Jason Haskins's Blog, page 43

Carrie Fisher: A Star Among the Heavens

photo courtesy flickr.com
More so than in any other year of recent memory, 2016 has claimed its fair share of celebrities.
Carrie Fisher was so much more than simply a celebrity.
She was so much more than Princess Leia. True, the character was a strong female character; one who was as much as a hero as her male counterparts. 
Fisher was an actress, yes. She was also a wonderful, sharp-tongued, witty writer. She was an advocate for mental health and depression. Fisher battled her own demons throughout her life, rising above addiction and pushing through fame to achieve so much more with her life.
Another idol and inspiration taken from the world perhaps too soon. Different people admire her for various reasons. Fisher will not quickly or easily be forgotten, especially to those close to her in life.
She joins quite the collection of people who have passed in 2016. Ali. Rickman. Bowie. Prince. George Michael. Wilder. These names hardly scratch the surface of people--celebrity and otherwise--that have found their way to the other side in 2016.
It is a fact of life, but that doesn't make it any easier. We will have our memories as outsiders to Fisher. Boys of the 80's will remember a strong willed princess who was probably the recipient of their first crush. (yes, gold bikini and all). Many people will remember her as a caring person, a woman unafraid to stand up for what she believed in. And family and close friends will remember her as much, much more.
All should remember her for this: She was the ultimate badass.  
To read more of Fisher and her life, this article can provide the insight needed. And of course, a lovely tribute from her space brother, Mark Hamill.
"Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What's important is the action. You don't have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow."- Carrie Fisher

Greetings and Wishes 2016

In sitting down to write this year's Christmas letter, I was having trouble figuring out where to begin. Do I begin with the positives? Do I sprinkle in some negatives? Do I run a poll to see what Christmas movie people like better?
The options appear to be limitless. 
Instead, I decided to start out with two questions on everyone's mind when they haven't heard from me in awhile: Do you have a girlfriend yet and Do you need more Christmas music on your iPod?
No, not yet, is the answer to the first question. But I'm always accepting applications.
And a resounding yes is the answer to the second question.
I begin listening to Christmas music usually in mid-November. I'd say about ten percent of the songs on my iPod is comprised of Christmas music. Five versions of Silent Night? Done. I have the classics. I have the local music. I have The Muppets and I have Tom Waits singing New Year's Eve.  
Do I get tired of it by this time? Not usually. I still tend to break up the listening with other music still. It's not a non-stop barrage of Christmas tunes. This year the holiday tunes were broken up a lot by the Hamilton soundtrack. (Of which I've been listening to for months now). In the end, I'm a sucker for Christmas music, even occasionally letting it play if pops up on shuffle on the iPod in the middle of July. 
It's all part of the Christmas tradition for me.
The year 2016 brought forth the usual array of highs and lows. A life would be easier by simply ridding oneself of the lows, but truly, where's the fun in that? The lows in life can build esteem, character, and help bring forth a strong foundation. Without the lows, we wouldn't know how great the highs truly feel.
I have been fortunate enough to be an actor, a director, a writer, and a dramaturg on various projects across the Treasure Valley over the past year. To learn more of those projects, updates are provided (semi) regularly over at my website. More than simply keeping busy, steady work feeds my creative soul. And I'm thankful to have worked and become friends with such wonderful people.
Sports writing was something I really never focused on much until the last couple of years, save for the occasional blog post. Now, I write about Boise State athletics at Bronco Nation News and contribute sports stories about the Celtics and Red Sox over at Chowder and Champions.
Plays, novels and the rest have, in a way, taken a back seat at times in 2016. I wrote a new ten-minute play for a festival over the summer at HomeGrown Theatre in Boise, but new works in the play world have not materialized. I am in the process of editing my latest full length, The Latitude of Life, and have continued to submit to various locations across the country.
The Dragon Princess is still for sale over at the Kindle Store and work on its follow,-up The Blue Gem, has actually picked up steam over the past few months. It is a goal to have that ready to go by this time next year, if not sooner.
This past fall, I was lucky enough to work on two shows with my Alley Repertory family. The first was The Totalitarians by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb. I worked as an assistant director and dramaturg for this show, directing alongside my longtime friend Justin Ness. 

