FF

The Gym

I recently moved to Raleigh, NC and one of the first plans of action was to join a gym.  I have always been very interested in looking good and feeling good so the fact that my belly shakes when I brush my teeth lately was enough reason to make this my number one priority.  I checked out all of the usual suspects around the area like Golds Gym, YMCA, etc.  Then I showed some interest in the local “average Joe’s” type of gym that costs less than the cost of a protein shake per month compared to the big boys.  After much thought and consideration I decided to join a local but rather large gym called “Rapid Fitness”.  Upon arrival at this castle of a gym, I was greeted very quickly by an above average looking female with a smile that could light up a room.  She brought me around the facility and showed me where the cycling room is, where the free weights are and 20 minute station workout room is.  Or as I like to call it, the hot mom room, the muscle meatheads section and the lazy in and out Curves room.

I immediately knew this was my future place of burning fat and gaining muscle.   Maybe more importantly as a man is the intimidation of this gym.  The fact that almost every man there looks like he was in the movie 300 and every female looks like they fell out of a swimsuit magazine sealed the deal.  I signed a two year contract and have been going several times a week since signing up.  Most people say that the hardest part about getting exercise is getting started or getting yourself to the gym.  For myself, I find this extremely easy as I have some great scenery to look at while working out.  But what is crossing the line?  Women walking around in hot pink tight tank tops and tight black pants that says “Boo Tay” on their bottoms (yes this is a true story) are allowed to be looked at right? Not to mention almost all gyms these days have a women’s workout room if they want privacy.  So are we allowed to stare?

As a man, I would feel extremely honored and privileged to have a person of the opposite sex taking glances at me as I work out.  Actually, forget glances, I would feel tremendous if there were women starring and drooling over my muscles while I work out.  Obviously the men do not mind this when they are wearing shirts that look like they were painted on their muscles or the tank tops that have as much material as a thong but what about the women?  I would understand if a women was at the gym and wore a baggy t-shirt and shorts on the treadmill and didn’t want eyes burning on them while they work out but in my mind when a women is wearing tight neon colors that highly promote her fascinating breasts or shorts that have large lettering on her rear for everyone to read, then that is up for grabs.  Well let’s not go overboard here, not technically for grabs, but for looks.

With all this said, I am not condoning that while you are prancing around on the treadmill at 2 miles per hour that you should be 6 inches away from the treadmill with little miss sunshine jogging at a “bouncy” rate while you zone in on her upper half.  Nor should you sit down and pretend to stretch your elbows while watching the yoga class that seems to be strategically placed right next to stretching station.  What I am saying though, is when you join a gym and you are a paying customer, you should be allowed to take an extra glance at the beautiful bodies in there.  For the most part, I would assume that no one would care about this, but some women will.  Chances are that the one who speaks up and asks you what you are looking at is going to be the one who is wearing the see through spandex. 

My advice to those of us who have a starring problem, either join the average Joes place that costs half the amount of money per month and enjoy looking at your neighbors, join the YMCA and get used to looking at grandparents and their grandchildren or join the juggernaut fitness center that contains the sports illustrated swimsuit centerfolds and try to contain yourself.  Either that or toss a pair of shades in your gym bag.  You may look strange but only you will know what you’re looking at!

Trent ;)  

The Madden Curse

We have all heard about the "Madden Curse" and some people believe it and some people don't.  As for me, I'm not big on believing curses, but I for one will be happy if the cover of Madden never features a Buffalo Bill.  Fortunately for me, I wont ever have to worry about that as the cover always features a breakout player... Here is the history of the Madden Curse. You tell me if its real or not:

 

2000: Detroit running back Barry Sanders.
One of, if not the best Running Backs in the NFL in his time.  Coming off of an amazing year with 1,780 total yards, at the age of 30 he retired unexpectedly from the NFL by sending a fax to the team.

2001: Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George.
Eddie's curse came in the post season, as the top seeded Titans were knocked out in round one of the playoffs due to a rare and game ending fumble for Eddie George.

2002: Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper.
After bringing the Vikings, who were thought of as an elite team in that NFL, to a horrible 4-7 start, Culpepper hurt his knee and has season ending surgery.

2003: St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk.
After 5 straight 1000+ yards seasons, Faulk failed to hit the mark ever again after his appearance on the Madden cover.  He also started the least amount of games of his career at that point in 10.  He was never the same RB.

2004: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.
After an outstanding season of being a "joystick" like QB, Michael Vick broke his leg in preseason ONE DAY after the Madden game was released with his mug on the cover.

2005: Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.
Ray Lewis had his first career season without an interception.  He also broke his wrist causing him to miss time.

2006: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
McNabb missed 5 games due to a sports hernia.  He also did not make the Pro Bowl for the first time in 5 seasons.

2007: Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander.
Alexander missed six games after breaking his foot.  He never was the same player since the previous year (before the Madden cover) when he was the NFL MVP.

2008: Tennessee Titans Quarterback Vince Young.
Even with a winning record, the team decided not to start Young and eventually cut him.

2009: Brett Favre "retired"
After the announcement of Brett Favre making the Madden cover, which was supposed to be the first retired player on the cover, he signed with the Jets.  The team failed to make the playoffs and Favre dealt with several off the field issues.

2010: Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu/ Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Polamalu missed the majority of the season due to knee injuries and the Steelers missed the playoffs after winning the Superbowl in the previous season.
2011: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
Brees almost broke the curse by having a good year but the curse may have lingered in to the playoffs as the Saints were knocked out by the big underdog Seahawks after winning the Superbowl a year earlier.

This year the cover will feature Peyton Hillis. Good luck brother...