Diversity is a buzzword that has some heft. It compels opening your mind to different cultural mores or even languages, and letting go of prejudice, stereotype and hate. And sometimes, to overcome our own revulsion to something foreign, unknown, or questionable from our Normal. Embracing diversity can cause a jolt.

Students’ BFF (Pre-Adderall)

In my case, it concerned Mike Vrabel and shedding my anti-meathead bias. The players love playing for Vrabel and he is a proven winner. ‘Nuff said.

The language of the meathead is usually limited and often aggressive. Biting off kneecaps is the quintessential attitude, coUrtesy of Dan Campbell: Meathead coach of the Loins. I saw Campbell in his first head coach stint, an interim turn for the Dolphins against the Titans. Campbell encouraged Olivier Vernon to twist then rookie Marcus Mariota’s knee like it were a cheese cloth full of wet ricotta. In his current job, hoo boy. I like Dan Campbell a lot.

Last year’s Lions, per tradition, had a series of heartbreaking, “How is this possible?” losses. Against tradition, the 2021 Detroit Lions became 4^th down goferits, which I can’t help but love. It’s one thing to go for it a lot when your QB is Justin Herbert. The Lions did it with Baby Buster. It’s a wager that can bring tears even to manly-men like Campbell.

Vía it’s right there

So yeah, I like Dan Campbell, adore his 4th down denyin’ and don’t care if it’s grounded on macho obstinacy. And anyway, hating a man who cries is troglodyte shit.

Now, we as sports fans know that anger is part of the experience of following a team. Fandom requires hating anywhere between 2 and 31 teams, or more if you’re into self-hatred / Jets fan. But lemme throw over you the weighted blanket of Diversity and lull you into considering that anger is fucking dumb.

“Never make decisions angry, tired, or hungry”, said Carrie Bradshaw in the part of “And Just Like That” that I watched. (Likely ripping off Cicero or Dr. Phil—but I digress!) It’s freakin’ obvious: rash action, unless directed at racists, is seldom a worthwhile decision. Anger feeds itself and suppresses reason to favor self-righteous vengeance. And I can sum up all I think about vengeance from two sources:

1. “If you’re out on a trip for vengeance, dig two graves”. -A Netflix cut-rate series aboOt the Borgias that I stopped watching quickly.

2. “I never understood vendettas. They’re so… Time consuming”. -Kent, “Veep”

Additionally, the Angry State is capable of rewriting the Annals of Memory into the Hall of Slights and the Wing of Sodomy Comeuppances. Spurned lovers know this too well. Instead of having the dignity to walk away and concentrate on self-worth (plus accept and rectify obvious foibles), here comes the texting, the calling, the emails, the threats (against The Hated or for self-harm)… It’s a bottomless pity party of pathetic pleading and grandiosity–“You’re nothing without me DIE!!”

That’s what blocking is for.

There’s more. Anger is the top supplier of unhappiness among the well-off, worldwide. (Source: Couch SociologiSing Quarterly). Some can’t be avoided; anger is part of the makeup of most countries. Thankfully, the World Cup allows to sublimate historical slights and just have freakin’ fun.

Fun… Can you imagine fun right now? Actual mirth, mofos. Who can say no to that.

Anger negates fun and reason, and only seeks destruction—at best, spiteful conquest. There’s no mirth there, and life without mirth is a tragedy. Too much Schadenfreude can reverse polarity and usher the unthinkable–say, the Cowboys becoming a legit, plucky underdog after a so-so regular season of derpy divisional losses, followed by a playoff hot streak.

Plus there are so many nice alternatives to anger: Contempt, Disdain, Dismissiveness… (That’s a dynamite trio of Endlesses right there.) All those emotions have an outlet within the privacy of our own mind, without the need of acting up—which is what anger compels us to do. Letting go is a sign of dignity and proof of self-worth. Hit it:

NFL NEWS

-Training Camp schedules:

Vía @rapsheet

-The Deshaun Watson hearing ended, as my cellphone news app has reminded me every six hours since last Thursday. Separating the listicles and clickbait, the wheat is this.

The NFL is pursuing an indefinite suspension, while the NFLPA is pushing for no punishment at all. The Union cites as precedent Jerry Jones’s and Robert Kraft’s skating NFL discipline and what’s good for the old creeps is good for Settlin’ Watson (20 of 24 suits thus far). The parties have until July 11 to submit post-hearing briefs, but are free to settle anytime before or after. My crystal ball says: don’t expect nuthin’ until Browns camp opens for veterans.

One thing about the NFLPA’s stance: it does not take into account that Watson incurred in this conduct… I don’t think “multiple times” quite captures it. So let’s say over 30 times, especially in light of Jenny Vrentas’s NYT piece of which I’ve become aware but refuse to honoUr the paywall. Consider that take resting on 2nd-hand nuggets.

SPROTS TONITE

All times Central. As always, slur free.

GRANDES LIGAS

Y*nk*s (Taillon) @ Piratas (Quintana) – 6:05

Patrulleros (Howard) @ tWBSs (Voth) – 6:05

Nacionales (Espino) @ Filis (Sánchez) – 6:05

Guardianes (Quantrill) @ Tigres (Hutchison) – 6:10

Mantas (Springs) @ Medias Rojas (Pivetta) – 6:10

Cardenales (Pallante) @ Bravos (Anderson) – 6:20

Ositos (Hendricks) @ Cerveceros (Costanza) – 7:10

Reales (Greinke) @ Fokin ‘stros (García) – 7:10

Mellizos (Archer) @ Medias Blancas (Kopech) -m 7:10

Gigantes (Wood) @ Serpientes (Gilbert) – 8:40

Azulejos (Kikuchi) @ Ases (Martínez) – 8:40

Balboas (Márquez) @ Doyers (White) – 9:10

TOP FLIGHT FÚTBOL

Bolivia

Universitario de Sucre hosts Oriente Petrolero – 7:30

Copa Libertadores

This is the top intercontinental tournament of South American clubs. It is now in the Round of 16 and has two-legged series where the team with most goals in aggregate advance.

Boca Juniors (ARG) hosts Corinthians (BRA) – 7:30 (0-0 aggregate)

Libertad (PAR) hosts Paranaense (BRA) – 7:30 (1-2 aggregate)

Copa Sudamericana

The Europa League to the Libertadores, also in the midst of two-legged playoffs.

Inter Porto Alegre (BRA) hosts Colo Colo (CHI) – 7:30 (0-2 aggregate)

FINALLY,

let’s consider Costa Rica. In 1949, Costa Rica disbanded its military and transferred all its resources to education. “I do not want an army of soldiers, but of educators”, said then president José Figueres Ferrer. Naturally, Costa Rican industry and commercial interests are not big enough to require an imperial merchant navy. Then again, most countries do not have expansionist or world-building projects. So it took a rational decision to further the domestic greater good

The Greater Good,

not out of theoretical rainbowy libtard stoned listening to “Imagine”.

Of course, we can’t choose where we’re born. But we can opt to carry ourselves with generosity, compassion, and empathy—which happens to be stuff that is teached in most churches, schools and homes. Being god damned humane: what a radical concept that happens to be everywhere on the Jesusy bible parts.

Of course, there are grandiose types for whom a baseline of common respect is a big ask. Hey, superstars: just leave others the fuck alone then. Takes zero effort, literally.

tl; dr Angry dumbasses don’t deserve a second of anyone’s time.

Banner quote by Chinua Achebe