Please play in the background as you read this blog.
With the success of the Last Dance and docuseries as a whole, it's no surprise that ESPN is going to be at the forefront of another GOAT's story.
Brady's company 199 Productions, ESPN and Religion of Sports are teaming up to produce a 9 Episode Docuseries on Tom Brady. Every episode's main focus will be one of the 9 Super Bowls Brady played in with Last Dance type flashbacks and stories that tie everything together. This quote stands out to me:
via: "The series will be Brady’s first-hand account of the most iconic moments of his NFL career, including each of his nine Super Bowl appearances as quarterback of the New England Patriots. Also in there will be smaller, seemingly insignificant instances that became pivotal events and paved the path of the future Hall of Famer’s journey, which takes a new chapter after his move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."
This series is going to bring up a lot of weird feelings for Patriot fans amdist the Tom Brady-Patriots divorce. It's weird seeing Brady comment on Patriot IG posts is like everything is okay. It's like seeing dad asks mom out to dinner, even though Dad left mom after 20 years of marriage and a new, unexpected baby for a 23 year old smoke with a fake ass.
I'm trying to remember the goods times instead of dwelling on the ending, but I'm sorry this still hurts. The Pandemic and stress of life during it have definitely made this life altering move easier to handle, but I am not okay like MCR. The romantic in me HATES seeing Tom Brady play elsewhere. It's fucking wrong. It kills me. He should have been a Patriot for life. Why would the Pats do this? He may have left, but they forced his hand. There's been many nights I lay awake in bed thinking about Boston sports without Tom Brady and Mookie Betts. It legitimately makes me depressed. Not like "Omg Taco Bell is out of potatoes, I'm so depressed". Like "I want to die, what's the point of anything, this is way deeper than just sports depressed." I've written plenty about Mookie on DOL and I'm not trying to pick that scab right now. This is about Tom Brady and that was sort of hyperbole; relax. Tom Brady is the New England Patriots. He could've stayed. Of course he has freewill to live his life. Who am I, but a man he denied an autograph in 2004? He doesn't owe me anything. Sure, thank you for all the love and the support wouldn't kill him, but that may never come. I just have to deal with what's in front of me. I love sports history and this has the potential to be all-time. I've exhausted nearly all the America's Games and A Football Lifes on Youtube so this will be appointment TV. Patriots highlights and Super Bowls were a-fall-asleep-background-noise go-to as well. Ever since Brady left they've been hard to watch. Same with Red Sox stuff since I am no longer a fan of that organization. As a student of the game, I cannot wait to hear the inside scoop on some of the most important moments in NFL history/ my (sports fan) life. But this doc is going to like watching the Departed knowing the ending going in because your friends were douche bags in high school. All I'm going to think about is how eventually Costigan dies; how all these great moments somehow lead to a point where things got so screwed between the Foxboro Triumvirate that Brady ended up in lowly Tampa Bay to finish his career. Sports are supposed to be our escape from reality. What kind of escape is it when the Savior of five and a half states spurns the elite Northeast for one of the sleaziest cities in the country because daddy won't say I love you!? (or show it)
Despite everything I just said; I think this docuseries is going to be awesome. Brady doesn't have the same universal appeal as MJ, but as one of the most polarizing athletes ever; there's reasons for fans, haters, and the confused to tune in.
