” To Knee or not to Knee ”

With fewer then 2% of all college football players making it to the NFL , Colin Kaepernick was drafted 36th overall to the San Francisco 49ers on April 29th of 2011. Stellar play for Kaepernick in the University of Reno Nevada, where he set several of the schools football records, is what eventually led to his succession on making it in the big leagues. Within his 1st two years in the pros he already brought the 49ers to the SuperBowl becoming the youngest quarterback ever to do so.

The world in the palm of his hands and with a large enough of a platform to get his views expressed. Kaepernick would eventually make sure he used this to stand up and voice his opinion on injustices within our police system specifically police brutality. It started when Kaepernick decided to sit down during the national anthem. Instantly causing an uproar around the nation, because americans felt like he was disrespecting the U.S flag, and totally ignoring his reasoning for doing so.

Untill the day Nate Boyer a retired army veteran wrote Kaepernick a letter which Kaepernick actually read and set up a meeting to talk in person and see each others view on the situation. And in that meeting is where the ” taking a knee ” idea was born 💡, and was a recommendation giving to Kaepernick by the army vet Nate Boyer. Boyer stated ” soldiers use the stance of taking a knee to show respect and/or pray for fallen soldier’s” so he told Kapernick kneeling would be a good way to protest while still showing respect to the flag.

Like a wildfire running rampant through the dried out California forests, players, coaches and soon whole entire teams would start to knee during the National Anthem. With mixed emotions ranging from agreeing with the kneel, to absolute hating it so bad fans started to boycott watching the NFL in general. With some NFL owners even going as far as to give a hefty fine to the players who decided to kneel, or just in fact kick them off the team.

Having such an immense impact on the pulic Kaepernick would find himself now backballed from the league. Not only being born bi-racial in still a largely racist world, and being adopted by white parents out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kaepernick had his fair share of facing adversity. Only to now find himself using the biggest platform he had to express his concerns on police brutality. I know a lot of people say keep politics out of sports and just do your job, but as a human being its also your job to distinguish right from wrong and label them as so.

Sacrificing his career and jeopardizing future employment opportunities did not stop Kaepernick from proceeding with his protest, in fact it only enlarged his movement.

On January 30th, 2000, my passion for football began and has since grown immensely. With Sports being a staple in my life, mainly football, i’ve decided to make this essay on a specific football game that has had me addicted to the sport ever since. It was a showdown between two elite teams filled with future hall of fame players, that still gets mentioned here and there for the simple fact alone. IT WAS AMAZING !

It all started when I was a kid, I’m talking about my love for the game of football that is. From sitting in front of the t.v glued to the screen on the day of the lord, to eventually playing organized football myself ( nevermind the countless hours of playing it’s video game Madden ). What I was able to experienced on. January 30th, 2000 was an everlasting feeling of hope. The battle between the Tennessee Titans and the St.Louis Rams in the Super Bowl, was historic and an instant classic. As well as my first time watching. The game was truly remarkable and unforgettable yet bittersweet, from a brilliant effort of the quarterback Steve McNair. Marching the team up field, on pace for a comeback victory, to a 1 yard away from the endzone stop, to lose the game as the time expired. Unfortunately the Rams q.b Kurt Warner was scortching hot and torched our defense with 414 yards in the air and 2 touchdowns on 24 passes.

A complete stranger who I never heard of 24 hours prior, had me hooked after an incredible in-game performance and memorable, yet motivating post game speech. I watched him down by 4 points with under 2 minutes to go and fight like titans with his team to march up the field. Just to get beat by the expiration of time and last second defensive stop. A tackle on Tennessee’s wide receiver Kevin Dyson perfectly executed by the Rams linebacker Mike Jones, sealed the Titans fate as losing team, while immortalizing the St.Louis Rams as Super Bowl champs. It was an underdog story that I can relate to, with a heart wrenching ending. For example if life was a game of poker I would of been dealt a horrible hand but still magically won based off my poker face and never folding. I lost both my parents to drugs and lived through some rough times that some adults wouldnt have been able to handle. And with a lot people expecting me to follow in my parents path, I did the exact opposite! So even though the Titans lost the big game, they didnt completely lose because no one even thought it was possible they’d even make it that far, similar to what people thought about me. Nevertheless Tennessee gained me as a life-long commited and fully dedicated fan.

In actuality it was in that moment of watching them get defeated, sitting with my dad and mom on the living room sofa that in fact pulled me in. Not only because it was one of the last Super Bowl’s I would watch with my mom and dad still together and alive. Which I don’t have to many memories of. But even more when the q.b Steve McNair was interviewed in the post-game conference. He talked with such distinct confidence after the loss, and promised to bring them back to the championship the following year. I can’t remember the question the reporter asked but I do remember McNair saying

With such a strong sense of confidence I was left with no other choice but then to believe.

