upworthy

football

Joy

NFL kicker's OCD was on display seconds before game-winning kick and it earned him new fans

The kick led to a big win for the Commanders and a big win for the OCD community.

Photo by Anders Krøgh Jørgensen on Unsplash

Zane Gonzalez hasn't had the most glamorous NFL career. Getting drafted in the seventh round by the Cleveland Browns in 2017 was a great start for a well-decorated college kicker, but after a few critical misses led to his release, he's bounced around the league and struggled to stick with any team. That was all set to change, though, as his Washington Commanders (his sixth team in about as many years) recently called on him to make what would be a game-winning, life-changing kick in a playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

To the naked eye, Gonzalez looked extremely nervous as he readied himself for the attempt. The camera showed him fidgeting endlessly with his socks, and then smoothing his hair repeatedly as he walked onto the field. He'd pat it down and place his helmet on, only to remove it, smooth his hair down again, and repeat the process over again. The cameras caught it all, and NFL fans were left wondering: What's going on with Zane Gonzalez?

Moments later, the ball was snapped, Gonzalez made his approach, and BOOM — he nailed the kick, miraculously bouncing it off the upright and through for the game-winning points! It would be the highlight of his NFL career to date, by a wide margin.

People were confused by Gonzalez's hair-smoothing routine. Was he nervous? Or just trying to look his best for the camera?

"Zane Gonzalez needs to take a hit before going on the field," one X user joked. "Dude is in his head."

"How many times did zane gonzalez fix his hair," wrote another. "No wonder he almost missed!" someone added.

The real reason behind Gonzalez's odd pre-kick behavior is much more complicated: He has OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and has talked openly about it in the past.

The recent playoff game was many people's first introduction to Gonzalez, but anyone who's watched a Commanders game this season is quite familiar with his hair smoothing and sock-fidgeting ways. They're tics — compulsive, repetitive behaviors associated with disorders like OCD or Tourette's, anxiety, stress, etc.

Gonzalez has discussed his OCD with the media before. He says it comes with major challenges, but on the football field, it can become a bit of a superpower.

"It affected me a lot more as a young kid. ... It’s just little thoughts, little funny habits that I do," he said in an interview.

“I’ve done a lot of research on it. Specifically, sometimes I rinse my hands before kicks. ... And I was kind of curious about that. But that’s one of the most common things that people with OCD do. It instantly makes you just feel relieved. I don’t know why, if it’s just a placebo effect. It’s not something I love having. But it just is what it is, and I’ve learned to deal with it.”

Being a kicker in the NFL requires unimaginable precision, and many players rely on routines, rituals, and repetition to be at their best. Gonzalez says that, in that sense, his OCD helps.

"It makes you a perfectionist and more detail oriented," Gonzalez said. "Off the field, it's a pain in the butt."

People with OCD were inspired by Gonzalez's clutch performance.

OCD is one of those therapy words we all misuse. It's common for people to joke about "being OCD" because they're a perfectionist or like things clean.

And that can be one part of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. But in reality it can be a debilitating disorder in the day to day, and can also cause things like intrusive thoughts, paralyzing anxiety, and major fear or dirt or germs.

The fact that Gonzalez has overcome all of that to perform at football's highest levels gained him a ton of respect in the eyes of many.

"As a fellow OCDer, shoutout to Zane for getting it done. Those tics can be a real [pain] sometimes" wrote sports journalist Pete Hailey.

"Shoutout to Zane Gonzalez for sharing his story with OCD. It’s a tough thing to share, but my battles have shaped me into the personal I am today. So I have zero shame or hesitancy in sharing what I’ve battled throughout my life," said sports writer Sean Paul.

It's tough to find positive OCD representation in sports and media. There are a lot of misconceptions about the disorder (again, having OCD rarely has anything to do with being a neat freak!), and beyond that, it's not something that's easy to see with the naked eye. It can be hidden and masked with some effort. Gonzalez's tics and rituals being on full-display in front of a playoff audience of millions of people was a powerful moment that had a huge impact on others in the OCD community. Lucky for all of us, we get to watch him play for at least one more week this season!

nfl
Women's Health

A ballet company's response to one football fan's sexist insult on Facebook was epic

Ballet and football are both tough sports.


When the Philadelphia Eagles' season came to an unceremonious end last weekend, many fans were, understandably, more than a little pissed.

Take the rest of the night off to sleep in your shame, boys. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images.

After the final game, one fan allegedly commented on Facebook that the team had "played like they were wearing tutus!!!"

Photo by David R. Tribble/Wikimedia Commons.

...according to the Pennsylvania Ballet, which reported encountering the post on the social media site.

The Pennsylvania Ballet, whose company members regularly wear tutus, had a few choice words for anyone who thinks their light, frequently pink costumes mean they're not "tough."

Commence epic reply...


(full text transcribed under the post).

