More Kaepernick talk
We wrote our column on A2 today about the dichotomy of Colin Kaepernick being within his rights as an American of sitting out the national anthem last weekend. Here it is if missed it.
This story continues to intrigue us on a lot of levels. Some we touched on yesterday - from the NFL to the duality of making unpopular but not illegal choices on matters of race make you a protestor but doing it on matters of religious beliefs makes you a bigot.
Now comes more reaction from within the game as well as from all sides.
Here's what Drew Brees told reporters on Monday: "I disagree. I wholeheartedly disagree. Not that he wants to speak out about a very important issue. No, he can speak out about a very important issue. But there's plenty of other ways that you can do that in a peaceful manner that doesn't involve being disrespectful to the American flag."
There has been a wide-range of responses to the harsh to the supportive to the uncertain, like the Eagles linebacker who said he was going to join Kaepernick before recanting that statement.
We also connected it in some ways to the South Carolina high school principal who would not let a student and later that student's brother into the game with an American flag, worried they were going to us it to taunt the opponent, which was a mostly Hispanic high school. (How waving an American flag is a taunting device is somewhat stunning at its base. Whatever.)
There are two more directions today we want to explore in regard to Kaepernick.
First, in his statement, he said he'll continue sit out the anthem until significant progress is made in terms of race relations and what he calls oppression.
What constitutes significant progress? (And this is not even broaching the subject of what happens to citizens in almost every country around the world. Since he's recently converted to Islam and has tens of millions, maybe he can travel the world and really see government-driven oppression by comparison.)
Also, and this maybe among the more interesting social media components of this and almost every racial debate we have today.
Why does this become the next screaming match as opposed to becoming the first talking point.
It's OK to recognize that Kaepernick has the right to do this and still be offended by it.
It seems if any discourse happens that may not be completely in line with the dissension, the interweb morality mob is quick to drop the Racist label.
That's nonsensical for several reasons, but most pertinently, we should all want and be willing to work toward better race relations.
It's somewhat fitting, at least in the metaphorical sense that this does involve the flag, because we should all want a better America in terms of race relations.
That Kaepernick energized this conversation is noteworthy, but it does not make it less offensive to a lot of us.
And that's OK.
Bonus question: A lot of us wondered earlier this summer how Muhammad Ali's protests would have been perceived in today's age compared to how he refused to be drafted back in the 1960s. And this is no way comparing the two or the acts, because let's face it Ali was carrying the coolest title in sports and Kaepernick is having a hard time beating Blaine Gabbert out for a starting job on arguably the worst offense in the NFL.
As for the comparison, I think we see our answer, as ambiguous as that answer may be.
In some ways, we are in a better place, the talking points - while passionate and important from each side - are being discussed and awareness is being heightened. That's the good side.
The anonymity and vitriol of the interwebs, however, so us the nasty side of this.
Thoughts?
FILE - In this March 7, 2016, file photo, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning speaks during his retirement announcement at the teams headquarters in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Peyton's place
As amazing as this sounds, we almost forgot about that Peyton Manning dude.
For the first time in two decades we are on the edge of a football season and his name really has been absent.
That's cool, and he's earned that anonymity.
But it's OK to miss him. Especially when we remember how funny Manning is (here is his latest handiwork as he dropped a one-liner about Tom Brady and DeflateGate during the celebrity roast of Rob Lowe. Good times.
But when the news that Tony Romo is out 6-to-10 weeks with a cracked back and the Cowboys are turning to rookie Dak Prescott as their starter, wonder how long it will be until Jerry Jones reaches out to Peyton to gauge his interest about a return.
Couldn't you see Peyton being quite valuable to a rookie starter like Prescott, or even someone like a Jared Goff in L.A. or Carson Wentz in Philly.
Yes, we know the arm is weary and weak, but here's a complete guess that he likely has said no to maybe half a dozen calls this preseason from teams interested in having Manning around their quarterback situation.
Enjoy the laid-back life Peyton, you have earned it.
Tennessee fans cheer as the Vols score a touchdown during their SEC football game against Georgia at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee won 38-31.Tennessee preview
The Vols are going to be good this. Really good.
