"Swamp Kings" is a Disappointing Waste of Time

I recently just finished the Netflix miniseries "Swamp Kings". For those that do not know, "Swamp Kings" is about the five year run of the Florida Gators football team under Urban Meyer. Everyone knows my feelings on Meyer. He is a scumbag, a cheater and a punk. I have never liked him and I never will. The only upside to my household not getting Fox anymore is that I don't have to listen to him call Big 10 games. So when I decided to tune into this four part docuseries, I thought it would be an eye opening affair. I thought they would point out the good and the bad of this Gators run. Unfortunately they did not do that.

This show was, for all intents and purposes, a mastubatory fascination for Meyer, Tim Tebow and the Florida football team from 2006-2010. This was all about how great of a coach Meyer was for the team. How he molded these young boys into men. How his methods were exactly what this talented but undisciplined team needed. How he made a name for himself and changed the game of college football. Pretty much all the good and none of the bad. They barely mentioned the amount of arrests that happened under his eye. They didn't talk about the recruiting tactics he used. They only mentioned Aaron Hernandez's name once, calling him a "top recruit". They portrayed his barbaric methods as something new college coaches should aspire to. It was, for lack of a better word, gross. I couldn't believe all the stuff that was left out about him.

I have to think he was a producer on this show and would only allow it to air if it made him look great. Urban Meyer definitely had a moment as a top college football coach, but he also had some serious problems that this show just decided to not air. It was so bad that when they talked about his tenure with the Jaguars in the NFL, they said he "stepped down" as head coach. He was fired after 14 games because he was so ill fitted for the NFL. Tim Tebow was looked at as some kind of deity in this thing. They talked about him like he was the greatest college QB of all time. They had their chances to talk about him kind of getting off scot free sense he was a white QB winning titles, but they barely touched on that. A few of his teammates made comments about how they felt slighted, how Tebow got all the love, but the show was quick to get off that topic and move on to something else. Tebow also spoke like he was trained to sound wistful. He had this quiet tone that I found quite annoying. He talked as if he was this person who changed the college game. He would mention a fight between him and a teammate and give it a button along the lines that it helped both him and the teammate. Stuff like this made his teammate a better player. I found it quite odd that he didn't go into any kind of detail about how he felt about the arrests and issues, being that he is so religious. He sat down and openly praised Meyer at every turn. It was frustrating.

They did a decent job of portraying this team as one of the better college units of all time. They won two titles in three years. They had a Heisman winner. They had a bunch of NFL players. And they beat really good teams. But they never talked about the true issues that this team had. They barely touched on the arrests. There was one moment in one episode where they started to talk about it, but it was a three or four minute chunk in a 45 minute long episode. I thought they would do a full 45 minutes just on that topic. They didn't though. They kept it incredibly bland.

This could have been a salacious docuseries. They could have done all the good stuff and peppered in the bad. They could have dedicated entire episodes to the issues. They could have dug deeper. They went the opposite direction. "Untold" is meant to make you angry and disgusted with what you are seeing. This one was a miss though. They didn't dig at all. They let the bad stuff slide. It felt like the people behind "Swamp Kings" figured we knew all the bad stuff so they were just going to show the good. Skip this unless you are a college football fan like me. This is not worth your time. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Urban Meyer is an Idiot

Urban Meyer is at it again, First he hired a coach that was fired for abusing players at Iowa. Second he goes out and complains that "free agency is too hard" in the NFL. And now he has made the dumbest move as far as player personnel goes that I can ever remember.

For those that have been living under a rock, or do not follow the NFL, the Jaguars and Urban Meyer just went out and signed Tim Tebow, as a tight end, to a one year deal. Now, he has to make the team, which I think is a very, very, very, very long shot. But still, to waste a contract on a guy that hasn't played football in a decade, while having him change positions is such an epic failure as a coach, a GM, a front office and a team can make. I understand that these two have a close relationship, and that Tebow won a Heisman when Meyer was his coach at Florida, but we are talking about things that happened over a decade ago, and the NFL has changed drastically since then.

