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With the Tame Impala's highly anticipated fourth album; The Slow Rush set for release on Valentine's Day, it makes plenty of sense for the "band" to release a music video for promotional purposes. I mean why release one during the first 313 days between the release of its first single and today? Luckily, Tame did not disappoint; Existential synth-rock fans are for a treat with Tame Impala's Lost in Yesterday music video.
Lost in Yesterday has been in my elip (elliptical for the lamez) rotation since its release. Finally there is a visual stimuli to go along with this groove. Back when used to get on it, four out of sevennnnnnnnnnnnn hits different. I grew up a slave to TRL. Every school day I would be glued to the kitchen TV shielding videos I wasn't supposed to watching. Despite the death of music videos on M(usic)TV around 2007; Youtube has been able to keep the art of the music video alive and kickin! Normally Tame Impala videos are either really trippy, or really sexy; sometimes both. Lost in Yesterday is nice change of pace, where Kevin Parker stars as Ombre Jesus in this period piece set at a shitty 70's wedding with not so subtle references to the lyric "eventually terrible memories, turn into great ones" plastered all over it like the wallpaper of era. 
I've watched it three times already for this blog and it gets better every time. Here are some of my favorite characters so far.
— Doz (very niche!) #hiredozo (@DozonLife) January 31, 2020
As of now, Lost in Yesterday is far and away my favorite song released so far. It should be a top 10 hit, but I'm not holding my breath.
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How crazy is it that less than two years ago the Red Sox and Patriots were both champions of their respect leagues? Now their manager is gone and the Red Sox.....THE BOSTON RED SOX are crying poor and trying to flip a generational talent after mismanaging the payroll for the last decade. Unbelievable! The owner of the Red Sox, Boston Globe (still don't understand how that's legal) and Liverpool can't pony up a measly 400 (million) bucks? Blank checks to unproven Cubans and Pandas are rearing their ugly head.
To make matters worse, now I have to decode some cryptic ass bull shit by Tom Brady. Like, really Tom? What the fucking fuck is this? No caption like he's Jon Cena. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? 
I am not trying to be dramatic; I understand that Tom Brady has every right to leave the Patriots. He's done literally everything they could've asked the last 20 years; pay cuts, restructures, multiple (9) Super Bowl appearances. He doesn't have a ton of time left. The penny pinching Patriots have not made things easy for him the last few season with the draft misses and a lack of weapons. Sure they tried with AB, but even that was out of desperation after just not replacing the greatest tight end to ever step foot on a gridiron football field. Maybe I'm overreacting? I haven't had my "you survived another day" bowl yet and need to relax, but like wtf, dude? Can a guy take his "I just got home shit" without having to worry about decoding cryptic-ass caption free black and white photos, in an empty, rainy, (presumably Gillette) stadium? I wish he was just retiring, I can deal with that, but he's made it perfectly clear that's not going to happen. If Tom Brady leaves the Patriots you might as well start planning my funeral. In lieu of flowers, venmo my mom.
P.S. All is well....except for the Red Sox horrible, scumbag ownership.
As far as I can remember; Every Super Bowl week is pretty much the same from a media stand point. You have the radio row car wash; your regular who's who of HOFers from the days of 14 game seasons and Marching Band Half Time shows. They're telling/selling the same stories they've told for 40+ years, pitching an app they don't know how to download.
Obviously, the vibe of the Super Bowl varies year to year. There have certainly been some with more buzz than others. Super Bowl XLIX (IMO the most important Super Bowl of the 21st century) immediately comes to mind with all the Deflategate trashola. Sadly, between the Kobe tragedy and the Pats taking a gap year, it feels like there hasn't been much buzz about the big game. Very somber mood and rightly so. I'm sure it's different across the country. One can presume the fly-over states are pretty happy the Kansas City Chiefs are in the Super Bowl for the first time post AFL-NFL Merger. The 49ers have one of the biggest bandwagon followings around the country after the Cowboys. They move the needle, historically. That's all well and good, I'm just not all the jazzed up about the Super Bowl this year. I'm more excited for the party than the game. #DSM Correct me if I'm wrong, but there weren't any notable moments at media night and there hasn't been too much going on from a buzz stand point from all the pointless 10-minute interviews this year. That was until Deion Sanders basically said on the Dan Patrick Show the nightclub, that is the Pro Football Hall of Fame fired the doorman in the last 15 years; now anybody can get in. The guys that had bring 10 girls are heated! Gottt damn, Dozo you did it agian.
Full interview.
I love that Prime said this because it had to be said and it had to be said by someone of Deion Sanders level. Mick Tingelhoff couldn't say this. Deion Sanders is PRIME TIME. He’s an NFL icon. The opinions of the all-timers should matter. It’s all about self-awareness. The Hall has some serious flaws. Like most awards it's just becoming a popularity contest. The media bias needs to be taken out of the equation. A HOF w/o Barry Bonds is a joke. This is fairy tale, shoots and ladders, dream land thinking by me, but it's a eutopic approach sports desperately needs. Numbers and achievements should matter more than your likability and disposition.
Let's be frank. This all about the recently retired Eli Manning. Pedestrian statistical career, yes he's in in the top 10 all time in TD and yards, but again numbers are inflated in this era. Only five of the top 20 passers in terms of yardage retired before the year 2000. Nine of the top 20 debuted after 2000. With two iconic Super Bowl runs against the greatest dynasty in the history of professional sports, he’s the perfect mix lightening rod debate because each side has fantastic support backed by facts. A few days ago I had a twitter thread to myself about the very topic! I'd say I brought up incredibly valid points. It's unfortunate some fans can't be like me and put bias away quicker than a key bump to just talk about the great game of American Football; as an objective student of the game. My thesis is completely valid; Eli Manning really is the line in the sand for what the Hall of Fame is really about. Is it the best of the best or the best two two-month runs ever? How much are we going to move the goalposts?
Alex Smith has more passing yards than Troy Aikman. Carson Palmer has more touchdowns than Joe Montana. Fitzmagic has more yards than Kurt Warner.
Until the rule changes of 1978 you could hit a split end (they weren't even really called wide receivers yet) until he was fully undressed in the locker room and it wasn't a flag. That was if the quarterback had gotten up off the Astroturf after getting body slammed by Deacon Jones three full seconds after he released the ball; once he got by the left tackle he slapped in the head.
Let's play the what if game; If LT doesn't sit on the bench crying with his visor in the 07 AFCCG and the Chargers win (not only are they still in San Diego) but pull a 2015 Wisconsin Basketball seven years earlier (remember game was played in 2008) losing the Super Bowl.... Then a few years later in 2011 Lee Evans holds on in end zone....Giants still win both Super Bowls...now it's over the Chargers and Ravens....is Eli a Hall of Famer?
I am smart enough to understand how the world works. He's a Manning...Football's Kennedys. Eli is going to get in. I'm wasting my time here saying he shouldn’t or won’t .
The Hall of Fame just should mean something and Deion is entirely right there.. It's a popularity contest and the sports writers/media people use it their chance to play God. It's v similar in baseball. Mike Mussina making the Hall of Fame while Curt Schilling is on the outside looking in is a bigger joke than the the aristocrats (timely reference; ☑) It's a point that's been beaten to death, but the fact that T.O. wasn't a first ballot HOFer sort of makes a mockery of the entire organization. I mean what are we doing when a guy who's top 3 in every important stat isn't getting in 1st ballot? Media markets matter too. If Eli didn't bitch and whine his way out of San Diego and had the exact same career there would this conversation even be happening? If Todd Helton was a Cub is he already in Cooperstown? Winning multiple Super Bowls as a starting QB has been an almost surefire HOF ticket, but not 100% of the time. There is another QB that has two rings and no Gold Jacket; another man taken 1st overall.....with a .500 career record.....Jim Plunkett. 
