Meat-Chicken Punter

Nothing thrills me in the sports world like watching Michigan Wolverines suffer losses. Nothing cuts deeper into my gut than watching a punter flail around desperately trying to save his team from the inevitable wall of humanity that bears down on him. With 10 seconds left in the game and Michigan about to beat Michigan State (which was ranked higher than them), coach Jim Harbaugh was tasting victory. And then the snap. It hit the punter dead in the hands, and ricochet forward. The punter was able to grab the ball and attempt to kick it. Which was blocked. And the Michigan State team recovered the ball and took it back for a touchdown.

Ouch.

I'm not gonna mention the punter's name, because I sincerely feel bad for the guy. A few things though...whenever something like this happens, it always becomes it's own legend. The Steve Bartman interference that set off a chain reaction to the Chicago Cubs fate, the Billy Buckner through the leg ball, don't get me started on Scott Norwood. But here we are. A highlight this young man desperately wants to forget. A day in which, could be a moment of glory, turns to a horrific meme. And now he's getting death threats. That's the worst of the worst. Considering this game wasn't even suppose to go their way, I would say, they did really well. But some out there have so much riding on these games. I'm certain the ones who gamble on college games, this one muff'd punt cost them (collectively) millions. Imagine having that on your conscience. There isn't a moment we'd like to take back. But to be the point in time where this kid could go on a downward slide is unconscionable. There is nothing we could say or do that will do that play over. And it was watched by millions. Throughout history, possibly billions. And that's what he has to live for. Then these asshats want to send death threats? Gimme a break. There are bigger things than college football. For one thing, any gambler understands college football betting is the absolute worst. Second, threatening someone online will just make you feel ugly and sick later in the day. You just hurt yourself. And, in fact, is a crime.

Again, I'm not defending the bad moment in time. Just the poor kid that has to endure this for not just one semester, or how many other years he goes through school, but a lifetime. And listening to Harbaugh. That guy is a tough mofo.