Thoughts of a Common Man

The story of Mia going to the Bills game caught my eye before the game started.  I read the background story - she was wearing a Niners hat, but she loves the Bills equally. Mia didn’t watch the entire game. Seems someone pushed her down the stairs. The family left early. I don’t watch college football either, but my college buddy loves Michigan so I usually look for their score (so I can bust his chops if they lose). They were playing Ohio State - my buddy hates them - but Michigan hasn’t had a great season. They won the game in a huge upset. Then after the game the Michigan players planted their team flag at midfield. Of course, a brawl broke out between the teams and the athletes were pepper sprayed to break it up. What the hell is going on??? Most of the people I listened to on sports talk radio bashed the Ohio State side… …saying that they lost. They didn’t want a flag planted they should’ve won the game! That’s garbage! Of course they aren’t going to let the other team plant ...

Dude in that photo is the Bills offensive coordinator, Joe Brady. It was 27 degrees - tops - with 15 mph winds. What is the point of someone walking onto the field, dressed like that? “Look how tough our O.C. is?” Who cares? He ain’t playing! And did he go back to the heated suite and say, “It wasn’t bad.” Fake tough guy! And I didn’t watch the game but I imagine that some of the players were also out there sleeveless. Again, dumb! It’s cold. We all know what that feels like. Freezing to look tough isn’t owning anyone but yourself. Sam got dressed for the game. I can tell that he’s getting older because he was layered up and he grabbed my spare carhartt and put it on over the top. He borrowed a pair of thermal socks and a pair of gloves too. Zero chance he got dressed like that five years ago. He would’ve fake tough guy’d it then… …but he froze his ass off a couple of times. We are in the verge of getting heated jackets - it’s a little known secret as Santa Claus was asking questions. ...

That happened quickly. My first toss with Ollie was cold, but he was racing through the grass and leaves in the backyard. Our final session of the night had him digging through the snow to try and find the yellow ball. “You can’t miss any,” I announced, “Or you’re gonna’ lose the ball.” He took that as a challenge… …catching the ball out of the air before it was buried in a couple feet of snow. Sounds like fun, huh? I also had to drive through the snow-covered streets to have coffee with Mom. “Why the hell didn’t you stay home?” Mom asked. “It’s a mess out there.” We watched the snow fall. “Sucks,” Mom said. “I’ve always hated the snow.” “Me too,” I said. “It’s worse the older you get.” “Tell me about,” she said. But I made it safely back home and was done with the turkey - me and Sam had big porterhouse steaks. As I was preparing them there was a knock on the door. No one knocks on the door anymore. I swung it open to see a half-dozen kids in my driveway. “Can we shovel your driveway?...