NFL 2011 Season Week 14 Picks

Another interesting thing I learned reading the offering document. Apparently, if you are a shareholder, NFL rules prohibit you from engaging in conduct detrimental to the league, including publicly criticizing any NFL club, management, employees, or officials (not sure if players count as employees or not). As for the punishment, well... from the offering document, "[T]he Commissioner has the authority to fine such shareholder in an amount not in excess of $500,000 and/or require such shareholder to sell his or her stock."

Also, "In addition, if the Commissioner determines that a shareholder has bet on the outcome or score of any game played in the NFL, among other things, then the Commissioner may fine such shareholder in an amount not in excess of $5,000 and/or require such shareholder to sell his or her stock."

Since you're not allowed to sell your Packer shares to anyone else, if the Commissioner forces you to get rid of your stock, the Packers will buy it back for 2.5 cents per share.

And really, it's as much "ownership" as any other publicly traded company*

We don't envy the "owners", we pity them. They're being conned, and then wearing it as some kind of badge of honor.

I found myself growing increasingly angry Tuesday at the condescension and elitist commentary connected with the opening of the Green Bay Packers' latest stock offering.

Because it isn't just "memorabilia." It's not some limited edition poster. It is being sold as, and maintains its lofty value as, something it's mostly not.

I've bought a share for my dad for christmas. When he passes (hopefully won't be anytime soon, he is in his late 50s) it will go down to me! yay! Idk if there is any left, I couldn't reall afford to buy two, being that I'm a full time college student, and I just had to pay 1200 in repairs for my car-.-

I think other players have said they don't like him and/or the "show" he puts on.

In a lot of ways "Tebowing" is as much a "look at me" show as Ochocinco orchestrating something, except Ochocinco isn't constantly implying, whether or not it's fair, "I'm a better Christian than you." Not to mention the Bible doesn't contain any language instructing you that when you put on your fake "HOF 20??" gold jacket you should do so in private.

We get it, you like you some Jesus, you and 99% of the league.

Thank you Mr. Maher.

But even that site (link is busted) I'd say a vast majority of those people were the same type of people that were planking a few months ago. At some point, and I'd argue very quickly, the meme is just its own thing.

I read a few storys back in the early days of Tebow that his constant prayer hit a nerve with other players because it made them feel like he was making "showing your faith" some kind of competition. "My first instinct isn't to drop to a knee and pray instead of watching a pivotal moment in a game, so what does that say about me?*"

*Which again, might not be fair to hang on Tebow, but it is what it is. People felt/feel that way either way. Let me feel my feelings, Turk!

Many of them took umbrage to the whole "hard working Christian finally gets a break" aura he cultivates, or largely just gets credit for, because that describes about 90% of the league.

I don't care if he stops or not, I was just saying what I read about other player's less-than-stellar reactions to it. I never said they were rational and fair reactions.

Many of them took umbrage to the whole "hard working Christian finally gets a break" aura he cultivates, or largely just gets credit for, because that describes about 90% of the league.

I guess my motives are different. If I felt compelled to pray on the street corner or get down on a knee and make it obvious about what I was doing that would be fine. However, if I got the impression that my act (which was for me to communicate with the man upstairs) was being perceived as snobbish, arrogant, (all the things people are saying about Tebow), it would behoove me to change my actions, not just for my sake but for the sake of the kingdom for which I (and Tebow) would be trying to further. If the motives behind my actions are truly Christian motives, it would be in the interest of everyone, including mine, not to do something unecessary that so easily pisses people off, when you can still be just as Christian without such an overt display. If I felt that my actions were actually causing the thing I was trying to please to be perceived in a negative way, then my actions, whatever my motives, would become of vanity. I (and Tebow) am an ambassador of that which we pray to. Personally, I feel like Tebow takes it too far and actually hurts the cause of Christians more than helps it.

you like you some Jesus, you and 99% of the league.

There are definitely more than 1% Mohammadeans, Jews, and 'others' out there. I'd wager there was even a fringe Scientologist or Jew for Jesus in the mix somewhere.

There are definitely more than 1% Mohammadeans, Jews, and 'others' out there. I'd wager there was even a fringe Scientologist or Jew for Jesus in the mix somewhere.

...Not to mention the Bible doesn't contain any language instructing you that when you put on your fake "HOF 20??" gold jacket you should do so in private.

...I'm not saying anything about Tebow in this situation one way or another, because I believe it is a matter of motivation. If Tebow is doing it to be a "look at me" moment, than this would apply. If he is just that compelled to do it, then it would be different....

...In a way his intentions almost don't matter. Even if he isn't doing it to draw attention to himself, he's drawing attention to himself. And not just for ridicule. (Though I think the meme is wayyyyyyy more about people's love for memes than it is about "ridiculing" Tebow, or prayer in general.)...

I guess my motives are different. If I felt compelled to pray on the street corner or get down on a knee and make it obvious about what I was doing that would be fine. However, if I got the impression that my act (which was for me to communicate with the man upstairs) was being perceived as snobbish, arrogant, (all the things people are saying about Tebow), it would behoove me to change my actions, not just for my sake but for the sake of the kingdom for which I (and Tebow) would be trying to further. If the motives behind my actions are truly Christian motives, it would be in the interest of everyone, including mine, not to do something unecessary that so easily pisses people off, when you can still be just as Christian without such an overt display. If I felt that my actions were actually causing the thing I was trying to please to be perceived in a negative way, then my actions, whatever my motives, would become of vanity. I (and Tebow) am an ambassador of that which we pray to. Personally, I feel like Tebow takes it too far and actually hurts the cause of Christians more than helps it.

But I don't want to be the one to determine what's in that category and what isn't. And let's face it, to the general unbelieving public, it's pretty much all unnecessary.

Also, on an unrelated topic: Cameras caught Tom Brady cursing his head off at his offensive coordinator on Sunday. It was obvious what the two were saying (well, when reading their lips, but I suppose they could have been saying "no hip" or "vacuum"). Now, I have a question. AJ Hawk got fined like $10k or something like for flipping the bird (a sidways bird, no less) to his own teammates that just happened to be caught on camera. Why should he get fined but caught-on-camera-curse-words get off me-free (take a minute to digest that last word I used)? Just a thought.

The what public?

Because Tom Brady wasn't using sign language in the middle of the field.

Well, belief in God, and the faith that jon, myself, (and tebow I suppose) subscribe to our two different things. It's the general belief in the existance of a higher power vs the acceptance of Jesus as lord and savior. Nuanced to the general public perhaps, but a distinction to those that hold the latter belief.

The what public?

Though either way "why can't all the meanies just leave the few of us believers alone" does seem to be a prevent attitude in the Tebow talk. (Or to the general believing public )

Carl, you're never going to be an Operating Thetan if you don't accept that we are not a fringe group. I am coming to Minneapolis to audit you and remove some of those pesky engrams, then maybe you can reach the next level.