I just hope Brady can peal off his layers of foundation and be real. The expectations are high. I want swearing, but not inorganic-fucks trying to be edgy. If you're going to leave New England....REALLY leave New England. Tell us YOUR truth. Fuck the Patriot way. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. You left, so go IIIIINNNN like a Tiger Woods putt about EVERYTHING. How mad were you were you when they cut Lawyer? Did you guys hate Belichick for a least a little? Wtf happened in the 06 AFC Championship game? Why did you guys go for it on 4th and 13 in FG range in Super Bowl XLII? Do you love Wes a little less because of the drop (even though the ball wasn't great)? Can Gronk read? Everything regarding Hernandez. Everything regarding both-gates. Why the fuck did Malcolm not play in the Super Bowl? Are you going to come back to the organization in some way after you retire? Why did you say no thanks to my autograph request at training camp in 04? Did you enjoy seeing the heartbreak in my eyes? Is that where you first got the idea to leave? Do you not understand how those moments impact someone for the rest of their life? I got to enjoy all the success of the double-dynasty from 4th grade until the Ravens game this season, so I guess it's time to pay the piper. If 19 years of Tom means I have to deal with two in Tampa I guess that's what I have to do (not that I have a choice). You turned your back on a region who worshiped you for two decades. That will never change. No words or cool production value can heal that wound. It's fucked up, but of course I'll always be grateful...and love you. I'd love to see Belichick in here, but I'm not holding my breath since he's why you're gone. Baby it's time to move on (not really). If you're going to do this, Tom, do it right. Air it out like you did in 07. P.S. I cannot wait for the 2007 and 2011 episodes. I neeeeeeeeed to hear those stories. What were those locker rooms like? Hopefully when this comes out in 2021 I'll be writing my feelings on Barstoolsports.com #HireDozo
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I'm a huge get yours guy. I think people should be paid what they're worth. Teachers shouldn't be starting at 33K. Jerry Reinsdorf should've had an ounce of class and renegotiated with Scottie after he outperformed one of the worst contracts in NBA history. I'm a do the right thing guy.
Dak Prescott is a good NFL quarterback. I don't think I can name 10 I'd rather have. He technically won Rookie of the Year in 2016 (it should've gone to the man he was handing the ball off to). He's won 40 games in four seasons and his stats are efficient.
Advanced numbers say he may be even better than the classic QB stats would indiciate.
Take that with a grain of salt. I like PFF a lot, but after they said Russell Wilson was the 33rd best player of the 2010's they are no longer Football Gospel in my eyes.
By looking at that last embed tweet you already saw a little bit about what this blog is about... DAK PRESCOTT TURNED THIS DEAL DOWN!!
I don't fucking get it man. Is Suit Man Dak's agent? Does he not understand how the salary cap works? Did he not see what Tom Brady did the last two decades to help build a better team? Who is giving him this advice/supporting his decisions?!?!?
Do you want to win or do you want to get paid? I'm all for getting yours, but have you watched yourself play? 35 milly a year is more than fair. You were on the OG 2015 fraud list after all. Can we pull up some Dak Super Bowl highlights? No? Damn. How about some Dak NFC Championship Game highlights? No? Bummer. Oh dope here's some highlights from the 2018 Divisional Round that you made it to by beating a team without a kicker by two points!! One playoff win in four years does not warrant 45 million dollars a year IMO. How do you expect to build a competitive team when the QB's deal takes up $45 million of the cap? The NFL QB pay structure is so flawed. Every new deal becomes the highest paid QB deal in NFL history. It's not Dak's fault. It's his turn. I get wanting every cent you can get out of billionaires, but it gets to a certain point where you're being just as greedy. No way on earth Dak is worth 45 million a year. Not until he gets further in the playoffs than Blake Bortles and Ryan Tannehill.
TWITCH.TV/OLEDOZO
12;30pm kickoff. The Ravens were the last team to beat me (28-9 in the pouring rain) before my six game winning streak going into week 17 against the 15-0 Dolphins. Dozo + Kirk Cousins in the playoffs will be a show; one way or another. Let's just hope it's a clean game.
I've been debating my plan of attack for this blog. There's so many ways to go here, but let's start with a fact: Paul Pierce bashed Lebron (again) by claiming he's not a Top Five Player in NBA History.
The Truth then went around and doubled down like KFC in 2010; listing two more players that aren't Lebron in his now Top 7 NBA players of all-time.
Since Paul Pierce is a Celtics legend and doesn't kiss Lebron's three rings (in nine trips to the Finals) like the majority of NBA talking heads...... he's getting dragged on NBA twitter; similarly to how he was dragged to a wheelchair after pooping his pants.
Based on athletic ability and individual stats there's no denying Lebron is an all-time great NBA player. Maybe the best athlete in league history? I am not a huge fan of him as a person, but there is no denying his greatness (because his dickriders will assault you if you don't). He's a 4x MVP and 3x NBA Champ. The man is a brick shit house. I am convinced he could've been better than Randy Moss and Gronk put together had he played in the NFL like a man.
(it's a joke; he made the right call). Lebron is a top 5 all-time player in my opinion, but see the problem here is that Paul's Top 5 is already a very good five without him. I agree that Lebron deserves a seat at the table, but who are you making stand-up for him?
