At the Twin Cities Marathon yesterday, between mile 24 and 25, the Minnesota Vikings had a large blow-up Vikings football player, five cheerleaders and Viktor the mascot. Viktor came up to my son, Isaiah, who was wearing a Packers hat, and tried to give him a high-five. Pushing the stroller, I didn't slow down enough for Isaiah to connect and he left him hanging. Cute little Isaiah turned around and said, "Daddy, did you see that guy?" I quickly replied, "No! I didn't see him and we don't talk to those guys." I'm a Packers fan and we don't mingle with the enemy's mascot. When you're a Black (last name), you cheer for the Packers - and against the Vikings - that's just the way it is.
I believe in the promise of Proverbs 22:6 - "train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." There are certain things we do and don't do as Blacks. They were trained in me at a young age and I'm doing the same to my children. This little story was the perfect introduction to something that I've been holding on to for quite some time. I'm going to apply it directly to those who participate in the opportunities at Victory School of Wrestling. It's time to call these boys to a higher standard of living. It's time for them to be men.
We live in a culture that tells young boys often to "be a man." The problem is, they hear this message, but don't get a clear vision for what real manhood looks like. As a result, they buy what the culture is selling them on what it means to be a man. So, we're left with a generation of boys who fall short of the basic standards for their life's direction.
Society tells them that men are consumers (buy and accumulate toys, success, women, etc.) when, in fact, real men are contributors. I get angry every time I see a beer commercial during a football game make the bold claim that drinking a their brand makes you a man. Want to be a man? Then drink Miller Lite. According to their commercials, it's plain and simple. And you should never cry when saying goodbye to the woman you love. This is what our culture tells these young boys. And they buy it. Not only is it disingenuous, it's completely false.
Being a man is about accepting responsibility, rejecting passivity, leading courageously, expecting the greater reward * and being a contributor to our society, not a consumer. Being a man is about setting high standards and keeping them no matter what your buddies say or our society tells us. As men, we need to stand for the things of God, not the things of television and pop culture, and there are things that we should always stand against. We should always stand against the idea that disrespecting women is acceptable. It's not! Men cherish women and respect them simply because they are a woman. We should always stand against compromise and injustice, as if it's part of our rights of passage to bully and haze others. It's not! Men treat others kindly. We should always stand against the attitude that we have it all figured out and our parents, elders and those in authority don't understand what we're going through and they need to leave us alone. Men appreciate those who have gone before them. When you're a MAN, you just don't do certain things.
I'm calling those at Victory, and everyone, for that matter, to stand-up and live a life of higher standards. We must stand for honesty, integrity, respect, chivalry and much more than what we see today. I don't have to look very long on Facebook to see that some of our young men are standing for the wrong things. It's unacceptable and it's time to be the change in the world that we want to see.
To those of you who are influenced by what we do at Victory, consider this your warning. We won't tolerate this any longer. Much the same as Isaiah will grow to understand that, as a Black, there are just certain things we do and don't do; Victory athletes, there are also certain things we do and don't do. It's that simple. We're raising the bar. It's non-negotiable and we will produce men with much higher standards than world offers.
* - reference: Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis
Monday, October 3, 2011
MMQB: Week 4
A Monday Morning Quarterback (MMQB) - A person who criticizes or passes judgement with benefit of hindsight.
Welcome to the second installment of the Monday Morning Quarterback. Week 4 is in the books and things are becoming interesting. Obviously, my interest is primarily the NFC North and story lines there are very rich right now. The Packers and Lions are the only undefeated teams in the NFL. They've done it in completely different ways. The Packers have dominated their opponents while the Lions have shown a never-say-die attitude and come from behind to win games in exciting ways. I'm still not sold on them as a team, but I am sold on Calvin Johnson. Wow! That guy is amazing. He might be the best player in the NFL right now for anyone not named Aaron Rodgers. He's that good.
