Social media is afire with the topic du jour, Travis Kelce's attack on Andy Reid during Super Bowl LVIII. And, as I am a person with precious few unexpressed opinions, I leapt into this fray with a fury.
I think Kelce was wrong. Really wrong. To confront one's head coach on a world stage with the level of disrespect he spewed was unprofessional, trashy, and downright scary. That sort of testosterone explosion can never be properly directed at your boss, much less a man thirty years your senior and a bit unsteady on his feet.
That's not really the subject here, though. It's this: have we lost the ability to have intelligent conversation in this country?
As soon as Travis displayed every vein in his forehead and his mighty biceps of rage, the public started choosing sides and making assumptions.
If you thought Kelce was out of line, you were a conservative. If you dismissed his behavior as "just football", you were a liberal.
If you dared to voice concern for Taylor Swift in her relationship, you were hysterical and a (gasp!) feminist.
I realize political division is nothing new in this or any other country. I simply wish we weren't allowing it to soar to levels that don't require anyone to ponder their own opinion...one will be chosen for you by your "side."
Soccer moms want you to know they've seen you ranting at your kids' games. Guys who've played football, some of them probably in leather helmets, want you to know this is simply the frustration of a player who wanted to win.
The problem is, I may have been frustrated on a sideline or two and even yelled. But not at my children's coach. And I've never played football or anything else requiring eye/hand coordination, but I've watched some stellar examples of athletic prowess and good sportsmanship get horribly frustrated and still play their games without attacking their coaches.
Reid shrugged it off. Sure he did, Kelce is a star player and regularly hosts Reid on his podcast. That doesn't make it right.
I would love to have seen Travis Kelce as an Alabama tight end confronting Nick Saban this way. Or as a Patriots tight end yelling in Bill Belichick's face. I'm pretty sure Vince Lombardi wouldn't approve of his namesake trophy being cradled by a player who created such a crass display during the Super Bowl.
So there. Classify me. I am neither Republican nor Democrat. I love Taylor Swift and everything she stands for as a woman and an artist. I love Travis Kelce and his podcast. I am super impressed by the Kansas City Chiefs, especially Patrick Mahomes. I want Taylor and Travis to live happily ever after.
But I'm not going to look the other way when someone makes an ass of himself in front of the entire world. Neither should you.