Michael Jordan
MJ is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all-time; the Last Dance cemented it. 6-0 in the NBA Finals; 6x Finals MVP; 5x MVP; 10x scoring champ... No need to waste anymore time here. Like Leo in the Wolf of Wallstreet, he's not fucking leaving (this list).
Kareem Abdul-Jabaar
You're gonna try to tell me the man who leads the NBA all-time in points, forced the NCAA to outlaw dunking to give white guys a chance, AND appeared in one of the funniest movies of all time doesn't deserve a seat at the table?
To his credit, Lebron was actually good in Trainwreck. But can the average person remember one line from that movie? It doesn't matter in the longrun. Nobody's favorite movie is Trainwreck.
Kareem won MVPs nine years apart. Not only that, he's one of the most intelligent and respected athletes of all-time. His impact goes far beyond the hardwood.
Bill Russell
Speaking of that final photo in the Kareem section; Bill Russell.
Are you going to be like every other moron that doesn't understand the NBA existed before 1984? Bill Russell is an 11x NBA Champion. Yes, he played in the days of second jobs in the off-season and there were only nine teams in the NBA for a good chunk of Russell's career. So what? You can't hold that against him. Yes it was a different era, but he was a beast in that era. You can only play who's in front of you. If he was 40 years younger you don't think he would've trained differently? Bill Russell didn't grow up going to 23 different AAU tournaments every summer. He grew in the Jim Crow south trying to stay alive. Bill Russell was such an important black figure in the 1960's that MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR wanted him up on the stage during the "I Have a Dream" speech.
Lebron 110% would've accepted the invite and found a way to make I Have a Dream about him. You're going to tell a man who spoke with Dr. King, is the namesake of the NBA Finals MVP award and never lost to Wilt when it mattered doesn't belong at this table?
Magic Johnson
If you are power ranking most important players in NBA history I don't think there will be many names before Magic.
Magic and Larry saved the NBA in the 80's and helped transform it into the multi-billion dollar business you see today. In his days with the Showtime Lakers, Magic Johnson won 5 NBA Championships and played in 3 more. The 12x All Star and 3x MVP averaged 19.5, 11 and 7 over the course of his career that was tragically cut short by the HIV virus. Magic's last full season was at only 31. Who knows what else he could've done? Are you going to take away a chair for the man who played a major role in the destigmatization of HIV AND is doing more to help small businesses during C than Uncle Sam?
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is the closest thing the NBA has ever had to Michael Jordan (on the court) since he retired for good in 2003. By that point Kobe was already a 3x champ and 5x All-NBA performer. This man has two numbers retired by the 2nd most successful franchise in NBA history.
His death rattled the entire world and we shout his name when throwing away various light objects. He will be forever remembered as the Black Mamba, but his legacy is so much greater than that. Are you going to tell Vanessa that Kobe doesn't have a seat at this table anymore?
P.S.
Obviously Lebron belongs in the top 5 NBA players of all-time, but Paul Pierce moves the needle and during Quarantine people are looking for a way to kill a few minutes. No shit he's still butthurt for 2011 and 2012. But for real how can you take away a seat from one of these men just because Lebron's a freak AND is probably going to retire the all-time leading scorer and assist man?
Via: NYT
It was shear madness. A 28-year-old Washington state man said he drove more than 600 miles to get a haircut in California after seeing a friend’s Facebook post about getting a trim when most barbershops are shuttered amid the coronavirus pandemic, the LA Times reported. “I immediately started making preparations,” said J Farr, whose locks were growing wild under lockdown in his Olympia apartment. Farr, who has lost his job as a paint sprayer, would get his hair cut every few weeks before the outbreak. He was getting so desperate lately that he even considered shaving his head, according to the paper. But when he heard from his pal in Yuba City, north of Sacramento, Farr came up with his hair-raising plan to hit the road for the long trip to the Butte House Barber Shop in Sutter County. Hair salons remain closed in Washington state and most of California, but officials in Yuba and Sutter counties allowed the businesses to reopen ahead of the state’s plan, the LA Times reported. Finally, he arrived last week to a busy shop, where the barber wore a face mask but Farr didn’t. “When I got in there it was exactly what I had hoped for,” Farr told the paper. “I’ve been isolated for the last three months and that’s the first time I had that type of social interaction in that period. It’s a really good feeling to feel like there’s other people in the world who aren’t going to sit inside in fear when there’s nothing to be afraid of,” he added. Shop owner Wes Heryford, 42, said he has been cutting the hair of customers near and far. “There’s not very many options and people are excited that there is someone cutting hair, so they have no problem to drive three or four hours to come see us,” he told the paper. After paying $20 plus a tip, Farr left sporting a fade cut with a quarter-inch taken off the top.
