RJ,
On yesterday's podcast with Fezzik, when he was making the point about warm weather teams traveling to cold climates, and you asked him for a causal explanation, he cited global warming, at which point you quickly interrupted under the guise of not wanting the discussion to become 'political.' I assume it wasn't a malicious railroading on your part, but it really was a striking moment for me, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention it as a follow up.
If Steve had made reference to a running back for whom it became public knowledge that he was smoking a pack a day, and in his estimation would inhibit his performance in the 4th quarter of games at altitude, you would have said nary a word. I know that sounds like a somewhat absurdist example in a Mad Men sort of way, but really it's a pretty fair analogy with more striking parallels than we might want to acknowledge. By choosing to interject that his reference to a virtually indisputable statement of fact might sound "political," it was actually you RJ, who was demonstrating a particular personal bias. Rooted I might add, in the furthest thing from fact. Now, I'm not alleging that you are a climate science denier, since I have no sense of your personal beliefs, and that would perhaps be an unfair assumption on my part. I know you have reason to try to be fairly centrist and above the fray as one who runs a business predicated on shared ideas and interactions within a community, and I thank you for that. But I also know that as bettors, it is imperative that we not fall prey to false equivalencies in our analysis,(as it makes for an easy way to blow through a bankroll) and our goal should be to exploit markets when they make such mistakes. Sadly the last few decades have seen that ploy utilized to devastating effect, which is how we find ourselves in this current malaise as a culture.
I also understand that you have a working relationship and fondness for Colin Cowherd, and by extension, at least a loose affiliation with backwards. But one of the things I've most admired about your musings and perspective, is when you quite correctly attempt to identify and assess perception biases when it comes to both day to day happenings, but also as it relates to handicapping. Your background in economics and interest in psychology tend to be insightful on a number of fronts, from poker and wagering to life in general. Which is why it was that much more disheartening to hear you butting in like a purchased shill about a subject that if any of us took the time to examine as closely as we do the sports world, would have us arriving at the same conclusions as those who have devoted their lives to said research.
After a weekend in which I saw Rupert sitting next to Bob Kraft, and Pence sitting next to Woody Johnson, I think it's safe to say that Disinformation is doing just fine on it's own, and certainly doesn't need your help with any additional heavy lifting. In this current fog of disbelief and angst I could go on for days, but fear that would tend toward brow beating rather than dialogue, so I will simply leave it as this appeal.
Don't do that RJ..... You're better than that. You are lucky enough to have a brain capable of telling the difference between truth and rubbish. And on a day in which you poked fun at Fezzik for having his head in the sand about matters unrelated to sports handicapping, I hope that the irony is not lost on you as I attempt to point out the one topic that binds and affects us all as a generation, and will likely define our collective legacy going forward.
With that, I will thank you for your time, and sincerely apologize if this came across in any way as being heavy handed, as that was not at all the intention, since I know that having your words broadcast live can be a razors edge to negotiate. It is simply my hope that in the future you might more closely consider that which is emanating out of the megaphone that you have almost always handled with deftness and aplomb. And if you have any follow up questions, I would defer to the PHD that you are lucky enough to have at your disposal nearby, as he could elucidate these points far better than I have managed. Have a terrific day.