The second show, the recently closed Disenchanted! by Dennis T. Giacino, was an experience in and of itself. Working with this cast and crew as a dramaturg, I was not only able to do research on ten Disney princesses, I was blessed with watching a group deliver funny, empowering performances on a nightly basis. On top of that, seeing people come together to produce a musical with a strong message provided me with memories, and friends, to last a lifetime.
photo credit Chaz Gentry
Being a dramaturg requires tree climbing. Also pictured is Dan, the show's choreographer
I did make it home to see my parents and brother a few times this year. In between those visits--along with a few good friends--a trip to Vegas was also had. Traveling was light this past year, but it is my hope in 2017 a trip to Georgia to visit my sister, brother-in-law, and nieces and nephew is in the cards.
On a more somber note, I laid to rest my cat of ten years last May. A sad moment--as pets often become like family members--and one that has made the apartment a little lonelier, especially with the ornaments safely hanging from the Christmas tree.
I am blessed to have a lot of people to share my life with. Acquaintances, friends, and families have all helped mold me in one way or the other. 
To my family and friends, near and far, I am thankful to have you all in my life. I wish all of you a Happy Holidays, a Merry Christmas or simply a blessed Sunday. Here's to a much better 2017, one in which I wish for you health, happiness, and hopefully a society that won't take five steps backwards.
Be Bold. Be Merry. Be Kind.

December, December

photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
The fog rolled in, gently encasing the valley. Growing. Swarming. Leaving nothing to chance, I continued on, my goal to do one thing: make it out of Walmart alive.
It was Saturday, the holiday rush in full throttle. Lord hear my prayers.
Traffic snarled, the growing gray abyss of no help to my cause to get there quick. It was a fool's mission, I know. Plans go awry all the time when Walmart is involved. Why would this time be any different?
Parking can destroy the will of any man during the holiday rush. Preparation is the key. The options are limited. Choosing not sit idly by, like the man with his blinker on for an eternity waiting for a closer spot, I opt to park farther away. My legs will have to carry me to the building, saving my soul for the patience that will be surely tried inside.
The Gods are smiling upon me, as generous cars let me pass in the intersection of the parking lot. I'm halfway there, my eyes scanning the area for drivers not looking behind them for the man dressed in a gray sweater. The fog provides for me an uncalled camouflage. I did not ask for this, but it is Walmart day after all. Always expect the unexpected.
Inhaling the chilly air into my lungs, I take a final deep breath before entering. Will I survive? This isn't Black Friday after all. How much harm can be done? In and out. That's the goal. I need one gift and some suction cups to hang lights on the window. Christmas and toys go hand and hand. The sections will be close together and success will be mine. 
I weave in between families with children ranging free and grandmas with out of control carts. There are men in the doll section, women in the cars section, and sullen teenagers looking for any escape from their parents. Others move slow, but not slow enough to impede my progress.
The gift is acquired quite easily. It is the suction cups I cannot find. In the process, an ornament has ended up in my hands. I barely remember it landing there, but it has. Focus has now found the tinsel, shiny colors dancing in my mind. I reach it for it as my mind snaps to. In and out.
With a little help from a new found friend at Walmart, the suction cups are now in my possession. Smiling, with a mouth full of missing and chipped teeth, the man with the blue vest attempts to sell me candles, lights and more, all while holding a dancing Christmas tree. My mind races, the Walmart spirit sucking me in. A polite "thank you" sends the man on his way, lost in the maze of shoppers and aisles forever.
The check out is within my site when I detour again. The call of the school supply section beckons me, hoping to find some Harry Potter pencils for my niece. Three aisles later, a glaze over my eyes, my mission has failed. No pencils, but my hands are now full of toys, ornaments, a board game and some woman's scarf. It may have been fleeting, but I think we briefly made out in the home decor section. 
I need to get out. Thirty minutes have gone by but for all I know it's been days. Can I survive? Will Walmart be the end of me? Seriously, how did I get this scarf? And who was that woman?
In my effort to answer my own questions, I find not only have I been speaking out loud but am now at the self-checkout line. How I got here, I don't care. The mission is almost complete.
The line is long. An old man removes his jacket, remarking how warm the store is. His gaze does not leave mine. Small talk is about to ensure, my heart racing, looking for something, any thing to get me out of this. Unfortunately, my brain does not connect to my mouth in time. "Guess that's what happens when we've been in here so long."
I'm given a chuckle, probably as a courtesy. I attempt to follow up with something more witty, but am given pause. In my weariness, I find I am looking in a mirror. I have a full cart of stuff next to me. I glance at my watch. Three hours have passed. There are bags under my eyes, my stomach is empty and I look like I haven't slept in days. I recognize nary an item in the cart, save for the woman's scarf I'd so gallantly acquired. I'm left with my reflection, and a lost kiss I may never experience again.
You win again, Walmart. You win again.

