Random Shots From Week 11

Joe Bryant with a look at goofiness from the past week.

Joe Bryant's Random Shots From Week 11 Joe Bryant Published 11/20/2024

© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Hi Folks,

We do a ton of insightful, thoughtful, and serious features here at Footballguys with smart people thinking deeply for you.

This is not one of those features.

This is Random Shots, and it's a few pages of me sharing all the random goofiness from this week. With maybe a music note and sometimes a "soap box" wrap at the end.  

Here's to Football.

J

I wrote in Random Shots last week about a band I love, Dawes, and their song, "All Your Favorite Bands."

They have a line in it I love that I think is one of the nicest things you could say to another person: "I hope your brother's El Camino runs forever."

It's worth another go.

I received this message from Sean Taylor, a Footballguys subscriber.

"Hey Joe, thanks for all that you and your team do. I read everything everyday. My brother James does too.

"A nice story from my family re: your post of that Dawes video....

"Our father passed away when I was young and my brother was even younger and my grandparents kept the El Camino that he had just bought before his very unexpected death. They stored it on their small property, in their even smaller garage to pass on to me because I was the oldest. In 2008, I gifted it to my brother on his wedding day and he has restored the thing immaculately. All original paint, and all original love.... "

The lyric "I hope my brothers El Camino runs forever" runs very very deep for me.

"Thanks for posting!"

And he included this photo:

el camino

Wow. How great is that? And it's not just an awesome story. The bigger picture illustrates what I've said from the beginning about what we do here. This is a Community. With a capital C.

Football may be the topic that brought us together. But this is way bigger than football. This is about connection, and being seen, and understood, and pulling together. 

Thank you, Sean. And I literally hope your brother's El Camino runs forever. 

I could probably wrap there.

But I won't. 

Donte Jackson with the subtle burn.

I feel like we'd be friends in real life.

Thanks to Sigmund Bloom for that one.

Big Cat putting the pressure on Pittsburgh...

Music Note this week is an old song but a newer recording.

Stephen Wilson Jr is interesting, and I love the passion in his voice. 

His cover of Stand By Me is fun.

This is a less-produced live version from a small venue in Knoxville this year. He talks a bit more about the backstory and his dad and how the song has "haunted" him.

On more reason to go see live music.

You may or may not like the Dolphins. And Jaylen Waddle is killing me. And maybe you, too.

But Mike McDaniel on the mic is always good.

I'm sure Mike Tomlin wishes his team didn't lean on their kicker so much. But Boswell has been answering the call.

When you don't know whether to hit the Transfer Portal or wait to see the coach get fired...

God Bless you, Bears fans.

It was a lightbulb moment for me, too.

I skimmed this too quickly and read it as Joe Flacco. 

I thought, "That guy can do everything."

2024 is cool with super-computers in your pocket.

But 1989 had the 5-gallon Party Ball. And it was glorious.

I've given Kyler Murray a hard time here over the years. But I love the low-key chill here.

It's a beautiful game.

God bless the Internet.

This is something on its own.

But when you realize it's all the same guy...

Derek Stingley Jr is a problem.

Army wins best uniforms this week.

If you're nerdy like me, here is more information on the Battle of the Bulge. It was "the largest and bloodiest single engagement of the Second World War, and also the third deadliest campaign in American history."

The conditions were especially challenging with weather and snow. That's represented on the football uniforms this week on the helmet and jersey. 

Perfect.

This kind of thing is good for football.

Serious question.

McNeil knows things.

Nailed it.

Thanks to Clayton Gray for that one. 

Davante Adams was locked in. My guy did not flinch at the hamburger bun. 

Thanks to Keith Overton for that one.

Pretentious Hipster Jason Kelce is my favorite Kelce.

Nashville Road Trip.

Chicago Fans are serious. 

Thanks to Thomas Gore for that one.

I didn't realize Poona Ford owned this celebration.

I wonder if he realizes everyone in history has stolen it from him.

I don't know much about Canadian Football. But they have to do better than this for the Grey Cup MVP trophy. Right?

Father Time is still undefeated.

My first purchase if I ever buy an NFL team.

He's not wrong.

I know quarterback is the toughest job in the game. But defensive back has to be close. I don't know what these guys are supposed to do.

If you, like me, grew up with Sports Illustrated as elite-level serious sports journalism, their headlines today are notable.

Odell Beckham Jr gets dramatic new hair color from smokeshow stylist

I wish it were The Onion, but it's real.

Ok. That's enough grumpy old man from me for one column.

Too far?

I bet you weren't planning on me closing with a tennis story. But here we are. 

I know next to nothing about tennis. But I know Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are two of the best players ever. And that's enough context for this.

Plus, this isn't about tennis. This is about class, being a pro, and goodness.

Nadal is retiring, and Federer wrote a letter to him. 

Federer said that Nadal "challenged [him] in ways no one else could."

"You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge," Federer, who lost 24 of his 40 career matches against Nadal, added.

"And you know what Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more."

Federer recapped some of their epic battles and closed with this:

"Rafa, I know you're focused on the last stretch of your epic career," he wrote. "We will talk when it's done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success.

"And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next.

"Rafa that!

"Best always, your fan,"

You can see the full letter here:

What a great tribute to his friend and competitor. In lots of ways, this is why we love sports: It's a metaphor for life.

And if you've read many of these columns, you know where I'm going with this by now. You and I aren't all-time Tennis greats. And that's fine. But we can extend this same kind of class and goodness to our peers in our life. Even when they're not retiring and when we haven't competed against them.

This is mostly about recognizing goodness in others. Or more to the point, recognizing and acknowledging goodness in others. We all can do that. 

Rock on.

Thank you for being part of this goofy journey with us.

And thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Jake Bryant, Sigmund Bloom, Matt Carey, Sean Taylor, and Clayton Gray for the help. If you've got a Random Shot of your own, email me at bryant@footballguys.com.

Thanks for playing along, and I hope you make the most of whatever you're doing in your life. Love your neighbor and stick together.

Peace and Grace to you.

J

 

Photos provided by Imagn Images
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