Deion Sanders isn't the only HOF defensive back that agrees the gate is too wide open. I low key love this panel of four. Charles Woodson preaching the truth in that first minute. James Harrison saying he's not sure about himself is likely just being humble, but I suppose there's a point. He has the iconic moments on the big stage, just like Eli...so it would be really hypocritical to use his pick six as that, but it really is IMO a top 5 play in the history of the NFL. James Harrison was for a period one of the best defensive players in the league...but I think his amount of true peak years are right on the cusp of enough. Eli was never once in the decision for MVP or even a top 5 QB any year of his career.
Despite not having the support from the crowd; Stephen A. was spot on. It should come as no surprise that Max Kellerman is the biggest Eli apologist of all time....but has been trying to put Tom Brady in a casket for five years...what a fucking loser. I have zero respect for Kellerman has a human. Saying Eli Manning didn't have offensive weapons is just a flat out line.
Just because you show up everyday doesn't make you a Hall of Famer!!!!! Availability and production over a long period of time are obviously valuable assets; but they don't make you all-time. That's what the Hall of Fame is supposed to be.... the all-timers. I don't agree with Prime in the sense that Hall of Famers need to be some sort of era defining game changer. It is a nice quality to have; but it's not always that easy, especially at certain positions. What left guards changed football? I do think the set number a year is stupid. It should be a year-by-year thing. If one year there's nine guys worthy; it should be a class of nine. If one year it's three....you guessed it...three. I think that's how all Hall of Fames in all sports/other facets of life should go FTR. If you aren’t a HOFer 5 years after you retired how do you become one 30 years later? To me, it's simple; the gun to your head test works well. Do you need to think over 3 seconds? If you do, I'd say 7 out of 10 times the guy probably isn't worthy. Obviously guys fall through the cracks; a Jerry Kramer type for example. Look, I know DOL is a mixture of sports and comedy and I'm a still bitter Pats fan, despite three rings since 18-1 and the Welker drop, but football is a team game. Eli just isn’t a HOFer. I know the six rings argument helps cement my guy Brady as the "Goat" but in all nine Super Bowls the Pats have played with Brady they could easily be 9-0 or 0-9; they've all been one score games; and in many cases all-time games. Brady lost when he threw for 505 yards and won when he didn’t throw a touchdown. It’s a team sport as much as we all know how much the QB can dictate things. Just look at these numbers. If they weren't Eli it'd be a clear nah.
I'll admit what I'm about to say is very cherry picked, but even in his Super Bowl years they weren't great teams or regular seasons by any stretch of the imagination. 10-6, 5 seed in 2007. 9-7, 4 seed in 2011. Eli has ONE 12 win season in his career. So does Derek Carr.
The obvious feather Eli in his cap iss the Super Bowl runs. But is that enough to make up for 16 years of middle of the road numbers? From 2010-2018 the Giants averaged 7.33 wins a season. That's HOF?
I know I'm picking on Eli here, but he's Sam Smith, not the only one. I like Kurt Warner, but he's a very interesting case too. He made three Super Bowls and is already in, but he won 8 games from 2002-2006. Two MVPs make it a much easier case.
I really would have loved to hear any of these guys name other named, if you're gonna say this, go all the way. Who are the Harold Baines' of Canton? 
I apologize ahead of time if DOL cannot handle the amount of attachments. Please bare with us. I appreciate anybody that takes time out of their day to absorb my art. Like I said there's a lotttt of attachments...all that had to be personally embedded by me. I understand that the blog has some length and you may not sit and watch everything...but at some point you should take the half hour that you already do on your phone and see the things people had to say about this man....and the other parties involved.
Last night the entire NBA and internet world was celebrating current Laker, Lebron James on passing Laker legend, Kobe Bryant for 3rd place on the all-time NBA scoring list. I really hope Kobe got to see this.
Not even 15 hours later, Kobe Bryant (along with eight other people; including his 13 year old daughter GiGi) is/are (depending on how you interpret parenthesis) dead. The helicopter bringing Kobe, his daughter and seven others to a travel-league basketball game crashed in Calabasas, CA on a foggy Sunday morning; unfortunately, there were no survivors amongst those aboard.
Mere days ago (January 12th) Kobe and GiGi were going viral as Kobe went full Kobe intricately explaining exactly what was going on during a Nets-Hawks game.
Oh how quickly it can all end. This is a blog I would've never thought I'd be writing. I hate that I had to write this. Kobe Bryant joins a list of sports icons nobody wants to be on; Knute Rockne, the 1970 Marshall Football Team, Roberto Clemente, Thurman Munson, Brook Berringer, Cory Liddle, Roy Halladay and many more that have died in aviation accidents. Devastating.
There's been a lot of conflicting reports since the original news broke. My immediate reaction:
One of my most hated cliches "X, Y or Z broke the internet" was entirely valid today in the worst way possible. I've never seen my entire twitter timeline revolving around a singular event like this. Obviously he wasn't a President; but I don't think it's that crazy to say this is like my generation's JFK, in the sense of shock and sadness amongst people from every all walks of life. All while the ever important Pro Bowl was approaching kickoff! (had to sprinkle in some D+ jokes on such a somber day....but seriously wtf took ESPN so long to acknowledge the news??....here's two (2) A+ jokes before shit gets extra heavy)
Originally it was five deaths; all of Kobe's children aboard; then none aboard; oh now Rick Fox is aboard. It was absolute madness. In an era where journalist integrity is dissolving in hexafluorosilicic acid in exchange for retweets and the oh so important "credit" of being first; today we saw the dangers of posting without proper verification. Fake news city.
​In an eerie (a word I am going to use at least 20 times in this blog) twist of fate, this ended up being Kobe Bryant's final tweet; congratulating Lebron on his historic achievement. "Move the game forward" given the circumstances is bone-chilling.
It's such a perfectly, twisted, poetic, fucked up example of how beautiful and precious life is and how quickly *fails at trying to snap* it can all be taken away. A few hours have passed since this tragic news broke. What happened today still hasn't truly set in. Kobe Bryant is dead.
​Before I go any further to pay my respect to the Black Mamba, I would be a fool to not mention their were eight other people on this helicopter that lost their lives. Two barely teenage girls. While they may have not been five-time NBA champions, they were still human beings and their tragic, untimely deaths should not be overlooked because of Kobe's status. 
Ironically, the next confirmed victim is another person with an elevated status job; a college baseball coach and father of one of the girls on the team Kobe coached and his daughter played on, John Altobell.
R.I.P. John, his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa.
I'm doing this blog in regular frankstein fashion; the paragraphs were not written in the order you're reading them.... I just saw that tweet of Gigi and Aylssa. I'm in fucking tears right now. As a teacher (as much as I shit on it) I care about kids. Those girls could be kids I have in class. The sad thing is 13 year old kids die every day. But they're fucking gone. God damn man. The picture makes it that much more real. This is not a well written piece I am sorry but I'm just spitting. Doing this with the Grammy's on in the background is just fucking weird and kinda wrong. It's nice they've paid some respects. Music is (one of) the greatest healer.
