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| Rob's Soapbox | ||
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Congratulations!
You have finally landed on the one page on this entire site (and on the entire internet for that matter) that is purely without bullshit... my soapbox page. There are a lot of times during our show that, whether it's because of time constraints and other obligations, I don't always get to address some issues that I feel don't get the attention they deserve. There are even more times when I just don't feel like waiting until the show the next day to get some things off my chest. Thus, I have started the "Rob's Soapbox" page. If you have clicked on this page looking for someone to coddle your fragile sense of self-esteem, or tell you what you want to hear or to reinforce your outdated world view, then exit this page right now and go somewhere else. If you are in search of the last forum for reason and common sense left in the world, then sit back, relax, and enjoy. I make only one promise with this soapbox page... if you read long enough and often enough, you will eventually be offended. So here's my latest soapbox. Listen up, 'cause you just might learn something... |
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January 17th, 2005 WHY I HATE TERRY BRADSHAW
I have never been a fan of Terry Bradshaw. I thought he was an overrated quarterback when he played with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the late 1970's and that he benefited from an amazing coach and an even more amazing and talented supporting cast. He was good, but he wasn't one of the ten best ever based on talent, although I can't and won't discredit his results. Bradshaw lost more favor with me when he limped out of the game rather than retiring gracefully, a snub that is often tagged on him. Then came Bradshaw's broadcasting career which has been an embarrassing commentary on how America will eat up a "character" and ignore the lack of substance in a person who simply acts flamboyantly. Bradshaw clearly tried way too hard when he began in TV and he's never stopped. Most of his comments are forced, presented in an absurd way and almost always lacking in courage. Additionally, he's gone on a public crusade of late legitimizing made up mental illnesses and the horrific drugs that our society is overdosing on as a panacea rather than dealing with the actual problems. Other than that, he's a great guy in my eyes. This year on the Fox NFL Sunday show, Bradshaw has been doing an interview every week with a prominent NFL player. He calls the feature something like "10 yards with Terry" or some such absurd shit, meant to illustrate the "10 question" format he uses in his discussions. Each and every week one question always gets asked that drives me nuts: "Nice or honest?" Meaning, would you rather be thought of as a nice person or an honest person? He of course gets dopey politically correct answers from all of the players including Packer QB Brett Favre who said, "I think you can be both." Idiot. Leave it to Terry Bradshaw to find a way to make me yell at my TV over an asinine interview with an NFL player each and every week. I hate everything about this. The very legitimacy of the question is false and the answers given by these ignorant athletes prove what a wussified society we've become. The question itself states that we have come to a point in our culture where we actually consider dishonesty to be a positive choice. Are you kidding me? Lying is not ok. Stop with all of these ridiculous claims that lying to spare feelings is somehow justified. If you can't answer a question nicely and that bothers you, then choose not to answer it as opposed to choosing to lie for Christ's sake. Even better, when your wife says "Honey do I look fat in this?" have the courage to respond by saying, "Baby that outfit is not showing off your best features…why not throw on that frilly skirt with the high boots that I love so much?" You've found a way to tell her that what she has on sucks without making her feel like a manatee and you haven't lied. Life isn't rocket science, Homer. More bothersome in Bradshaw's stupid question is the implication that being honest ISN'T nice. Hey, sorry if the truth hurts but that doesn't make it any less true or less nice. There were more than a few times in my career when I had to sit across the desk from an employee of mine and inform them that they simply weren't talented enough to be on the radio. Many people would have simply lied to the person to spare their feelings and claim that they were being nice. I say bullshit to that. By having the courage to be honest with these individuals I was able to save them from years of toiling and failure and instead see them pursue things that they were able to master and be successful at. Try to tell me how that isn't nice. Most clichés and stereotypes are such because they are truthful. Try reminding yourself of one of the most famous of them all the next time you're inclined to ask yourself whether you want to be nice or want to honest: Honesty is the best policy.
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