A Mask Question, Super Bowl Thoughts, and USFL Curiosity
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Hey
Everybody, it’s Rob J. Quinn. They say nobody reads anymore, so I thought I’d
try something new with a video podcast. This could be the worst idea ever for a
guy with a speech disability, but I recently turned 50 and I figured it’s time
to shake things up.
I
have a couple topics I want to cover, and I’d love to have you chime in with
your thoughts in the comments. Let’s start with an issue around mask wearing. I
was recently harassed by an old woman at the Y, who was angry that I wasn’t
wearing a mask. First she refused to get on the elevator with me, opting to use
the stairs even when I offered to let her go first. Didn’t seem like a smart
move for a woman using a cane, but her call. I use a wheelchair, and I’m using
the elevator. A week later, we again meet at the elevator. This time she starts
yelling at me. Literally wagging her finger, yelling, “You should be wearing a
mask. Blah, blah, blah.” She again refuses to go first, but keeps yelling. As
the elevator doors close after I get in, she says, “It’s people like you who
keep the pandemic going.” That was enough for me. I stopped the doors and went
back at her. I told her that I’m vaccinated (and boosted) and I rather
emphatically suggested she shut up. She wanted to tell me about her science
degree and how I didn’t have one. I’m sure she’s on the cutting edge of the
virus research. Quite frankly, I wanted to shove her cane somewhere for her and
I was done being polite. For the record, masks aren’t required at the Y. And,
by the way, I’m quite confident she’s not yelling at anyone else at the Y, most
of whom aren’t also wearing masks. I think she saw me as an easy target, and
that doesn’t work with me. Now, here’s where I’d love to get some response. How
would you react to someone yelling at you for not wearing—or wearing—a mask? Some
people feel just as strongly that we should be done with masks. I’m not asking
for your opinion on masks. My feelings are that if a gym or restaurant wants to
require masks, fine. I’ll either wear a mask or go elsewhere. But someone
getting in my face about it, especially if I’m following the rules, is BS. You
don’t want to be around people not wearing masks—stay out of places where
they’re not required. Or keep your mouth shut.
Ok,
next topic. It’s Super Bowl week. Should be a big week for a guy trying to make
sports gambling a career. But I’ll likely be sitting this one out unless I get
a last-minute feel. I had a last-minute feel on the Chiefs last year…that went
well. I got crushed in the last calendar year. Nothing that impacts real
life—the bills are getting paid. But sometimes you just gotta take a step back.
I
don’t have much of a feel for the game anyway. I think I bet on the Bengals
once all year, and I don’t think I did anything with LA. The Rams are actually
in their home stadium…as Tampa Bay was last year…and I think they have a better
defense. But, unfortunately for me as a Steelers fan (and if you don’t know
that story, I was an Eagles fan for 40 years and just couldn’t take Andy Reid
anymore), I think Joe Burrow is going to be a great quarterback for a long
time. I was leaning toward a small Cincinnati upset, but I heard their pass
catching tight end is out. I don’t quite buy into Matthew Stafford for the
Rams, however. So…bet on the coin flip! The odds might be the same.
But
here’s what I’m really wondering. Is anyone else—football fans—looking forward
to the USFL? I am. I really hope they’re aggressive about getting the best
players and competing with the NFL. If they’re just trying to be a minor league
for the NFL, I’ll pass. I think there’s an opportunity for them with the
baseball season already in jeopardy due to a lockout, and the NBA could be in
one after the Finals. I know it would take a miracle for the USFL to succeed.
But they have Fox and NBC airing their games. If they can have competitive
games and avoid endless replays and let a catch simply be a catch—something the
NFL has completely over complicated—maybe they got a chance. Or maybe I just
like the idea of the underdog prevailing. And, hey, I can root for a
Philadelphia football team again in the Philadelphia Stars! Tell me what you
think.
If you’re not already on my website, check out robjquinn.com and my books Reach Past Your Limits and The Birth of Super Crip. Let me know your thoughts on what I discussed and the podcast in general. Thanks for watching and listening, and have a great day!
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