#retired lineman

[sumbluespruce]

Enough!   41 years, 6 months, and 8 days

02/10/23  My last pole. 

#my photograph #selfie #work #retired lineman #powerlines #mountains and snow

[scientia-rex]

Seems unfair that I’ve been telling Machiavelli Dad stories for literal years and people still accused me of making him up. I ASSURE you I could not possibly create this man in fiction. He has an IQ in the 150s. He cares about IQ, so you know he’s a dick. He grew up in abject rural poverty and clawed his way through an associate’s degree in electrical engineering that no one wanted him to or thought he could get. He showed up to the final of one class drunk off his ass because his professor had said at the beginning, jokingly, that if anyone got their electrician’s license before the end of the class, they would have an automatic A, and of course he did. He met my mom when he parked in her spot at their apartment complex that did not, let me assure you, have assigned spots and she yelled at him. He read bedtime stories (mostly about trains and how electronics work) to me every night until I was at least like 8. His friend and roommate in that first apartment building tried to kill my mother’s Siamese cat (they owned at least like 6 over time) in a rage by shutting it in a cooler; it was freed in time. He got so mean by the time I was 12 that I remember one day he came home from work when me, my mom, and my sister were standing around the top of the stairs and without saying a word to each other we just scattered; he said, like he was angry-joking, “why is everybody running away?” And I said to him, “we’re scared of you.” I don’t remember what happened next. Dad didn’t beat us, but he’d threaten. He’d take off his belt and snap it as a threat. He once lived with a guy who made his own nitroglycerin as a hobby and threatened to detonate an entire dorm when his girlfriend left him. That friend once accidentally bought two boa constrictors. The reason Dad and I stopped talking was when I texted them that I had cancer and they left me on read. The reason I stopped talking to Dad was that I finally realized the word for what he did to all of us was abuse. He built a swing set in our back yard using two retired telephone poles he got from work. The ropes were so tall you could spin the swing up enough to unwind for like 4 straight minutes with zero effort. He thought about becoming a lineman once and practiced climbing on those swing set telephone poles. Hornets nested in there afterwards.

If I were going to create a fictional father, I would either love him more or love him less.

[mydaddywiki]

Jon Tester

Physique: Husky Build Height: 6'1¼" (1.86 m)

Raymond Jon Tester (born August 21, 1956 -) is a burly American organic farmer and politician serving as the senior United States senator from Montana, a seat he has held since 2007. The Havre, Montana native is the dean of Montana's congressional delegation and the only Democrat who holds statewide office in Montana. He is generally considered a centrist or moderate Democrat.

Tester hardly fits the modern profile of the Senate, a virtual millionaire's club these days. Tall, big bellied, with a flattop haircut and three fingers missing on this left hand (lost to a meat grinder at age 9), Tester resembles a retired football lineman (Mr. Tester is nearly 300 pounds) in cowboy boots than a United States senator. And it's rare these days to find a politician sporting such a big belly. So much so, that I'm captivated by it.

Again straight (what man that I like isn't) as he's married and together they have two children. A former music teacher with a reputation for folksy, down-to-earth authenticity and cursing with abandon. Tester even butchers and brings his own meat with him to Washington, saying "Taking meat with us is just something that we do…. We like our own meat." Well, if you're giving out samples of your meat Sen. Tester, I bet we all would love your meat. And by meat, I mean your PENIS.

#jon tester #mydaddywiki politicians

[sterekchub]

So how about muscle chub Derek? Where he starts out a thicc football player but the coach is pushing him to put on some pounds so he gets Stiles to help him. And help him he does, he comes up with a training regimen that’s 60% eating, 35% lifting weights, and maybe 5% cardio (aka when both Stiles and Derek are horny enough that they can’t keep their hands off each other). Derek blossoms into a monster defensive lineman, with an ass you could serve a buffet off of and a sandbag belly that shifts and sways when he stalks onto the field. Meanwhile Stiles is on the sidelines, keeping a running tally of the calories Derek burns so he knows how much more he has to eat afterwards.

Maybe bc I’m not a sports person…(what does a lineman do? I have no idea). And honestly- this idea is great, there’s nothing for me to add!

But I keep thinking about Derek’s retirement. When that 35% lifting weights slowly becomes 0, but his eating never goes down. He’s still eating like he’s training for the Super Bowl. (And sure- maybe his cardio goes up….but I don’t think laying on a bed, ass up, really adds much. Stiles is the one doing the cardio, Derek is the one being rimmed until he can’t remember his name)

Derek’s turning into a blimp when he gives up football- champion ring doesn’t fit over his swollen and pudgy finger. Old uniform - which was by no means small- now is several sizes away from even stretching enough be pulled over beefy shoulders or tree trunk sized thighs.