Aaron Rodgers might very well be playing the best football in the history of the NFL. I know, it's a bold statement, but he is nearly flawless. What I like most about him is he makes defenses pay for mistakes. He's like a shark who smells blood and goes for the kill. I've been asked by people how to beat the Packers right now and the only thing I can think of is a team would have to be perfect on defense. Seriously, perfect. I don't know if that's possible. The game in Atlanta next week is going to be fun.
I saw something during the Packers game beyond the score and statistics that I think is worth mentioning. It was 48-17 and the game was well out of hand so the back-up quarterback for the Packers, Matt Flynn, was in the game. He overthrew Randall Cobb on 3rd and long and came to the sidelines to Mike McCarthy. Coach McCarthy was noticeably angry about the mistake and let Flynn know. It was great to see that McCarthy demands excellence from everyone in the gold helmet, even the second team offense. He has raised the bar and his team has standards that are on a different plane right now.
Alright, just so you know I didn't miss it...the Viking lost again. You know I'm not losing sleep over this. I'm actually enjoying it very much. They had another half time lead and fell apart to what I thought was the 2nd or 3rd worst team in the NFL (Chiefs). There are a couple of awful teams this year, but none with the talent of the Vikings (Peterson, Allen, etc.). They have some real superstars and it just simply doesn't matter at this point. I like Leslie Fraser as a man and identify with his lifestyle and faith commitment so it kind of pains me to say that I don't think he's a very good leader (right now, at least). Is his job in jeopardy? I think so.
The Philadelphia Eagles are still America's Dream Team. They're 1-3. Michael Vick played out of his mind and they still lost. I don't know if it's realistic to expect them to recover from this mini-recession that they're in. In fact, they might experience another recession before this "administration's" responsibilities are over. I'm sure they will look to players from other teams to help fix their problems.
The Jets are 2-2...whoop dee doo. Why do the prominent football media outlets love these guys so much? I don't want to hear Rex Ryan on the sidelines or after games anymore. Win when it matters, then I'll care what you have to say. Quit telling me how great you are; show me. I wish John Candy was still alive because he would play Rex Ryan splendidly in a movie or SNL skit.
How about the Titans? Or the 49ers? Or even the Redskins? Nobody expected much from these teams, but they're figuring out a few things about winning football games. The 49ers have a very good defense, don't they? The addition of Matt Hasselbeck in Tennessee has been a God-send for the Titans. If he can figure out how to use Chris Johnson they'll hang with the Texans until the end. How does Vince Young feel right now - ouch.
Last year, the Steelers put things together at the right time to make it to the Super Bowl, so I'm not going to be very critical of their ugly start. I just expected a lot from them right away. Last year, their first four games were awful because Ben Roethlisberger wasn't in the line-up, which made me ask if he was in the line-up for the first four games this year. He has been there, but hasn't been there. He might as well not have been playing because he hasn't been Big Ben. I know this because he's on one of my fantasy teams. So is Rashard Meandenhall...what the heck is his deal? The best thing the Steelers have is Mike Tomlin, so they'll be alright.
I think the Dolphins are in the driver's seat for Andrew Luck. Sorry to the Vikings fans who want Luck before experiencing the Ponder-era (which isn't far from beginning...and ending). They just can't get anything to go their way. I remember when the Packers beat the Vikings and Cardinals in the final two games of the season in 1988 to finish 4-12 and lose the first pick. They took one of the biggest busts of all-time in Tony Mandrich with the 2nd pick. I have a sense something similar will happen with the Vikings. I'm going to start looking for "can't miss" prospects who the Vikings will surely miss on. I enjoy their misery.
Oh, and to the Broncos fans, Tim Tebow isn't the answer right now. There isn't an answer at the moment, however, Von Miller is going to be special.
Of course I didn't start Cam Newton against the Bears in one of my leagues. Oops.
Welcome to the second installment of the Monday Morning Quarterback. Week 4 is in the books and things are becoming interesting. Obviously, my interest is primarily the NFC North and story lines there are very rich right now. The Packers and Lions are the only undefeated teams in the NFL. They've done it in completely different ways. The Packers have dominated their opponents while the Lions have shown a never-say-die attitude and come from behind to win games in exciting ways. I'm still not sold on them as a team, but I am sold on Calvin Johnson. Wow! That guy is amazing. He might be the best player in the NFL right now for anyone not named Aaron Rodgers. He's that good.