I mean if this didn't create at least one (1) tear...wtf??
Death is a reality of life and something we all will have to deal with countless times throughout our own. It's messy. Everybody's story is different. In my life I've been pretty lucky, for the most part. Two people I went to high school with have died in the last three years. That's pretty much it for me for people I've had a relationship worth grieving about. Both were heartbreaking in their own ways and make think a lot of shit. Both were guys at times, I had been closer with and for whatever reason we lost communication. It makes both passings that more tragic. Life is really just a series of decisions. You can think about the things that seem so mundane and maybe if I had said or done something...with the butterfly effect?..... who fucking knows? But other than guys I had been friends with dying young, I've been pretty lucky. Both my parents are still alive; so is my sister. None of my close friends or immediate family have died. I only have one grandparent alive but it's one I am unquestionable closest with, As a 75 year old two-time cancer survivor you appreciate all the time you have, but know the inevitable is a lot closer than you would like. Those that I have lost have almost exclusively been expected; either old age, or a long bout with fill-in-the-illness. Lots of people I know are not as lucky. I have friends who have lost parents as early as 7 years old; friends that have lost siblings; friends that have no living parents. I feel like at least two people my mom knows die per month. It's fucked.
It's nice to see at least one person use this tragedy to let bygone be bygones.
The scene outside Staple Center; not much after the news broke and not much before the Grammys were scheduled to begin.
All deaths are sad in their own ways in a very elementary train of thought; a human life has ended. As much as some people may claim they know what happens when you die; NOBODY DOES. Even if you say you're okay with it, or accept it...Death is horrifying, terrifying, other various -fyings,
That being said not all deaths are the same. It may not be pretty to say, but we know it's true. As is popular to say some "hit different" from others. See tweet:​​​​
The "as a _________fan" preface when talking about shit bigger than sports (ie. life and death) the preface is ridiculous, but sometimes necessary to tell your story. Everybody yells Kobe! Even theatre kids.
I've said it many times on the blog, twitter and most importantly, IRL; the older I get the more I see the world for how it really is. How much sports is a business and "allegiances" don't mean much. My last blog detailed how Robert Kraft saved the Patriots from moving mid-west. It's a business.
Love him or hate him; there's times of done both. Kobe showed the power of the good in sports. He simply transcended the game of basketball. Many athletes have died in my lifetime. I haven't talked to my sister or grandmother about many of them, but they know Kobe.
The death of Kobe really fucked me up, as it has to millions of other people. Sure I'm a Celtics fan when I was a sophomore in High School and in the process of graduating I fucking despised Kobe and the Lakers in those Finals, but as the years go by you mature and respect the adversaries. I hated Peyton Manning more than any human being on earth for a few years and now his ESPN+ show is legitimately my favorite show on streaming. 
Although I haven't lost a ton of people close-close to me, it's something always on my mind. I'm terrified of of horrible things happening. How will I go on? What if we were in a petty fight at the time? When's the last time we said "I love you"? It's kind of fucked up, I know I shouldn't think that way, but when you have the twisted, depressed, hilarious, demented, genius, possibly on the spectrum brain of Ryan M*********** that's how it operates, baby.
Well, the years start coming and they don't stop coming; you mature. At least I have. You start to truly become "you" and gain your own moral compass. Some are similar, but everybody's is their own snowflake ;) I know who I am and what I want out of life. I know how I want to do it my own. I want to live my life my way. Nobody did that more than Kobe Bean Bryant. He embraced who he was; a fierce competitor; dictionary definition of the word. Many may even have said "an ass-hole" before noon today. KG prob still would. Kobe was everything you wanted out of an athlete. Win at all costs. He would not have been trading jerseys after playoff games like guys do nowadays (which I fucking HATE). On the court he was a killer. Cold-blooooddeed. He was the fucking Black Mamba, for God's sake. 5 rings; one at the expense of my beloved Celtics in 2010****. 81 points. A bunch of other accolades. I said he wasn't a top 3 Laker in my Kobe Finale blog. I was dead-wrong (unintended). Kobe Bryant is face of the the 2nd most successful organization in the history of the NBA in it's brightest star studded city. Kareem wasn't a career Laker. Magic was all-time, but his career was tragically cut short because of the HIV. Jerry West went like 1-20 in the Finals and is a victim of playing before the majority of us were alive or watching the NBA. There are teams that are greatly associated with their city, after New York and the Yankees; if not at, or above that level is Los Angeles and the Lakers. They encapsulate the vibe of the city. The perfect marriage of sport and exposure. The city of angels, where dreams come true. Mixed with basketball... the one sport where you can sit inches away from the court; where the athletes entire face is visible (Rip Hamilton withstanding), usually wearing a tank top and at times in NBA history nut-hugging shorts. Like all humans, Kobe had his flaws. There are really shitty people who think his and eight others untimely death is an appropriate time to bring them up. The ugly side of liberals; and not to get political, why crazy people win elections.
All I know is that Kobe Bryant was beloved by his teammates, competitors, friends and family. He was the face of the Lakers, but there was sooooo much more to him than basketball. (R.I.P. have no limit on cliches) He won an Academy Award for one his short animated film "Dear Basketball" less than a year after his last NBA game.
I wrote that blog in 2016 (obviously) when DOL was a baby and my brain was still not fully developed as I was not 25 years old...please do not hold any igginess against me...I did not re-read before posting. I love Kobe.
After a pretty ugly car accident in September of 2018, Kobe jumped in as traffic cop until authorities came.
Kobe was married since 2001 and had four daughters; his youngest, Capri was born in JUNE. He was a loving family man as a father.
THIS is fatherhood. Jesus Christ, this isn't fair.
In a move that has only been seen by the Miami Heat honoring his Airness, Michael Jordan; the Dallas Mavericks announced today no Maverick will ever wear the number 24 again in honor of Kobe. A fitting gesture by one of the most respected owners in all of the big four. I would not be shocked in the least bit to see other teams follow suit; if not league wide. Kobe was such a baller he had two numbers retired for the same team.
That's what Kobe meant to not just the NBA, but American popular culture.
When the news broke I was with my family and we spoke almost exclusively about his passing for over two hours. I told them if there was a Mount Rushmore of the Stern-Era-NBA it's Larry and Magic (they're so intertwined, and this is a hard list...they count as one), Michael, Kobe and Lebron.
Not exactly Dee Gordon hitting a home run on Jose Fernandez day or the Angels combined no-no on Tyler Skaggs night emotions given the circumstances...I doubt the majority of people watching realized all the eerie nature of these numbers in Trae Young's stat line when he wore #8 Sunday night in honor of Kobe...but it's kind of like the Tim Tebow playoff stat line with the 3:16 comparisons. This is higher power type "coincidence" shit...
The love and respect Kobe has received in the hours after his death cannot be understated.
As a spread eagle, open book; I have been open about my own demons and battles. Mental health is no joke. As much as I love and appreciate life.... it's 44.4repeating of this website's name; there's been countless times where I felt like I couldn't go on. My mom (and many others) have always said suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. The ones I love are what kept me going. I've also had my close calls with death doing dumbass shit as recently as weeks ago. It's so fucking cliche and true, it all can be taken away in an instant. The Grim Reaper doesn't care how much money you have, how great of a person you are, what you've accomplished, who you are. Children get cancer, scumbags live forever. It makes you question a lot of shit. I don't know if there is a God. I hope there is for the sake of humanity because if there isn't then life literally has no meaning...other than the relationships we make with the people we love and care about. Jay Williams had one of my "favorite" clips to come out of today. He knows better than most how much life can change in the blink of an eye.