United We Stand

photo courtesy of pixabay.com
To the strong, independent women I know (and I don't know). To the people of different races, different cultures. To LGBT friends and acquaintances (and strangers). 
The health of our future, the stabilizing of our climate, the safety of mankind. Compassion, inclusion, and creating a country proud to call home.
All of it.
I'm with you.
The voices will not remain silent.  Progress will not be swept aside and will not be erased. So many years and so many fights will not be forgotten. All that has been accomplished--in the past eight years and beyond--will not be stripped away.
Not without a fight.
Standing tall in the face of adversity, despite the ache in the gut that has been felt by many over the past four days, is what makes us stronger. We may fall nine times, but know for certain we'll get up the tenth.
Protest. Donate. Speak up. Listen. Lift up your hearts to those that experience the social injustice on a daily basis. So many people have worked so hard to march this nation forward, to protect our freedoms granted to us by the founders of this nation, to see it all go to waste in the coming years.
I promise to do the same.
Equality. Inclusion. Compassion. 
Is that too much too ask for in today's world?
Apparently, for half of the country, it is. Or at least they voted for a man who struggled with all of those things. Were the last eight years perfect? No. There were bumps in the road, but progress was made in turn raising the standards of this country. And those eight years were better than the first four days of the new era. (And it's not even officially the start of the term yet).
Wake up each morning, ready to change the world before we let one man change the world for all of us.
Compassion. Make HUMANS great again.

American Sports Franchises Thirsty for a Title

image courtesy of flickr.com
A billy goat. A dash of bad luck. A sprinkle of a die hard fan. Leon Durham. Add those together and you have the beginnings of the recipe for the curse that has haunted the Chicago Cubs for over 70 years.
In winning the 2016 World Series, the Cubs collected their first World Series title since 1908. Their seven-game victory effectively ended the longest title drought among the four major professional sports leagues in the United States.
Now that the talk of a goat and Bartman can be put to rest, it is now the Cleveland Indians sitting on the longest drought in the Major League baseball. The Indians will be discussed here, as will the other longest droughts in the three other major American sports leagues.
MLB-Cleveland Indians
The Indians moved through the American League this postseason with ease. First, they swept the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS. Then, they took care of the Toronto Blue Jays in five games.
Yes, the Indians lost in the World Series after leading three games to one. The Cubs winning means the Indians have taken over the mantle for baseball team with the longest drought, last winning the World Series in 1948.
The last time the Indians were in the World Series, contrary to belief, was not in the film Major League. It was in 1997, where they lost there for the second time in three seasons, falling to the Florida ne Miami Marlins.
Eight franchises have never won the World Series, with the Texas Rangers franchise toiling the longest at 55 seasons.
NFL-Arizona Cardinals (Including NFL/AFL Championships)
It took a last second, Santonio Holmes miracle catch to extend the Cardinals titleless misery back in 2008. It was a Super Bowl run worth remembering, as Kurt Warner led the Cardinals from the sixth-seed in the NFC playoffs to being seconds away from glory.
The team has seen varying degrees of success since, making the playoffs three times, going as far as the NFC Championship during the 2015-16 season. Things unraveled there, where they lost to the Carolina Panthers 49-15.
Many pundits had the Cardinals taking home the Lombardi Trophy this season and getting themselves off this list. A 3-3-1 start, though, hasn’t done much to back up those predictions.
The Cardinals last won a title back when the franchise was in Chicago. In 1947.
Dating back to the pre-merger years, five teams have never won a championship--Super Bowl or otherwise. The next in line for longest without the hardware is the Detroit Lions.
NBA-Sacramento Kings
The promised land was last visited by the Kings back in 1951, where they were still the Rochester Royals. The regular season opens this week for the 2016 season and the Kings have not been back to the NBA Finals since.
They enjoyed a nice run for a bit, making the playoffs from every season from 1998-2006 (the Chris Webber years), reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2002 and losing to the Lakers in seven games.
The last ten seasons haven’t been kind as the Kings haven’t made the playoffs since the 2005-06 season. And a new venue probably isn’t going to change their fortune, at least in the near future, but at this point anything is worth a shot.
Seven franchises have never appeared in the NBA Finals, with longest of those belonging to the Los Angeles Clippers at 46 seasons.
NHL- St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs
The St. Louis Blues were losers in the Stanley Cup Finals their first three years of existence. They have not been back since.
This is despite the fact, since they came aboard in 1967, the Blues have only missed the playoffs eight times (plus once more in 2004, when the NHL season was cancelled.)
The Toronto Maple Leafs are next in line, with their last Stanley Cup coming in the 1966-67 season. I’m sure there are some Maple Leafs fans may tie their bad luck to the fate of the Blues entering the league. I mean, Toronto hasn’t made it back to the Finals since the Blues joined the league.
One little problem, though. The Maple Leafs have 13 Stanley Cup victories to their name. So while any fan born after 1960 may feel left out, the franchise as a whole at least has some hardware to display.