Once he gets offered a sizeable fortune to come out of retirement….only to show up at training and realize he’s gotten a little more out of shape and his belly is wobbling more than he remembers…

[itsmythang]

We all know he's doing this to assist trump in putting in his minions to run things in the case that he may win in 2024. It's not any die-hard beliefs he may hold about abortion. MAGAs use religion and morality as shields for their BS.

BREAKING: MAGA Senator Tommy Tuberville is slammed with scandal AGAIN as it's revealed that his military nomination blockade has stopped the first female superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy from assuming power. This is a huge black stain on Tuberville's record... Seven months ago, the Navy proudly announced that Rear Admiral Yvette M. Davids, a celebrated warship officer, would rise to the aforementioned position.

She was supposed to take the helm over the summer. Instead, Tuberville began his blockheaded blockade, preventing crucial military nominations as he demands that the Pentagon repeal its program for reimbursing service members and their family members for abortion-related travel. "It is particularly harmful to see the Academy’s first female Superintendent locked out of her office — terrible signal," said retired Admiral James Stavridiswrote. He called the blockade "ridiculous."

"For Coach Tuberville I’d say you’ve got a lineman in a quarterback’s spot, and vice versa. It makes no sense," he added referring to the fact that "acting" officers are being forced to fill the roles of nominated officers. So far, Tuberville has blocked a staggering 350 military appointments, proving that he doesn't care about defending America. He would far rather pander to far-right religious lunatics. This man clearly hates this country and cares only about his own political career. He has to go.

[greatbigfatbellylover]

The College Experience

Elle has always been a bigger girl. Not fat, definitely not skinny, but just BIG. She had been taller than all the boys in her grade since elementary school, and pretty much twice as broad. Who could blame her? Her father, after retiring from Olympic power lifting and her mother, a first generation Dutch immigrant, kept her and her three brother well fed. Elle’s brothers all played football, naturally on the O-line, and Elle very well could have made a fourth lineman, apart from the fact that she not only hated football, but wouldn’t be caught dead in those dreadful school jerseys. Elle was popular in high school. She was always invited to parties, always centered in whatever high school drama was going on, but was always faithful to her loving boyfriend, Ted. Ted and Elle had been dating for over a year, up until their senior year of highschool. Elle’s friends told her over and over again not to go to college with a boyfriend. They all wanted the “college experience”. Elle wasn’t so sure, until she went to her first frat party. Elle and some girlfriends went into the city and got into a frat party as seniors in high school. She saw how all the girls seemed to carefree and happy, going off with boys, coming back with that telltale smirk. Elle was sold. As much as she loved Ted, she needed to start new in college. That next morning, she broke up with Ted, much to his despair.

Three Months Later

It was finally August, and Elle was all packed and ready to go to college. Her mother had made sure to pack all of her favorite snacks to keep close by, in case she missed home. For the Elle was very grateful, snacking was one of her favorite things. When she finally arrived, her parents helped her settle in, and then left. Elle sat on her bed, but didn’t stay long. It was time to find herself a boy. Elle had a fresh slate, and a fresh mindset.

That is, until classes started.

Elle’s schedule kicked her ass sideways, up, down, and all over the place. She had so much homework that she couldn’t see straight, much less focus on boys or parties. When Elle wasn’t in class, she was in her room, studying. She started skipping meals, and slimmed down a considerable amount.

Until one day, when she was chatting with a classmate before her lecture started, an idea sprouted in her mind. Why not just study in the dining hall? There are plenty of tables to work at, and she could eat and study. It was like killing two birds with one stone! Elle also knew that she needed to swipe into the dining hall with her meal pass, but why keep swiping in when you never have leave? It was foolproof.

Elle carried out her plan the following morning. She woke up early to beat the breakfast rush, and filled her plate with eggs, bacon, toast, waffles, pancakes, and more. She filled her belly, and started to work on her computer. She worked so hard that her grumbling stomach shook her from her chair. Elle decided to fill up her plate with more breakfast food again. And again. And again. Until her belly was swollen and tight. Elle decided to take a quick Power Nap in her comfy dining hall chair.