I hate to end on a negative note, but as I am authentic in all facets (that I can be) of life. Look at how shook up these men and women around the league were. It is fucking disgusting to me the NBA did not reschedule tonight's games. I get that it's tough call but again.. see my tweet.
Others' thoughts and feelings on all things Kobe and the actual NBA games played hours after his death.
I understand the logistics of the 4 pm games going on as people were already in the stadium as the news was breaking. That would've been a nightmare. But in the opinion of Ole Dozie...the NBA should not have played tonight. You can use the bs "Kobe would've wanted them to play" line...which I'll gladly concede it's probably true....sometimes it's just too much to go to fucking work in a time like this. Not to flex my historic knowledge of American professional sports but to circle back to the JFK comparison.
R.I.P. to the unnamed victims
R.I.P. to the Altobelli Family R.I.P. Kobe Bean Bryant August 23rd, 1978-January 26th, 2020 R.I.P. Gianna Bryant 2006-2020 
****
P.S. I'll never forget Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals as long as I live. I don't mean in a play-by-play sense; in an emotional sense. What a roller coaster that night was. Does not stink anymore...but for a long time it did. June 16th, 2010, I was was at my college orientation at URI; Five days after I graduated high school. My first and honestly, even after five years there (and v successful twitter account), one the biggest memories of my experience at URI was that very first night. The way my orientation lined up meant that Game 7 was the night I was set to sleep in the dorms on campus. This was my biggest concern. I knew this was a possibility going into a devastating blow out in Game 6 where Perk tore his ACL early in the first quarter killing and chance the C's had that night emotionally, and in a basketball sense defensively and on the glass. Well after a day of team building exercises...Speaking of...URI fucked up big time and placed somebody I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL WITH with in my orientation group. Like 15 people. Nothing against that person at all. I like her, very nice girl....this is a #URIprob (LOL) how the fuck do you manage to have two kids from the same high school.....a high school a stone's throw away from campus....in the same orientation group when there are HUNDREDS of kids there???? There must've been 20 groups AT LEAST. I think maybe five kids from my class were there. I digress, so that night I am watching Game 7 of the NBA Finals....mind you this is 2010....Flat Screen HD tvs were not the norm; especially at cheap ass URI. I grew up upper-middle class in high school and we only got our 52' flat screen TV in early 2008. (The first major sporting event I watched on it was Super Bowl 42....I'm getting very off track as it's not past the 1 AM hour and I need to be up in < 6 hours....my who, despite an attached tweet I have a good relationship with...I'll never forget as long as I live...in my heartbreak and embarrassment of 18-1, and how it all ended on that final drive and subsequent squander of potential OT only needing a FG with 30+ seconds and all 3 time outs.....I went on our deck and took the Patriots flag down..same flag I have hanging in my room behind me as I type this...down from the deck. My dad told me to put it back up and made put it back. Says a lot about loyalty. I was heated, disgusting, every bad/angry feeling you could feel. I was a sophomore in high school and that team was my LIFE. You want to talk about living with teams as your identity..Jesus Christ...anyways...back to Game 7....) I'm watching this game in the rec room of Barlow Hall on a MAYBE 32 inch tube standard def TV with idk the exact amount of people...but it was easily over 120. 98% of us standing....all of this after a campus wide chant of Beat LA/ FUCK The Lakers. It was beautiful. I thought this was what college was going to be like for me. (Boy was I Chris Stapleton, wrong) I was so fucking pumped. What a way to start it off. The Celtics are going to win it all for the second time in three years. This summer is going to kick ass (it still did FTR). URI has a large population of NJ/NY students so mind you in this sardine packed rec room there was fair amount of people rooting for the Lakers/Kobe. They're all talking hella shit as I'm triggered AF before knowing the terminology. One of my best friends in the world was there with me and at the time we were still huge in-your-face frankly, douche bag sport fans. Lots of shit being talked that night. As the Celtics 13 point third quarter lead began to dwindle (the Warriorization of the NBA makes that lead not seem big..but mind you the game ended 83-79.....it's a huge blown lead, that I feel like has gotten slept on in the annals on NBA history...should this tweet go viral and that can of worms be opened in Kobe's untimely death; so be it) the vibe altered drastically. What made this oh, so more frustrating; Kobe didn't have a classic Kobe game. He went 6-24. Yeah, he was the leading scorer...but he only had 23 points. By no means a masterpiece. But he did what he had to win. Exactly what Kobe was all about. He's why Ron fucking Artest, the Motor City Mad Man himself, was able to get Paul Pierce to hesitate for second...AND STILL clutch again to hit the hands down, most devastating shot of my entire basketball fandom life. I honestly can say a piece of me died that night. My love for the Celtics, and that Celtics team itself would never be the same again. I'll never forget that night. Kobe was a cold blooded killer basketball player and hell of a dude off the court. I think the fact that I, Ole Dozo, spent HOURS writing this, until nearly 2 am of a fierce rival...shows just how much respect Kobe demanded. There will never be another Mamba. R.I.P. ​ 8 24
Double P.S.
You have to watch that video for the context of this blog.
On this day in 1994, Robert Kraft officially purchased the New England Patriots for $175 million dollars from James Orthwein. Inflation is a bicccchhh! In the 26 years since, it's safe to say RKK made the right call going against everything he knew in business by purchasing the team. (graph) 
I could go on and on like the fault in our stars song about the success of the franchise; not only since Tom Brady became starting QB week 3 of the 2001 season, but since 1994 when Mr. Kraft bought the team (every game has been a sell-out). I could talk about how the Patriots used to have games blacked out or how they only hosted one playoff game (a 31-14 loss in 1978 Divisional Round to the Oilers) at Foxboro Stadium prior to his ownership or how the Patriots were basically orphans until the 1970s. I'm not going to do that; I've spent years of my life doing that. You can read plenty of other blogs or articles for information on that topic. This post is an appreciation of Robert Kraft literally saving the New England Patriots as a professional sports franchise in Massachusetts (and New England in general). It's about the horrors of what the owners of professional sports franchises do to the cities and regions that so loyally support them. How RKK saw his boyhood team the Boston Braves leave the city; how much that hurt him growing up and shaped him. He stopped that from happening again to an entirely new generation of fans. I don't think many people, especially my age and under understand that had RKK not had the foresight to buy Foxboro Stadium when the Sullivan family lost basically everything trying to fund a Michael Jackson tour there would be no professional football in New England; at least not the Patriots. It may be impossible to fathom given the success of the organization today, but there are no more New England Patriots without Robert Kraft. They were going to move to St. Louis.
In 2020 I swore I'd learn how to read and the basic rules of punctuation. In attempts to hold up my end of the bargain, I've been reading I Never Played the Game by Howard Cosell. 
I'm about 200 pages in and loving it. This is a quick, relevant tangent... I am currently obsessed with all things Howard Cosell. As a sports historian, he is my sports media hero. He's one of the most important people in the history of sports IMO. The NFL would not be where it is today without him. He's gotten a horrible wrap for being authentic (sound familiar?) and it's an absolute travesty he's not a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his contributions to the growth of the sport. My admiration for Howie is for another day, but entirely relevant to this post.