From Negan with Love

YouTube screenshot
*The following contains Spoilers from the season 7 premiere of "The Walking Dead"
"Pissing our pants yet? Boy, do I have a feeling we're getting close."- Negan, The Walking Dead

And people thought Ramsay Bolton was sadistic.


The much anticipated season seven premiere of The Walking Dead hit the airwaves last Sunday. Boy, was it a doozy.
I am not going to spend much time on what side of the liked/didn't like it/I'm never watching again spectrum I fall in. I will say that I was enraptured, on the edge of my seat for nearly the entire one hour, six minutes (including commercials) of the episode. This was an episode that filled me with a sense of existential dread for the characters inhabiting The Walking Dead world. It is a feeling that is still with me nearly two days later.
As a disclaimer, I am only through the first ten volumes of the graphic novels. I have yet to reach the Negan arc. I am also on the side of the court that didn't mind the cliffhanger from season six finale. That episode had nearly as much suspense as most previous episodes combined. Little did I know the Saviors were only getting started in messing with the characters' heads.
The episode from Sunday, titled "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be", has the critics writing the show off. Judging by comment boards and social media posts, the fans are divided on how to feel. Two characters were killed off in an unabashedly violent way. Many viewers saw the first one coming, then felt safe. Perfect.
Then, Daryl (Norman Reedus) made the mistake of attacking Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). I knew then another death was coming. Negan had already given his free pass to the group when Glenn (Steven Yeun) lunged. Even though I knew who it was going to be next based off the camera set up and who was framed in the shot, nearly perfectly in focus, the act still came as a shock.
And it hurt. Both deaths. Each man had his final gasp, both true to character. Though the creators had assigned different deaths in the television show than those of the comics, both Glenn and Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) had both perished in this very arc.
Two deaths--even if not theirs--were were needed. The cast had become too sprawling--for a few seasons now--leaving less time for character development. Time to bring that back.
Like I said, I'm not here to go too much into the how or the why of the violence of the episode. To me, it was one of the best episodes of recent seasons. It is plainly setting up a story arc, one that I hope they handle with care and don't rush. The group, I hope, will now see themselves in a different light. One that will hopefully lead to redemption of their initial goals in the first couple of seasons. A road that will lead to a little bit of revenge, I'm sure, but hopefully a story that forces the characters to look at what they've become.
All because of one man.
Negan.
Based off the final ten minutes of last season and the premiere on Sunday, Negan is a character that makes every other villain on this show look like a ray of sunshine. He is calculating, manipulative, psychotic and he does it all with glee. Negan is a menace of a kind not often seen on television.
And Morgan is brilliant in the role, recently admitting (rightfully so) that shooting the deaths scenes left him emotionally drained.
Part of the reason the character made such a huge impact (aside from his trusted weapon Lucille) was the fact we didn't see him for most of the season. He was simply a man spoken about and to not get him at his full on best until the season premiere (last season's finale was just a taste) only built up the legend. Sometimes less is more.
This is exactly why I hope they don't overuse him and his maniacal tendencies this season.
To me, the season will thrive if the the psychological threat of Negan is present more than the physical body. Yes, he will need to make appearances in Alexandria. If he never comes around, then we lose that aspect of the story.
Keeping Negan behind the scenes and in the shadows, for me personally, will drive the story even more. The threat of his absence will loom larger than seeing him chew up scenery (though Morgan embodies the trait perfectly). We already know he's not above doing anything. Though we will inevitably see his back story, hopefully the writers will keep his appearances random. Then we, the viewers, might hopefully identify with this fictional world once again.
Our heroes our broken (even Carol, who we've yet to see yet. But she was pretty damn broken at the end of last season). The real world is broken a bit, too. Perhaps that's why the episode is driving people away--even calling it torture porn. Because the idea of seeing a human go to those lengths--in a fiction or otherwise-- is scary.
To me, though the story wasn't advanced immensely, the characters are in a place they've never been before. They're below rock bottom. And if done right, it will keep the viewers that stick around on the edge of their seats. We've seen this trope done the past four season. New villain creates chaos, group overcomes. Let's just hope the burn is slower this time.
If the last two episodes in the series are any indication, it's certainly leaning that way. I for one, can't wait to see what's next.