Aaron Rodgers might very well be playing the best football in the history of the NFL. I know, it's a bold statement, but he is nearly flawless. What I like most about him is he makes defenses pay for mistakes. He's like a shark who smells blood and goes for the kill. I've been asked by people how to beat the Packers right now and the only thing I can think of is a team would have to be perfect on defense. Seriously, perfect. I don't know if that's possible. The game in Atlanta next week is going to be fun.
I saw something during the Packers game beyond the score and statistics that I think is worth mentioning. It was 48-17 and the game was well out of hand so the back-up quarterback for the Packers, Matt Flynn, was in the game. He overthrew Randall Cobb on 3rd and long and came to the sidelines to Mike McCarthy. Coach McCarthy was noticeably angry about the mistake and let Flynn know. It was great to see that McCarthy demands excellence from everyone in the gold helmet, even the second team offense. He has raised the bar and his team has standards that are on a different plane right now.
Alright, just so you know I didn't miss it...the Viking lost again. You know I'm not losing sleep over this. I'm actually enjoying it very much. They had another half time lead and fell apart to what I thought was the 2nd or 3rd worst team in the NFL (Chiefs). There are a couple of awful teams this year, but none with the talent of the Vikings (Peterson, Allen, etc.). They have some real superstars and it just simply doesn't matter at this point. I like Leslie Fraser as a man and identify with his lifestyle and faith commitment so it kind of pains me to say that I don't think he's a very good leader (right now, at least). Is his job in jeopardy? I think so.
The Philadelphia Eagles are still America's Dream Team. They're 1-3. Michael Vick played out of his mind and they still lost. I don't know if it's realistic to expect them to recover from this mini-recession that they're in. In fact, they might experience another recession before this "administration's" responsibilities are over. I'm sure they will look to players from other teams to help fix their problems.
The Jets are 2-2...whoop dee doo. Why do the prominent football media outlets love these guys so much? I don't want to hear Rex Ryan on the sidelines or after games anymore. Win when it matters, then I'll care what you have to say. Quit telling me how great you are; show me. I wish John Candy was still alive because he would play Rex Ryan splendidly in a movie or SNL skit.
How about the Titans? Or the 49ers? Or even the Redskins? Nobody expected much from these teams, but they're figuring out a few things about winning football games. The 49ers have a very good defense, don't they? The addition of Matt Hasselbeck in Tennessee has been a God-send for the Titans. If he can figure out how to use Chris Johnson they'll hang with the Texans until the end. How does Vince Young feel right now - ouch.
Last year, the Steelers put things together at the right time to make it to the Super Bowl, so I'm not going to be very critical of their ugly start. I just expected a lot from them right away. Last year, their first four games were awful because Ben Roethlisberger wasn't in the line-up, which made me ask if he was in the line-up for the first four games this year. He has been there, but hasn't been there. He might as well not have been playing because he hasn't been Big Ben. I know this because he's on one of my fantasy teams. So is Rashard Meandenhall...what the heck is his deal? The best thing the Steelers have is Mike Tomlin, so they'll be alright.
I think the Dolphins are in the driver's seat for Andrew Luck. Sorry to the Vikings fans who want Luck before experiencing the Ponder-era (which isn't far from beginning...and ending). They just can't get anything to go their way. I remember when the Packers beat the Vikings and Cardinals in the final two games of the season in 1988 to finish 4-12 and lose the first pick. They took one of the biggest busts of all-time in Tony Mandrich with the 2nd pick. I have a sense something similar will happen with the Vikings. I'm going to start looking for "can't miss" prospects who the Vikings will surely miss on. I enjoy their misery.
Oh, and to the Broncos fans, Tim Tebow isn't the answer right now. There isn't an answer at the moment, however, Von Miller is going to be special.
Of course I didn't start Cam Newton against the Bears in one of my leagues. Oops.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
As a Christian, do you really believe in God?
