By Jim Vallet and Robert Perea
Last Friday, our second son arrived unexpectedly from Reno, giving my wife and I the best Christmas gift ever.
Due to our house costing us a lot more than we figured, the disappearance of Obamacare subsidies, and the cost of airline tickets, we had told our son we would not be able to help pay for him to fly to be with us this Christmas. But, thanks to our daughter and son-in-law, we had our son walk into our house completely by surprise.
It was a pleasant shock to see our son, and we are eternally grateful to our daughter and her husband for what we consider to be the greatest Christmas present ever. Our son-in-law also made the very unpleasant hour and a half drive through awful traffic with our granddaughter, who is not normally a good traveller, to pick up our son at the Raleigh airport so the surprise could be complete.
Thank you for providing a more merry Christmas.
On the other hand, there’s Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. As I am writing this, Metcalf is appealing a two-game suspension given to him by the NFL after Metcalf approached, grabbed, and then took a swing at a fan during Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit.
At this point, what exactly happened is unclear. Metcalf claims the fan, who says his name is Ryan Kennedy from Pinckney, MI, was calling him and his mother foul names and slurs and that the same fan had done the same thing to him last year when he was in Detroit as a member of the Seattle Seahawks. Kennedy denies Metcalf’s allegations and the league is investigating. If upheld, the punishment could cost Metcalf over $277,000 in lost salary, plus up to $40 million in future guarantees if the Steelers chose.
Wow.
Since the facts are not all known yet, I will not make any judgment on this incident. Certainly, fan behavior at all college, professional, and sometimes even high school and Little League games is a cause for concern. Buying a ticket does not give anyone the right to say horrible things about an athlete or his family, but, in our country, a verbal assault is not enough to warrant a physical response. I guess the old saying, “...sticks and stones…” really does ring true.
But should it? I don’t know, it seems the vitriol in everyday discourse, in the media, and especially when there is a degree of anonymity has increased in the world. When someone who has done nothing but buy a ticket verbally attacks your mother in a terrible way, should he be able to get away with it? If a crowd is chanting offensive slurs based on race or religion, is an announcement to stop enough? On the other hand, D.K. Metcalf attempting to assault someone who is not near his physical match is not a good look, either. Should someone associated with the Steelers have attempted to stop Metcalf from even approaching the stands?
I don’t know, but I do know I didn’t like it when someone at a game in which I was playing or coaching attacked me. I didn’t like it when someone attacked my children at a game in which they were participating, either. How far is too far and do players and coaches ever have the right to fight back?
I also think that while we have the right to freedom of speech, we are too often forgetting the responsibilities that most scholars agree are inferred with that right. I think you can say whatever you want, but you should also have to expect that maybe the consequence of what you say will result in a broken nose. When anyone speculates, that person is purposefully shining a spotlight on something without openly saying it, and I think it should result in the possibility of liability. No matter what the Supreme Court says, even the President should not be immune from the consequences of stupid statements that are intentionally hurtful.
Like me and my wife, we are given an awesome gift in the Bill of Rights. But with any right comes responsibility and I think we often neglect that part.
Metcalf stands to lose a lot more than a possible loudmouth. Is that fair?
Last week’s predictions were no gift. To me, it proves more is not always better as I made the most predictions I ever have. I’ll try again now. But no matter what happens in the relatively unimportant NFL world, hug those close to you and have a Merry Christmas.
Lines are from espn.com on Tuesday, Dec. 23.
Los Angeles Chargers (-2 ½) vs. Houston Texans: The Chargers are hot. The Texans have a great defense and a questionable offense.
Green Bay Packers (-2 ½) vs Baltimore Ravens: Bet this one early if you like the Pack, because the line will skyrocket if Jackson doesn’t play. Either way, the Ravens look done.
New Orleans Saints (-2 ½) at Tennessee Titans: I think the Saints will keep on marchin’.
Jacksonville Jaguars (-6 ½) at Indianapolis Colts: Again I like the hot team.
Philadelphia Eagles (+1 ½) at Buffalo Bills: Have I mentioned before that the Eagles are good?
Last week 4-5
Season 57-49
Robert’s picks
Texans (+2) at Chargers: The Chargers’ offense has struggled against the better defenses they’ve faced and this one might be the best. They’re also the AFC version of the 49ers with an inflated record because of a favorable scheduled. The Texans were obviously looking ahead to this one last week against the Raiders, but I’m betting they bring their ‘A’ game here, and if so they win it.
Bears (+3) at 49ers: I’ve been saying all season the 49ers record is propped up by a weak schedule. I’m not sure I believe in the Bears, but they’ve gone to the wire twice against the Packers and beat the Eagles, all in the past four weeks. They’ve showed out when they needed to and even though I obviously hope I’m wrong about this game, they’re the toughest test the 49ers have faced since they got blow out by the Rams.
Bills (-1 ½) over Eagles: This game really doesn’t matter to either team. It only matters to the Bills if the Patriots lose to either the Jets or Dolphins in the next two weeks, although the Eagles could get the No. 2 seed if the Bears lose to both the 49ers and Lions, but I’m guessing staying healthy is more important for either franchise. But this game, and the Raiders/Giants, are the only game in the Sunday afternoon window, so I’ll take the team with the home crowd to please.
Last week
College 2-1
NFL 1-2
Season
College 24-22-1
NFL 22-25-1
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