I am absolutely fascinated with this story. From going to therapy the last almost-year, I feel qualified to talk about human psychology at length (lol get it cause of hair?). Why people are the way they are is so interesting to me. For example: how insecure do you need to be to drive 600 miles to get literally a little off the top during a pandemic?
A QUARTER OF AN INCH. I've been a long hair guy my entire life. It's an energy just as much as it is a look, but there was a time in my life when I had that Don Draper flow. I get it, J Farr, you wanna stay looking fresh. If I had all the time back that I spent putting product in my hair, I could learn Pig Latin. I used to grow my hair for a little, get it cut short, keep up with that for a while, eventually grow it out again, get a haircut after like 4 months; rinse and repeat. I used to get haircuts regularly until the summer of 2015. I was obsessed with this cut.
In college I'd go to the same barber on Main Street every time I needed a cut. We would have in depth conversations about the state of education or music; sometimes we'd just watch It's Always Sunny reruns with the captions on. No matter what, it always ended with a "see ya, buddy". Although we knew each others hobbies (he drums) neither of us could work up the courage to ask for the others name. I'd estimate this gentleman cut my hair AT LEAST a dozen and a half times.
I love having long hair. I don't have to worry about haircuts. When I get used to get clippers cuts my hair would grow back so quickly that I started getting a one to start the fade, just so it'd take longer to grow back. I got annoyed having to drop $25 to get a haircut that I was never satisfied with every couple weeks. But not everybody is the Doz man. We are different. That's what makes us, us. Even though J Farr can probably hear me typing right now, I am still going to eviscerate this LOSER. This guy's face screams "please punch me". I cannot get over these excerpts. 1. "He was getting so desperate lately that he even considered shaving his head, according to the paper." 2. “When I got in there it was exactly what I had hoped for,” Farr told the paper. #pause 3. After paying $20 plus a tip, Farr left sporting a fade cut with a quarter-inch taken off the top.
These do not add up. This guy was "so desperate" that he considered shaving his head (grow up, we all have) because he couldn't take it . He was so desperate that he drove 600 miles to get a 1/4 inch off???
Do you realize how small a 1/4 of an inch is? That's NOTHING. Suck it up and wait or do it yourself. Nobody can notice a 1/4 of inch difference in anything. Well, almost anything. There is only one place on earth where an 1/4 of an inch matters and since I didn't see this guy at a Pubercuts Truck; we can move on.
Someone does not care about cost benefit analysis. I hope 600 miles was worth it for this bro. Your hair could grow 1/4 of an inch on a 600 mile drive. I bet he tipped a whole $5 to show he really cares during these hard times! I know you don't wanna mess up your hair, J Farr, but I was you I'd wear DJ headphones.
I got you, J Farr.
