Porter's Hot Takes: Is It Football Season Yet?
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There's only two days during the calendar year in which none of the four major sports are in action---the day before and after the MLB all-star game. Unfortunately, we encountered both of those days during this monotonous week in sports.
Fortunately, we made it to Friday, which means time for my piping hot takes on some of the biggest sports stories of the week, whether you like it or not.
Are you ready some football?
Is it me or is this the most excited you've ever been for the NFL season? Pretty sure this thought crosses my head every single July.
A combination of my age, my job, the storylines/excitement surrounding the Eagles (combined with the awfulness of the other three Philly teams), my love for Chip Kelly, and of course fantasy football has me jacked for fall Sunday's.
Forget in-house, think of the all players we have to track around the league and make fun of! Nick Foles, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Evan Mathis, Cary Williams, Bradley Fletcher, and so on and so forth.
I can't decide what's going to be more enjoyable, a Foles pick-six or a McCoy fumble.
Mike who? Mike Trout.
I'm infatuated with this guy, and I don't care who knows it! Generational athlete.
In season No. 4...
- Four-time all-star
- First four at-bats in each of his four ASG's: single (2012), double (2013), triple (2014), and home run (2015)
- Two-time all-star game MVP (only player to ever win the award in back-to-back years)
- 2014 AL MVP
- 2012 AL Rookie of the Year
- Three-time silver slugger
- 30-30 club (2012)
Full disclosure: I didn't want one pitch of the all-star game
There are inspirational speeches and then there is Devon Still's ESPY speech. If you haven't listened to it, you have to.
If I was a teacher I would force my students to watch it and then test them on it when school starts in September.
As a fellow Penn State alum and very close friend acquaintance of Devon (sort of---I met him once and we have close mutual friends, leave me alone!), I've became attached to his story---like much of the country. We should all be thankful that Devon and Leah have let us into their lives and shared their experiences with us. #LeahStrong
Speaking of Penn State, head coach James Franklin and Neshaminy native made the right call in removing the names on the jerseys. And in 2012, Bill O'Brien also made the right call in adding the names to the jerseys.
O'Bie wanted to honor the players for sticking with the program post-scandal, and it was the correct decision at the time. But now, with the sanctions lifted, I think even O'Brien (who will be featured in HBO's Hard Knocks series this August!) would agree the names aren't needed anymore. It's time for Penn State football to begin restoring its tradition and reputation.
As for the on-the-field? PSU looks strong at pretty much every position except offensive line. All eyes are on their third-year QB Christian Hackenberg, who many expect to be a top pick in next year's NFL Draft.
With a schedule like at Temple, Buffalo, Rutgers, San Diego State, Army, and Indiana to start the season, the Nittany Lions could (should?) be 6-0 heading into their October 17th date in Columbus.
