Former Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Shough recently made some less-than-flattering remarks about Lubbock

"It smells like cow [expletive] and wind," he said. "There's not much out there than drinking beer and doing nothing so.

It's not much, but there is a bit to unpack here, so let's get to it.

"It smells like cow [expletive]" I mean, sometimes, if the wind is blowing the right direction.

I guess he's never been to Amarillo, which makes even my native Lubbock eyes water.

"and wind" Not sure what he means by something smelling like wind. The wind is neutral and picks up all kinds of smells. I crave the way it smells before a thunderstorm.

"There's not much out there..." Fair. We are many miles from anything else.

"...than drinking beer and doing nothing so." That was clearly his decision, no one forced him to drink beer, I'm pretty sure.

Some folks will get mad at Tyler and take this as a lack of gratitude. I take it as a lack of imagination. 

Lubbock is a city that gives back what you've invested in it. If you make your own friends and your own fun, it can be pure magic, like a West Texas sunrise.

However, I'm not letting Lubbock off the hook either.

During a year in which city pools permanently closed, our biggest community event lost city support and we nearly lost a library, perhaps we should take Tyler's complaint and see it as a bit of constructive criticism.

We can and should stand up for ourselves against those that would suck our town dry for their personal gain.

Patrick Mahomes still has love for Lubbock, and he's a much bigger star. I've had plenty of opportunities to leave, and yet I remain.

Is happiness Lubbock, Texas in the rearview mirror? Or is she a crucible that forges the sharpest amongst us?

I think it depends on if you can handle the heat... and the occasional unpleasant smell.