When she woke up, it was lunch. Elle was relieved because her hunger was back with a vengeance. She served herself a few slices of pizza, a mountain of French fries, and a few cups of Pepsi. It was lunch fit for a queen. And she returned to the buffet, again. And again. And again, until her gut was so taught and full that she let out a thunderous BURP.

The dining hall went silent, as Elle turned beet red in embarrassment. She sat back down, and continued to study while gorging herself. Finally, she looked up from her study, and it was dinner. Wow, time really flies at college. It was a thanksgiving style feast, with roast Turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots, and her favorite: stuffing. Elle got in line, filled up her plate, and started to pick off of her plate as she moved down the buffet line. By the time she reached the end, her plate was empty! She made a full circle and went back to the front of the line, and filled her plate again. And again. And again. Until she was so full and satisfied, that she went straight to bed. If only someone could rub her tummy…

Elle repeated this dining hall process for the next few weeks. Her form had completely altered. Her belly ballooned into her lap, her thighs widened into tree trunks, her ass blew up behind her into a bean bag-like cushion, her tits expanded out and rested blissfully on her gut, and her arms and chins stored a cute excess of fat themselves. Elle’s trips to the buffet line were actually starting to tire her. The constant up and down walking became strenuous. If only someone could make the trip for her…

“Ahem…uh…hi, I’m Jaden. I noticed you from across the dining hall, sitting alone, and I was wondering if I could join you?”

Elle looked up from her eating frenzy, and locked eyes with the skinniest boy she had ever seen in her life. Jaden was scrawny, but was cute. He had brown fluffy hair, and cute little nose, and blue eyes. He was the quintessential skater boy, sad looking, with a few freckles. Elle blushed, instantly crushing on Jaden, and with a mouth full of food, said

“—yeah…sorry I’m chewing…sit down if you want to…”

Jaden quickly sat right next to Elle, and admired her belly. Elle caught Jaden’s eyes and was astonished to see a look of pure awe and excitement on Jaden’s face. Did he really like her belly? Elle figured that since she had gained so much weight she was completely out of anyone’s league. Their eyes met. Jaden quickly said,

“Oh! Sorry I was just…”

“No, it’s ok. You know…I think you’re kind of cute, Jaden.”

“R-really? I mean…thanks…I um…I think you’re very pretty too.”

“Jaden listen, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll let you come up to my room later if you promise me one thing…”

“Anything! I mean…yeah sure what is it?”

“Go get me more food!”

Jaden scrambled out of his seat to go fill another plate. He brought Elle all sorts of assorted foods, desserts, ice creams, and sodas. All to which Elle guzzled down in front of him. Jaden was in heaven.

Later that night, Elle was snacking in her bed when she heard a knock at her door. Jaden was standing right outside, Elle saw through the peep hole.

“Come in!”

Jaden opened the door and saw Elle sitting on her bed, in just a bra and her underwear. Jaden’s jaw dropped. All of his sexual fantasies were right in front of him. Elle saw the front of his pants twitch. She told him,

“Clothes off now. And come rub this belly so I can make more room for food. Then you’re going to feed me all night, and worship this belly.”

Jaden practically came on the spot.

One Month Later

Jaden and Elle kept this up daily for the next few weeks. Elle’s gargantuan belly grew and grew. Her ass and legs became so riddled with fat that it became a chore to walk, so she didn’t anymore. Emails from her professors poured in about her poor attendance. Her parents left angry voicemails about her grades, but Elle didn’t care. She had a perfect boy to feed her and please her. And he was wrapped around her chubby little finger. Elle gained so much weight that she didn’t fit on her twin bed anymore, and with Jaden’s help, relocated to her floor. They set up a nest of blankets and pillows for Elle to get comfy on.

So this was life. Elle’s college experience wasn’t one of usual nature. Instead of going out every night and getting with guys at the frats, Elle’s college experience was being fed into a food coma, and having her feeder boy toy fuck her, suck her, and rub her into a state of deep ecstasy.

[analyzingtaylor]

Are you invested in this relationship because she is dating a sports guy or you genuinely think Travis is a great match. To me, he seems like great match on paper but a lot depends how he reacts to her fame, media's obsession and obnoxious swifties over a period. He handling everything now is a good sign but they are in the honeymoon phase. Even Joe went with whatever Taylor suggested during the first 2 years on handling media.

Also, I am unsure how he will take his retirement. Do athletes transition smoothly post retirement or spiral? I see a lot of parallels between popstars and these footballers. Interviewers asking about retirement openly once you turn 30+ and we all know how stars spiral once they become old news.

