Nut Kick Monday | 2014 Motif

Today I got kicked in the nuts. Again. I wish I could say it was a literal kick in the nuts. Pain like that is fleeting and I've retired from procreation. No, the shot I took today was a recurring theme of 2014. A symphony of foot swinging:

• Broncos go to the Superbowl and snap the ball... I'm so psychologically damaged by reopening my childhood trauma that I get Sports E.D. for nearly eight months.  
• Later this year, my eldest needed screws in her knees. Insurance says $5K please. 
• Next Sally blows a tire. The rest "magically" must be replaced.
• Sally then decides to quit steering and have her breaks die.
• Once Sally is feeling better, the next day Trophy Son fractures his femur.
• Giddy people at hospital say they want a down payment... I bend over and stroke a check for $5K. 
• And then the golf ball hail descends on the roof annihilating it. 
• Meanwhile the soul sucking leeches at State Farm in their 3AM Khakis just smile; and drink my fresh warm blood out of a Christmas mug spiced with nutmeg.

Some of you are familiar with Gator's precious fractured femur x-ray with the Lego men in his pocket:

Very sad and painful, but an adorable silver lining.

Here is my x-ray for the year:

Dads don't get a silver lining in the jock.

Insecurity in Denver

Rock Solid Asks:
How do the Broncos improve their running game? I thought they got Clady back? Perhaps they are just better at passing with him in there.

F-Word Opines:

Hard to say. I think this is 50% attitude and 50% lack of running out of true necessity. 

Look at what Tony Stark accomplished in a cave!!! 

The Broncos are stuck in a cave and the Seahawks are their jihadist captors. A few years ago the Broncs were an amazing run blocking o-line for T-bone and I believe 3 of the 5 starters from then are still with us. Its going to take reps and commitment and other stuff the Creek football program would put into an acronym. Peyton and the gang need to get mean. Nasty. But this is probably the one thing that has kept us from winning a Superbowl in recent years. Keep your D off the field and out of trouble and control of the game goes through the roof. Sadly, I never feel comfortable with these Broncos. 

EVER.

Fantasy Reverse Psychology

For once, I visited my fantasy football account after drafting to get rid of the living injury known as RG-III. I started reorganizing looking for players on my bench with stronger points and suddenly wound up with this roster: 

I defy the universe to let me win in fantasy football when I NEVER do. 

Time to get some reverse psychology to work for me...

BYU Football is STILL a Pretender

Like many of you, I was geeked-out by BYU's annihilation of Texas last week. But after watching the Houston game last night on 9/11 with the special helmet decals, BYU is not a playoff contender. I actually quit watching last night in disgust at the start of the 4th quarter. At that point I knew all I needed to know about this season and our chances for real greatness.

You have to put together a dominant, undefeated season like UT, TCU and Boise to get into that conversation. Based on the last 15 years, I don't think they can pull it off and last night proves my point. They should be blowing out teams like that with no let-up. SHOW NO MERCY COUGAR-SAN!!

Plus, BYU simply can't recruit the size/speed needed to really contend with the top programs in the SEC, PAC 12, etc. on a consistent basis. Look at what happened to a dominant UT team once it got into a power conference. Same thing would probably happen to the Cougs.

Some may hate on my comments, but as I quoted yesterday:

Mic drop.

Labor Day Should Celebrate Women in Labor

Most of us know Labor Day was started over a bloody dispute between the government and workers and created to appease unions. Now families enjoy a final day of relaxation at the "end" of the summer and the wearing of white is no longer permitted. We celebrate work by not working.

I'm all for a day off, but this really is stupid. Can we at least take the day off to remember and honor something worth 50% of the economy shutting down? Instead of union disputes and government hand-outs, I say we change the subject of Labor Day to honoring women who have labored to give birth.

We have Memorial Day to remember men who fought and died to give us life and freedom, why not the women who suffered incredible pain and even sometimes death to do the same? The scriptures and doctrine are replete with the symbolism of childbirth and the atonement. Why are we not celebrating this essential and universal moment to the human family? Check these out if you have not thought about it much.

http://beautopotamus.blogspot.com/p/gospel-symbols-in-childbirth-lds.html 

http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/12/23/blood-water-and-spirit/

I'm sure someone will object to changing the holiday on several grounds. I give them below and my answers.

• Many women today have drugs, epidurals or c-sections and don't "really" labor and should not be honored. 
• Really? They are still taking the risks and most still endure significant pain before epidurals or c-sections commence. I dare any of you with this objection to throw it in the face of another woman. I'm sure there would be no sane men raising this objection, just self-righteous women. 
• This seems like Pagan Goddess worship. 
• No, if anything this holiday would be objected on too many Christian references, but I'm sure most other religions and traditions can appreciate women suffering to bear children. 
• How can we celebrate something that is a painful and private situation? 
• We celebrate Jesus sacrificing for us on Easter with a rabbit distributing dyed eggs and chocolates. I think we can still BBQ and say thank you Mom. 
• But we already have Mother's Day!??
• Yes. That is where we remember all the work they do the rest of our lives raising us and loving us. Can we really try to put a limit on our gratitude? We should remember this singular moment. 

Of course, this is just an out-dated BLOG but I'm telling it the way it should be. Some clear day, the true meaning of Labor Day will be well known, celebrated, cherished and honored. I now thank my Mother for her sacrifices for me and my wife for her sacrifices on behalf of our children. I will always remember what you have done and love you for it.