Quick Thinking: Fantasy World

The hard truth is just that, dear readers. It's hard. As the saying goes, truth in any form passes through 3 stages. The first of which is dismissive ridicule. (Phrases like, "You're crazy!" are probably common in this stage.) The second is violent opposition. (Violent being the operative word there.) And, finally, the third stage is self-evident acceptance. (Yes sir. Thank you, sir.)

Think about that for a second.

That means any idea, concern, question, or hunch you've ever had -- all potential truths -- are violently opposed before acceptance. Not only opposed but violently opposed. And that opposition could last weeks. Maybe even years. Then all that anger and violence ceases and somehow evolves into the equivalent of a "no duh" epiphany? 

[SIDE NOTE: START]

Ancient Greek cultures called that moment "Metanoia" or the "Ah-Ha" moment. 

[SIDE NOTE: END]

The goal of violence, while generally complicated, is simple in this equation. It's all about prevention. The hope, of course, is that said opposition is never greater than the truth it opposes. But it must have won a few times, right? Team Opposition can't be scoreless this far into the game. Makes you wonder how many truths that exist in this world didn't reach the final stage of their self-evident journey.

So as you wrestle with your life's questions, remember answers -- or, rather, truths -- aren't ever going to be revealed easily, y'all. Ever. But that doesn't mean your truth doesn't really exist. 

It simply means it doesn't exist yet.

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Quick Thinking
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-- I hope running back Dion Lewis doesn't end up on the cutting room floor as preseason comes to a close. 

-- He reminds me a lot of Danny Woodhead.

-- Only bigger and quicker.

-- No pun intended.

-- His iconic number doesn't hurt either. #larrylegend

-- The Washington Redskins are systematically damaging Robert Griffin III's career. 

-- They're also damaging his future health.

-- Don't believe me? 

-- Just ask Will Smith's character is his upcoming film Concussion.  

-- Shitty accent notwithstanding, of course.

-- Fuck Free Brady, y'all.  

-- Free RGIII.

-- One Time by Marian Hill is absolutely hypnotic.

-- Quote of the Week is from one of Louis C.K.'s older sets, "Self-love is a good thing but self awareness is more important. You need to once is a while go 'Uh, I'm kind of an asshole.'" 

-- His point is well taken. Change can only be truly achieved at the individual level. 

-- The majority of other efforts to do so are most commonly futile.

-- Talk about "no duh."

Quick Thinking: More Probable Than Not

When Ted Wells released the now infamous report surrounding his "independent" Deflategate investigation, Patriot Nation held its collective breath because the "comprehensive" findings were not favorable.

"For the reasons described in this Report, and after a comprehensive investigation, we have concluded that, in connection with the AFC Championship Game, it is more probable than not that New England Patriots personnel participated in violations of the Playing Rules and were involved in a deliberate effort to circumvent the rules. In particular, we have concluded that it is more probable than not that Jim McNally (the Officials Locker Room attendant for the Patriots) and John Jastremski (an equipment assistant for the Patriots) participated in a deliberate effort to release air from Patriots game balls after the balls were examined by the referee. Based on the evidence, it also is our view that it is more probable than not that Tom Brady (the quarterback for the Patriots) was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of McNally and Jastremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls." 

The resulting backlash of questions concerning Brady's integrity and, ultimately, his legacy were immediate and, at the time, warranted. I mean, doctoring balls to gain a competitive advantage is something any ultra-competitive athlete would do, right? Not only is it understandable, it's expected. Isn't it?

Haters everywhere were more than happy to add an asterisk next to Brady's accomplishments. Cheaters never win and all that.

But, as is the case with most things in life, the factual details that have come out since the Wells Report was released have shed a different light on Deflategate and transformed our poorly-informed, knee-jerk questions into absolute clarity. And that clarity, of course, is that Brady's legacy is intact.

Fully intact. 

In fact, I would argue this whole Deflategate scandal is only going to enhance Brady's legacy while adding Goodell, Wells and the NFL to the wake of his winning pedigree. After all, this is the same Brady who has overcome adversity & doubters at every turn of his life -- famously so, at this point -- so why should Deflategate be any different? 

It shouldn't.

And it won't be.

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Quick Thinking
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-- Dolph Lundgren is starring in a Kindergarten Cop sequel providing further proof Hollywood has run out of good ideas.

-- Or any original ideas, for that matter.

-- I can relate.

-- And, no, it's not a tumor.

-- Makes sense Buffalo Bills new head coach Rex Ryan claimed IK Enemkpali off waivers. 

-- He's wanted to punch Geno Smith in the face for years.

-- At least Geno's injury won't affect his fantasy draft status.

-- Wakka, wakka, wakka.

-- Brady's "private" email communications show how normal his life actually is.

-- I mean, who doesn't make fun of Peyton Manning on email with their friends.

#manningface

-- The only thing worse than a 13-episode The Bachelorette season is the reactive media frenzy covering "the decision" pirating more headlines and airtime once any respective season ends.

-- Speculative journalism at its finest.

-- The real story is how the conclusion of each season could spark identical debate: "why did [insert Bachelorette name here] chose [winner's name] over [loser's name]?"

-- The answer is, and always will be, whichever guy has the biggest stem will always take home the final rose.

-- Always.

-- Think of all the time the media will save on unnecessary future conjecture that can be invested in covering more important things.

-- Like the Kardashians.