I am invested for both those reasons. I always want people to be happy, but this is more appealing to me than anything TS has been involved with before because there are so many similarities and complementary differences.

I know he is not of Hollywood, but people should view professional athletes as entertainers. Being paid to perform for a mass audience is its own unique lifestyle.

TK’s retirement will be very smooth because he has always enjoyed attention and style and the spotlight, and he will keep those things.

His brother Jason will probably miss the game more, because the competition and the brotherhood seems to be the only thing that ever mattered to him and it’s just going to end. But he’s probably the only unanimously loved person in the history of Philadelphia (Ben Franklin had some haters, yo!) . In Jason’s case, he has a chance to be a great commentator, which is rare for an interior lineman.

[astrology-blurbs]

⭐️ᴄᴇʟᴇʙʀɪᴛʏ ᴀꜱᴛʀᴏʟᴏɢʏ ᴄʜᴀʀᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ⭐️

Here I’ll be doing a fun little reading for Doja Cat

All charts used are available on public domain!

Doja Cat’s Ascent begins at 29 ° in Libra signifying a type of person who values being viewed as knowledgeable and pleasant to speak with. This person is often viewed as an expert or more knowledgeable in topics that involve beauty, however her ASC in Libra means there must be extra close attention paid to her Venus sign.

𝒮𝒶𝒷𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒮𝓎𝓂𝒷𝑜𝓁: Three Mounds Of Knowledge On A Philosopher’s Head

Her Venus is in Scorpio at 14 ° residing in the 2H signifying a transformational outlook on her beauty and possibly an obsession with looks leading her to change often, as well as lavish in expensive things. She may inherit money and use it to transform her physical form to her desire. She often makes connections for the purpose of living more lavishly and likes to keep her financial networks secret.

𝒮𝒶𝒷𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒮𝓎𝓂𝒷𝑜𝓁: Telephone Lineman At Work Installling New Connections

Her Pluto is at 29° in Scorpio. Although she enjoys spending her money, she often gains it from those who obsess over her. She often times experiences jealousy regarding her finances and must hide her financial moves in fear of large dramatic situations involving them. If she openly expresses the amount she spends it’s met with great scrutiny and could even possibly be dangerous. If she spends near others or with others knowledge it could end in dangerous scenarios.

𝒮𝒶𝒷𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒮𝓎𝓂𝒷𝑜𝓁: Children In Halloween Costumes Indulge In Various Pranks

Mars is right after at 0 ° in Sagittarius. This is insinuating HIGH levels of activity whenever she does things due to people seeing themselves as “close” to her. She naturally brings nostalgia of speaking to an old friend. Much like the planet Jupiter, many bodies surround her when she speaks. Her actions make people feel drawn towards her, and even possibly make people feel as if she is speaking directly to them. Often times she may catch herself saying or doing things that would be largely considered as “rude” and this causes people to be drawn to her even further due to her contradictory beauty.

𝒮𝒶𝒷𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒮𝓎𝓂𝒷𝑜𝓁: Retired Army Veterans Gather To Reawaken Old Memories

Jupiter is at 14 ° in Sagittarius re emphasizing her love for lavish things and desire to make lavish friends to match. She may have a personal interest in spending, but others enjoy spending their money on her. This is a mutually joyous experience, however it will be enacted to the point of obsession. She may spend money to remove or gain weight due to her love for going out with this placement.

𝒮𝒶𝒷𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒮𝓎𝓂𝒷𝑜𝓁: The Great Pyramid And The Sphinx

Neptune in Capricorn at 22 ° is an extreme degree. This placement puts GREAT pressure on her through the connections she makes. Her dreams are found through words of doubt and she built her career off of overcoming those massive doubts. Possible struggles with mental health and words of abuse overpowering her. The things she enjoys and dreams of being are often tied directly to the words she chooses to embrace.

𝒮𝒶𝒷𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒮𝓎𝓂𝒷𝑜𝓁: A Soldier Receiving Two Awards For Bravery In Combat

Uranus follows at 26 ° which is a sign of creative movement in Capricorn. She may be the type of person to find creative outcomes within tough situations. Her creativity stands out and is cultivated through hardship. She may get a lot of ideas from the “creator” and possibly has a very deep devotion towards a higher power. She may bring this creativity into her friendships and home, meaning she doesn’t like to be around others who are too similar to her. She may even be labeled as “the creative one” within her friends spaces.