This is such a puzzling and, quite frankly, stupid move. Everyone who signed on for this, who gave it the go ahead, I have one question, what in the hell are you all thinking? Why would you allow Meyer to talk you into signing Tin Tebow? What can he possibly bring to this team? How does he help as a player or a locker room guy? How does this help Trevor Lawrence at all? What about the other, more qualified tight ends already on the roster? Why on Earth would you do this? Is it simply a PR move? Will he make the team just because he is a buddy of the new coach? This is just asinine. If I were Tyler Davis, Ben Ellefson, Luke Farrell, Chris Manhertz or James O'Shaughnessy I'd ask to be released or traded immediately. This is a spit in all of their faces. These guys are all actual tight ends that made the NFL as a tight end. And then Meyer brings in Tim Tebow to compete for playing time with them. Come on man. That is ridiculous. He doesn't have the talent to play in the NFL. That has been established. And for the very few people that want to bring up his one playoff win, which was a miracle, get the hell out of here with that nonsense. I like to look at his whole career prior to that one moment. He was an absolute mess as a starter. He was an embarrassment. Then he became a gimmick. Then he couldn't even make the Patriots as strictly a gimmick player. Then he was out of the league. And after that, he stole someone else's job in the MLB when he decided he was going to be a baseball player. That is what Tim Tebow is to me, a thief of more deserving players' jobs. He gets fans to come out and watch, but it is like going to a circus. People want to see the freak show that is Tim Tebow. They don't want to see him succeed because he hasn't succeeded in any level of professional sports.

This move is strictly because Meyer thinks he can build a good team by getting his former college players on his team. That is a method that is going to hilariously blow up in his face. First he signs Carlos Hyde, who was toast five years ago, and now he is bringing in Tim Tebow. Who is next, Chris Leak? Alex Smith? This madness he is working on this offseason is going to explode, and I will be laughing the whole way. And for websites like Bleacher Report to talk about what a great move this is, how it will help the locker room and to call Tebow a "weapon", just stop right now. You are embarrassing yourself with that nonsense.

What pisses me off most about all of this is the fact that a guy like Tim Tebow can get a job in the NFL, can take a spot away from someone much more deserving and be praised by major media outlets, it just goes to show that the NFL has clearly blackballed Colin Kaepernick. If it wasn't wildly apparent before, this should hammer it home for anyone who is smart and doesn't think Kaepernick is being blacklisted. This move by Jacksonville makes that fact abundantly clear.

The Jaguars signing Tim Tebow isn't just a joke, it is an embarrassment to the NFL, and it is really showing their true colors. I cannot wait to watch this fail spectacularly because that is what is going to happen. What a bunch of nonsense.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Tim Tebow is Still a Jackass

For a long time I was one of the people who thought a college scholarship was more than enough for student athletes. I figured, they get their school paid for, and they are campus legends, at least some of them.

That was when I was a stupid teenager, and didn’t understand, or turned a blind eye to, how universities treat these kids. The athletes, especially the top tier ones, are abundant money makers to the school they go to. I was devastated when Michigan and the Fab Five were sanctioned and had to give up all those wins and Final Four berths. But, with adult eyes, and hearing the Fab Five guys talk about their struggle, I don’t blame them. Michigan, my favorite college for those of you that may have forgotten, sold Chris Webber’s jersey and made millions off him and the rest of those kids. That’s wrong on so many levels. Hell, look at that Duke-UNC basketball game in Durham last year. Former president Barack Obama, god I miss him so much, was front row, tickets were going for upwards of 10,000 dollars it was reported. And while Duke, and Coach K, profited off that, the guy everyone was there to watch, Zion Williamson, got none of it. I’m sure he was taken care of, like Webber, but nothing near what that one game netted both those colleges.

This goes on everywhere. All universities, with big time athletics, takes advantage of the athletes while the coaches and schools rake in millions upon millions of dollars. So when this recent bill in California, to let players profit from their name and image, was brought up, and then passed, I was stoked. I thought, finally these kids will get what they deserve. Yes, a scholarship is nice, but as I said, the athletes make so much more than a scholarship provides.

