This past week the Pittsburgh Steelers released their 80th Anniversary throwback Uniforms for the 2012 NFL season. Never in my life have I ever seen a more hideous example of fashion gone wrong. The uniforms look less like something a football team would dawn, and more like killer prison bees running a marathon. But one thing that the uniforms did was to force myself to reflect and ask a question. Have I ever seen anything as ridiculous? I’m not sure if the answer is yes or no but I was able to access my encyclopedic recollection and come up with at least five things that come close. But first we will start with an honorable mention.
Lady Gaga
I would have included Lady Gaga in the parade of ridiculousness but “article etiquette” clearly state that you can only have one example of offensive clothing, and we are already using that bullet for the Steelers uniforms.
Lady walking Child
I was out and about in the City of Canton Ohio at McKinley Park (Park named for President William McKinley from Canton who has a memorial and museum on park grounds). In the park is a pedestrian walking track and this is where I saw number five on our list. I witnessed a woman walking with her dog and child. Guess which one was on a leash. Yep, this woman had her toddler leading the way on one of those child leashes while the dog rode comfortably in a stroller. It was this site that made me vow to purchase a cell phone with a good camera.
Tom Cruise Rant
For those who haven’t seen it, it’s a blast. In 2008 the world-wide blockbusting actor Tom Cruise delivered a nine minute sermon defending his faith of Scientology after a video had leaked of Cruise’s acceptance speech for the 'Freedom Medal of Valor' award at an International Association of Scientologists event. First let me state I have no feelings (good, bad, or otherwise) in regards to the religion of Scientology. But this video is a lot like watching a train wreck. In the sermon, an angry (or at the very least frustrated) Cruise argues that Scientology can save the world and bring about world piece. This is a perfectly valid opinion however, his message is essentially lost in his incoherent rant. To compare and contrast it would be like watching the Reverend Al Sharpton delivering a sermon while on crack.
The Dugger Family
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Michelle Dugger, she and her husband “Jim Bob” are the proud parents of nineteen (no you aren’t hallucinating it says 19) children. I have two children and I have (on more than one occasion) wanted to sell them off. I cannot in all reality imagine having 19 children. This family has taken the biblical expression of “Be Fruitful and multiply” to a whole new level. I think when you have more children then fingers it may be time to stop. However this family is attempting to grow. They recently had a miscarriage of number 20 but plan on possibly having another child in the future. And if that isn’t crazy enough for you, they also have their own TV show.
The 2000 Presidential election
Really the title is enough said. Even if you do believe that George W. Bush won the election, you must admit that the Supreme Court ruling was “odd” at best. The ruling handed down applies only to that specific issue in Florida and does not apply to any other situation ever again and that is just a little suspicious. Never in the history of the Supreme Court has a one-time specific situation ruling ever been made. And I would bet that it never will again.
The Peyton Manning Saga
Finally we come full circle back to football with the Peyton Manning Saga. Never before has one player had more press while not playing. Manning’s off-season circus was like the NFL’s version of “The Bachelor” meets “Days of our Lives” meets “The Real World”. Each and every move was monitored closely including travel plans like breaking news complete with aerial coverage. QB’s and teams were hurt and shamed as Peyton narrowed his list of possible landing spots. I do not feel that Manning had a hand in orchestrating the frenzy rather he was a victim as much as any other quarterback in the cross-hairs. Even the Michael Vick dog fighting scandal was not followed this closely. It will however be interesting to see how he fairs at Mile High.
Michael W. Youngman--Lead Analyst C.B.R.Michael is the Lead Analyst for the Cleveland Browns Report. He has written many articles that have been featured by playerpress.com, cantonrep.com, FoxSports.com, and of course this site. Michael has also written a book titled “The Dayton Project” published in 2008 by PublishAmerica. He makes his home in the Hall of Fame City of Canton Ohio with his wife Lisa and his two children Joseph and Jennifer. To learn more, visit his Website
