Shoutout for the mad props over at Reds and Blues. You're sassy and sophisticated too, Joel.

When you choose a player’s jersey to wear, you’re stating your respect for that player, but you’re also saying something about yourself. You’re saying that you identify with some of the characteristics of that person, so if you choose to wear LaRue’s number, you’re probably telling the world that you’re a no-nonsense person who prefers to go about your business without drawing a lot of attention to yourself. You’re saying that you appreciate the simple pleasures of life: a realiable pick-up truck, swimming in the ol’ mudhole, an ice-cold beer on a hot summer night in Indiana, and little pink houses for you and me.

When you choose a player's jersey to wear, you're stating your respect for that player, but you're also saying something about yourself. You're saying that you identify with some of the characteristics of that person, so if you choose to wear LaRue's number, you're probably telling the world that you're a no-nonsense person who prefers to go about your business without drawing a lot of attention to yourself. You're saying that you appreciate the simple pleasures of life: a realiable pick-up truck, swimming in the ol' mudhole, an ice-cold beer on a hot summer night in Indiana, and little pink houses for you and me.

LaRue embodies all things good and wholesome about rural middle America. He is moral, honest, hard-working, responsible, never complains, and looks just a little bit like John Mellancamp. He’s quiet and cool-headed, even though he must be the single Red who sees more bad calls and hears more heckling than all the others. There isn’t a thing about LaRue that I could like more.

LaRue occasionally strikes me as being a little too grateful for the success he’s enjoyed, which makes him a little too cautious. Is he lucky to get to paid millions to play a child’s game all summer? Sure. But he’s also entitled to it. LaRue has earned what he has, and if he doesn’t realize that, someone ought to tell him.

LaRue embodies all things good and wholesome about rural middle America. He is moral, honest, hard-working, responsible, never complains, and looks just a little bit like John Mellancamp. He's quiet and cool-headed, even though he must be the single Red who sees more bad calls and hears more heckling than all the others. There isn't a thing about LaRue that I could like more.

LaRue occasionally strikes me as being a little too grateful for the success he's enjoyed, which makes him a little too cautious. Is he lucky to get to paid millions to play a child's game all summer? Sure. But he's also entitled to it. LaRue has earned what he has, and if he doesn't realize that, someone ought to tell him.