Legend. #TheWalkingDead @Cudlitz pic.twitter.com/jXRbOzhjMC— The Pixel Factor (@ThePixelFactor) October 24, 2016

The Last of Laughter

I have been holed up in my house for the past four days. There is nothing left I can do, at least for now. The events have gone in different directions, the parties have all been canceled. In fact, the only reason my phone rings these days is for people to say, "Sorry. We just can't have you coming by. Maybe next year."
The emails I receive are even worse. "You sad, sad man." And "Why can't you leave us alone, freak." Or my favorite, "Stay out of our town and go back to your camp by the lake."
Mornings have started out like this for the past few weeks. I am once again lost in thought, my bowl of cereal idling by in soggy oblivion. I stare at the start-up screen of my laptop, spoon loosely gripped in my right hand. The point has arrived in which I don't want to get online. I'm scared to see what the next headline will be. What monstrosity will they dream up next? What prank will the people of the world perpetuate now?
Two deep breaths later, I give in. It takes all of the bravery I can muster, but I need to do it. I let the spoon fall into what is now warm milk. I click on the internet icon of my laptop, close my eyes and hope for the best. My thoughts race. "This is my well-being. This is how I make my money."
Gathering every ounce of courage I have, I open my eyes. The inbox is empty. A step in the right direction. No jobs but no cancellations, no hate spewed comments derived from the blackest recesses of the internet's heart. Relief battling disappointment, I've now become the contradiction given to my occupation for years.  Still, the relief is short-lived knowing the headlines that might await on other sites.
The fear is soon confirmed with one click of the mouse. The front page of the website I landed on is littered with headlines that will further hamper my career. It was bad enough living through the most recent recession. Luxuries such as myself were no longer purchased. I suffered, watching the bank account streamline towards zero. I was luckier than others, finding jobs at fairs, carnivals and even street corners. This time around, though, the pit in my stomach told me there would be no such reprieve.  What were these people doing to me and others like me? "Enough," I yelled out loud to an empty room.
The bowl of cereal received the brunt of my anger. My hand sent the bowl flying from the table, skidding across the floor and leaving behind a Rorschach splattered mess of milk and mushy cereal.  I fling my head downwards, face landing in my hands, the remnants of milk gently pressing against my cheeks.
I think back to the Satanic Panic of the late 1980's. Stories of satanic cults taking over towns, newspapers reported skinned cat in school lockers, bloody Pentagrams and cloaked men running around neighborhoods. Years later many of these tales were discovered to be false, hoaxes created to help grow the fear. This had to be the same thing happening all over again. Right?
I looked up, my hand once again finding the mouse of the laptop. I scroll the page, scanning for one positive note. My search comes up empty. Instead, I'm treated to more of the same. All reports of threats, fake kidnap attempts and general creepiness.
I lean back in my chair, resigned to ride out the storm. I decide that this, too, shall pass. And mostly I feel sad of these people because, in this messed-up, confused world, they are destroying something that is so good. All I can do now is hope that one day I can again put on the giant red nose and bring laughter to the world once again.