VIA NFL.com In advance of Tuesday's virtual owners' meetings, the NFL will expand the Rooney Rule, which will now require additional interviews of minority candidates. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Monday that the league will require clubs to interview at least two external minority candidates for head coaching openings and at least one minority candidate for any coordinator job, per sources informed of the decision. In addition, teams must interview one external minority candidate for senior football operations and general manager jobs. Teams and the NFL league office must also include minorities and/or female applicants for senior-level positions, including club president jobs. The immediate rule changes, which will be effective after the meetings Pelissero added, come as the NFL continues to search for ways to fix the Rooney Rule after another hiring cycle where minority candidates were significantly bypassed, including just three of the past 20 head coaching openings going to minorities. The Rooney Rule adjustments are in addition to two proposed hiring changes that are expected to be voted upon during Tuesday's virtual owners' meeting. Changes to the Rooney Rule do not require a vote from owners. NFL Network's Jim Trotter reported Friday that the league is presenting two resolutions that it hopes could level the playing field for minority candidates. The first proposal would end clubs' ability to block assistant coaches from interviewing for coordinator jobs with other teams. The second is on a proposal that would provide teams enhanced draft stock for hiring minority candidates as head coaches or primary football executives. I take great pride in my voice and authenticity on DOL. We all know I've never been no grammar King, but if you can get past a typo or twelve I hope you know I'm coming from the right place. The vast majority of the time I'm just trying to make people laugh. The lack of on-deck-circle in my brain has gotten me in trouble in the past and will get me in trouble in the future, but at the end of the day I know who I am and what I truly believe in. From cataloging my blogs the last few weeks, I've reread a lot of my posts that I've written the last four plus years on DOL. I haven't even scratched the surface of what I've written, but I've read enough to see boatloads (maybe not the best metaphor to use here?) of growth. There's blogs I'm super proud of, blogs that embarrass me (whether it be their execution or take itself) and blogs that I honestly cannot believe I wrote. Despite all the second-hand embarrassment from myself at times; it has been a great exercise in reflection and growth. It's why I hate whenever you see someone pull up old tweets and try to ruin someone's life. People will say "he/she only said that X years ago". like people can't change. People CAN change and need to change. We all have to keep evolving everyday to move forward as a society. Fuck anybody who is actively trying to hurt people that know they made mistakes and are actively trying to fix them. We've all said stupid stuff in our life that could be our un-doing at any point. I bashed the Kaepernick stuff at first. I just saw it as disrespecting the flag and troops. I may have even written that what he did wasn't brave. I couldn't be more wrong. After you do a little research it's easy to see why he did what he did. While this post isn't about his protests, I applaud Colin for what he did; there's obvious relevance with this topic. A major reason I made DOL was to stand up for what I think is wrong. The timing of this blog could be perceived as risky given how hard I've been banging the #HireDozo drum, but if I'm the caliber of writer that I know I am; I can pull it off. I'm no one trick Dozo. We're getting serious here. I always am a little apprehensive to talk about race because of the sensitivity around the topic; especially in today's day in age, but it's been on my mind constantly throughout quarantine. My independent research topic of late has been Jim Crow. I have a blog in my drafts about how fucked it was and how much racism is in our society without even realizing it. Obviously I knew a little about Jim Crow, but our education system does a horrible job teaching its horrors. I should know. Yes, I'm a 28 year old white man. That is a fact. I am privileged AF; something I would have never said a few years ago, but I am (even with the trauma I have accumulated so far in my 10,000+ days of life). I understand that there's things I'll never truly be able to understand. But I fucking hate having to tip-toe around everything (including issues outside of race). I'm living my life like Tiny Tim in Tulips; fearful of offending or fucking myself over because people are too stupid to understand nuance or too lazy to actually address an issue. It's no way to live. Yesterday, I alluded to the Rooney Rule at the end of my Black Keys blog and as a man of my word here we are. In case you didn't read the article in reference or are unaware of NFL hiring protocol; in 2003 the NFL adopted the "Rooney Rule" (named after late Steelers owner Dan Rooney) to address the lack of diversity across Head Coaches in the league. This chart shows the increase of minorities in NFL Head Coaching (up to 2017) after the rule's institution in 2003. In 2017 eight of the 32 NFL Head Coaches (25%) were minorities (tied with 2011 for highest % in league history) in 2020 there were only three (9.38%). In a league where over 70% of the players are black the percentages just don't add up. How can there only be two black GMs (1/16) in a league where they make up almost 3/4 of the rosters? Say whatever you want about affirmative action, but this chart from a 2018 article shows the clear disparities amongst jobs in the NFL by race. I completely understand why the rule exists despite how pandering I think it is. Something had to be done to provide opportunities to qualified minorities who were overlooked in the past because of the way they look. It's insane to me that Eric Bieniemy (the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs) wasn't able to secure a head coaching job this offseason. The numbers his team has put up the last two years and Super Bowl ring on his finger speak for themselves. Joe Judge, the special teams coach of my beloved New England Patriots was hired by the New York Giants as their Head Coach; despite NO experience as a coordinator. I get that Joe Judge worked under the arguably best head coach in league history. Maybe he's the next Belichick? But if he was Jermaine Judge would he have gotten