It’s not easy to watch the McAfee show, so I don’t (except when Saban is on. ROLL TIDE!). Just like I can’t watch a Trump speech. So your ability to suffer through for your subscribers is most appreciated.
ESPN has been sliding down hill for a long time. I will not watch anything associated with McAfee. I've been a subscriber primarily for access to football, but honestly don't think I will miss it if I cut that last piece of the cable cord and cancel the YouTubeTV subscription. Added bonus: no money going to Fox News either.
This is an excellent column. I am a big fan of the Green Bay Packers. Indeed, I am so big a fan that I own stock in the corporation. One of my sons is also a stockholder. Our family is, obviously, big Packers fans. Like most other Packers fans, we were DELIGHTED to see Aaron Rodgers leave Green Bay. It had become impossible to cheer for a team led by this self-absorbed fool. I question whether he is stupid or dishonest (maybe both?) but it is certain that no one should accept any Rodgers views on medicine or public health. The vast, vast majority of Packer fans and people in Wisconsin are delighted that Rodgers is no longer associated with us!!
Oh America. We can’t understand the British obsession with royalty; yet, we treat our celebrities like authorities because we like their movies or songs or teams; we treat our leaders like celebrities and want them to entertain us, and we only listen to authorities who say what we want to hear because of those “alternative facts “. Sigh.
Sad, isn't it? I just listened to a vacuous fool on "Daily Blast Live" who said people listen to Biden and yawn.....they listen to Trump and he "evokes lots of feelings" and people want feelings. Dear God!!! Oh yeah, that's what I want--a country run on "feelings"....no understanding or information necessary--just feelings. GAG!
Thankfully Chris, you are here to call them out. Although I have a dark side which thinks, "Well... let the fools not be vaccinated and they will suffer and perish." But then I feel shame for thinking that.
Remember Joe the Plumber? Who they claimed was a genius? That was the first time I noticed the strength of Ignorance among the right wing.
They want bullying idiots in charge (but only if they are white), and all women should be barefoot and pregnant... or dead which works for them too.
Don't feel ashamed to think the morons should die for their moron stupidity. As a doctor pointed out to me at the outset of the pandemic, "A pandemic is Evolution's IQ test: are you intelligent enough to take this information and modify your behavior in such a way as to maximize your likelihood of survival?" The test is pass/fail.
I personally *love* the news that more Republicans have died of COVID than have Democrats. Let them all die! Make America Really Great Again!
Aaron Rodgers is a nincompoop when he's not on the field; but the absolute worst is an office that can be only occupied by one person, our former chief executive-insurrectionist in chief. While Rodgers might be an unavoidable stench in the room, Trump is the overwhelming, carcinogenic chemical attack. Seriously, these two major influencers with absolutely zero medical or scientific bona fides are critical of Anthony Fauci and the CDC? I'm no Luddite, but I think our beloved internet has created more problems than it ever solved, giving propagandists like these a platform for their imbecilic spew.
Donald J Trump has brought forth in our nation a subculture of proud stupidity. In the good old days, guys who could throw a football but lacked the critical thinking ability to understand books or to interpret studies, would stick to what they know, and let experts speak about their areas of expertise. Now, a guy who can toss the ball but never finished college and was likely passed along in high school so that he could stay on the field…or a guy with a degree from a decent school whose professor said something to the effect that Trump was the goddamn dumbest student that he ever had……presume to know more than folks who actually have medical degrees and extensive virology, immunology, and public heath experience. Listening to ol’ Aaron flap his pie hole made me sad. Because out in that audience are a bunch of folks saying “ oh, yeah,”.
It's an even bigger expression of stupidity, I'm thinking. When we have an electrical problem in the house, we call for a certified electrician and we do not second guess them just because we watched a YouTube video. When we have a gas appliance installed, we do not try to do it ourselves because "we read a pamphlet". No, we get expert help and we let them do their thing. Lordygawdy, people....wtf ever happened to common sense in this country????
Thanks, Chris, for this piece! Someone needs to call that idiot out.
If you haven’t seen Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue from Monday’s show, where he spends a good deal of time not only outlining Rogers lack of relevant information as well as describing him as the perfect example of the Dunning Kruger Effect (even putting the definition on screen in the lower-third), but he also has Guillermo debunk Trump’s absolutely stunningly stupid comments about magnets being ruined by “dropping a glass of water” on them. True comedy gold!
You’re more than welcome, Patric: it was way too funny not to share! I was waiting breathlessly for all of the late night shows to return from the holidays (Kimmel, Meyers, Colbert), given how much comedy fodder was generated in their absence!
They’re one of the few things that keeps me sane in “These Times” (along with Chris, Bulwark, Jay Kuo, Jeff Tiedrich, and others here on Substack...)
Aaron Rodgers, Eric Clapton, Robert Kennedy Jr, and Ron DeSantis. What a foursome for Bridge or Golf. And Trump can appoint one of them as Surgeon General if he wins in November.
Clapton took way too many drugs back in the day and has been irrelevant for 45 years. Saying something stupid to get back in the news is his only shot at getting out of Flyover Loserville.