In I Never Played the Game, Cosell goes as my contemporaries would say "in" on the hypocrisy and idiocy in sports. Three of the first four chapters of the book are about how owners will turn a blind eye to communities that supported them. The battle between Al Davis and Pete Rozelle over the Raiders moving to Los Angeles is fascinating. Davis challenged the legality of the NFL constitution when he moved the team to LA against the approval of the other owners. As someone with an 8th grade history textbook's worth of knowledge on anti-trust laws and monopolies I feel like I learned so much. Al Davis isn't the only owner who's moved a franchise, and he sure as hell won't be the last. My bigger point is that we think of sports as this part of us that will never leave, but these billionaire owners will jump ship as soon as there's a sexier offer across the country. While I referenced Al Davis; he is nothing like these slithering owners I'm referencing. If you're my age or younger you may not even know that the Brooklyn Dodgers were the most profitable team in the National League when they left Brooklyn for Los Angeles. Or that the Indianapolis Colts were the Baltimore Colts from 1953-1984 before they moved in the middle of the night to Indy like cowards; turning a blind eye to a community that loved and supported them for over 30 years. It may be difficult to fully wrap your head around it now because so much time has passed but the Baltimore Colts were a classic NFL franchise with a passionate following. The Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles are historically relevant franchises that would seem impossible to play elsewhere, but both nearly did. Imagine the landscape of sports without the Philadelphia Eagles. Like many teams, the Colts had an aging stadium that wasn't able to compete with the modern cookie-cutter multipurpose stadiums of the time. When the city didn't give him what he wanted, owner Bob Irsay just up and left; basically told millions of fans to fuck themselves because of the new stadium, the Hoosier (later; RCA) Dome in Indy. This could've been the Patriots fate had a few things gone differently.
The perplexing issue with sports is that of their importance. What I have learned the last few years is that sports don't really matter; at least not like I used to think they do. It's absurd to think the outcome of a game played by strangers has such a heavy impact on our day-to-day lives, but then again they totally do. To a certain extent I love it and despite what I just said; I'm just as guilty. I mean it's why this blog even exists in the first place...my love of sports.
You can call them silly little games all you want, but the fact of the matter is sports are a multi-billion dollar industry in this country; at times they seem bigger than religion. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but it's reality; at least for now. They matter. Sports are such a big part of community, the economy, family and self-identity. The memories and moments can shape our upbringing. I vividly remember watching the entire 2004 Red Sox playoff run with my mom. Those are moments and memories that shaped me into who I am today. You can use almost any sport or city in the country as an example. Even if they haven't had the success of the Patriots (nobody has). I'm sure there's people in Denver who fell in love with baseball during the 2007 Rockies World Series run or kids in New Orleans that watched the Saints win the Super Bowl with their parents who never thought they'd see the day AND HAD THEIR CITY DESTROYED BY A FUCKING HURRICANE. There are "kids" in every nook and cranny of America that have used college or professional sports to bond and connect with a loved one. What I experienced that fall with my mom is not uncommon. Sure, I (along with all Boston sport fans under the age of 30) were born in the golden age of dominance. Luckily, the Patriots and their historic, nearly 20 year long, double-dynasty were able to be apart of those memories because without Robert Kraft there's a great chance they'd be somebody else's. 
For the first time since my freshmen year of college (2010-11), the New England Patriots will not be playing in the AFC Championship game. Their record of 8 straight Conference Championship Games was longer than Andrew Luck's entire NFL career (one of their many victims in said AFCCGs) and snapped by the Eddie Vedder, still alive Tennessee Titans. A string of 8 straight AFCCG (5-3 overall; 3-2 in Super Bowls) will likely never be seen again. Claps for my Pats.
Before the Patriots, the record was five straight by the Oakland Raiders from 1973-1977 (1-4 overall; 1-0 in the Super Bowl). Back in the days where only four teams made the playoffs aka it was way fucking easier. S/o John Madden, one of my football heroes.
In the NFL's 100th year of existence (#NFL100) there's a beautiful #narrative still v much in the mix; we could have a rematch of the First AFL-NFL World Championship Game! Chiefs-Packers.
It wasn't until Super Bowl IV when the Super Bowl was officially recognized as the "Super Bowl". "Super Bowl" was just an unofficial nickname coined by Lamar Hunt to combat the wordy "AFL-NFL World Championship Game." Yet another example of the AFL being ahead of the times.
Both Conference Championship match ups are rematches of games from earlier in the year. Going into the season, I didn't even think the Titans or 49ers would be anywhere close to the playoffs, but that is the beauty of the NFL. With the exception of the New England Patriots dominating for anywhere between 12-14 regular season wins a year, there is not much that stays the same year-to-year in the NFL. Just look at the AFC South since 2014.
There's been at least four new playoff teams every year for, I believe, 29 years in a row. I saw a graphic this week that I should've saved. Don't worry, I just slapped myself as punishment.
Obviously, I would prefer that the Patriots were still in the fight, but I'll be honest with you. After 8 straight AFC Championship Games it's kind of nice having a year off. It's a lot less stressful, let someone else get a chance. With the exception of the Packers, none of these teams have won a championship in 25+ years (if ever). Sometimes, I wish the Patriots success was more spread out. Don't get me wrong, I love this run and so grateful it happened when it happened, but of course, as a spoiled boi, I worry about later in life. I mean they won 3 out 4, nothing for a decade, then 3 out of 5. It's gonna fucking suck if they go like 38 years without a Super Bowl, which is really not that hard to do; the Chiefs haven't made the Super Bowl since the 1969 season (final year of the AFL). Will their 50 year absence end tomorrow? 
With Tom Brady (and the Patriots) out of the mix, it means there will be a new World Champion. As I previously mentioned, all four teams that are still in the (Lamar) hunt have not won a championship in some time:
Here's the Sunday slate and my picks from year's past. 2017 2018 2019 AFC Championship Game: Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs (-7) Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City, Missouri. 3:05 PM (EST) CBS
This is a rare "I'm happy either way" match-up. I love both coaches and despite a recent run-in with KC as an AFC power, I have nothing but love for that organization. I am a HUGE AFL-history guy. I have a ton of respect for what the Chiefs mean in the story of both the AFL and NFL. I've watched the '69 Chiefs America's Game on YouTube 20+ times.
The Titans-Chiefs week 10 match up in Nashville was a turning point for both franchises.
When the Titans came back from a 29-20 fourth quarter deficit to win 35-32, to me that was the official "okay they have something with Tannehill" moment. That was a season changing win for the Titans. Going into the game TEN was 4-5; winning got them to .500. The Titans went 4-2 down the stretch to grab the 6 seed. After having one of the worst offenses in the NFL with Aloha Jesus; Mr. "idk what teams are in my division", Tractorcito and Corey Davis have totally changed the Titan offense. The Titans have scored over 30 points five times with Tannehill as their QB. The week 10 game was also the last time the Chiefs lost. They are clearly a different (and better team) now. It was Mahomes first start after a three week absence and still was a clearly winnable game for KC; as I mentioned they were up 9 in the 4th quarter. Since then, the Chiefs have not slowed down. Coming off a roller coaster 20 point win against the Texans, you know they're not satisfied. The Titans actually have fared quite well against the Chiefs the last few years. They've won 4 straight (three at Arrowhead) match ups; including the infamous Mariota TD pass to himself game, where the Chiefs blew a 21-3 lead in Alex Smith's final start with the team. Both teams have different starting QBS now but that game was only two years ago. These are not the same exact teams, but there's a lot of guys still around. This is not a team scared of going into Arrowhead. Especially with Mike Vrabel's dick on the line.