Fast forward 18 almost 19 years later and i’m still apart of the titan nation screaming #titanup every football discussion I come across. Witnessing the rise and demise of my team throughout the years while remaining a humble fan, has been very difficult though, with little to no rewards. Headache after heart break after my heart trying to escape from my chest like i’m holding it hostage. Inevitably the feelings of that very 1st game has never left. A blessing and curse all wrapped in one, with a 18 year hold on their last Super Bowl appearance. At this point i am almost willing to sell my soul or left arm for a Super Bowl victory. Literally ….

Although, I would have never of thought on that night of Jan.30th 2000, i’d be subconsciously signing myself up for a ritual and tradition for years to come. I now have a son myself who likes the Titans by default. Every Sunday my son grabs one of my Titan hats and watches the games with me untill he becomes overly bored ( happens everytime ). As well as my commitment to watching every game from September untill January ( then playoffs and maybe Super Bowl ), my son has built the same loyalty I have. Went from chanting ” McNair ” who was like a god for the Titans, to Mariota who hopes he can keep his job with the Titans after this season, & about 8 other quarterbacks in between. It has been a rocky road, & very similar to the ice cream. At 1st when it’s fresh it’s amazing, but as time goes by its melts away and becomes unenjoyable, similar to Tennessee in recent years.

Therefore, I have quite the bizarre relationship with my team now a days. Because I know no matter how much I value or want to see my team do excellent and excell to greatness, there is 31 other teams who are just as hungry to win. I also know that I haven’t seen my team in the big game since I became a fan, and have been chasing the dream of seeing them in glory. Before I pass on to the “what ever happens after you die” realm, I need to see what should of happened on January 20th, 2000, the Tennessee Titan’s celebrating a win in the only game that matters……The Super Bowl !

In Tylers memoir the message he portrayed was that he pursued his childhood dream of playing organized football, only to realize it was exactly how he imagined. From grueling practices to unfair playing time due to favoritism.

On a universal level i can see people relating to being left out or over looked due to favoritism. For example the head coach of the team he played for gave his son the most playing minutes on the team. He had some good details when he talked about how hot, humid, muddy and mosquito filled the practices were. I feel he could of put more detail in saying if joining football ended up helping him and his dads bond grow stronger. Also how many games was played leading up to the time where he shined in the game and what emotion felt like.

The structure of this piece works because basically he explained wanting to join a football team and play in a game which he did do, and he gave some details on what he had to do. I can tell this takes place during the summer time due to descriptions and order of events that happened from practices to playing in a game. Although I do find it was easy to read I also find it was a little rushed. It was nice quick read and other then some grammatical mistakes it was a solid rough draft.

On January 30th, 2000, my passion for football began and has since grown immensely. With Sports being a staple in my life, mainly football, i’ve decided to make this essay on a specific football game that has had me addicted to the sport ever since. It was a showdown between two elite teams filled with future hall of fame players, that still gets mentioned here and there for the simple fact alone. IT WAS AMAZING !

It all started when I was a kid, I’m talking about my love for the game of football that is. From sitting in front of the t.v glued to the screen on the day of the lord, to eventually playing organized football myself ( nevermind the countless hours of playing it’s video game Madden ). What I was able to experienced on. January 30th, 2000 was an everlasting feeling of hope. The battle between the Tennessee Titans and the St.Louis Rams in the Super Bowl, was historic and an instant classic. As well as my first time watching. The game was truly remarkable and unforgettable yet bittersweet, from a brilliant effort of the quarterback Steve McNair. Marching the team up field, on pace for a comeback victory, to a 1 yard away from the endzone stop, to lose the game as the time expired. Unfortunately the Rams q.b Kurt Warner was scortching hot and torched our defense with 414 yards in the air and 2 touchdowns on 24 passes.

A complete stranger who I never heard of 24 hours prior, had me hooked after an incredible in-game performance and memorable, yet motivating post game speech. I watched him down by 4 points with under 2 minutes to go and fight like titans with his team to march up the field. Just to get beat by the expiration of time and last second defensive stop. A tackle on Tennessee’s wide receiver Kevin Dyson perfectly executed by the Rams linebacker Mike Jones, sealed the Titans fate as losing team, while immortalizing the St.Louis Rams as Super Bowl champs. It was an underdog story that I can relate to, with a heart wrenching ending. For example if life was a game of poker I would of been dealt a horrible hand but still magically won based off my poker face and never folding. I lost both my parents to drugs and lived through some rough times that some adults wouldnt have been able to handle. And with a lot people expecting me to follow in my parents path, I did the exact opposite! So even though the Titans lost the big game, they didnt completely lose because no one even thought it was possible they’d even make it that far, similar to what people thought about me. Nevertheless Tennessee gained me as a life-long commited and fully dedicated fan.