They are going to be 10-win good and likely will be favored in every game they play, with the possible exception of Alabama.
They also are going to wear Pat Summitt stickers on their helmets this year, a classy and fitting tribute to the legendary coach. (UT also has decided to cut ties with the "Third Down or What" music that had become a tired, played out ear-sore.)
As for on the field, here are our three points of interest that will determine if the Vols have a good (and somewhat disappointing) year or deliver on the expectations of the most mouth-watering season in a decade:
- Wide Receiver, You? At one point in time UT was Wide Receiver U. Now, the Vols are still longing for a go-to guy who can deliver on third-and-8. This also plays into Josh Dobbs, and the questions about his ability to stretch defenses with accurate throws down the field. If the passing game is more productive on the intermediate to longer throws, this offense will be scary good with the way it can run the ball.
- 99 problems, but is a Butch still one? Butch Jones' record against top-25 teams with the Vols is 3-13. His 1-11 start against ranked foes was in large part because Derek Dooley left him a blivid of a roster. (Here's the definition of the great word 'blivid' for those interested). Now before Jomo starts stringing together the blame game names, this is not about that. This is simply a statement that Coach Cliche and his staff have to be able to close close games this year. Period. And they have harped on that as much as anyone, considering one of this year's pat answers has been finding those other 25 points that made the difference in UT's four losses last year. And yes, simply put, Jones and company has to beat Florida, and any type of statement that it's the next game on the schedule in about three weeks is either the all-time classic example of coach speak or a sure-fire warning light that Butch simply does not recognize the importance of that game.
- Safety dance. UT returns as many starters as any power five team in the country. They lost both starting safeties from last year, though, and for the most part the secondary is, other than Cam Sutton, lighter on experience than any other position group on the field. Yes, it is filled with four-to-five-star recruiting names, but will that potential equal production.
That said, the Vols are stacked, and any time a coach says his biggest preseason concern is finding depth, like Jones did last week on Press Row, well, that's a sign of how good a team is.
Are they Atlanta good and potentially college football playoff good. We'll see, but for the first time since Fulmer was in the picture, that question can be asked and the possibilities are varied.
This and that
- Tough Monday. We had the Little 5-at-10's time at TC Thompson with the broken arm. (Thankfully, no surgery as the breaks were clean.) Then we get news that Gene Wilder and famous wrestling manager Mr. Fuji died. Wilder
- Tim Tebow heads to his MLB workout today with an offer already in hand. A Venezuelan professional team has extended an offer. If Tebow is truly serious about giving baseball a chance, if today does not yield an offer, the South American chance is exactly that - a chance. Yes, there almost certainly will be an American independent league team to offer a deal - his drawing power alone makes it worth the investment - but if Tebow isn't willing to start at the bottom, then it's hard not to save this is a complete PR stunt.
- Skip Bayless, the preeminent gas bag in an industry filled with gas bags (hey, some times we resemble that remark) said this week "First Take" was almost cancelled three years ago when he got into a screaming match with Richard Sherman. Wow, what a favor that would have been for all of us.
- This will be the first move of its kind but hardly the last. The Miami Dolphins are instituting a dedicated Uber lot outside of their games this year, according to our friends at Cynopsis Media. Man, there will always be a need for the fleet of taxis in places like NYC and others, but this is another business model that is challenged by the interwebs.
- TFP ace education reporter Kendi Rainwater is covering the trial of the three Ooltewah basketball players facing charges after the pool-cue rape incident from last December. You can follow her reports in real time on Twitter at @kendi_and for real-time updates.
Today's question
Cameron Diaz is 44 today.
The blonde actress has cobbled together a pretty impressive Rushmore of career movies, considering There's Something About Mary, Gangs of New York, Shrek and a slew of other titles contending for the last spot, including Being John Malkovich.
She likely will forever be known as Mary from the amazingly hilarious - then and now - movie with Ben Stiller and a slew of great performances.
In fact, since Something About Mary was released in 1998, what's the Rushmore of the best comedies of the last 20 years, in an age when the comedy genre has certainly changed, especially with the growth and expansion of animated technology (led in part in the comedy realm by Shrek to some extent).
Go, and it's game week gang.