Have you ever noticed, at times, those who claim to be Christians actually believe in God less than those who claim to be anything but a Christian? I heard a story about how a church was meeting regularly to pray for the closing of a strip club next door. The owner of the club was aware of this and when lightning struck his building, burning it to the ground, he sued the church. While in court, the judge listened to each side argue about what had happened and he struck his gavel and said, "I can't believe what I'm hearing. In my court room I have the pastor of a church saying that prayer doesn't work while the owner of a strip club says it does."
I don't know if this is a true story, but I don't think it matters because the message is loud and clear. Christians believe in God when it makes sense and at times choose to forget about Him when it doesn't. Sometimes, often times, non-Christians believe in God more than those who devote their life to Him.
I had an athlete approach me about another athlete needing prayer. In fact, this individual asked the first athlete if she could ask me to pray for her and her friend who was in critical condition. She's not a Christian and has been open about being agnostic and/or atheist. But she asked me to pray for her? Why? She doesn't believe in prayer, right? Well, I did pray. I wasn't certain on how to pray, so I basically prayed that she would see that God is real in the midst of this situation. If I'm honest, I was little scared to pull out the healing prayer at that time because I didn't want to use up any favor God might have for me down the line, as if it's a coupon or something with limits. Pathetic, I know. If I wasn't aware of my lack of faith in that situation already, God hit me even harder when this individual sent me a thoughtful message thanking me for my thoughts and prayers. She explained that her friend had recovered very quickly and was in good condition, nearly healed. She believed in God's ability to heal her friend more than I did? I'm the Christian; she's not. Why did she trust God in that situation before I did, especially considering she doesn't even know if He exists?
Here's another one...two nights ago, around 2:00 a.m., Isaiah woke up and hollered, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" I went into his room to check on him and he was sitting up in his bed (this doesn't happen much). He said he wasn't tired and wanted me to lay by him. So, of course, I did. As we started laying back, he pointed across the room and said, "tell that guy to go away." Confused, I said, "what guy?" "That guy over there," he pointed towards the rocking chair. "There's no one over there, buddy." "Yeah, there is. Over there. That guy. Tell him to go away." So I went over to the rocking chair, scared out of my mind, by the way, and moved my arms around and said, "see there's no one over here." I went back to lay with him and he told me the guy was sitting down in the rocking chair. I was really, really scared. I started praying like crazy. I told God I was really scared and I asked Him to protect our house and assured Him I was aware of His promises to answer calls like this. Still, I was scared. I'll add, the lighting was kind of creepy, too. We laid there for a few minutes until Isaiah fell back asleep and I left his room with my heart racing. No way was I going to tell Liz what Isaiah had said at 2:00 a.m. She would have freaked. Later, the garbage truck woke Isaiah up before Liz left for work, so we all got to talk about that moment together at 7:00 a.m. We asked what Isaiah saw and he said, "it wasn't anything. It was just clothes." There were clothes hanging over the arms of the rocking chair. Without regard for what he just said, Liz asked what the guy looked like. Isaiah said he had a brown face and rubbed his own cheeks and chin, almost like he was imagining a beard. Crazy...
I'm not going to read into that situation much and I've tried to push some of it out of my mind. I don't believe in ghosts and don't think our house is haunted. I do believe in angels, though. I believe there is a heavenly realm that is active and real. Liz told this story to a few others and one of her co-workers (a non-church goer) said, "maybe it was God just passing through." Of course. What was I thinking? Why was I scared? It could have been something entirely holy, if it was anything at all. I'm the Christian, right? Why would I make the assumption it was anything BUT God? I know this is why God and the angels always introduce themselves with the premise, "don't be frightened..." I was frightened. And I just saw clothes hanging on the rocking chair.
I'm always miffed when non-Christians believe in God, and the things of God, more than Christians do. More than I do. What is it about me that creates that instantaneous doubt? If we try to deny and hide from God, He can be very, very scary. However, if we move towards Him and accept the things of Him, He's very comforting. Why would I do anything besides move in His direction? God is real. The things of God are real and His promises are real.