this same opportunity at only 38 years old? I think we all know that answer. Eric Bieniemy was the OC of the hottest offense in football the last two seasons, but can't get a head coaching job in the NFL? He has to go coach in college to earn the chance to lead men at the professional level? Meanwhile anybody who was white with a pulse on the 2012 Redskins got a chance. It just isn't right. How about Kliff Kingsbury? He went 35-40 and had a losing record in four of his six seasons as the Head Coach of Texas Tech. He got rewarded for that performance with an NFL Head Coaching job. Idc about the numbers his offense put up....5 games under .500 in six seasons is the only number I need. I'm 16th in the Hot Garbage league in offense and am 11-4. Your record is all that matters. To put some jimmies on this wtf is going on Sundae; Kliff replaced Steve Wilks (a black man) who was fired after only one year on the job! While Wilks did go 3-13; an undeniably shitty record.... he was only given one year to turn around a team with a rookie quarterback and track record of being the Arizona/St. Louis/Chicago Cardinals. Not exactly the most fair of circumstances. The NFL, the rest of pro sports and society in general have a long history of discrimination for desirable jobs. There was still serious talks in the 1980's and late 80's at that, about whether or not a black man was capable of being a starting QB in the NFL; 40 YEARS after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. Doug Williams famously put that to rest during the Redskins Super Bowl run in 1987. Black players were not only discriminated as signal callers, but other positions as well. In the 1960's there was the notion that black men weren't smart enough to play middle linebacker (the QB of defense). It wasn't until 1967 when Garland Boyette of the Oilers and Willie Lanier of the Chiefs became the first starting African-American MLBs in pro football (in the American Football League). Willie would go on to be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and NFL 100 All-Time Team after his days as the heart and soul of the Kansas City Chiefs defense. His Chiefs' defense featured eight black starters in 1969 when they beat the Vikings in Super Bowl IV; the final year of the AFL. (America's Game: '69 Chiefs is a must watch for football, history, and Civil Rights fans) I just find it incredibly pandering and demeaning that the NFL was seriously considering incentivizing owners to give more opportunities to minorities with better draft capital; basically saying the longer you keep them, the better your pick will be. As I wrote this blog the NFL officially announced they are tabling this idea. Thank God. I don't wanna say AA does more harm than good because I don't necessarily think that's the case; its helped disenfranchised people get a fairer shake. I just believe that jobs should go to the people who are most qualified and wish we didn't have to play these stupid games. I hate nepotism and favoritism. I don't care if it's 32, 7, 21, 15, or 0 minority Head Coaches. It should be about who deserves it. Eric Bieniemy (I've had to google to make sure I'm spelling it right every time..if only the rules of I before E were to blame for his unfair treatment) should be an NFL Head Coach. He deserves the opportunity. There shouldn't have to be rules in place to be a good person. If an owner is only going to hire someone of color because it gives them a better draft pick; which in short could become a chance to make more money... then they really aren't that different from some other owners of a few hundred years ago.
I just find it incredibly pandering that the league has to have this rule in place and even more disheartening that it has to be there for change to happen. It's an insult to the intelligence of football fans and people in general. Just like getting rid of the term owner in the NBA. You own a team. It's an asset. You don't govern it. I don't govern my car or PS4. Even Michael Jordan has said becoming an owner was his biggest accomplishment. If a team has a candidate that they are 100% sure of at Head Coach and he's white; interviewing two minority coaches just to say you did, is insulting to their intelligence and time. What good does that actually do? It's just like all the BS fake fixes in schools that don't actually make any positive change at all, like Fake-Transgender Bathrooms. We've all interviewed for a job we know we aren't going to get. It sucks. Sure the interview experience is cool, but so is a paycheck. Wasting the time of qualified candidates to check a box so you can act like you did the right thing is wrong. We shouldn't still be at this point as a society in 2020. How can we have serious discussions about America being the greatest country in the world with all these skeletons in our attic? It's clear something has to be done. But I also get mad at times with the way things are still written. This year there were five coaching changes; one was a minority hire. (Ron Rivera in Washington). That's 20% of the hires this year. It's also an incredibly small sample size. What would make people happy? If there had been 3 out of 5 hires would these actions still have been put in place? What about two? IMO the "3 out of the last 20 head coaching hires are minorities" stat is far more troublesome than 1 out of 5 this year. The lack of diversity at the coordinator level is even worse. There's only two black OC's in the NFL; Bryon Leftwich and the previously mentioned Bieniemy. Despite low numbers in 2020; there were at least five minority head coaches in the NFL from 2004-2017 (with the exception of four in 2013). Of course there's the positive angle of this ruling. Now by forcing teams to interview more minority candidates, hopefully over-time this will lead to more jobs. Perhaps it will open some eyes? One thing that I do like about this move is how it stops teams from being able to block coordinators and assistants for looking for better jobs outside of the organization. I'm in favor of anything that gives the worker more power and autonomy. It really just bums me out that things like this have to exist. Maybe it's just the idealist in me, but doing the right thing really isn't that hard. I hate the whole "how is this still happening in X year thing?" because there's already too many example to count and it'll get ya boi even more sad. There has got to be a better way to do the right thing than using people as pawns to it make look like change is happening when it really isn't. And will somebody for the love of God sign Cam Newton?