𝒮𝒶𝒷𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒮𝓎𝓂𝒷𝑜𝓁: Pilgrims Climbing The Steep Steps Leading To A Mountain Shrine

Saturn in Pisces at 18° is a degree of inner wisdom and teaching others. This placement makes obstacles move gracefully for her and makes it so problems smooth over in a lighthearted way. Whenever a problem is created it is based off of her “beliefs” and what she thinks is “funny”. This can create tension due to her crude sense of humor, however, her humor is setting a boundary based off of this belief that she is teaching others to care about bigger things.

𝒮𝒶𝒷𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒮𝓎𝓂𝒷𝑜𝓁: A Master Instructing His Disciple

The Moon resides in Virgo at 24° giving a feeling of poetic depth. When she feels things deeply she is more inclined to share those feelings in group settings or with great intention. This makes her emotions easy to connect with and draws people to her on an emotional level. This can also mean her feelings are easily misunderstood due to them quickly changing making her come off as erratic to those who have no emotional connection to her.

𝒮𝒶𝒷𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒮𝓎𝓂𝒷𝑜𝓁: A Flag At Half-Mast In Front Of A Public Building

A notable thing about Doja Cats’ Mercury at 9° is its beauty and ability to compliment her moon sign. Her mind could be full of negative thoughts related to comments made about her, however this pushes her to achieve greater heights of beauty and money. This causes others to project their personal insecurities related to these topics onto her and cause them to speak on her negatively. This backfires for those who do this though, because this placement makes it so your mind looks unstable if you comment negatively on her looks.

𝒮𝒶𝒷𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒮𝓎𝓂𝒷𝑜𝓁: Having Passed Through Narrow Rapids, A Canoe Reaches Calm Waters

And lastly, her Sun is in Libra at 27°. This makes her beauty and words more notable than the average person and causes others to subconsciously attempt to look like her. She would represent attractive concepts and this feeds into her ego directly. She enjoys being perceived as attractive because then she can have full control of her own powers. Attention towards her feeds her obsession with herself and allows her to continue to re-invent herself.

𝒮𝒶𝒷𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒮𝓎𝓂𝒷𝑜𝓁: A Man Becoming Aware Of Spiritual Forces Surrounding And Assisting Him

Note: Her North Node is Conjunct her Sun making her life path more straightforward than others. Some people take a long time to find themselves, however, she has possibly never felt direct full shame for being herself due to her looks and status. Any shame she feels she transforms into self love.

𝒮𝒶𝒷𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒮𝓎𝓂𝒷𝑜𝓁: An Airplane Sails, High In The Clear Sky

#doja cat #astrology #celebrity #celebrity astrology #libra #virgo #scorpio #Doja cat astrology #music #pop music #sabian symbols #degree theory

[sumbluespruce]

End of the Line

41 years, 6 months, and 8 days. 2/10/23

#my photograph #photography #tumblr #Photographers on tumblr #retired lineman. Power company.

[nicknumber]

Frederick Wayman "Duke" Slater, buried at Mount Glenwood Memory Gardens South, had an incredible life.

He was a star football player for Clinton High School in Iowa from 1913 to 1915, and for the University of Iowa from 1918 to 1921. He became just the sixth black player to be named All-American. Playing at tackle, he was nigh unstoppable, even though he was routinely double-teamed. Knute Rockne said, "This fellow Slater just about beat my team single-handed in the only contest we lost."

Oh yeah, and he did almost all of it without a helmet, only starting to wear one in his senior year of college.

In 1922, he became the first black lineman in the NFL. Playing alongside Jim Thorpe on the Rock Island Independents, the team only lost two games of his first season, one of which Slater was benched for, since the NFL had a "gentlemen's agreement" not to put black players in for games held in Missouri. When he did play, it was routinely for all 60 minutes of the game.

He stayed in the NFL for ten seasons, being named to all-pro teams in seven of them. After retiring, he organized and coached several all-African-American teams, as the NFL didn't hire any black players from 1934 to 1945.

As careers go, that would already be impressive, but football was only the first phase. He earned a law degree in 1928, while still playing in the NFL. He was a practicing lawyer in Chicago, and in 1948 was elected to the Cook County Municipal Court. He was the first African-American judge on the Cook County Superior Court, and later served on the Circuit Court of Cook County.

On YouTube, Legal Eagle likes to tell lawyers not to enter the well of the court without permission, "or the bailiff will tackle you." This is one case where you'd better hope the bailiff gets to you before the judge does.