But, for some unknown reason, I found myself watching “First Take” on ESPN this morning, and I watched Tim Tebow give some dumbass speech about how bad it is to pay student athletes. He went into some diatribe about playing for the “name on the front of the jersey”, and now, “it’s all about me, me, me”.

First of all, he should have profited off all the jersey sales of his Florida jersey, but that’s neither here nor there. This whole speech was the epitome of white privilege and “back in my day” mentality. I’ve made no bones about how I feel about Tebow. I don’t like him, I didn’t think he’d last in the NFL, and even though he made it much further that I thought, I figured the baseball thing was a way to keep his name in the news. But for him to give this speech on national TV, and chastise kids for wanting to profit from their name and image, was just asinine. Like I said, this was white privilege at its best. Tebow didn’t need money or anything when he was in college. I’m sure he came from money, and money has never been a problem for him. He’s seems like a silver spoon kid. Well Mr Tebow, 99 percent of the population isn’t as lucky as you are. Jalen Rose could’ve used some money in college. He had a very rough upbringing. Same for guys like Randy Moss and Jason Williams, the White Chocolate one, not the murderer. I’m sure there’s a good amount of Alabama players that just look at their time in college as an unnecessary stop until they get to the NFL. Why can’t they try and make money when, by NFL rules, they have to go to college? Former Michigan running back Karan Higdon had a daughter while in college. I know how expensive kids are, and I bet if he were able to profit off his jersey sales he would’ve jumped at that chance. I’ve heard countless stories about kids going to college as a way out of their rough neighborhood or upbringing. Why can’t they get some extra money when a school sells a jersey with their number on it?

I found Tim Tebow’s speech vulgar, disgusting and short sided. He’s never had to do anything real or tough. He’s never had a hard day in his life. So why does he think he gets to be the voice on an issue like this, I will never understand. He would’ve been better off working on his hitting than going on a TV show today to trash student athletes trying to profit from schools, and coaches, taking advantage of them.

Tim Tebow disgusts me, and if I hear him speak one more time on this issue, it will be one time too many. Tebow is a poser, I’m sure he voted for the current government and he is the epitome of white privilege. He just needs to go away, and never speak on this issue ever again. What a jackass.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Tim Tebow Signs with the Mets. No, Really

Still not getting to first base

So, I'm here today to eat some crow, but not really. I did not think any MLB team would give Tim Tebow a chance. I wrote last week that he was too old, hadn't played baseball in too long a time, was too big and burly, couldn't throw the ball well, couldn't field, basically, I did not think he had what it takes to be signed to any contract, be it major or minor league baseball.

Well, the New York Mets proved me wrong. Today they signed him to a minor league deal. Now, before the Tebow backers come at me and tell me that I'm a hater and that I was wrong, he has a minor league deal, but he still has a long ways to go before he actually has a chance to make any roster at any level of pro baseball. He will have to go through the Mets instructional program immediately, then, it's winter baseball in some place like Venezuela, then, and only then, will the Mets make a decision to even invite him to spring training. If he has a decent spring training, and that is a big if, then he will become an official pro baseball player, but he will have to start in the minors, probably double A.

Now, I watched the "highlights" from his baseball workout that he held a week or so ago, and I came away very unimpressed. He looked like a rumbling lumberjack when he ran the 60 yard dash. Yeah, he ran it fast, but that should have been expected. He was fast in high school, college and during his short NFL career. And, he has been working out non stop since this baseball "dream" began a few months ago. The 60 yard dash is something he should have excelled at. Yes, he does have power, but any 6 plus footer and 260 pound guy that knows how to swing a bat, when they connect, it will go far. That, like the 60 yard dash, was expected, especially when it's during batting practice. During batting practice, you have a pitcher that you, the batter, have chosen to throw you 75-80 mile per hour fastballs right down the middle. Batting practice is easily the best way to pump yourself up. You get meat pitches to crush. I loved batting practice when I played because it was easy and made me think I could hit anything that came my way.