I was so honed in on editing Here Goes Dozo that I didn't even realize the significance of today's date until I went onto my personal IG and saw a post that I'll link after these next three sentences. (1) You can still receive partial credit for knowing that today is the 5 year and 1 day mark of my college graduation, but May 18th is not about me.
(2) It's about the Black Keys and their groundbreaking 6th album: Brothers (which debuted on this date in 2010). (3) As much as your/my brain may not want to believe it; basic math (2020-2010) will show you that's 10 years ago TODAY.
After forming in Akron, Ohio in 2001 the Black Keys released five albums before Brothers broke them into the "mainstream" in 2010. While 2008's Attack and Release got the ball rolling for their break-through; the video for "Tighten Up" changed everything.
The album was actually recorded after turmoil between Guitarist/Lead Singer Dan Auerbach and Drummer Pat Carney lead to the possibility of a break-up. Between Pat's marriage and Dan's solo ventures the duo was crumbling. After they reconciled (and Pat got divorced) the two went into multiple studios and made an album that transformed them from a little-known garage-rock duo to Grammy winners who sold out stadiums; they may have not "sold out", but to their own admission sure AF looked like it at the 53rd Grammys with suits, no facial hair and Supercuts flow.
While Brothers was simply The Black Keys big break; it's contents are anything but. The album won three Grammys in 2011; Best Record Packaging, Alternative Album of the Year and the final Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ever. From the falsetto in "Everlasting Light" to the tearful "These Days" this album is perfect. There isn't a bad song on it. It helped shape me as a man. It could've been released in 1970 and fit like a glove. It's not emo, but every song is packed with emotion; no mindless filler here. There's elements of soul, blues and rock; plus a hell of a lot of pain in Dan's voice. You get all that and more with an arena anthem peppered in thanks to NHL 11! After everything the Black Keys went through they came out alive as Brothers.
My love of the keys is well documented on DOL. "Hell of a Season" (my favorite song on El Camino) was the first ever DOL Song of the Day back in 2016. El Camino was the first and to this point only album on Album Appreciation. I've seen them live twice (2013 in Hartford and 2014 in Boston). Had this whole Covid-19 situation not occurred you best believe I would've been watching them and Gary shred in Mansfield in August. I even wore my Brothers t-shirt at the HAIM show I went to by myself in 2018.
After the Keys went on a five year break upon the conclusion of the Turn Blue Tour in 2015 my listening tendencies altered a bit. Over the years I started listening to them less and less, but make no mistakes about it the Black Keys are still one of my all-time favorite bands. I have data to support both points (via @dozonlife on IG)
Much like the Office, I simply consumed them too much. I started suffering from Black Keys fatigue. It's important to switch it up from time to time in order to keep your tastes fresh and evolving. A little time away can make the heart (and ears) grow founder. When you start to listen to/watch other things it can help you remember why you love(d) them so much in the first place.