#grave marker #history #chicago

[wack-ashimself]

I will never trust hand sanitizers or sunscreen...

sunscreen simply because I have known very few people who got any kind of skin cancer because they never used sunscreen* (think of all the natives, indigenous people, mormons, etc)...

but I've read about of tons of people who used sunscreen religiously and MIRACULOUSLY still super got skin cancer...

And hand sanitizer...cuz it not only dries out your hands, but because of what happened yesterday.

Went to a fair. Petting zoo. Of course I pet the buddies. But they were messy (and been petted by a LOT of people. Wouldn't that be a weird life: Traveling as an animal just so strangers could feed & pet you?), so I used hand sanitizer (3 times. I do not want to exaggerate to make a point. I used more than I normally do. Fairly, now that I think about it, 2-3 more times in the bathroom).

I ate my food, with my bare hands. I hugged my parents with my bare hands. Etc.

And I thought nothing of it...till I got home.

I went to the bathroom, and the first time since before I left for the fair, I washed with soap and water.

I had to wash my hands THREE TIMES to get all of that shit off. It was layered and slimy under the soap and water.

Shouldn't of it worn off, absorbed into the skin, or evaporated?

I ATE MY FOOD WITH THAT SHIT COVERING MY HANDS!

I'm just saying, historically, most science validating these things is controlled (or censored) by the rich and they have never, nor ever will, have your best intentions.

YOU DO NOT GET RICH BEING THE GOOD GUY TELLING THE TRUTH!

(trust me, my broke ass knows).

*my dad worked as a lineman for....30 years? 35? A long time. In the sun EVERY day it was sunny. As far as I know, he only used the stuff occasionally on his face. Retired, he's outside 80% of the time (my mom's own words). Shorts, short sleeved shirt, etc. He's healthy as a horse overall. Only cancer he got was ball cancer (and I think that was from working next to huge conductors and electrical circuits right next to his balls).

#hand sanitizer #sunscreen #sun #cancer #health

[news4usonline]

‘Disruptive’ Jared Verse is Rams' first pick

HERMOSA BEACH - The Los Angeles Rams got it right last year. After doing some home purging of their roster, the Rams went the way of the NFL Draft to shore up their personnel. The Rams went with the youth movement.  The strategy paid off for head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead.  The Rams had 14 draft picks in 20223. All 14 of those draft picks wound up making the team. Several players, including defensive tackle Kobie Turner, offensive lineman Steve Avila, and wide receiver Puka Nacua produced stellar rookie debuts. 

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 04: Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Jared Verse (5) rushes on defense during a college football game against the Pittsburgh Panthers on November 04, 2023 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire) The challenge for the Rams has been magnified with the retirement of star defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Even at the quarterback position with starter Matthew Stafford and backup Jimmy Garoppolo, another signal-caller would add more youth to that quarterback room.  The Rams came into the 2024 draft coming off a year in which they made a surprising playoff run, losing out to NFC Conference runner-up Detroit Lions. And so with the 19th overall pick in the draft this year, the Rams made Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse their selection.  “It’s a dream come true,” Verse said duing a Zoom press call with reporters. “You work your whole life for this moment. I talked to the Rams throughout the process. Last week I got to meet with them again and do one last interview with them and it felt like the right thing. As you go on, as you go through the whole process and hear them call my name with that Los Angeles Rams attached to it. Woo! Dream come true.” The hole on the defensive line created by the retirement of Donald simply called for the Rams to fill that void immediately. In his two seasons playing for the Seminoles, Verse recorded 18 sacks and 29.5 tackles for losses.  At 6-foot-4 and 254 pounds, Verse has the size to play at the NFL level.  His ability to create havoc in the offensive backfield could be attributed to the motor he has thanks to his track background. At the NFL Combine, Verse posted a 40-yard time of 4.58 seconds.  “It helps your footwork a lot because you can't make false steps,” Verse said. “If you make false steps in track, they don't care how fast you are, but in high school you might be able to get away. When you face top level competition your form has to be perfect, especially on the later runs like the 100 to 200 to 400, your strides become very important.”  “That's why when a quarterback or a running back gets of out the pocket, I have faith in my speed and my form to be able to catch up to him and do something like that. Even if they may be faster, their form is not better than mine,” he added.  Verse is the first player to be selected by the Rams in the first round since 2016. That was the year the Rams made Jared Goff, now the starting quarterback of the Detroit Lions, the face of their franchise.  The Rams have moved on from the Goff experiment and have won a Super Bowl since then with Matthew Stafford manning the quarterback position.  "The way he plays the game, from the first snap to the last snap of the game, he wears people down." ?? Coach McVay on @JaredVerse1 pic.twitter.com/Dpmsi4TFxm— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) April 26, 2024 The Rams want to make another Super Bowl run with Stafford. That means surrounding the veteran quarterback with all the right pieces to enable that to take place. Filling in the gap left behind by Donald was of the highest priority for the Rams. According to the overview of his draft profile, Verse is described as being “twitchy and compact, with explosiveness featured at the point of attack.” Translation: Verse is a disruptor, which McVay likes.   “He's got great hands. He's violent,” McVay said. “He's got a versatile arsenal of moves that he can activate, but he plays the game the way that we want it to be played. We're looking for grown men on defense and I think you've seen a lot of the guys that we've added through free agency and then with the first pick tonight, he was one of the guys that we had targeted and feel really good coming away with him. He's going to make a big impact.” One of the things that has Snead impressed with Verse is his passion for the game.  “The cool thing about him is where he started (at) Albany, transferred to Florida State," Snead said. "Might have gone about where he went tonight last year, but he decided to stay back. I can tell you about him. He's just one of those guys that you want to just watch another game on because you can tell he cares about football. He has fun playing football and oh, by the way, he's pretty disruptive, violent. You think defense, the way he plays is next to the word in the dictionary.” Top Image Caption: CHESTNUT HILL, MA - SEPTEMBER 16: Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Jared Verse (5) in action during the college football game between Florida State Seminoles and Boston College Eagles on September 16, 2023, at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, MA. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire) Read the full article

