Jason Kelce & What Is Wrong With American Fathers

Sometimes I just can’t wait until Friday’s newsletter. So, periodically I’ll be sending random musings to the SilentPunt community. Here’s the first….

Jason Kelce & What Is Wrong With American Fathers

Like any red blooded, Eagle-loving, Philadelphia native I consider Jason Kelce to be worthy of consideration for the Mount Rushmore of Philly athletes. His hall of fame career was punctuated by a Super Bowl championship and epic speech at the ensuing parade. 

Kelce’s speech, delivered in full Mummers regalia, was legendary.

When he retired on March 4th of last year he did so with grace, class, and without playing for another team…unlike many other of the city’s former superstars. We all figured he’d do some commercials and tv, along with that podcast with his goofy brother. He’d be a father to his three kids and a husband to his wife. Standard fare.

Holy shi* was I wrong. This dude has been everywhere. You cannot watch an NFL game without seeing his face or hearing his voice. Either on the commercials or the broadcast. Very often on both. 

I find this odd, annoying, and disturbing. Firstly, odd because of the financial aspect. Shortly after concluding his career in pro football (which earned him roughly $80 million) he and his brother signed a $100 million deal for their podcast. Is that amount of money not enough to be considered generational wealth for this guy? He needs to be a shill for every product and broadcast now? 

At least he’s not wrong about Frank’s.

Secondly, it is annoying because he seemingly does not have any clue what we Americans do with celebs that enter the zeitgeist and then abuse the privilege. We turn on them. Since Andy Warhol coined the phrase “15 minutes of fame” years ago countless celebs have seen their popularity turn on a dime as a result of constantly forcing themselves into the fabric of American life. Do you like JLo more or less now than you did twenty years ago? How about Oprah? Matthew McConaughey?

Hair club for annoying d bags?

Clothing lines. Beverage lines. Restaurant chains. Supplements. When you are constantly shilling everything you are simultaneously devaluing everything. These people call themselves entrepreneurs. Sorry, you are not an entrepreneur. You are an a**hole. Go away. 

And lastly, it is disturbing because it represents what so many Americans now see as more important than being present for their family: EXCESS. Americans seemingly pray at the altar of more. Then we casually refer to it as ‘keeping up with the Joneses.’ 

As a society we spend more than ever on vacations, fast fashion, phones, & dining out while concurrently complaining about the economy, gas prices, and student loan debt relief. We don’t just want to have our cake and eat it too. We want the cake, the filet mignon, the iPhone 27, and a new pair of Jordans.

Which honestly, most of the time doesn’t bother me. This is a free country and if that’s how you choose to live your life so be it. But putting yourself out there as a ‘family man’, and then spending literally zero time parenting your children…. that’s just the epitome of hypocrisy.

Kelce’s soon to be released memoir is titled, “I learned everything I need to know about fatherhood from Charlie Sheen.”

Can’t you just be happy? Can’t you set an example for other men…all of whom have less than you…that the best place in the world to be is surrounded by your loved ones? And that it doesn’t matter how big the house is that you do it in? Or that it’s even a house. 

Just be there.

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I am publishing this on Wednesday January 8, 2024. As of today there are 72 subscribers to this newsletter. My plan is to re-publish it once Kelce’s career has reached a tipping point. You know, so I look smart. I’m betting it’s within the year. 

By then he will have joined the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Ellen Degeneres, & Mark Wahlberg. More people we wish would just disappear forever. 

I’d even be willing to make it a parlay with his brother Travis having married, and then divorced, Taylor Swift by that time. 

“When you are looking to get ripped like me, there really is only one choice: HyVee”