The outrageous thing is Rodgers is paid (like he needs a side hustle) to come on the Pat McAfee Show and spew this nonsense. If he was giving insights about the NFL, the Jets etc. that would perhaps be worth it but Rodgers is being paid to throw the network in a ditch.
What is interesting is how some people recognise in their profession, there are smarter people than they are, and listen to them. Yet, they can step out of their profession, and suddenly know more than people who have spent their entire lives in that profession. Roger’s does not throw a football with whatever technique he wants to - he accepted coaching to learn better/more efficient ways to throw the ball. He does not call the plays - other coaches do that. He does not tell his lineman how to get into a proper stance, or how to block - there are coaches with more knowledge who do that. So in his profession, he takes guidance from experts. And he is one of the greatest ever because he had talent and listened to a lot of experts along the way. He would not be successful if he ignored all of the expertise, and did whatever he wanted to do.
YET - for medical advice, information on vaccines, etc. - no experts needed for Rogers.
Rogers would tell you that many people contributed to his success in the field where he had natural talent - so why would he think in other fields where he does not have natural talent he suddenly does not need all of the contributions from others? He can figure out all of the rest of it on his own.
Trump did the same. Had success as a slum lord learning from his father, then thought he could be successful in anything - casinos, airlines, education, etc.
Rogers is an idiot, talking about things about which he has no direct knowledge; he is just another jock who thinks his god-given ability makes him an expert on everything and creates a bully pulpit to spew his idiocy. The equivalent is a nuclear physicist trying to tell Taylor Swift how to sing, or vice versa.
The problem isn't Rogers per se; it is a celebrity culture that attributes any kind of professional success to godlike wisdom, albeit Rogers, Musk, or Trump.
What bothers me most about Rogers and RFK and their ilk is the disrespect they show towards Dr. Fauci. This man has been in medicine his whole life. He and his family have received death threats. How dare these complete and utter self absorbed jackasses question him? They should all STFU😡
It’s not easy to watch the McAfee show, so I don’t (except when Saban is on. ROLL TIDE!). Just like I can’t watch a Trump speech. So your ability to suffer through for your subscribers is most appreciated.
ESPN has been sliding down hill for a long time. I will not watch anything associated with McAfee. I've been a subscriber primarily for access to football, but honestly don't think I will miss it if I cut that last piece of the cable cord and cancel the YouTubeTV subscription. Added bonus: no money going to Fox News either.
Rogers has always been an arrogant jerk.
It's just that becuase he moved to NYC, the media mecca, he was more avaliable to demonstrate his doucheyness than in the frozen tundra.
don't ever want to see him take another snap
This is an excellent column. I am a big fan of the Green Bay Packers. Indeed, I am so big a fan that I own stock in the corporation. One of my sons is also a stockholder. Our family is, obviously, big Packers fans. Like most other Packers fans, we were DELIGHTED to see Aaron Rodgers leave Green Bay. It had become impossible to cheer for a team led by this self-absorbed fool. I question whether he is stupid or dishonest (maybe both?) but it is certain that no one should accept any Rodgers views on medicine or public health. The vast, vast majority of Packer fans and people in Wisconsin are delighted that Rodgers is no longer associated with us!!
I have to write about Aaron Rodgers' as part of my job and it's exhausting having to watch these appearances.
I know how you feel. Watching Glenn Beck became part of my job in the early 2000s because every show demanded action from constituents, in writing.
Oh America. We can’t understand the British obsession with royalty; yet, we treat our celebrities like authorities because we like their movies or songs or teams; we treat our leaders like celebrities and want them to entertain us, and we only listen to authorities who say what we want to hear because of those “alternative facts “. Sigh.
Sad, isn't it? I just listened to a vacuous fool on "Daily Blast Live" who said people listen to Biden and yawn.....they listen to Trump and he "evokes lots of feelings" and people want feelings. Dear God!!! Oh yeah, that's what I want--a country run on "feelings"....no understanding or information necessary--just feelings. GAG!
Thankfully Chris, you are here to call them out. Although I have a dark side which thinks, "Well... let the fools not be vaccinated and they will suffer and perish." But then I feel shame for thinking that.
Remember Joe the Plumber? Who they claimed was a genius? That was the first time I noticed the strength of Ignorance among the right wing.
They want bullying idiots in charge (but only if they are white), and all women should be barefoot and pregnant... or dead which works for them too.
Please never stop doing what you're doing Chris.
Don't feel ashamed to think the morons should die for their moron stupidity. As a doctor pointed out to me at the outset of the pandemic, "A pandemic is Evolution's IQ test: are you intelligent enough to take this information and modify your behavior in such a way as to maximize your likelihood of survival?" The test is pass/fail.
I personally *love* the news that more Republicans have died of COVID than have Democrats. Let them all die! Make America Really Great Again!
I also feel like these individuals die off. I too feel guilt then think its ok cause they'd want me dead cause I am a strong opinionated woman.
Oh I get it, really. But it comes down to this: They want us dead, but do we want to be like they are? Thats the question. Imho 🤷🏻
No we don't! We may think about it but as Jan 6th showed we are not drawn to their level!