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Five Best Sports Podcasts Of 2023

Please don't get upset. I'm trying to prepare you for the news. Are you ready? Are you sitting down? The Bill Simmons podcast is not on my list of the top five sports podcasts. No, I don't have a gripe with Mr. Simmons. His show is a perfectly competent sports podcast. Mr. Simmons has not been without controversy in his career, -- angry white man syndrome -- but is knowledgeable and articulate about sports. 

However, the sports podcasts I've chosen all have something  -- a special ingredient to offer.

First, let me wax angrily about the controversy addicts on sports podcasts who think that blurting out the most outlandish statements at a jet-engine decibel level generates ratings and makes them more visible in a crowded sports broadcasting field. Yes and yes, courting controversy accomplishes both goals, but at some point listeners get tired of your forced rants and fake controversies.

How many times can you flip out on the refs in any sport? Or call some athlete overrated? Or overpaid? Or attack some billionaire sports owner who has the ego of a monster and the self-awareness of a three-year-old?

Think Stephen A.Smith, Skip Bayless, and Colin Cowherd. These three never met an unfiltered opinion they didn't like. But enough about them. Let's talk sports podcast excellence.

  Hang Up And Listen

Slate podcasts are, as a rule, a cut above iHeart, Spotify, and Wondery podcasts. These intelligence-inflected podcasts are often designed to spur thinking, reflection, and self-awareness. That rule applies to the Hang Up And Listen podcast with hosts, Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin, who excel as quieter, more perceptive versions of Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless. 

The show covers the requisite sports topics of the week. The December 18th episode, for example, covered the indefinite suspension of Draymond Green, reports of the Wizards and Caps decamping to Northern Virginia, and college quarterbacks in the transfer portal.

What makes this podcast so remarkable is the show's instinct to make listeners think about the covered topic, instead of telling listeners what the hosts think and demanding that listeners then support the ideological line. 

What the three co-hosts accomplish every episode is to remind listeners that, while sports can be a metaphor for life, it's still an entertainment medium. Even more impressive is the show's resistance to either lionize or demonize athletes in sports. Instead, the show reserves its opprobrium for the self-indulgent, narcissistic owners of team sports and parent organizations of individual sports. 

I recommend the August 7th episode titled, "The USWNT Is Out Edition," covering the Women’s World Cup, conference realignment, and the MLB trade deadline. Plus, a conversation with Wimbledon quarterfinalist Chris Eubanks.

Ross Tucker Football Podcast

Ross Tucker is a former offensive lineman whose career was cut short by a serious neck injury in 2007. He's a Princeton graduate and has done multiple jobs in football journalism since his retirement. 

His show -- Ross Tucker Football Podcast -- broadcasts throughout the year with reviews of the NFL draft by position, forecasts about the upcoming season, and guest interviews that sparkle.

