Football and Reality (big rant)

I caught a link to this on facebook tonight.  Go and read it.  You might enjoy it and pat yourself on the back.

Are you Strong Enough to be Our Fan

Frankly, I find this person a weak individual who needs to get a life.

Are you mentally strong enough to endure all of that?  If you knew going in, you could have everything on that first list, but have to deal with everything on that second list, would you do it?  Would it be worth it?  Could you pick yourself up and dust yourself off those 7 times all the while having to defend some of the greatest players to ever play college football for 7…SEVEN…transgressions in 5 seasons?

Really?  Are you mentally strong enough to deal with some trash talk about a college football team?  If that causes you mental anguish, you should not be breathing American air.  If you have to ask yourself that question, you have never buried someone who gave the last full measure for their country.

At the very heart of the matter is the audacity of anyone in this world HAVING to defend a group of 20-year-old kids who get up every morning, most days before any of us, go to the weight room, go to class, go to practice, study, go to bed and do it all, again every day, every single year.  The mere suggestion that any one of those kids has not worked themselves to death, put their bodies on the line, played through injuries, and endured mental anguish from people who neither know them nor have ever met them is ridiculous.   It is ludicrous to have to argue with someone who believes those kids did not deserve the success they have EARNED.  But as a fan, you will have to do just that.  You will have to stand up for them.  You cannot back down.

Yep, you big old fan you, you need to stand up for those kids who get a free college education and a chance at the NFL in exchange for playing a GAME.  A GAME we all play in the backyard on Thanksgiving. 

If our priorities were in the right place, men like this would get the respect and attention that our society gives Heisman trophy winners.  Men like this make that last quote a ridiculous parody: 

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Captain William D. Swenson distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as embedded advisor to the Afghan National Border Police, Task Force Phoenix, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan in support of 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kunar Province, Afghanistan on September 8, 2009. On that morning, more than 60 well-armed, well-positioned enemy fighters ambushed Captain Swenson's combat team as it moved on foot into the village of Ganjgal for a meeting with village elders. As the enemy unleashed a barrage of rocket-propelled grenade, mortar and machine gun fire, Captain Swenson immediately returned fire and coordinated and directed the response of his Afghan Border Police, while simultaneously calling in suppressive artillery fire and aviation support. After the enemy effectively flanked Coalition Forces, Captain Swenson repeatedly called for smoke to cover the withdrawal of the forward elements. Surrounded on three sides by enemy forces inflicting effective and accurate fire, Captain Swenson coordinated air assets, indirect fire support and medical evacuation helicopter support to allow for the evacuation of the wounded. Captain Swenson ignored enemy radio transmissions demanding surrender and maneuvered uncovered to render medical aid to a wounded fellow soldier. Captain Swenson stopped administering aid long enough to throw a grenade at approaching enemy forces, before assisting with moving the soldier for air evacuation. With complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Swenson unhesitatingly led a team in an unarmored vehicle into the kill zone, exposing himself to enemy fire on at least two occasions, to recover the wounded and search for four missing comrades. After using aviation support to mark locations of fallen and wounded comrades, it became clear that ground recovery of the fallen was required due to heavy enemy fire on helicopter landing zones. Captain Swenson's team returned to the kill zone another time in a Humvee. Captain Swenson voluntarily exited the vehicle, exposing himself to enemy fire, to locate and recover three fallen Marines and one fallen Navy corpsman. His exceptional leadership and stout resistance against the enemy during six hours of continuous fighting rallied his teammates and effectively disrupted the enemy's assault. Captain William D. Swenson's extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Task Force Phoenix, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division and the United States Army.

 I say all that to say this:  Football is a game.  Win, lose, draw, it is a game.  Enjoy it for what it is.  In the end, it is not important.  If it causes you that much anguish and concern, you have misplaced your priorities.