In actuality it was in that moment of watching them get defeated, sitting with my dad and mom on the living room sofa that in fact pulled me in. Not only because it was one of the last Super Bowl’s I would watch with my mom and dad still together and alive. Which I don’t have to many memories of. But even more when the q.b Steve McNair was interviewed in the post-game conference. He talked with such distinct confidence after the loss, and promised to bring them back to the championship the following year. I can’t remember the question the reporter asked but I do remember McNair saying

With such a strong sense of confidence I was left with no other choice but then to believe.

Fast forward 18 almost 19 years later and i’m still apart of the titan nation screaming #titanup every football discussion I come across. Witnessing the rise and demise of my team throughout the years while remaining a humble fan, has been very difficult though, with little to no rewards. Headache after heart break after my heart trying to escape from my chest like i’m holding it hostage. Inevitably the feelings of that very 1st game has never left. A blessing and curse all wrapped in one, with a 18 year hold on their last Super Bowl appearance. At this point i am almost willing to sell my soul or left arm for a Super Bowl victory. Literally ….

Although, I would have never of thought on that night of Jan.30th 2000, i’d be subconsciously signing myself up for a ritual and tradition for years to come. I now have a son myself who likes the Titans by default. Every Sunday my son grabs one of my Titan hats and watches the games with me untill he becomes overly bored ( happens everytime ). As well as my commitment to watching every game from September untill January ( then playoffs and maybe Super Bowl ), my son has built the same loyalty I have. Went from chanting ” McNair ” who was like a god for the Titans, to Mariota who hopes he can keep his job with the Titans after this season, & about 8 other quarterbacks in between. It has been a rocky road, & very similar to the ice cream. At 1st when it’s fresh it’s amazing, but as time goes by its melts away and becomes unenjoyable, similar to Tennessee in recent years.

Therefore, I have quite the bizarre relationship with my team now a days. Because I know no matter how much I value or want to see my team do excellent and excell to greatness, there is 31 other teams who are just as hungry to win. I also know that I haven’t seen my team in the big game since I became a fan, and have been chasing the dream of seeing them in glory. Before I pass on to the “what ever happens after you die” realm, I need to see what should of happened on January 20th, 2000, the Tennessee Titan’s celebrating a win in the only game that matters……The Super Bowl !

My hometown is not the greatest place to live, if you want somewhere nice to raise children.

Laci had a slighty strange way of doing things.

All Mr.Brown ever did was yell and complain to his class, and treat them poorly.

In I.S.S ( in school suspension ), the room made you feel like a prisoner in jail.

In the memoir i read, the summary of the essay was the impact, both negative and positive baseball and the Red Sox had on the writer John. It showed the relationship he gained with his grandfather and the game itself, also the one he re-established with his dad. All in all it showed the effects baseball and the Sox had on his immediate life.

I picked this essay because it was sports related. What i liked about this memoir is how I could relate to the power of falling in love with the game and idolizing a team. Also with it being relatable, it gave me an idea on how i could go about on my memoir.

What can connect people on this essay is the emotions displayed. Most of us has either been attached to something or someone who has played a significant role in our life. I’m pretty positive we have all had felt sad and angry at one point or another, as well as happy and ecstatic or devoted to a sports team or person that has disappointed us.

I read this memoir on http://bccenglish11.edublogs.org/assignments/ in the ” Memoir: Samples to read ” highlight.

‌  On this beautiful July 4th summer day family, food, and fun was in an abundance. From the neighbors setting off fireworks, to his nieces and nephews swimming in the pool and running wrecklessly throughout the yard. Game after game of football in the pool with cousins. Endless supply of comfort food fresh off the grill. Jokes and laughter are the sounds that fill the air with the occasional kid screaming. Family all together, the sun shining and good food all around, Luke’s 4th of July was complete.

As a writer I look at myself as a poet who writes memoirs. Formed from real life experiences, I express myself through writing my own music. My strongest points as a writer would have to come when I speak about the struggles and the good times you go through in life. I may not always know the correct places for punctuations and I may be repetitive within my dialogue, but I do know how to engage an audience. My goal this semister and moving forward is to improve in my writing, because I do know my writing isn’t completely proper and poor compared to the level I desire.

Thankfully enough I kept on writing music after highschool untill present time, but it’s the only time I feel the need to write besides on my social media accounts. I will say i fell into the trap of using slang and abbrevations of words due to technology and lazy writing. On the plus side with all these social media sites and smart phones at our grasps, most of us write and blog everyday.

Im still an extremely active writer up untill today and have no problem writing or voicing my opinion. I feel with writing I can get my points across better then verbally telling someone. From social injustices to sports debates i am constantly writing or sharing blogs.

    Also I feel its important and esstential that i maintain proper writing skills for future employment oppurtunities which is why i enrolled back into college.  Continue reading →