Monday, December 5, 2011

#49: Tebow Time

Alright, I get that a lot of people are bashing Tim Tebow these days. Some can't stand that he's openly Christian. I have no problems with that. In fact, I think it's refreshing. Some bash Tebow because he's a running back disguised as a quarterback in the professional football league. Or perhaps it's because he doesn't even throw enough passes to be considered a quarterback on espn.com's passing stats. Those are all reasons enough to make fun of his ability (or lack thereof) as a starting QB in the NFL.

But this post isn't about him. It's not about his religion. It's not even about his lack of skills. It's about his ridiculous, cult-like following of fans. Seriously...you guys need to take a step back and realize that you've gone too far.

Denver Broncos fans are perhaps some of the most annoying in the NFL. "In-Com-Plete." Has there ever been a more obnoxious chant? And you'd think they'd stop saying it, now that they have a QB with the accuracy of an 8-year old. But what I don't get is this whole phenomena trying to make Tebow something he's not.
(Ummm...you DO know that he's not Jesus, right?) In fact, he's not even the first player to praise God after a win or a touchdown. He's not the first player to pray before, during or after a game. There have been hundreds. Literally hundreds. So why, all of the sudden, do Christians act like Tebow is the first believer to put on a football helmet? I mean, come on...they don't even call it "praying" anymore. They call it "Tebowing?"

Seriously? Did prayer really need another synonym?

Let's be honest: Tim Tebow seems like a decent fella. He's a good running back. I have no idea how he got a job as a quarterback in the NFL but he did. And his team is winning games. (Did you catch that? HIS TEAM is winning games. Last I checked, Tebow wasn't the only one on the field.) But his team also plays in the worst division of all football. It's not like they've gone head to head with the Steelers, Giants, Packers or anyone else of substance. So let's try to keep things in perspective please?

I'm fairly certain that, if the field was made of water, Tebow wouldn't be able to walk on it.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

#48: American Airlines

Yeah, I know...shocker...an airline that sucks. But hear me out on this one. This post is not about the ridiculous baggage prices. It's not about the high prices of tickets. It's not even about the "class system" that American and other airlines promote. (Don't get me started.)

No, this post is about American's inability to service customers who fly internationally. You see, American--like other airlines--subcontracts to other carriers when you fly abroad. For example, I just flew to Brazil for work. My itinerary had me flying on American Airlines from Colorado Springs to Dallas (DFW). Then, from DFW to Sao Paulo Brazil on American. But in Sao Paulo, I had to jump over to another airline, GOL Airlines, for the last leg of my trip to Recife, Brazil. That's where the trouble begins.

My luggage wasn't in Sao Paulo when I arrived. So I couldn't carry it through Immigration. I boarded my final flight on GOL Airlines to Recife hoping my bag would make the last leg of the trip with me. No such luck. I contacted GOL at the Recife airport and they told me that I needed to talk to American, since my bag was on an American chartered flight. American said I needed to take it up with GOL. Neither airline would allow me to file a missing bag report, because they both said the other airline was responsible.

Here's the kicker: Both airlines admitted that my bag was in Sao Paulo--just a 2 and a half hour flight away from my hotel. But neither would put the bag on a plane because they didn't want to take responsibility. So, FOR SEVEN DAYS, I went without my luggage as the two airlines blamed each other. SEVEN DAYS in the Brazilian heat and humidity without clean underwear, socks, toiletries, a change of shirts, pants...nothing. (Well, after day two I went shopping and bought enough to get me through the rest of the week. $150 bucks for a pair of pants, a shirt, underwear, socks and toiletries.) At one point, a "supervisor" at American Airlines Baggage Service, Cathy Fuller, told me to "stop calling" because "we can't do anything for you."

I kid you not, my bag showed up ONE HOUR before I checked out of the hotel to return home.

Let's be honest: Airlines lose luggage all the time. Oftentimes it's recovered in a fairly timely manner. But American doesn't know how to communicate with the airlines that they themselves subcontract to. I am not a GOL Airlines customer. I'm an American Airlines customer. I booked through them. I contracted through them to get me and my luggage to Recife. How they do it is up to them. But for them to say they can't be held responsible for something their subcontractor does, that's ridiculous. For the two airlines to be unwilling to talk to each other, inane. And for American to not do the right thing and just put my bag on the 2 and a half hour flight, is unconscionable.

American Airlines: You Suck.