Mental Stout:

The season is finally upon us. I am getting really excited. On Tuesday before the Chargers practice there will be an autograph session. I will be there with a huge shit eating grin on my face. I love football. The Chargers have signed all but two of their major contract disputes. Rookie Shawne Merriman is still not anywhere to be seen. I have read a lot about Merriman lately and I understand why he wants a huge payday. He grew up in a real bad place, worked his ass off to be the best football player he could be (here is a good article about him), off the field he single handedly put the first man on the moon, and he invented the fork and indoor plumbing (see that is why blogging isn't journalism which he invented as well; I can say what ever I want here). Well he didn't really do those last three but read that article to see what he has done, we do need him in camp, and he deserves to make good money. Sign him already, the difference a few hundred thousand dollars means to the team vs a player of his potential says to me "fuck just sign him already!". We NEED more pass rushing!

The other major holdout is Antonio Gates who is not reporting to training camp despite making all the off season practices. After reading several articles (this one sums it up best) I have to agree that Antonio deserves more money. I am not trying to claim he is the best tight end in history or anything, but thanks to his great 2004 season he is the all time single season touchdown leader, and was key to our 12-4 record. He does deserve big money. I do believe he is one of the best tight ends currently in the league. People make comparisons to him and Tony Gonzalez (who is the best TE in the league I think) all the time. Both being ex-basketballers and both are huge in stature, block quite well and both can catch the ball as good as any wide receiver in the league.

Speaking of tight ends the other day I was at the bar and the "other" (well there is actually two more) tight end Ryan Krause came in for a beer. I was even wearing my Igor Olshansky #99 jersey at the time. Of course I wanted to go up and talk to him but I didn't want to seem retarded, or gay, or something. Later on the way back inside from a smoke break, he gave me the head nod a smile and said "What's up?". I gave him my usual response; a huge smile and a "How's it going?" and kept walking by. Looking back I think he probably wanted me to talk to him. I guess being recognized in public by a total stranger can be a big ego boost. I don't like to bother people, at least when I am sober.

I saw James Earl Jones once and wasn't sober, I did end up bothering him and he undoubtedly thought I was a weirdo, I said "Say it!", he said "Excuse me?", I said "Say it!", he said "Say what?" by then my friends were pulling me away and I never got to hear "I am your father Luke" or "This is CNN" or anything else from him except "What the fuck was that about?".
Well I am digressing. I will report back with photos from Tuesday's autograph session and practice.

   

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