Track 12: My Top 5 NFL Players

So it feels like it's been a ridiculously long day. I am fully initiated now in my fraternity (Delta Sigma Phi) and saw Georgia Tech upset Duke in basketball. I watched the game from the floor and apparently was on ESPN for a second. We stormed the court when we won, but I got trapped in between three fat, sweaty ESPN camera crew guys.

But enough with that. Because I can't think of anything else to do, I'm just going to make a list of my 5 favorite NFL players past and present.

1. Brett Favre. So I know I'm going to get some crap over this one given all of his recent team switching and glory hogging, but I absolutely love to watch this guy play (not as much now because of the purple he currently wears). When the ball is in Brett Favre's hands, you have no clue what to expect. You have to prepare for a big play at any moment. He essentially makes football exciting. I also wanted to mention his ridiculous record for number of consecutive starts. This guy is a competitor.

2. Barry Sanders. I mentioned him in a previous blog post from the other day, but this guy is amazing. I never received much of a chance to watch much of him live, yet just watching this highlight video blows my mind. He made plays stay alive just by persistence, and that's something that I greatly admire. It was unfortunate that he played for the Lions his whole career, because the Lions' struggles helped bring about his early retirement due to being tired of the culture of losing.

3. Jerome Bettis. As a kid I always would play football with a friend who lived in my neighborhood. We were around seven or eight years old. He was a skinny, little guy, and I was fairly hefty. Whenever we played, I always pretended I was Jerome Bettis, because I could just run the ball all over the yard with my friend hanging on my feet. He could do the same thing. Jerome Bettis truly deserved his nickname of "The Bus". He was huge, and no one could stop him when he started driving his legs.

4. Charles Woodson. I have to include a defensive player in this list, because they're just as important as the offensive players. He's having the best season of his career just as other players his age are declining. He's smart, talented, athletic, and a leader. Charles is always looking to make a play which differentiates him from many of his peers. He's an easy pick for the Hall of Fame whenever he retires.

5. Reggie White. I was trying to keep this list from becoming biased towards the Packers, but I can't help it. Reggie White was the defensive end. He defined the position in my eyes. His ability to disrupt a play and obtain a sack makes him unparalleled. Sure, other players have come along and broken some of his records, but it just isn't the same nowadays. He was the "Minister of Defense". Requiescat in pace.

Track 8: Cameras Can't Capture Barry Sanders

So I'm going to take you back in time a little bit.

It was the summer of 2006. More specifically, the weekend right before school was to start again. I was a young, innocent about-to-be sophomore. One of my cousins was getting married, so my family flew up to Detroit for the wedding.

Nothing terribly eventful happened at this wedding. Yet, here's where the bulk of my tale begins. It was Sunday. I was looking forward to seeing Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby with some friends later that evening. Little did I know that the movie would not be the highlight of my day.

I'm in the airport waiting to fly back to Nashville. I'm just sitting there reading a book, because we arrived at the airport super early. One of the airline employees approaches the microphone at the nearby gate and says, "We need Barry Sanders to come to gate [whatever gate it was] as soon as possible." Somehow, even though I'm barely paying attention, I'm able to process this statement pretty fast. I assume it's because I've watched so much football that famous players pique my interest. I look up at the employee and cock my head at him a bit as if to ask, "No, it can't be?". Our eyes meet and he very clearly states, "Yes, the Barry Sanders."

Well, now I can't even focus on anything. I'm looking all around the surrounding area to see if I can see anybody who could possibly be Barry Sanders. I wait for what seems like forever. Time drags on and on. Finally, I see him. He walks incredibly purposefully with a little bit of that Barry Sanders speed evident. I can nearly envision him ducking, juking, and dodging defenders as he weaves through the crowded airport. He reaches the desk at the gate, and the employee politely tells him that he missed his flight. It's at this point that I also realize that Barry also has teenage son (who is now a notable football prospect in high school) with him. As Barry and his son wait for the employee to rearrange their flight(s), I decide now is when I'm going to make my move.

I turn to my sister and tell her to come with me. I also grab the camera we brought with us. I build up my nerves (it's Barry freakin' Sanders!). I ask him if I can take a picture with him. He seems a bit taken aback that I even recognized him, but he agrees to the picture. I pose with him as my sister takes the picture. Something seems different from the way the camera normally takes a picture, but I disregard this fact. I thank Barry for the opportunity and go back to sit with my family.

I anxiously grab the camera from my sister to look at the picture as soon as Barry and his son leave the area. The picture wasn't there.

I was heartbroken. My one chance: Gone.

Nowadays, I've reconciled myself with the events of that day. But I have to say: Barry, if you're out there, I would like a second shot at a picture.

Track 6: The NFL's Media Dilemma

Okay, so I'm pissed. The NFL needs to get off it's high horse and follow the MLB's lead. I'm so sick and tired of having to scour the internet right as a game is starting to watch my Green Bay Packers play when they're not on tv. Most of this season, I've had access to DirecTV. The last few weeks, though, I've been at home, and they've only nationally televised one Packers game in that time.

This is ludicrous. The NFL is alienating their fans through this system. I'm having to switch feeds nearly every quarter just to watch the game. I realize I don't live anywhere near Green Bay, but I should have other ways to watch this game. This just doesn't cut it for me.

I would gladly pony up the money to watch these games online legitmately. I love Packers football, and it makes me incredibly frustrated to be forced to stoop this low to watch them. The NFL also needs to realize that not all of us have satellite, so the NFL Ticket option doesn't help at all. Putting games online would also allow fans of teams that have been blacked out in their area to have another way to watch the game.

And only 4 games on TV per week? C'mon.

Well, my little rant fest is over for now.