Remember September

photo courtesy of public-domain-image.com
Autumn was officially welcomed in the other day with rain and a chill in the air, making September the beginning of my favorite time of year.
This time of year--stretching from late September to late December--has always been a favorite of mine. Between football, the baseball playoffs, the start of basketball and eventually the Christmas season, I have always enjoyed the changing of the guard from hot and sweaty to cool and collected.
From rainy mornings to sweaters and scarves. And from hot tea to the first snow fall, I often feel most at peace in these months.
It's also a time when I feel rejuvenated. Normally, for a lot of people, that feeling comes along with the emergence of spring. Not for me.
Which means it's time for an update. (Been awhile, considering my last few posts here have been related to the sports world.)
In regards to the writing world, much of my time as been devoted to the sports world. My workload--or at least attempted workload--has picked up over at Bronco Nation News. Writing for the Boise State Broncos has turned into quite the passion. And one I quite enjoy. I am lucky to have an outlet for my writing and even luckier to work with a great group of people.
The same can be said for my contributions to Chowder and Champions. The Red Sox are moving closer to a postseason berth, in turn giving me more to write about.
To be honest, not much has moved the needle in regards to other stuff I've written. I continue to work on plays, screenplays, and novels (among other stuff), but as many people know, that can sometimes be a slow process. The waiting game is a difficult one to master, but I like to think I've gotten better at it over the years.
The Dragon Princess is now available for 99 cents. I figured after over two years of release, it was time to lower the price once again. Taking advantage of that price now is worth it, unless you want to buy it on actual hard copy form when that day inevitably arrives. If the mood strikes, the book is available for purchase here.
Outside of writing, I am currently working as the dramaturge and assistant director for Alley Repertory Theater's production of The Totalitarians. I have really found a love of Dramaturgy work since I worked on The Rocky Horror Show three years ago. I love doing research that (hopefully) contributes to the world of the play. (And I like research in general.) The play opens in October at the Visual Arts Collective in Garden City, Idaho.
The VAC, as it's known, is also currently part of suit recently filed by the ACLU of Idaho (and Co-counsel). Due to an antiquated law in the state of Idaho, artistic expression is limited in venues where alcohol is served. The VAC, a 21 and over venue, was ticketed for an offense stemming from a show in March of 2016. To be clear, the venue is as its name states. The VAC houses musicians, concerts, theater, comedians, and is an art gallery--among others--providing home to many visual artists across the Treasure Valley. The venue, to re-iterate, is a 21 and over venue. Alcohol sales are an integral part to keeping this place open, allowing artists to have venue to perform their art. This law forces artists to censor their acts, plays, etc., in turn essentially limiting their freedom of speech.
The case was filed on behalf of the Visual Arts Collective, Alley Repertory Theater and Frankly Burlesque in Idaho against government censorship of artistic expression. I could go more into it, but it is explained much more succinctly here.
That is what I've been up to. I am looking forward to a fun-filled autumn. Opportunities for play submissions are plentiful, agents are still being contacted and pages--albeit slowly--are being written. And the Red Sox won their tenth straight, bringing them one step closer to the playoffs.
Welcome back, autumn. I've missed you.

NFL Referees Fail Cam Newton, Fans

If the NFL is serious about the safety of players and finding ways to limit concussions, the referees in last night's Denver Broncos/Carolina Panthers game had a funny way of showing it.
Instead of talking about what a great rematch of the Super Bowl these two teams put on, much of the focus was placed on the amount of hits Cam Newton took to the helmet last night.
And rightfully so.
There were at least three occasions during the course of the game in which Newton was on the receiving end of helmet-to-helmet hits. 
These hits were not of the "blink and you miss it" variety of hits. They were in the course of game action, delivered to Newton after a throw or in the midst of being tackled.
The Broncos were flagged for this infraction once.
Once.
For a league that is looking to protect its players, especially quarterbacks, these calls were not simply "mistakes" or "errors" by the referees. And to right it off as such is simply another loosening thread on what might be the start of an unraveling NFL.
Three helmet-to-helmet hits. Minimum. On the reigning MVP of the league, nonetheless.
By the third hit, I felt sick to my stomach for Newton. The look on my face was probably similar to the one Rod Tidwell's kid displayed when Tidwell kept taking hard hits in the Arizona/Dallas game in Jerry Maguire. 
Look, I'm not even a Cam Newton fan. I have nothing against him, but I'm not going to sit here pretending to be a Newton apologist. But what I saw happen last night made me feel something was off about the officiating of the game. Was it to the extent of how Thomas Davis, Sr. saw it? Could be.
I understand calls are going to be missed throughout the extent of the game. It's impossible for the referees to see every infraction that occurs. But these weren't run-of-the-mill instances. 
When other quarterbacks in the league are protecting like a precious resource, it makes one wonder where the flags were. I've seen--and I'm sure other fans have as well--fifteen-yard penalties called when a defender lightly grazes a quarterback helmet after trying to bat down a ball and following through too far. If the referees can see that, they can certainly see a helmet-to-helmet hit.
Along the lines of player's safety, the NFL might want to look into the competition factor of intentional grounding and a personal foul, late-hit penalty being offsetting fouls. Take the difference of yardage, do something, but a hit to the head should not essentially carry the same ramification as an intentional grounding call.
If this game and lack of calls is setting the stage for the season, with all the discussions of concussions, then the NFL is going to be in some trouble. It might not happen all at once, but fans are going to start to turn off the game.  
Four years ago, I wrote of the NFL employing too many safety standards on the field. That was all wiped away with one game. And I still believe that players know what they are getting into when they play football, but all the research, all the studies and all the protocol in the world won't help if players aren't following the rules and the refs aren't enforcing them. For all players.
The game moves fast. The players are bigger and stronger than ever before. What is needed from the league and the referees is consistency across the board. If that doesn't happen, then players will stop taking those risks, hopefully deciding a life well-lived is better than a short life lived with money.
I, for one, enjoy the NFL. I have enjoyed watching football since as far back as I can remember. But if nights like last night continue, nights in which I find myself talking about hits to the head than the game itself, there might be one less fan turning on the television.
And I may not be the first, but I certainly won't be the last.

