Bad Lip-Reading, ‘Tubthumping’, and other random things the NFL brings to mind
We’ve reached the “random things the NFL reminds us of” portion of the offseason
When we first started The Skinny Post here at SB Nation we, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, thought it would be a place where we could talk about football in a different way. Football deserves that.
This is the case because football can sometimes be random. It can instill and invite random emotions from us in the process. That’s what this week’s edition of TSP is devoted to.
Below we have listed four different moments that can, and do, happen in an NFL game. We have then noted the most random thing (in a tangential way) that this has made us think of when it has occurred before. The TL;DR version of that is we are discussing the most random ways the NFL can make us feel.
Let’s begin.
A game-winning score as time expires, field goal or otherwise
RJ:
Let me say that what I am about to offer does not happen all of the time. It is mostly whenever my team, the Dallas Cowboys, is not involved. Emotions and circumstances change when that is the case.
That being said... sometimes when a game-winning play happens it is just the perfect strum. The lighting is just right. The way that players both run onto the field to celebrate and sulk while drifting off if they are on the other side of it all meets in absolute harmony. Some things are just meant to meet each other.
This actually only happens to me when watching highlights and not actually a game, but sometimes when I see ball-carriers cutting hard and juking dudes out... I think of the song “Shivers” by Ed Sheeran.
If you have ever heard the song you know that it is really bouncy and dart-y and kind of works with the idea of a juke. I am clearly not alone in this, in fact this was my inspiration for this phenomenon, as Hard Knocks literally used it as a cut-up song when the New York Jets were on it two years ago.
I blame them. I can’t see highlights like this without hearing the song.
Michael:
When it comes to songs and how they can pop up in our heads during certain NFL moments, I can’t help but hear Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping” when I’m watching a defense put a quarterback on their rear over and over again.
Usually this takes place when watching Joe Burrow and the Bengals, but it can pop up anywhere whenever a pass rush is totally feeling themselves against an offensive line that’s seemingly powerless.
You want to talk about a song that can infiltrate your head and never leave? It’s this one, so I apologize in advance if it happens to seep into your brain after reading this.
When a head coach tears into the officials for a call he disagrees with
Michael:
Head coaches are humans just like the rest of us and they can be overcome by strong emotions mid-game, especially in important moments that hold a lot of weight in regards to their season goals.
When I see a coach just tear into the officials for a call he disagrees with, I can’t help but think back to those old viral “Bad Lip Reading” of the NFL. In particular, there’s one point in the original video where former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is yelling at the refs while pointing to the ground sporadically. In the video, Garrett is digitally made to say “You took three chomps and then threw your hot dog up over here. I got 13 steaks over here!”
Don’t ask me why I think it’s so hilarious, but it is. Also, if you haven’t seen the original Bad Lip Reading videos, you need to go watch them right now.
RJ:
This is a fantastic reference and quite the throwback.
If there is anything that I think about when a head coach is really ripping one off it is a judge on a cooking show. You can pick whichever one you would like, but that is the vibe that it always strikes to me.
Kind of like this example with Jason Garrett, it is usually loose and off of the rails and something that doesn’t make any real logical sense. NFL coaches are special in that way.
When head coaches try to ice kickers at the last second
RJ:
We have all seen NFL head coaches try to ice kickers right before they attempt important field goals. You know the move I am talking about.
The coach is standing by the official and waiting, waiting, waiting and then BAM. Right as the kicker is about to get going the timeout is called. It is as late of an icing as you can possibly author.
I don’t know how to prove this, but I am fairly certain that Dick Jauron was the coach who began to first do this almost 20 years ago when he was running the Buffalo Bills. Mike Shanahan began to do it as well while the head coach of the Denver Broncos still at the time, but as noted I believe Dick was the first to add it to general circulation.
Any time that move is executed I think of Mr. Jauron.
Michael:
You know what comes to mind when I think about head coaches who stand right by the ref and wait until that last millisecond before the snap to ice the kicker? Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers series laughing maniacally with his pinky held to his mouth. At least, that’s how’d personally feel if I was the one calling the timeout.
Every single time I’d be thinking, “HA! GOT ‘EM!”
And then I’d ask the general manager for one hundred billion dollars on my next contract.
(Please get the reference)
When the players announce themselves on Sunday Night Football
Michael:
Key and Peele have been the creators of some of the best comedy skits in recent memory and they’ve been especially good when they use the topic of football.
One of the best skits they’ve ever done has been their East-West All-Star Game where they just get WILD with their impersonations of players announcing their names prior to the game. The point is to highlight just how unique some of the real-life names are, but they take it to a whole other level.
Because of this skit, the name “Hingle McCringleberry” is not only a household thing in the world of comedy fans, but also football lovers, as well.
RJ:
Honestly I don’t think of anything specific here as much as I have something that really bothers me.
There is only one school that is allowed to use “the” before its name and it is The Ohio State University. I don’t care who you are a fan of or if this upsets you. These are the rules. “The” belongs to them.
It sounds insanely silly when players drop the “the” before any other school, especially a school that is smaller in stature or not necessarily known for producing NFL talent.
Get your own thing.
Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Which random things did these scenarios invoke for you? Scroll down to the comment section to share your thoughts!