By Jared Launius

(Editor’s note: Hi! I’m Jared Launius and I’m the new sports blogger/blog editor for College magazine. I hate talking about myself, so I’d rather jump in with an actual blog post than waste my first one just talking about myself and the boring sight I am to behold. I hope you enjoy my thoughts, and please please PLEASE feel free to leave comments.)

When it was announced that former Florida QB Tim Tebow, A.K.A. The Guy That Makes Brent Musburger Announce-gasm, would be doing a pro-life ad for Focus on the Family in the Super Bowl, everybody basked in the opportunity to go after the guy that made us hate both that one really big sports network and the fact that hundreds of thousand sports blogs existed. The guy made Brett Favre look underexposed. Everyone was sick of him, so he was an easy target.

We don’t want care about your thoughts on morality! You’re an athlete, not a politician! Your spikey, flat-top hair looks stupid!* Everyone seized the opportunity to enlighten Tebow as to exactly how little they cared about his opinions on issues like abortion. They told him, quite plainly, that they didn’t want their night of crappy-beer-and-Doritos commercials entwined with his moralities.

*I added that one in there just for fun.

Now, fast-forward a few weeks. By show of hands, how many of you spent time railing* Tiger Woods over his moral compass, or lack thereof, following his press conference Friday? Don’t be shy, I know everyone did.

*This was, at first, an unintentional pun. I decided to leave it for obvious reasons.

Now, I’m hardly moral police, but doesn’t that seem a bit backwards? The public lashed out at Tebow- we don’t give a s–t about about your moralities, OK!- but was more than happy to lambast Tiger for showing such moral disregard of family values and for seeming so unauthentic in his apology.

Look, I get it. Comparing abortion to cheating is like comparing apples to oranges, er, dead babies to lipstick on dress shirts. Abortion crosses fault lines, while I’d guess that most people aren’t fans of polygamy.

This runs deeper than that though. I find it interesting that a person can crush someone for sleeping around on their significant other, then turn around and rip someone else for announcing their stance on a hot-button issue. There’s a word for that, I’m thinking.

The bottom line is this: I’m just as hypocritical as the next guy. I yell at people that text while driving, then text someone about how much I hate driving texters, while driving. I don’t claim to be anything different.

Just know what you sound like when you accuse somebody of something you’re guilty of yourself.

Photo credit: nj.com

We Want Favre....and Chicken Wings!!!

The preseason doesn’t start for more than a month, but there are already plenty of stories to follow before the season kicks off on September 10th.

Of course, the biggest story is the possible return of Brett Favre. After retiring twice Favre is talking about making another return, this time with the Minnesota Vikings. Since the Vikings and Packers play in the same division, this would actually make people pay attention to the NFC North for the first time in a long time. Hopefully he avoids dragging out his decision. I doubt it though.

After trading away franchise QB Jay Cutler, the Denver Broncos appear to be ready to grant WR Brandon Marshall his recent request for a trade, as well. Great off season, huh? On the field, Marshall is one of the most talented receivers in the league. Off the field, he enjoys stabbing his girlfriend with forks and slipping on McDonald’s wrappers. If any team decides to trade for him, they will immediately improve their team. Unfortunately, they will also get a ton of headaches.

Tom Brady is Back. You've Been Warned.

Last year Tom Brady threw for only 76 yards before a knee injury ended his season. Now he’s back and the Patriots appear ready for another Super Bowl run. Plus, he married a supermodel, which should only improve his quality of life.

Both Plaxico Burress and Michael Vick are awaiting Roger Goddell’s ruling on their availability for this upcoming season. Plaxico shot himself so I think he’s suffered enough. Imagine the shit he got from his friends? Both could make immediate impacts on NFL teams if given the opportunity. The commissioner will probably rule on both situations closer to the start of the season.

Rookie QB’s

After the success of Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan, I expect the Lions and Jets to force their rookie signal callers into action ASAP. Matthew Stafford will probably have the chance to watch Daunte Culpepper for at least half the season before he is asked to quarterback the team. Jets rookie Mark Sanchez won’t be so lucky. Expect him to start from day one with some good games and some not.

Image Source 1: http://www.mrdink.net/wp-content/uploads/tom-brady-patriots.jpg

Image Source 2: http://www.allproblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vikings-fan.jpg

Phil Gentile

I remember being a kid watching Brett Favre throw the ball all over Lambeau Field as sheets of snow fell from the sky. He had an enthusiasm for football that made you feel like you were watching something really special. He was, without question, one of my favorite athletes growing up … Which makes it painful for me to watch as he refuses to ride off into the sunset.

Favre announced his retirement from the Green Bay Packers in March 2008 after 14 seasons with the team. Then, four months later, he announced he had changed his mind. He played for the Jets last season before retiring again this February. And now, in the last couple weeks there have been whispers that Favre is interested in coming back to play for the Minnesota Vikings.

Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand why it’s difficult for Brett. Getting paid tons of cash to play a game for a living has got to be a sweet gig. The thing that bothers me is how every year this process gets dragged out for months. Since I decided to write this article the news has gone from Favre definitely coming back, then deciding against it, and then today he’s willing to come back unless he needs “major surgery.”

Favre throwing a snowball at a teammate after a touchdown pass

Favre loves football and that’s why I love him but he needs to know when to call it quits. That time is now. Anyone who watched him play toward the end of last season can tell you his arm isn’t what it used to be – and it’s not even close. I really don’t want my last memory of him to be struggling in a Vikings uniform. It might be selfish, but when I think about Brett Favre twenty years from now, I want to remember him as that energetic guy playing in the snow in Lambeau.

 

 

 

 

Image source: http://www.beckett.com/images/itemimages/garcy5/garcy559932153.jpg