I don't know if this is a true story, but I don't think it matters because the message is loud and clear. Christians believe in God when it makes sense and at times choose to forget about Him when it doesn't. Sometimes, often times, non-Christians believe in God more than those who devote their life to Him.
I had an athlete approach me about another athlete needing prayer. In fact, this individual asked the first athlete if she could ask me to pray for her and her friend who was in critical condition. She's not a Christian and has been open about being agnostic and/or atheist. But she asked me to pray for her? Why? She doesn't believe in prayer, right? Well, I did pray. I wasn't certain on how to pray, so I basically prayed that she would see that God is real in the midst of this situation. If I'm honest, I was little scared to pull out the healing prayer at that time because I didn't want to use up any favor God might have for me down the line, as if it's a coupon or something with limits. Pathetic, I know. If I wasn't aware of my lack of faith in that situation already, God hit me even harder when this individual sent me a thoughtful message thanking me for my thoughts and prayers. She explained that her friend had recovered very quickly and was in good condition, nearly healed. She believed in God's ability to heal her friend more than I did? I'm the Christian; she's not. Why did she trust God in that situation before I did, especially considering she doesn't even know if He exists?
Here's another one...two nights ago, around 2:00 a.m., Isaiah woke up and hollered, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" I went into his room to check on him and he was sitting up in his bed (this doesn't happen much). He said he wasn't tired and wanted me to lay by him. So, of course, I did. As we started laying back, he pointed across the room and said, "tell that guy to go away." Confused, I said, "what guy?" "That guy over there," he pointed towards the rocking chair. "There's no one over there, buddy." "Yeah, there is. Over there. That guy. Tell him to go away." So I went over to the rocking chair, scared out of my mind, by the way, and moved my arms around and said, "see there's no one over here." I went back to lay with him and he told me the guy was sitting down in the rocking chair. I was really, really scared. I started praying like crazy. I told God I was really scared and I asked Him to protect our house and assured Him I was aware of His promises to answer calls like this. Still, I was scared. I'll add, the lighting was kind of creepy, too. We laid there for a few minutes until Isaiah fell back asleep and I left his room with my heart racing. No way was I going to tell Liz what Isaiah had said at 2:00 a.m. She would have freaked. Later, the garbage truck woke Isaiah up before Liz left for work, so we all got to talk about that moment together at 7:00 a.m. We asked what Isaiah saw and he said, "it wasn't anything. It was just clothes." There were clothes hanging over the arms of the rocking chair. Without regard for what he just said, Liz asked what the guy looked like. Isaiah said he had a brown face and rubbed his own cheeks and chin, almost like he was imagining a beard. Crazy...
I'm not going to read into that situation much and I've tried to push some of it out of my mind. I don't believe in ghosts and don't think our house is haunted. I do believe in angels, though. I believe there is a heavenly realm that is active and real. Liz told this story to a few others and one of her co-workers (a non-church goer) said, "maybe it was God just passing through." Of course. What was I thinking? Why was I scared? It could have been something entirely holy, if it was anything at all. I'm the Christian, right? Why would I make the assumption it was anything BUT God? I know this is why God and the angels always introduce themselves with the premise, "don't be frightened..." I was frightened. And I just saw clothes hanging on the rocking chair.
I'm always miffed when non-Christians believe in God, and the things of God, more than Christians do. More than I do. What is it about me that creates that instantaneous doubt? If we try to deny and hide from God, He can be very, very scary. However, if we move towards Him and accept the things of Him, He's very comforting. Why would I do anything besides move in His direction? God is real. The things of God are real and His promises are real.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Kickball bullies
I drove past an elementary school today and saw a class of kids playing kickball. I love playground games. I wish I still had my recess years at my disposal. I miss it. I don't miss that kid who tried to ruin it for everyone, though.