A great band is a lot like an close friend that you go way back with . There may be times when you talked everyday, then sometimes life just happens and you don't find the time for each other; you might even make a few new friends. It doesn't mean you don't still care about each other. There's just more to life than just one thing. But, when you do finally catch up; you usually pick off like you never left. The Black Keys and Brothers are like that for me. There was a time five or six years ago when I legitimately listened to it everyday. That is not hyperbole; I worked in a restaurant. It's one of the few albums I own a physical (CD) copy of. I am going to chain-smoke bowls and listen to it in its entirety while trying to not go back to five to six years ago thinking about all the nights I cried like a little baby to Never Gonna Give You Up. Thank God I finally did (although I am 100% still down to smash). The world can know how I feel about the Rooney Rule change tomorrow. P.S. I know I just tweeted the other day about how much I hate the phrase "hits different"
but as someone who may or may not have absorbed their twin in the womb............damnit if Unknown Brother doesn't hit different for ya boiii!!!
I've had this idea for a show for at least three years. Basically I go around and try different foods to see if I was justified in claiming I don't like them without actually trying. (I'm a notoriously picky eater with the pallet of a pee-wee football player) Here Goes Dozo has stayed trapped in my brain and never escaped for years! Instead of letting another day pass, since people are sort of allowed to do things again (I think????) I figured I might as well make this shit happen now. Seize the day! I think there's lots of room for improvement going forward, but the idea has legs and I will continue to tweak it as I go. I hope you enjoy the first episode of Here Goes Dozo. I've been hearing rumors of playback issues on IG; hopefully this youtube video will squash them even though they're different platforms.
Song: So We Won't Forget
Artist: Khruangbin Album: Mordechai
SODs are not coming back full-time, but I've spent all day editing "Here Goes Dozo: Episode I" which means no blogs (until this) today and I don't want to get called out again; even if it was somewhat valid criticism.
I do need to write more, even with some real life shit (outside of Covid) going on in ya boi's life that has poured my creative juices on the floor...No excuses like Alice in Chains. Here Goes Dozo will be out today. Until then, let's sit back and watch the new Khruagbin video for the first time; together. Don't read below until you've finished the video.
Ho-ly shit. That sure was HEAVY. Talk about your classic 180 from their last video. Whether it's building sandcastles on city streets or assaulting an officer who just spilled your daughter's ashes; there's no denying Khruagbin is one of the best acts in all of music (I SAID SO!). Mark, Laura and DJ don't sound like anything else in the music game....now or ever! They've blended so many genres and cultures together that their liner notes need a 23andme.
The late Jim Valvano once said it we did the follow three things "laugh, think and cry" each day we'd really be living. Well, through two videos Khruagbin's new album has already hit all three. You definitely couldn't make this video with Americans. I am really digging how Laura Lee's role in the band has expanded on these last two songs. We've heard her sing in the past, but these last two tracks have been a coming out party for Laura Leezy vocally. I love the classic instrumental Khruagbin sound; it's my go to blogging music because I can still think, but so far so good with Mordechai. June 26th will be here before you know it. It feels like it's been obit week at DOL, but another incredibly important person from the world of American pop culture has passed away. On Thursday Phyllis George died from blood complications. She was just 70 years old. If you're young and unaware of Phyllis George's legacy she won Miss America in 1971 and parlayed that into a career as the first female co-anchor of a national sports program. For parts of seven seasons Phyllis was an analyst on the CBS Pregame Show "The NFL Today" with Irv Cross, Jimmy the Greek and Brent Musburger. — Brent Musburger (@brentmusburger) May 16, 2020
Before Phyllis was hired there were no women in sports media at the national level. 00 like Jim Otto. The old boys club adage rang true at every station in the country. It was Phyllis George who paved the way for every female in the sports media field. She was the trail blazer for your Andrea Kremer's, Hannah Storm's, Pam Oliver's, Michele Tafoya's, Linda Cohn's, Sage Steele's, Jamie Erdahl's, Lindsay Czarniak's, Erin Andrews' and countless other women in world of sports media.
Phyllis George was at the other end of one the most famous sports interviews of the 1970's; she got straight laced Roger Staubach to admit he's had sex on TV (which in those days could result in jail time).
As a lover of all things sports history you cannot tell the story of the NFL and sports in America without Phyllis George. Not only was she a pioneer in her field, but she also was the First Lady of Kentucky. She even made an appearance in Meet the Parents.
R.I.P. Phyllis George. |
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