To beat the Chiefs again I think (along with many people paid to give their opinion) the Titans need to follow the Patriots' formula of controlling the clock in the first half with long run-heavy sustained drives in last year's AFCCG. It's no secret the Titans have been riding Tractorcito throughout the postseason. Tannehill is putting Bob Griese numbers; under 100 yards passing in both playoff games. Football wisdom would make you think the Chiefs are going to do all they can do make Tannehill beat them. We may see 10 men in the box.
The Chiefs defense is much improved from 2018 where they were 24th in points and 31st in yards allowed respectively. In 2019 they're 7th and 17th, but one thing you can still do against the Chiefs is pound the rock. KC was 26th in rushing yards against in 2019. Derrick Henry can have a field day against the defense. He ran for 188 and 2 TDs in week 10. Kansas City showed last week they are NEVER dead. They erased a 24-0 2nd quarter deficit BY HALF TIME. This offense is as explosive as Andy Reid's diarrhea after 3 t-bones. As a narrative guy you best believe I know the Chiefs know the narratives around this game:
I am so torn on this game because I really could see it going either way. The first quarter is going to be huge for how this game plays out because the Titans are not a team that is built to come back down three scores (unlike the Chiefs).
I could soooo see a scenario similar to last year's AFCCG where TEN has maybe a 10-0, 14-0, 17-7 type lead early, they've been dominating T.O.P. but the Chiefs just wake up and go on one of their GSW- like point bukukke runs and all of a sudden they're up 7. I think for the Titans to have any chance this game has to played at their pace. **wild Titans stat** they've made zero field goals since week 13. Normally I like to defer, but if I'm either team I want the ball first here to try to dictate the pace early. I think it would be foolish for KC to chose to give the Titans the ball to potentially drained 7+ minutes off the clock en route to Derrick Henry carrying the ball 8+ times for a touchdown. The smart pick is the Chiefs and while I would not be upset seeing them win (and I'm low key rooting for the Super Bowl I rematch) if I were to bet this game Titans ML +280 is just too juicy to pass up. They've beaten the Pats and Ravens on the road so far. Despite KC being "soooo hard" to play at road teams are 9-3 in the playoffs their in the last 12 games. As I say this it wouldn't blow my mind if the Chiefs find away to contain Henry and the clock somehow strikes Midnight for Tannehill at the worst possible time as he is playing for a contract and been super....a horrible AFCCG could erase all of that. Fuck it..I'm rolling with the Titans. Andy Reid is 1-5 in AFC/NFC Championship Games. These playoffs are going FULL 2011. Titans 28 Chiefs 24 Derrick Henry 200+ yards as he continues to have a 2014 Madison Bumgarner type run.
NFC Championship Game: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers (-7.5)
Levi Stadium Santa Clara, California 6:40 PM (EST) FOX
In another rematch from the regular season we have two young coaches facing off for a chance at the Lombardi. LaFleur is a rookie HC and Shanahan is only in year three.
Back in week 12 the 49ers embarrassed the Packers 38-7 in front of a Nationally Televised audience on Sunday Night Football. The Packers were 0-2 in the state of California during the 2019 regular season and outscored 63-19 in the Redwood State. I have been one of the biggest 49er haters all season long and they've continue to prove me wrong all the way to the NFC Championship Game; the Niners first since the 2013 season. The Packers have won ugly all year long and are returning to the NFC championship game for the 4th time in the 2010's (league years); 1-2 to this point. Everybody and their mother is picking the 49ers to win this game.
I am not. For one simple reason. 
NARRATIVE!!!
This season has all the makings of a Super Bowl year for the Packers.
I like Jimmy G, but do not want to see him in the Super Bowl right now. He still hasn't overly impressed me this year, but making the Super Bowl is making the Super Bowl. Debo Samuel is a monster and they have 93 running backs that can beat you. To me this game is all about George Kittle. Packers cannot let him be Jimmy G's security blanket. I don't know why, but history has me thinking the 49ers find a way to lose this game. They've lost the NFC Championship game 9 times; 1970-71, 83, 90, 92-93, 97, 2011 and 2013. One thing that worries me about the Packers is how they don't play complete football games. Last week was a perfect example. They went up 21-3 and nearly blew that game. They progressively score less as the game goes on. Fuck man, I really want to pick the Packers, but even I am having a hard time justifying it. The 49ers are the better team and should win this game, but the 2019 NFL season has been pure chaos. After a streak of 10 straight home teams winning conference championship games I think the road warrior trend continues. Packers 27 49ers 20
If you wanna talk about textbook unexpected great news; this is it! (Huey Lewis)
Hot Ones; the game with hot questions and even hotter wings is finally available for run of the mill plebs like you and I to play as a game show on TruTV. Teams of two will compete in a trivia based/wing eating game for a shot at 25 large ($25,000 USD). I've been watching this hit Youtube series since all the way back in June of 2019. In the time since, I've watched at least 43% of the episodes. It has me dying (and hungry) every time. Sean Evans is a great host and watching celebrities freak out eating spicy food is right up there with babies-trying-to-walk-falling down-in-cute-ways and Jackass videos for "I can watch this over and over again and still laugh every time" type of dumb-ass humor that I need every 90 minutes to survive. Before, only the brightest of stars were able to step into the both mentally and physically grueling youtube series Hot Ones (presented by First We Feast). I would include a bunch of embedded Youtube videos showing the wide array of stars to appear on the show, but I think all the attachments are slowing down DOL. (h/t 3) Which reeeaaaally sucks because the DOL IG is actually starting to gain some steam; the last thing I need is my blog crashing when hot shots wanna read, jah feel? So instead of a bunch of clips from the likes of Idris Elba to ScarJo to Mac DeMarco to Gronk to Neil deGrasse Tyson to Billie Eilish to Chance the Rapper to Skip & Shannon to Paul fuckin Rudd and beyond...we're just gonna imagine okay? If you haven't been on Hot Ones, are you even famous? Now the interview has been swapped out for trivia. Holy fucking shit am I all in. I don't even know if I have TRUtv, but I'll find a way (Drake Bell) to watch.
I hope this show gets picked up for a second season because I am 258% going to try out. I LOVE game shows and chicken wings. I get the hot salsa (because there's no chunks) at Chipotle, nbd. I am a trivia GOD and have been getting hurt my entire life. I was made for this show. I can endure some heat for like $8,000 bucks after taxes and splitting with my partner to put towards my student loans and a laptop that doesn't have cancer. What the fuck even is a Scoville? This could be the very break I need to make it. Maybe the Rosie O'Donnell videos are past their prime? Using a internet show turned game show as my vehicle would be more poetic than any number of poets I could name if I really wanted to.