But, those were the only two things that I took away that Tebow could do well enough. When the batting practice was over, he faced live pitching. This was when the workout started to tank, at least in my eyes. First off, he could not hit off speed pitches. Every curve, change up or slider that came his way, he whiffed or fouled off. And when he fouled the ball off, it wasn't because he was a bit late or a bit early, he was incredibly late or early when he fouled these pitches off. The foul balls were weak and floated into the stands. When he did get a "hit" off live pitching, it looked like bloop singles or slow grounders up the middle. The power that was displayed during batting practice was all but gone when he faced live pitching. Quite frankly, his batting during the workout was very, very below average. When all you can do is hit slow fast balls over the middle of the plate, your baseball career will be short to non existent. He is going to have to learn how to hit off speed pitches, and he has so much less time than players currently in the Mets minor league system.

When he did his fielding work during his workout, that somehow looked worse than his attempts at live pitching. He looked so awkward tracking fly balls. He would take steps back or forward that were so unnecessary, it almost cost him some catches on fly balls. When he was fielding what would be hits in real games, he looked as out of sync as some of the 5 and 6 year olds I coach. He seemed to bend over to far, or not enough. He did not field one single ground ball with ease. It all looked lumbered and tough for Tebow.

Then his throwing, man that was harder to watch than watching him throw a football. He would cock the ball back to far, and he actually threw a baseball like it was a football. That is not good. With a football, you have to bring your throwing arm back a bit further, with a baseball, you have to be a lot quicker getting it out of your hand, meaning you need to shorten up your throwing hand a bit. Tebow did not do this. His throws were so awkward, I had to look away watching him do this, it was that bad.

Never mind all this stuff that I'm saying today, or that I said last week, because the Mets deemed him good enough to, at least, send him to their instructional program. I mean, I could have understood a team like the Braves, they are in SEC country and they stink, or any team in LA or Florida, for the same reasons, save the Dodgers, signing him to a very incentive laden contract, but the Mets? I don't get it. He has already failed once in New York, with the Jets, and the Mets are a good team. They were in the World Series last year. Why would they sign him? They don't need the publicity and they don't need any other outfielders, but they signed Tebow anyway. My only guess as to why it was the Mets, they must have a deal with the New York Post, and other New York publications, and their sports writers need some fodder, so the Mets said they would sign Tebow, so they could have a month or two of bashing this clown show. That is literally the only reason I can even fathom that the Mets would even take a sniff on Tebow.

But, as far as the crow eating, he did get signed. I was wrong and good for you Tim Tebow. He has no shot at making the majors. He is too old, too burly and too much of a publicity stunt. He won't get past winter ball, let alone getting into the Mets minor league system. This is such a ridiculous story coming from an athlete that just won't give it up. Tim Tebow is a joke and I'm sick and tired of him getting a pass. He was a terrible NFL player and he will be an even worse baseball player. There is no doubt in my mind that he is going to fail at this baseball venture.

Not one single doubt.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. With the kickoff of the NFL season happenning tonight, you should listen to Ty tell you how the 2016 season is going to play out. Follow Ty on twitter @tykulik.

Give it Up Tim Tebow

Tebow is not getting to first base anytime soon

Why won't Tim Tebow just give up, and give in to the fact that he is destined to be a commentator on ESPN for the rest of his life? He is very good at doing that, or hosting shows that have to do with pumping people up. Basically, he is a good looking young man, that had his shot at the NFL, couldn't cut, but has found something that he really thrives at doing. He is really, really good on TV, much to my surprise.

