Michigan Against Everybody… Arrogance On Display

There’s a phrase going around since the University of Michigan was caught cheating (allegedly) in a major way. To football fans, it seems pretty obvious that they definitely cheated. The same way everyone and their mother knows OJ Simpson is guilty. OJ slithered by on a technicality and then a phrase was forever etched into American history.

“If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”

The gloves, for whatever reason, didn’t fit. In similar fashion, Michigan football fans could say the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. The punishment so far is that their football coach has been suspended for the remainder of the season. The crime, they’d say, doesn’t even exist! But more disciplinary action is most likely on the way as investigators dig in for more evidence. It’s obvious to everyone, just like OJ’s guilt.

The phrase popping up on football Saturdays is this:

“Michigan Against the World” or “Michigan Vs. Everybody.”

There are at least two problems with this. One, they’re portraying themselves as the victims, the underdogs, the unfairly punished. Reality paints a different picture. The real victims, if or when Michigan is found guilty of cheating, are the teams who were cheated on. How many games did Michigan win because of the advantage gained by the illegal spying? Those teams are the victims. The Michigan football players who had no idea this was going on but will have their legacy, their memory erased or tainted, they are victims.

Two, to elevate yourselves so high that you think the entire world is against you is the most arrogant move. Not to burst your bubble Michigan, but no one outside of upper North America has even heard of you or any other college football team, for that matter. The phrase reeks of elitism and a puffed up image of one’s self. Arrogance. Ego. Pretentious a-holes.

I reminds me a little bit of the NFL and Major League Baseball. When a team wins the Super Bowl or the World Series, they’ll call themselves world champions. Ok, sure you won the highest challenge in your league but most other countries don’t even have American football leagues. Other countries play baseball but I didn’t see the Texas Rangers playing against any teams in Japan, Cuba, or even Canada. So calling yourselves “world champions” is a stretch.

Thinking it’s you against the world, Michigan, is a stretch, too. If anything, it’s you against Ohio State fans who relish in your demise. Plus other football fans who don’t appreciate that you cheated… allegedly.

-Out of the Wilderness

Jason Aldean and a Disappointing Behind-the-Scenes Video

Just a couple of days ago I posted about Jason Aldean’s video “Let Your Boys Be Country,” which you can read here. Great music video by a great director, Shaun Silva. Then as I opened up YouTube today I found a behind-the-scenes video, sounds good to me! I clicked on it because who doesn’t love a good backstage pass to the making of a video, right? Well, this one, folks, will leave you disappointed. It’s basically 3 minutes of a few people saying “Hi, I’m (name)” and the rest is a montage of clips from the music video. Boo. They started so strong with Shaun and Jason joking about having to wake up early. That’s the stuff fans want to see.

As an example of a behind-the-scenes video that offers more, here’s the one for “Try That In A Small Town.” This one is better because it offers us more information instead of just a long montage of clips with barely any context.

I’d suggest that any behind-the-scenes clips should be almost 100% about information. Who’s doing what? Show me craft service. What’s the crew eating for lunch? Where are you filming the video and why? Could there even be a look into the edit suite as the music video is being assembled? What can fans see that will give them an insight into how the final video is made? Treat it as a documentary of the making of the video. I know everyone on set has an important role and maybe getting clips for a BTS video isn’t a high priority, but if the final product shows its lack of importance, then just don’t make one at all.

-Out of the Wilderness

Sunday morning football… is nothing sacred anymore!?

In the current 2023 NFL season, 5 games have kicked off, or are kicking off, on Sundays at 930am eastern. So it’s not too early for the players, these games are all overseas (London and Germany). I’m a little miffed because it used to be that there weren’t any games until 1pm eastern on Sundays. That means games start at 1pm and don’t end until around 1130pm. That’s a lot of football, even for a die-hard fan. Not to mention the Monday night games and Thursday night games. Some Monday nights have double headers, too. Thursday night games were added to the schedule in 2006. Fine, whatever. But now there are Sunday morning games, too?

What about church? What about rest?

I’m finally to the point where I’m starting to believe there’s such thing as over saturation. If the NFL could have games regularly on Fridays and Saturdays, you know they would.

At what point does the scheduling of these games become an assault on our privacy, our spirituality, or our mental stability? I know what you’re thinking, “Just don’t watch.” Well, sure, that’s an easy solution. But at some point someone needs to stand up and say, “Enough. Enough now.” And yes, that’s a direct quote from Love, Actually. Sundays were once regarded as a day of rest! I think Mormons even still treat it that way completely, meaning they don’t do any work or ask for anything that requires someone else to work.

As of the day of this posting, there are businesses that won’t open on Sundays, Chic-Fil-A being the one that most people refer to.

I’m sure the 930am NFL games are here to stay, and it makes me a little mad and a little sad.

-Out of the Wilderness

Dos Equis Makes Subtle Change to Ukulele Commercial

Dos Equis must’ve seen comments blasting them for their ukulele commercial. Towards the end of the ad, the “real friend” tosses the instrument into the fire. But if you see the commercial on TV now, that scene has been swapped out for a new, less controversial one. Why was burning the ukulele a bad look? I explain here.

Dos Equis smartly, and subtly, revised the ad. Take a look at the new version below…

It’s always telling when YouTube comments are turned off, so Dos Equis definitely knows they made a misstep in the original version of the commercial.

We should give them credit for recognizing their mistake and making the change. Sure, it’s all about sales and the bottom line, but at least they didn’t dig their heels in. They became aware of the feedback and did something about it. Bud Light could take a few notes. They’re still releasing ads like this one without admitting their gigantic marketing mistake.

Don’t ever forget that we have power as consumers. If something is wrong or a company needs to be called out, don’t hesitate to make your opinions known. We have the power!

-Out of the Wilderness

What’s the song in the Genesis commercial? The song, the artist, answers here!

In TV and streaming commercials, there are certain songs that just seem to stand out more than others. Off the top of my head, I’m thinking of this ad from Publix, or this one from Airbnb. It’s definitely time to add Genesis to that list. Check out a recent commercial featuring a song that has a holiday flare to it…

The Song. It’s a hip-hop song called “Gifted” by Krizz Kaliko. Listen to the full track from 2021 below…

Show some love for this talented guy by checking out his website, following him on Instagram, @krizzkaliko, and listening to his music wherever you stream. Here’s his Spotify link.

-Out of the Wilderness