Tucker doesn't offer his listeners the typical screaming retired football player with random opinions that are shouted and announced as fact. Instead, Tucker interviews people with more thoughtful, nuanced positions, such as journalist Gary Myers, math wizard Steve Fezzik, and insightful interviews with current players. 

However, Tucker's ace in the hole is ESPN's NFL Matchup producer and analyst Greg Cosell. Unlike some analysts, Cosell is not loud, controversial and is often quite bland. But his devotion to watching game films and explaining the intricacies of the game to listeners makes him a unique repository of knowledge for those who really want to understand how NFL football is played.

What to know about which teams use "12" personnel and why? Cosell will tell you on this podcast. (12 personnel means that there is one running back, two tight ends, and two receivers on the field.) When Cosell explains the two deep safety shell (The two deep safeties divide the field in half and work over the top of the five underneath players.) you'll understand why some quarterbacks have a hard time exploiting that defense. Cosell is ideal for the fan who wants to know why his team is winning or losing, and not for the fan who wants to blame the referees for everything.

The Rich Eisen Show

The Rich Eisen Show provides a mix of sports news, interviews with athletes and celebrities, and lively discussions on current events in the sports world. Eisen brings his extensive knowledge and experience to the show, engaging with guests and offering insightful analysis. The show covers a wide range of sports topics, including football, basketball, baseball, and more. 

The show has a similar format to most sports podcasts, but it's Eisen that stands out. He's smart, and can be smart-alecky but with a restraint that tells listeners he's a thinking man, not a drinking man. Eisen handles interviews with ease, and always inserts reflective musing, attentive skepticism, and that awareness that he's discussing sports, not life or death conundrums.

Finally, Eisen may have the only spouse who is always an incredible sports podcaster, Suzy Shuster. (What The Football with Amy Trask).

30 For 30 ESPN Podcasts

It may be that ESPN's 30 for 30 Podcasts has set the bar so high for audio sports documentaries that no one will catch up. 

 The podcast is a highly acclaimed audio series that extends the storytelling of ESPN’s renowned 30 for 30 documentary films. Each episode of the podcast focuses on a captivating sports story, delving deep into the narratives that shape the sports world. 

With a combination of powerful interviews, archival recordings, and expert analysis, 30 for 30 Podcasts brings these stories to life in an audio format. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including iconic athletes, historic moments, and controversial events, providing a thought-provoking and immersive experience for sports enthusiasts. 

30 for 30 is known for its high production value and compelling storytelling, which is why it has earned a dedicated following and continues to captivate audiences with its unique blend of sports and narrative journalism.

Attaching an asterisk to this podcast, I can't leave ESPN without mentioning Bomani Jones, who has always been a natural fit for the podcasting format. While it sucked to lose High Noon (the show he hosted with Pablo Torre), Jones cuts deep on everything from sports and culture to music and social issues.

Jones is one of the smartest people in sports media, and anyone looking for a debate is going to get their money's worth—and that's why he's always such a great listen, no matter what the platform. 

 Real Science Of Sport Podcast

 World-renowned sports scientist Professor Ross Tucker and veteran sports journalist Mike Finch break down the myths, practices and controversies from the world of sport on the Real Science Of Sport Podcast. 

From athletics to rugby, soccer, cycling and more, the two delve into the most recent research, unearth lessons from the pros and host exclusive interviews with some of the world's leading sporting experts.

Recent episodes include Rugby's high-tech mouth guards, cold water therapy for recovery, the science of carb loading for endurance athletes, and the effectiveness of high-altitude training.

Finally, science people have a voice in sports.

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Finally, a good sports podcast should not recreate the sports bar or locker room in language, attitude or intelligence level. A sports podcast should not approximate jock talk in the locker room and devolve into audio "high-fives” or “belching and boobs” jokes. 

While some men still can't accept this fact, more and more women are listening to sports podcasts. 

A good sports podcast shouldn't be designed for the frat boy follies. Sure, sports podcasts do not have to sound like the Harvard Business Review podcast, but also not appeal to those who spend time on new "knock-knock" jokes and deciding on their latest whoopee cushion purchase.

These sports podcasts I've highlighted can fill your craving for sports talk by offering you a healthy dose of lively, spirited yet intelligent sports news and commentary. 

By contrast, I heard a fan call in to a sports radio show after the Eagles lost to the 49ers a few weeks ago and tried to recruit people to fly to San Francisco and start fights at the next 49ers home game for revenge. 

Get a life. It's only a game. 

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