The Fourth of July is many things to many people. To some it is a day off of work and an excuse to drink beer and barbeque. To some it is a chance to celebrate the last time Americans liked the French more than the English. To others it is their chance to legally enjoy that pyromaniac tendency without risk of an arson conviction. But to me it is something else entirely. The dawn of a New Year.
I recognize that scientists and annoying know-it-alls will tell you that summer just started a couple weeks ago, but for me, July 4th is the beginning of the end of summer. The 4th of July is the last day where football season is a distant, hazy mirage. Starting tomorrow the new football season starts to take form and become a recognizable shape. Even if still as fuzzy as a road sign at night when I am not wearing my glasses.
NFL two-a-days start in less than a month. My fantasy draft is a month and a half away. The first college football game is 2 months away. Basically our football-less days are almost at an end. We are closer to watching NFL players dance in the End Zone than dance on a reality show.
In the heat of July with the World Cup winding down and baseball games the only distraction in a dreary sports landscape, you may not believe me. But just look at these signs of football in the world around us:
- Peyton Manning is already showing up with Justin Timberlake in a new commercial for Sony. Sadly, doesn’t end with Timberlake stealing Peyton’s 3-D glasses and returning them for a game-clinching touchdown.
- Brett Favre, presumably jealous of the attention being paid to another former drug addict/media whore named Diego Maradona, has begun his annual “will-he, won’t he” dance with the media – playing catch with high school kids in Mississippi. Let me save everyone in the media a lot of time and effort. He is playing. Stop with the breathless updates, please.
- I am currently watching a Hard Knocks marathon on NFL Network, reacquainting myself with the comedy of the 2007 Kansas City Chiefs and the joys of Mrs. Brody Croyle wearing a tight shirt. One thing I can guarantee is that the Chiefs season absolutely featured more clips of the head coach working out than we will see this year with the New York Jets and head coach Rex Ryan.
- Michael Vick and his friends are in trouble again after a shooting at Michael Vick’s birthday party. This is only news in that for once Vick and his cohorts this time took on victims that could fight back. It is also news that the Eagles are reportedly not interested in releasing Vick. So for those keeping track at home, in Philadelphia being the leading citizen in the city for a decade gets you released. Having a snitch shot at your birthday party gets you a signing bonus.
- On the sports radio in Seattle this past week; talk had turned to the UW football team and their Heisman candidate Jake Locker. For those of you not on the west coast who aren’t familiar with Jake Locker he is much like Tim Tebow. The difference being with a rumored 4.3 40-yard dash Locker is much faster, not being slowed down by the weight of his own self-righteousness.
- Speaking of Tebow, if we are still a month away and are this obsessed with Timmy what is going to happen when the games actually start? If for no other reason than this you know Brett Favre will return. You think his 12-year old girl like need for attention would allow another quarterback to hog the media spotlight? As Ochocinco would say: child please.
Making fun of Tebow and Favre already? I am definitely ready for football to get here.