A Facebook user recently commented that the Eagles had "played like they were wearing tutus!!!"

Our response:

"With all due respect to the Eagles, let's take a minute to look at what our tutu wearing women have done this month:

By tomorrow afternoon, the ballerinas that wear tutus at Pennsylvania Ballet will have performed The Nutcracker 27 times in 21 days. Some of those women have performed the Snow scene and the Waltz of the Flowers without an understudy or second cast. No 'second string' to come in and spell them when they needed a break. When they have been sick they have come to the theater, put on make up and costume, smiled and performed. When they have felt an injury in the middle of a show there have been no injury timeouts. They have kept smiling, finished their job, bowed, left the stage, and then dealt with what hurts. Some of these tutu wearers have been tossed into a new position with only a moments notice. That's like a cornerback being told at halftime that they're going to play wide receiver for the second half, but they need to make sure that no one can tell they've never played wide receiver before. They have done all of this with such artistry and grace that audience after audience has clapped and cheered (no Boo Birds at the Academy) and the Philadelphia Inquirer has said this production looks "better than ever".

So no, the Eagles have not played like they were wearing tutus. If they had, Chip Kelly would still be a head coach and we'd all be looking forward to the playoffs."

Happy New Year!

In case it wasn't obvious, toughness has nothing to do with your gender.

Gendered and homophobic insults in sports have been around basically forever — how many boys are called a "pansy" on the football field or told they "throw like a girl" in Little League?

"They played like they were wearing tutus" is the same deal. It's shorthand for "You're kinda ladylike, which means you're not tough enough."

Pure intimidation.

Photo by Ralph Daily/Flickr.

Toughness, however, has a funny way of not being pinned to one particular gender. It's not just ballerinas, either. NFL cheerleaders? They get paid next to nothing to dance in bikini tops and short-shorts in all kinds of weather — and wear only ever-so-slightly heavier outfits when the thermometer drops below freezing. And don't even get me started on how mind-bogglingly badass the Rockettes are.

Toughness also has nothing to do with what kind of clothes you wear.

As my colleague Parker Molloy astutely points out, the kinds of clothes assigned to people of different genders are, and have always been, basically completely arbitrary. Pink has been both a "boys color" and a "girls color" at different points throughout history. President Franklin D. Roosevelt — longtime survivor of polio, Depression vanquisher, wartime leader, and no one's idea of a wimp — was photographed in his childhood sporting a long blonde hairstyle and wearing a dress.

Many of us are conditioned to see a frilly pink dance costume and think "delicate," and to look at a football helmet and pads and think "big and strong." But scratch the surface a little bit, and you'll meet tutu-wearing ballerinas who that are among toughest people on the planet and cleat-and-helmet-wearing football players who are ... well. The 2015 Eagles.

You just can't tell from their outerwear.

Ballerinas wear tutus for the same reason football players wear uniforms and pads:

Photo by zaimoku_woodpile/Flickr.


To get the job done.


This article originally appeared on 01.05.16

From Your Site Articles
Pop Culture

13 ways to avoid seeing Taylor Swift on screen during the Super Bowl game

If laying eyes on Travis Kelce's uber-famous girlfriend during the game bothers you, here are some helpful hacks for avoiding it.

iHeartRadio/Wikimedia, All Pro Reels/Wikimedia

We've solved the "problem" of the cameras panning to Taylor Swift during NFL games.

Super Bowl LVIII (that's 58 for those who've forgotten their Roman numerals) is set to take place on Sunday, Feb 11th between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.

Or, according to some folks, between Taylor Swift fans and Taylor Swift anti-fans.

Since the relationship between the pop star and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce became public, Swift has been coming to his games to cheer him on. And because Taylor Swift is, in fact, a global megastar, she's gotten a bit more screen time than other players' loved ones.

Some folks have had a hard time coping with this fact, however, loudly expressing their displeasure at having the cameras "constantly" pan to Taylor Swift during NFL games. Technically, she's only been on screen for an average of 25 seconds during each of the last four Chiefs games with an average camera shot being less than 8 seconds, but for some, that's still too much.

As we all know, it's an all-American right to watch football without seeing anything we don't want to see, so in the name of freedom and liberty, here are 13 hacks for avoiding Taylor Swift during the Super Bowl.

Simply pick any of the following as soon as the camera pans to TS:

1. Close your eyes and yell "Football is liiiife!" three times.

This is from "Ted Lasso" and it's referring to soccer, not American football, but it's still fun to say. (Plus it'll get some of that angst at seeing TS's face for a split second out of you.)

2. Turn off your TV and immediately turn it back on again.

That should be just enough time for the camera to move on to someone else.

3. Move your eyeballs to the right or left—take your pick—until she disappears.

Just like when you see a woman breastfeeding in public, you can simply choose not to look at Taylor Swift.

