seem to take the show too seriously. But I will say that the idea of Cee Cee and Travis operating as a couple gave me pause. If you are familiar with Travis you know that a pairing between him and a somewhat vapid party girl that enjoys drinking whose friends refer to her as “the Reckless One” may not be the best help mate from an athlete that was once described as having character flaws. Nonetheless Cee Cee was the greatest and I wish her well in life.

I was also fond of Avery. I saw a lot of myself in her. Avery has a reserved personality and was a bit mysterious. I think that Avery is an old fashioned woman that expects a man to earn her love, attention and affection even if you are an NFL star. She didn’t compete heavily with the other women for Travis nor did she dangle her body in front of him like Christmas ornament. I can tell that Avery wants to take her time in order to get to know a man.

People these days like instant validation. They don’t want to take the time to search a person’s mind and heart. The focus is usually sexual gratification, personal validation or ownership. That’s why romance is rare in these modern times. I don’t believe you can ever really fall in love with a person without learning their mind, heart and soul. Intimacy takes time but most don’t want to invest the time. Even Travis said that Avery was a lot of work because of her somewhat aloof personality. But maybe he was right. She might just not been that into him.

The two girls left standing at the finale in Kansas City were Maya and Veronica. They were two of the most competitive and assertive women on the show. They also both have huge boobs. The lovely blonde Veronica from New Jersey was the runner up. I liked Veronica. She seemed like fun and I think she would have been a good pick for Travis. I’m not concerned for her in the least. I’ll bet she ends up marrying one of the Philadelphia Eagles. She would probably like that better anyway.

Anyway, congratulations to Travis and Maya. I hope the two of them get married and turn the wedding into an E! channel special. I will be sure to tune in. But if it doesn’t work out I hope that there will be a “Catching Kelce II”. I know how difficult it can be to date in Kansas City. I understand Travis. So if there is a “Catching Kelce II” I hope they relax the age restrictions.

The Reason I’m a Sports Fan – Shannon in Kansas City

travis-kelce-bulge-most-underrated-nfl-players-2015-images

It’s time for the NFL Playoffs. My favorite team, the Detroit Lions didn’t make the Playoffs and my second favorite team the Kansas City Chiefs lost in the second round which ended their season. Watching sports on TV or in person has become one of my favorite past times.

Sporting events are one of only a few examples of wholesome programming on TV. Almost everything on television these days is a vapid reality show, a show about murder or something that I consider to be demonic. I enjoy a few of the Real Housewife shows but all of the subsequent casts have saturated the airwaves with manufactured images of selfish, mean and sometimes violent women.

There are dozens upon dozens of TV shows about murder. “CSI”, “Forensic Files”, “Snapped”, “The First 48” are all compelling series but geez Louise don’t people get tired of stories about people killing other people. I sure do. And all of these shows use graphic and explicit images. I get it. He got his throat cut. I don’t need the bloody visual thank you very much.

Almost everything else on TV is somehow demonic and dark sided in nature. I don’t have much interest in zombies, vampires or people that communicate with the dead. At least I’m not interested enough to watch a weekly series about these subjects.

So much of American television programming is devoted to the occult, violence and reality TV that glorifies people for behaving in a way that would never be accepted in day to day life. It’s great to see a celebration of youth, strength, fitness and hard work. That’s what sports competitions are to me.

In a largely sedentary country with an obesity problem it’s great to see physically fit people using their bodies to reach accomplishments and earn a living. Seeing athletes on TV inspires me to get off the couch and move around. And they all look great. I have to say that some professional athletes are made of stardust. Stardust is the active ingredient in all of our dreams.

I think that athletes are so glamorous. They are young, rich and have the world by the tail. I love it and I wish it was me. I know that they are only human and they have personal struggles like we all do. In fact, when you follow the careers of athletes you know that a pro career is full of struggle. But I don’t know any of these guys personally and I only know what I see on TV and in the stadiums. And it is absolutely lovely and inspiring.

Professional athletes are great role models for children and all the rest of us. They are young, prosperous, athletic and in the prime of their lives. Many of them came from disadvantaged backgrounds and now they appear before crowds of thousands and millions on TV. The real stars are attractive, articulate and have a lot of personality. I sure want to be like that. I’m constantly working on it.

I’m glad for the NFL, NBA and MLB. There would be very little worthwhile to watch on TV without it. And they give us young stars to admire that will one day be legends that we remember with fondness and pride. In a world filled with divisions the camaraderie amongst fans transcends race and economic background. It is a thrill to watch a man fight for his pride and childhood dreams. There is nothing else like it. I love it!

#ChiefsKingdom #OnePride