 When I think of progressive cities in the United States....... Louisville, Kentucky is not exactly in the same breath as a Portland, Austin, or even Tampa. But I did not know the 'Ville was closer to Damascus then Denver. It's sad to see stories like this in 2020! A 15-year-old freshmen girl named Kayla was expelled from Whitefield Academy; a Private Christian School in Louisville (home of Papa John) for wearing a white sweatshirt with a rainbow pattern and having a rainbow cake at her birthday dinner. FTR: This dinner was not at her school and that's not even a full rainbow! Her mom posted the picture on Facebook because that is what every mom on Facebook does. They give away personal data like the hotcakes they should be cooking! YEAH AMIRITE?! (Joke) My mom will fucking check-in on the book when she's getting gas. (Better joke) When this student wore a rainbow, she "demonstrated a cultural acceptance contrary to that of Whitefield Academy's beliefs" Well excuse me. That sentence in itself is really fucking wild. It's a real thing that someone who is responsible for shaping the future wrote. (Unlike the stuff I write) Just re-read that like 4 times. It'll take maaybe 20 seconds. There is a God damn crusade on poor ole Roy G. Biv. That email is basically hate speech. Somehow the school saw the photo and expelled this kid because, after all, that's what loving your neighbor is all about. To their credit, the school did show Christ-like compassion by touching (changing) the ruling to a voluntary withdrawal. The article/video never flat out mentions her sexuality, which they shouldn't, as this is a fucking 15 year old girl, Jared. ...But I mean the pieces of this puzzle are pretty clearly laid out for us. Two years of "lifestyle violations", they sent her conversion therapy information... Ultimately, when Kayla culturally appropriated our Lord and Savoir, JC, it was the final nail in her cross. #neverforget  I go back and forth, but gun to my head, I believe in God. (It's called insurance) Despite the nutbag Christians that give us God guys and gals a worse name than the protagonist of a hit Bon Jovi song did to love. I guess if you had to put a label on my faith, I'm a "Christian," because I believe in THE (say that like an Ohio State fan) Jesus Christ and all his jazz. I do have a hard time believing all of humanity "just happened" thanks to some fucking rocks, but I also have a hard time believing God "just was/is". To me, all organized Religion can kick rocks, ayeeee. I cannot stand the church. All of 'em. I hate "organized" religion. Well, Buddhists are cool. Allow me to put on my historian hat.  Religion is responsible for pretty much every major issue in peoplekind since it popped up. But then... like, we also reeaaallly need religion, (plus God could totally be real), as the fear of God keeps soooo many people in check. Could you imagine what Earth would be like if we knew for certain nothing happens when you die? It's already on fucking fire now. Luckily, since cancel twitter has allowed bashing of the whites and Christianity with zero repercussions, I'm safe. Everybody knows Muslims LOVE the gays and totally don't throw rocks at them. As someone who has been heavily exposed to Christianity and the born agains, I have never understood why Christians harp sooooo much on the anti-alphabet people vibe that the Bible has. It makes zero sense to me. I'm heavy generalizing here, but there's like, a lot of people that will not budge on that stance. Even if they have gay children. They take these two verses as literal as you can. Taken from the book of Leviticus; which sounds a lot like the name of a gay bar.
thank you wiki. Somewhere in between those two versus at 19:27 Leviticus also says: “Never shave the hair on your foreheads, and never cut the edges of your beard." Then why is it that many Christian Schools have strict hair guidelines for male students? (or on a much darker note; the irony of killing gay people) I went to Christian School for half of 6th grade and those mother fuckers would bring out a ruler to measure hair that "needed" to be cut. LMTY: You have not seen pointless rules until you've seen a Christian School. Also, apparently anybody in the military that went through basic training is going to hell by the looks of that one. Bummer. If you're a "God hate Fags" person you better look like fuckin' 04 Johnny Damon all I'm sayin'. BC if you don't, but you take those Leviticus verses literally, then Lucy you've got some splainnnin ta do. Do you just not give a fuck? Or are you using religion as a mask for hate? 'Cause if you're gonna be in here; you gotta be all in everywhere. As Big Daddy Kane famously said, "Ain't no half-stepping." Why is it that? Why is this verse not enforced at all, but the gays (to their disliking) get the short end of the stick? I try to make light of this hypocrisy, but seriously it's fucking in the assinine. I'm not the first person to site these Bible verses and I sure as H-e-double-hockey-sticks won't be the last, but they should be all the evidence you need. Unless you want to just straight up say you're homophobic; using "it's my religion" as an excuse for being a bigot isn't good enough imo; ESPECIALLY if you like lobster bc this Leviticus cat also said this: "But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales--whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water--you are to detest. And since you are to detest them, you must not eat their meat and you must detest their carcasses". I don't fuck with seafood, so I at least have that going for me. Luckily, many Christians/organizations have loosened their interpretation of God's word in recent years. You can drive by churches with rainbow flags and gay pastors. Imagine seeing that in 2002? It'd be like seeing a hover craft. This may be the most ass-backward sentence I've ever read in my entire life and mind you I proofread this blog (sometimes). I cannot get over this. It's the perfect combination of idiotic school decisions and religion.  As someone who has to work in education until the fine people at Barstool realize what's been under their nose the last four years, I haaate the public education system. It is broken. I don't need to go any further than that. The only thing that may be more broken than public education is private education. Although the public sector is full of no-common-sense-having-buffoons, I'm not going to act like I know all the ins and outs. I have read, watched, witnessed plenty of questionable moves like this in education; you can trust Dozo here. Basically being private means they can get away whatever they want and blame it on God. You can seriously say things like, "demonstrates a cultural acceptance contrary to that of Whitefield Academy's beliefs." I don't know where you draw the line on outright hate? Can a private school be whites only too? I know it sucks for this girl and her family. This is making national news (as it should; FUCK that school.) What a way to come out. But, this will be for the better. I'm not a full-blown gay dude, but as they say, sexuality is a spectrum. I am a #goodguy and supportive person. I have countless (at least 4 confirmed) gay friends. I hate people for things they can control like being an Imagine Dragons fan. While I do believe conditioning can play a role, there are plenty of lesbians who just hate men ;). Gun to my head, being gay is not a choice. Because there's no way on earth anybody would actually chose to be attracted to this...  Instead of this.  Why would anybody chose to be ostracized like the way LGBTQ plus 8 people have been? I fundamentally believe its not a choice. I'm sure countless of good people (both secular and nonsecular) have reached out to give Kayla support. You have my support. You don't need that school. Fuck these people and anybody with that point of view. They're the ones that are wrong, not you. Also, did you guys finish the cake?
After getting drafted 9th overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2012 Luke Keuchly quickly cemented himself as one of the best linebackers in the NFL. His wikipedia page is a joke. 
What's an even bigger joke is that in 2012 I though he was going to be a bust. I don't even remember why I just know I'm incredibly wrong and glad I was. His accolades are outrageous. Eight years in the NFL; seven All-Pro selections. He easily could've been all eight years as he led the NFL in tackles and was ROY in 2012.
Although Kuechly was DPOY in his second year; I am drawn to 2015. I think of the three pick-6s; two of which came in the playoffs. The 2015 Panthers are probably the best team to not win the Super Bowl in the 2010s. They just ran into an all-time defense and corpse of a HOF QB. Kuechly was the face of the defense with Josh Norman that year. He is not why they lost. His name isn't Mike Tolbert. (which kills me to say because I loved him; he was built to play in the dozo-system) This retirement doesn't come as too much of a surprise to me given the information on head injuries and Kuechley's history with them. The culture has changed in the NFL as it feels like every off season since Megatron retired at least one future Hall of Famer has called it quits sooner than fans would've hoped. Luke's a Boston College grad who's my fucking age which means he has entire life in front of him. ​There's parallels to Gronk, although even I'll admit that statistically Gronk was not in the same ballpark as Kuechley in his swan song. ​ I think 87 will take it. 
