No one should ever expect you to mirror another person's achievements or expectations.
No one should ever judge you or call upon you to join them - step for step - on any action.
As I've learned along my many journeys, one phrase keeps coming back to me, "You do you, boo."
That said, if your main argument this week as it relates to protests or in terms of taking a stand - one way or another - is that flawed, but time-honored tradition of "I would never do that", then please do me a favor and exit stage left and allow the rest of us to continue the dialogue.
Because as valid as your own personal beliefs are, they also run counter-productive to the overall theme which states that everyone does have their own unique path.
I don't expect you to understand mine, unless you're genuinely interested. In which case, you'd ask me about that path.
You wouldn't (hopefully) beat me up for it without knowing something about what I've done and how I got here.
And yes, the same applies the other direction. If I'm genuinely interested, I'm going to ask.
I'm certainly not going to chastise, belittle or attack you for it. Nor would I question your decision-making without taking the time to consider all that brought you here.
So before we lob more verbal grenades onto the NFL's newest anthem protesters, maybe it would do us some good to consider the paths which brought both Marshawn Lynch and Michael Bennett to this place.
Unless you're not interested.
But if you own a jersey or a piece of merchandise representing an athlete, a professional or collegiate sports team of any kind, bear in mind you're financially representing an organization comprised of people with whom you know little or nothing about.
Don't blame the individual or the members of that team if and when fail to meet your lofty, though perhaps uninformed expectations.
In other words, let the buyer beware.
The Circus Is Almost Here
As we get closer to the "highly anticipated" (??) fight night featuring extremely well-paid cartoon characters Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather, Jr., the UFC champion is continuing to let everyone know just how good a boxer he really is.
Video footage of a sparring session held earlier this month shows McGregor laying waste to former boxer-turned TV boxing analyst Paulie Malignaggi.
And while the footage may in fact show McGregor possessing some legitimate power punching ability, that doesn't mean a single thing if the target in front of you is standing there taking a beating.
But what's more comical about this is the glee in which McGregor goes about in describing his sparring session knockdown(s) of Malignaggi.
It's like listening to the hotshot high school kid describing - in intimate detail - all his conquests despite the fact that literally no one sees any of them.
The video footage of this sparring session has been passed around by McGregor's people like propaganda leaflets falling from the sky.
It's great to let people know your achievements. For that, my Irish friend, you get a pat on the head and a wafer.
See you in 11 days.
The Show
We've got a lot to do today on FIRST SPORTS, including detailing a laundry list of stuff that Tiger Woods was on when he was cited for a DUI earlier this year... We've got the latest on the most highly talked about NBA trade that still hasn't taken place... We've got NFL preseason previews covering both the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans... And I'll assuredly say something which will irritate you and/or make you chuckle. FIRST SPORTS airs weekdays 9am-Noon ET nationally on the I Heart Radio at this link right here or locally on the radio dial at AM1340/93.9FM.
You're welcome, America.