I asked my brother what it is about me that makes me dislike that kid who, while playing pitcher, rolls the ball so hard that no one can kick the ball. He told me it's because that kid is a bully. It's true. He's a bully. His objective is to make life miserable for everyone else while he gets to laugh. I really don't like that. In kickball, everyone should have the opportunity to kick the ball. That's why it's called "kick" ball. It defeats the purpose when the pitcher doesn't let anyone else play.
I despise bullying. It's a major pet peeve of mine and angers me on a very deep level. I just thought I'd share...
I asked my brother what it is about me that makes me dislike that kid who, while playing pitcher, rolls the ball so hard that no one can kick the ball. He told me it's because that kid is a bully. It's true. He's a bully. His objective is to make life miserable for everyone else while he gets to laugh. I really don't like that. In kickball, everyone should have the opportunity to kick the ball. That's why it's called "kick" ball. It defeats the purpose when the pitcher doesn't let anyone else play.
I despise bullying. It's a major pet peeve of mine and angers me on a very deep level. I just thought I'd share...
Monday, September 26, 2011
MMQB: First Edition
A Monday Morning Quarterback (MMQB) - A person who criticizes or passes judgement with benefit of hindsight.
Every Monday morning I try to wrap my mind around the wealth of knowledge that I acquired while watching football from my couch. I end up spending most of the day sending text messages and e-mails to my friends about what transpired on the gridiron. A lot of the ideas that I take away from a weekend of football have the potential to be useful in the lives of those who read this blog. So, without further ado, I announce to you my own version of Monday Morning Quarterback. This could be interesting...
Week 3 is complete, with the exception of tonight's Monday Night Football game, and there have been some interesting surprises (Buffalo Bills) as well as a few things that were expected (Packers 3-0, Vikings 0-3).
Off the top of my head, here's what I saw:
* The Packers are really, really good. I'm extremely bias and will never attempt to hide that fact. Actually, I'm proud to bleed green and gold. Still, they're really good. They have yet to play a "complete" game and have dominated the NFL. The scary thing is Aaron Rodgers is going to get better, which seems unbelievable, and their defense will start to figure things out, too.
* The Buffalo Bills will be in every game they play this year. I'm not ready to say they're the best team in the AFC. Even after beating the Patriots, I still think New England has a better team. Chan Gailey and Dave Wannsteadt work extremely well together and have taken teams to the playoffs together more than once (most recently the Miami Dolphins). Watch out for these guys. As long as Fitzpatrick is at the helm, they're dangerous. Especially because he's starting to develop a few legitimate weapons and seems to make everyone else on the offense better. This should be expected from a Harvard grad.
* The Vikings are really, really ugly. I already said it, I'm bias, but that really has nothing to do with my assessment of this team. Granted, Jared Allen had a great game for the first since my 3-year old son was born, but the rest of the team stinks. I wonder if any team in NFL history has given up halftime leads of 10 or more points three times in one season. Well, the Vikes have done it in the first three game to open their season (11, 17 and 20 point leads). I don't know what's going to happen next, but this organization is a complete zoo. It has been for years. I don't think they have the capacity to recover from this and I'm not about to lose any sleep over it, either.
* The Lions aren't quite "there" yet. Sure, they're 3-0 for the first time since 1980 and that's commendable. I do like them and want to see them succeed, but after watching them yesterday, I'm not sold on them. I don't think they have "arrived." Yet. They will be good this year and maybe even make the playoffs (check their schedule and look at their final six games, though...0-6?). Something about Matthew Stafford rubs me the wrong way, but I love Ndamukong Suh. I wouldn't mind naming my next son Ndamukong. Why haven't they marketed this guy's name more? Seriously, KONG. It's who he is.
* The Eagles are America's team. It's true. They spend too much money on things that produce very little to no results and blame everyone else for their problems. Sounds like America to me. Well, at least our government. I do believe in Andy Reid and, at 1-2, they're not done by any means, however, I don't believe in Mike Kafka. That's his name, right?
* The Oakland Raiders are going to win the AFC West. You can quote me on this and when it happens, I'm going to claim that I was the first one who said it. They're better than the Chargers and Denver and KC are horrible. I like what the Raiders have going on and hardly anyone knows about them. Darren McFadden is the best running back in the NFL. I feel bad for Nnamdi Asomugha.