With the news that he is going to be holding a workout for 20 MLB teams this week, he still hasn't given up on his pro sports dream. There are many, many problems with his new plan to become a pro baseball player. First off, as I have already stated, he is great on TV. He exudes charm and professionalism while doing television spots, or talking college football. I do not like Tim Tebow, the person, at all, but damn, he is good on TV. He should just stick with that. He is really good. Next, he hasn't played competitive baseball since he was in high school. Sure, he was a decent high school player, he hit over .400, and had some power, but, I played with kids at my high school, who had no shot at the pros, that were much, much better baseball players than Tim Tebow. High school baseball is not that tough. you have to be incredibly good, Bryce Harper good, in high school, to be considered a top prospect that can make the majors at a very young age.

This leads me to the next problem with Tebow and playing pro baseball, he is 29. I know that is young in regular life, but in pro sports, that is ancient. Sure, baseball players can play well into their late 30's and early 40's, but the guys that have careers that last that long, they have been playing professionally since they were in their early 20's. Late 20's, early 30's in baseball, that is getting near the twilight of your career. Take Albert Pujols for example. When he broke into the majors, he was considered an older rookie, at 21 years old. Sure, he proceeded to be dominant for the next ten years, but when he left the Cardinals for the Angels, at 31, his career has fallen on harder times. He is not the feared hitter he was when he was younger. He was only 2 years older than Tebow is right now before his career kind of started to break down. Pujols is an all time great, but he is 36, and many people consider him past his prime. Hell, they considered him past his prime when he was 32 or 33, only three years older than Tebow currently is. Why would a team want to take a chance on a guy that may only give them one, two years tops, of good baseball.

Another player to look at, one that may not be as famous, or as respected as Pujols, Ryan Howard. Here's another 36 year old player, that was great for one or two years, in his early 20's, that has fallen off the map. He doesn't have really what it takes to be as feared as he once was. He gave the Phillies three great years, but after getting hurt, and older, he is not the same. His best days were in his mid 20's. He was younger than Tebow when he was mashing the ball, but now, he just doesn't have it.

That is just 2 examples of players that were great when they were younger than Tebow currently is, that have fallen on rough times. You could even look at some other people that have tried the whole crossover from one pro sport to another. Michael Jordan comes to mind first. He is the greatest basketball player of all time, but he could not hack it in double A baseball. He barely hit over .200, and he went back to basketball ASAP. Russell Wilson, who was drafted out of high school to pro baseball, also couldn't hack it in double A, hitting in the low .220's. Deion Sanders was great at football, and he was decent at baseball, gaining the leadoff spot for a pretty good Braves team in the 90's, but he was not nearly as good at baseball as he was football. He was also much younger when he played both sports professionally. The most famous person, that was successful at playing two pro sports at a very high level, was Bo Jackson. Tim Tebow is not even close to being anywhere near Bo Jackson's athleticism, and he never will be.

Basically, this all seems to be a publicity stunt, or he just won't let this dream of being a pro athlete die. He had his chance at pro football, and he couldn't cut it. He couldn't make the reads, the throws or run an offense the way it needs to be run professionally. Sure, he may be better than some teams second and third string QB's currently, but no NFL team is going to give a 29 year old washed out, spread option QB, that can't throw, a contract. It's not happening. And with the MLB, I mean, who is going to sign a guy that is almost 30? You don't sign with a team and then immediately become a pro, unless you are Robin Yount or Ken Griffey Jr, both hall of famers. You have to go through the minors. You have to take your lumps, and if you are lucky, you get called up after two or three years of bouncing around on buses and staying in dingy motels. I don't think Tebow can handle, or even wants to handle, that lifestyle. He is used to the finer things in life now. He had his shot, and he had a very short career in the NFL, but he made it.

I know hundreds of thousands of people that would give an arm to have his NFL career. He needs to let the dream die. No GM in the MLB will sign him. He is too old and too much of a distraction. Major league baseball likes to draft young kids, usually 18, 19 or 20, and let them grow in their minor leagues system, and then bring them in the pros when they are 21 or 22. That's how it goes.

Sorry Tim Tebow, but your pro sports window has passed, and just let the dream die. Pro baseball is not happening for you.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He once held an open workout for professional soccer. The problem was not Ty's age, it was the fact he did not like soccer and therefore was not good. Follow Ty on twitter @tykulik.