Aaron Rodgers is a nincompoop when he's not on the field; but the absolute worst is an office that can be only occupied by one person, our former chief executive-insurrectionist in chief. While Rodgers might be an unavoidable stench in the room, Trump is the overwhelming, carcinogenic chemical attack. Seriously, these two major influencers with absolutely zero medical or scientific bona fides are critical of Anthony Fauci and the CDC? I'm no Luddite, but I think our beloved internet has created more problems than it ever solved, giving propagandists like these a platform for their imbecilic spew.
Donald J Trump has brought forth in our nation a subculture of proud stupidity. In the good old days, guys who could throw a football but lacked the critical thinking ability to understand books or to interpret studies, would stick to what they know, and let experts speak about their areas of expertise. Now, a guy who can toss the ball but never finished college and was likely passed along in high school so that he could stay on the field…or a guy with a degree from a decent school whose professor said something to the effect that Trump was the goddamn dumbest student that he ever had……presume to know more than folks who actually have medical degrees and extensive virology, immunology, and public heath experience. Listening to ol’ Aaron flap his pie hole made me sad. Because out in that audience are a bunch of folks saying “ oh, yeah,”.
Only because he is scratching their itch (as I believe the saying goes).
Rejecting genuine expertise as an expression of autonomy. Explains a lot.
It's an even bigger expression of stupidity, I'm thinking. When we have an electrical problem in the house, we call for a certified electrician and we do not second guess them just because we watched a YouTube video. When we have a gas appliance installed, we do not try to do it ourselves because "we read a pamphlet". No, we get expert help and we let them do their thing. Lordygawdy, people....wtf ever happened to common sense in this country????
Thanks, Chris, for this piece! Someone needs to call that idiot out.
If you haven’t seen Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue from Monday’s show, where he spends a good deal of time not only outlining Rogers lack of relevant information as well as describing him as the perfect example of the Dunning Kruger Effect (even putting the definition on screen in the lower-third), but he also has Guillermo debunk Trump’s absolutely stunningly stupid comments about magnets being ruined by “dropping a glass of water” on them. True comedy gold!
Here’s a link to the clip on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/HztDXBW8kmQ?si=WFi-H_TF1PAlktRG
Thanks for posting the link.
You’re more than welcome, Patric: it was way too funny not to share! I was waiting breathlessly for all of the late night shows to return from the holidays (Kimmel, Meyers, Colbert), given how much comedy fodder was generated in their absence!
They’re one of the few things that keeps me sane in “These Times” (along with Chris, Bulwark, Jay Kuo, Jeff Tiedrich, and others here on Substack...)
Too bad there’s not a vaccine for Dunning-Kruger.
You know what? By the very definition of the Effect, those that needed it most wouldn’t be smart enough to take it! 😁
Aaron Rodgers, Eric Clapton, Robert Kennedy Jr, and Ron DeSantis. What a foursome for Bridge or Golf. And Trump can appoint one of them as Surgeon General if he wins in November.
Clapton took way too many drugs back in the day and has been irrelevant for 45 years. Saying something stupid to get back in the news is his only shot at getting out of Flyover Loserville.
45 years? Damn, I *am* getting old! ;-)
The outrageous thing is Rodgers is paid (like he needs a side hustle) to come on the Pat McAfee Show and spew this nonsense. If he was giving insights about the NFL, the Jets etc. that would perhaps be worth it but Rodgers is being paid to throw the network in a ditch.
What is interesting is how some people recognise in their profession, there are smarter people than they are, and listen to them. Yet, they can step out of their profession, and suddenly know more than people who have spent their entire lives in that profession. Roger’s does not throw a football with whatever technique he wants to - he accepted coaching to learn better/more efficient ways to throw the ball. He does not call the plays - other coaches do that. He does not tell his lineman how to get into a proper stance, or how to block - there are coaches with more knowledge who do that. So in his profession, he takes guidance from experts. And he is one of the greatest ever because he had talent and listened to a lot of experts along the way. He would not be successful if he ignored all of the expertise, and did whatever he wanted to do.
YET - for medical advice, information on vaccines, etc. - no experts needed for Rogers.
Rogers would tell you that many people contributed to his success in the field where he had natural talent - so why would he think in other fields where he does not have natural talent he suddenly does not need all of the contributions from others? He can figure out all of the rest of it on his own.
Trump did the same. Had success as a slum lord learning from his father, then thought he could be successful in anything - casinos, airlines, education, etc.
Rogers is an idiot, talking about things about which he has no direct knowledge; he is just another jock who thinks his god-given ability makes him an expert on everything and creates a bully pulpit to spew his idiocy. The equivalent is a nuclear physicist trying to tell Taylor Swift how to sing, or vice versa.
The problem isn't Rogers per se; it is a celebrity culture that attributes any kind of professional success to godlike wisdom, albeit Rogers, Musk, or Trump.
What bothers me most about Rogers and RFK and their ilk is the disrespect they show towards Dr. Fauci. This man has been in medicine his whole life. He and his family have received death threats. How dare these complete and utter self absorbed jackasses question him? They should all STFU😡