Unfortunately, football is a violent game. While strides have been made to make football safer; it's game where if you fuck around with its DNA too much you get something entirely different. There is only so much you can do. Football can also fuck with your DNA. As linebacker there are more risks than most positions with the number of hits they're involved in per game. Things have definitely changed for the 1980's neck-roll MLB, but 59 was making 130+ tackles a year. The dude was everywhere. ​Sadly, Luke battled concussions his entire career. I just ctrl-f'd "concu" on his wiki and there were 11 entries (including sources). When you watch the video it's clear as day he doesn't want to retire, but feels like he has to. He's a smart guy. He's made his money. Gotta take care of his mentals.
Luke Kuechly was everything you could ask for in a middle linebacker. In only eight years he did more than you do to make Canton in the eyes of ole dozie. He will have a Gold Jacket someday. I too am sad to see him go, but when you know it's time; it's time. The only bad thing I'll say about Luke is that 59 is a hideous number, but when Thomas Davis has 58 what can you do?
Congrats on a great career, Luke. You can say Cam's a cow for not diving on the ball now, it's okay. Luke has already gotten a ton of love from guys around the league past and present. Gronk's tweet is actually funny!
P.S.
If you like what've read here or at any point on DOL please follow @dozonlife on instagram for daily content and tiktok for content eventually (Tame Impala) 
Once the Astros opted to fire manager AJ Hinch amidst his one year suspension and the fallout from their sign stealing scandal; the writing was on the wall for Alex Cora. Twas only a matter of time for the AC to go out, I tell ya! Ironically, Cora just so happened to work under AJ Hinch as the Bench Coach for the 2017 Astros. Talk about an all-time old takes exposed for AJ Hinch, huh? Whomsttt despite this subpar joke yesterday, I don't actually want managing the Boston Red Sox. Dude seems like an arrogant prick.
So if you're like me 20 minutes ago, you're probably wonder what exactly did AC do?
"According to CNN, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said an investigation showed that Cora helped develop and execute sign-stealing schemes while working for the Houston Astros. Cora was found to be involved in efforts to try and figure out the opposing teams’ next pitches using technology like cameras and video replay rooms, which is prohibited by the MLB, Manfred said earlier this week. Cora is also accused of employing sign-stealing schemes while he was with the Red Sox in 2018, according to The Athletic. The MLB said they would investigate the allegations in the report." that quote is from this
Even though I was highly (and maybe overly) critical of his managerial style in 2019, I'm not George Steinbrenner, I didn't think it was a fireable offense. Guy just won a ring. Give him another shot to break the tie after a stinker. One awesome year, one major disappointment. As long as he didn't finish in 4th or 5th in 2020 I think he'd be okay going forward.
But after all this it's best to just wash our hands and be done with Alex like two day old leftovers (my own Rothstein-ism as that's something I've never personally experienced). I'm 100% cool with this move, although part of me loves the idea of saving "fuck it" and showing some loyalty to a man with a piece of two Red Sox World Series. But it definitely sucks. I think Cora is a good manager. I liked the guy. Appeared to be a genuinely good dude. BbbbBBbbbuuuut, if you're ever gonna peak to early; Alex Cora likely did. The Red Sox came out swinging dick bats to the tune of 119 total wins (and a wicked cool locker-room gimmick) and a World Series title. 
The ring still shines, does it not?
In 2018 Alex Cora was exactly what the Red Sox needed after back-to-back ALDS appearances where they were doormats for the eventual American League Champs. Under first year manager Alex Cora the 2018 Red Sox won 108 games in the regular season and the World Series. Life TRULY comes at you fast as the 2019 dropped 24 games off their '18 pace and not even 16 months after winning the World Series, Alex Cora is OUT of Boston. Such a PRed Sox move to let him save face with "mutual" decision. Yeah and Richard Nixon wanted to resign. To the Red Sox credit, moving on from Cora is 100% the right move in my eyes. I'm sure he's about to get some sort of suspension. There's rumors of a lifetime ban. The 2018 season was basically perfect for the Red Sox. 108 wins, no losing streak > 3 games, league MVP. The in season moves worked perfectly. Then in 2019 Cora took a coma on his laurels in Spring Training and the Red Sox started the season 3-8 against teams (although it was a West Coast road trip). As far as I am concerned they are one the best teams in baseball history. Absolutely dominated from start to finish. Obviously the affiliation with the Astros means questions of its validity will come up. From what I've heard the Red Sox did not come close to what the Astros were pulling this is more so AC is in deep shit for his involvement from 17 Stros. I have such mixed emotions about this because baseball has a storied history of shady behavior. Cheating and baseball go together better than beer and hot dogs. I almost don't have a problem with what the Astros did; it was just a little too extreme and elaborate. I think once technology is in the mix things are crossing a line. But at the same time let's not act like everybody in baseball isn't stealing signs. They just took it to next level. It would only be similar to Spygate if the Patriots actually did something other teams weren't doing. That being said you can't help but think it played a huge part in their 2017 World Series win? The Astros won their first 6 home games of the playoffs then went 2-1 at home in the World Series in 2017. I remember that ALDS because it aligned perfectly with my friend's wedding the weekend after I stopped teaching in Nashville. The Red Sox were dead before the series even started. I got off a plane during game one in the 3rd inning and it was already like 32-0. It's amazing they went back back to Fenway and almost tied it. If only that Baby Beluga inside the parker didn't lead off the inning.
Then in 2018 the Stros lost 3 straight home games against the Red Sox in the ALCS and of course were the first team to ever go 0-4 at home in the World Series just a few months ago.
As far as I am concerned the 2018 Red Sox are one the best teams in baseball history. Absolutely dominated from start to finish. Obviously the affiliation with the Astros means the questions of its validity. IMO this seems more like an Alex Cora problem than 2018 Red Sox problem. If Tek isn't the new skipper, we riot. 
P.S.
Hopefully the Red Sox can repeat this kind of history instead under Tek's ​tutelage.
The Red Sox have been so sporadically successful under this ownership group. Obviously it's been a great ride with many highs. Beats being a Padres fan, but as people they are horrible (and tend to make high-stakes mistakes that cost the fans in $11 bud lights).
Double P.S.
A.J. Hinch and Alex Cora join a surprisingly long list of managers to be out of a job (for one reasons of another) within three seasons of winning a World Series since 1960. The anti-Mike Scioscia's of the world.
Jack McKeon* (2003 Marlins) Jim Leyland (1997 Marlins) Lou Pinella (1990 Reds) Dick Howser** (1985 Royals) Dallas Green (1980 Phillies) Bob Lemon (1978 Yankees) Billy Martin (1977 Yankees) Sparky Anderson (1976 Reds) Alvin Dark (1974 A's) Dick Williams (1972-73 A's) Danny Murtaugh*** (1971 Pirates) Gil Hodges*** (1969 Mets) Mayo Smith (1968 Tigers) Hank Bauer (1966 Orioles) Johnny Keane (1964 Cardinals) Ralph Houk***** (1961-62 Yankees) *McKeon will briefly manage the Marlins again in 2011 **Dick Hoswer passed away from Brain cancer in 1987 *** Danny Murtaugh battled health issues that lead to four separate stints as Pirates Manager; right until his death in 1976 two months after his retirement. ****Gil Hodges passed away in 1972 from a heart attack ******Ralph Houk would manage the Yankees again in the late 60's after a two year absence. |
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