Wild weekend ushers in 2016 college football season

Now that college football is officially back (no disrespect to the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and California Bears playing in Australia), there is one thing we can say for certain: Joe Tessitore really likes saying the phrase "18-Wheeler Package".
If Sunday night's game, a 50-47 double overtime victory by Texas over Notre Dame, is to be any indication, the 2016 edition of college football is going to be a wild ride.
Three teams in the Amway Coaches Poll top-ten lost. Another needed overtime. And a few put up the requisite 50 plus points expected of them.
All in week one.
The Houston Cougars, current belle of the ball and Big 12 hopeful, took their first step towards an undefeated season and possible playoff berth. They used a 109-yard return after a missed Oklahoma field goal, helping them defeat the third-ranked Sooners, 33-23.

The Wisconsin Badgers, meanwhile, unranked and rebuilding, used a stifling defense and some timely offense to defeat the sixth-ranked LSU Tigers 16-14 on Saturday. Under new defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox, the Badgers held the Tigers to 257 total yards of offense. LSU Heisman hopeful Leonard Fournette ran for 130 yards.
Over in Tennessee, the tenth-ranked Vols needed overtime to defeat Appalachian State, 20-13. The Mountaineers are only in their third season as an FBS school, but were once a FCS powerhouse. They own three national championships and famously defeated the Michigan Wolverines in 2007.
Still, Tennessee is considered to be a dark horse national title contender and to barely win at home may cost them a few votes in the short term. (Though, in the long season, a win is a win.)
Speaking of national title contenders, the first-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide handled the USC Trojans with ease in their opener, winning 52-6. And that was while breaking in a new quarterback and new running backs.
The infallible SEC, the greatest football conference in all of the land, managed an out-of-this world record of 7-6 over the weekend (with one game left to play, Monday night pitting Ole Miss vs. Florida State). Yes, they picked up some good wins (Texas A&M over UCLA). Yes, there was an in-conference game (South Carolina over Vanderbilt). And yes, teams lost to good opponents like Clemson (Auburn) and LSU (see above). When your conference loses against South Alabama and Southern Mississippi, though, networks should only devote 22 hours to the conference instead of the normal 24.
Back over to the FCS side of things. For the second straight season, the Washington State Cougars lost to a FCS school to sart the year. This time, the Cougars lost 45-42 to Eastern Washington, proving once again that a Mike Leach coached team will excel at offense, but struggle on defense.
We even saw our first dismissal of the season. Louisiana Lafayette defensive coordinator Melvin Smith was let go after his unit gave up 584 yards to the Boise State Broncos. The Broncos face off against Washington State this week. Could the Cougar defensive coordinator next?

@TDARaginCajuns if losing by 30+ to Boise gets you fired then I'd hate to be an my coordinator who's team plays Boise.— Evan Pukajlo (@EvanPukajlo) September 4, 2016

All of this just a brief glimpse into the first full weekend of games. Fall is on the horizon. Pigskins are flying through the air. The chase is on for the top-four spots.
College football is back. If you're not already buckled in, you may already be left behind.