(See, our eyeballs have this awesome feature where they swivel in their sockets, and we have total control over them! You don't even have to shift them very far to stop seeing whatever don't want to see. Super nifty.)

4. Take a really, really, really fast bathroom break.

You'll probably only have time to get to the bathroom door before the camera moves again, but if you're swift about it (ba dum pum) maybe you can get in a tinkle, too.

5. Text your mom and thank her.

You know you've been meaning to. Now's the opportune time. (If not your mom, pick someone else you owe some gratitude to.)

6. Think about the Roman Empire.

Thinking about the Roman Empire is like second nature anyway, isn't it? Indulge whatever that impulse is and zone out with Marcus Aurelius for a few seconds.

7. Take your empty can to the recycling bin.

Clean as you go, as they say. It'll get you off the couch and save you a little time at the end of the game. Win win.

8. Go put a dish in the dishwasher.

Just one. That's all you're going to have time for before TS is gone.

9. Do a few pushups.

Maybe if you get Travis Kelce's physique, you could land someone like…nevermind.

10. Google "Taylor Swift net worth"

Just for funsies. (Spoiler: She is very, very successful.)

11. Google "Taylor Swift charity"

In case you want to feel better about her connection to the NFL, which none of us have any control over. (Spoiler: She is very, very wealthy but also very generous.)

12. Go outside and touch grass.

Isn't that what perpetually online folks tell other perpetually online folks? Just step away from the screen for a sec. You'll feel better and you won't have to see Taylor. Win win, again.

13. Go give your wife/kid/sibling/friend a hug.

Tell them it's your Taylor Swift avoidance tactic. See if they laugh, either with you or at you.

There, that takes care of the 0.3% of the game that Taylor Swift's face might have ruined for some folks. Phew!

Regardless of who's there and who the camera shows for however long, this year's Super Bowl should be an exciting game, so let's all enjoy the matchup between two impressive teams, the Usher-led halftime show that people will inevitably find a way to complain about and the egregiously overpriced commercials that may or may not hit the mark. God bless America!

From Your Site Articles
super bowl
Pop Culture

After Bills kicker flubbed a big kick, fans and Swifties donate $270K to his cat charity

The Bills Mafia, Chiefs Kingdom and Swifties, of all people, are sending the right message.

via IHeartRadio/Wikimedia Commons and All Pro Reels/Wikimedia Commons

Taylor Swift and Buffalo Bills Kicker Tyler Bass.

It can be a tough life being an NFL kicker. You can wind up the hero or the goat when the game is on the line. The problem in today’s sports world is that when athletes have troubles on the field, they are often the target of aggressive bullying on social media.

On Saturday, January 21, Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass missed the 44-yard tying field goal in the Divisional Playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs, which ended up costing them the game.

“It’s completely on me,” he told reporters after the game. “I’ve got to do a better job of getting through to my target. I’ve got to do a better job of playing it a little bit more left when you have a left to right [wind]. I’ve been here long enough to know that you have to do that.”

After the game, Bass became the target of online harassment and death threats. He has since shut down his social media profiles.

News of Bass’s treatment inspired a diverse group of fanbases to come together to show people the right way to treat players who are the subject of extreme criticism: you do something positive.

Bass supported the Ten Lives Club, a non-profit charity that saves abandoned and homeless cats in the western New York area. “He wanted to help rescue cats, and Tyler took photos with our rescue cats and we were so excited. It's not every day that a Bills player helps our cats, so we were so grateful to Tyler,” Kimberly LaRussa of Ten Lives Club said, according to WGRZ.

The kicker and his fiancée are cat owners.

To show their support, members of the Bills Mafia (the nickname of Buffalo's colorful fan base) called upon one another to donate to Ten Lives Club.

Even though the missed kick propelled the Chiefs to the AFC Championship game, members of the Chiefs Kingdom stepped up to donate money in support of Bass, too. Then, one of the world's most passionate and active fan bases, Taylor Swift’s “Swifties,” joined in asking for donations as well.

Taylor Swift is currently dating Chief's star tight end Travis Kelce. She was at the game when Bass missed the kick.

“There are a lot of Swiftie groups out there that are rallying and donating on behalf of Tyler Bass,” LaRussa told the Today Show. According to WKBW, the non-profit has received over $270,000 in donations in support of Bass.

It’s beautiful to see people supporting Bass when he is dealing with public scrutiny and healing after a heartbreaking loss. But the actions of the Bills Mafia, Chiefs Kingdom and Swifties will make a massive difference in the lives of countless cats for many years to come as well.

“Ten Lives Club saves 3,000 homeless and abandoned cats in need a year, so this will make an incredible difference for our organization,” LaRussa told People earlier this week. “We are so grateful to everyone for their support and for having Tyler's back. We hope this brings him a smile, knowing what a difference he is making.”

From Your Site Articles
football
Trending Stories