* By the time this season is over, there are going to be some ridiculous statistics on the leader board. They could legitimately approach Madden-esque numbers. Tom Brady is on pace to throw for 7,077 yards and 59 touchdowns (I think he'll only end up with 5,500-45). Darren McFadden is on pace for 2,100 yards rushing and I think he can break 2,000, seriously (who knew?), but what's funny is Wes Welker is on pace for 165 receptions and 2,440 yards receiving. He's half way to 1,000 with 13 games left. Ho-hum. Oh, and by the way, Chris Johnson is on the dark side. He thought he was bigger than his team and he's getting what he deserved. I knew better than to pick him or Arian Foster in my fantasy leagues (I did pick Steven Jackson, though...he'll be back and will be solid).
* After week 3, the best players in the NFL are as follows: 1. Aaron Rodgers, 2. Tom Brady, 3. Clay Matthews, 4. Calvin Johnson, 5. Darren McFadden, 6. Drew Brees, 7. DeMarcus Ware, 8. LeSean McCoy, 9. Ryan Fitzpatrick, 10. Jason Pierre-Paul.
Every Monday morning I try to wrap my mind around the wealth of knowledge that I acquired while watching football from my couch. I end up spending most of the day sending text messages and e-mails to my friends about what transpired on the gridiron. A lot of the ideas that I take away from a weekend of football have the potential to be useful in the lives of those who read this blog. So, without further ado, I announce to you my own version of Monday Morning Quarterback. This could be interesting...
Week 3 is complete, with the exception of tonight's Monday Night Football game, and there have been some interesting surprises (Buffalo Bills) as well as a few things that were expected (Packers 3-0, Vikings 0-3).
Off the top of my head, here's what I saw:
* The Packers are really, really good. I'm extremely bias and will never attempt to hide that fact. Actually, I'm proud to bleed green and gold. Still, they're really good. They have yet to play a "complete" game and have dominated the NFL. The scary thing is Aaron Rodgers is going to get better, which seems unbelievable, and their defense will start to figure things out, too.
* The Buffalo Bills will be in every game they play this year. I'm not ready to say they're the best team in the AFC. Even after beating the Patriots, I still think New England has a better team. Chan Gailey and Dave Wannsteadt work extremely well together and have taken teams to the playoffs together more than once (most recently the Miami Dolphins). Watch out for these guys. As long as Fitzpatrick is at the helm, they're dangerous. Especially because he's starting to develop a few legitimate weapons and seems to make everyone else on the offense better. This should be expected from a Harvard grad.
* The Vikings are really, really ugly. I already said it, I'm bias, but that really has nothing to do with my assessment of this team. Granted, Jared Allen had a great game for the first since my 3-year old son was born, but the rest of the team stinks. I wonder if any team in NFL history has given up halftime leads of 10 or more points three times in one season. Well, the Vikes have done it in the first three game to open their season (11, 17 and 20 point leads). I don't know what's going to happen next, but this organization is a complete zoo. It has been for years. I don't think they have the capacity to recover from this and I'm not about to lose any sleep over it, either.
* The Lions aren't quite "there" yet. Sure, they're 3-0 for the first time since 1980 and that's commendable. I do like them and want to see them succeed, but after watching them yesterday, I'm not sold on them. I don't think they have "arrived." Yet. They will be good this year and maybe even make the playoffs (check their schedule and look at their final six games, though...0-6?). Something about Matthew Stafford rubs me the wrong way, but I love Ndamukong Suh. I wouldn't mind naming my next son Ndamukong. Why haven't they marketed this guy's name more? Seriously, KONG. It's who he is.
* The Eagles are America's team. It's true. They spend too much money on things that produce very little to no results and blame everyone else for their problems. Sounds like America to me. Well, at least our government. I do believe in Andy Reid and, at 1-2, they're not done by any means, however, I don't believe in Mike Kafka. That's his name, right?
* The Oakland Raiders are going to win the AFC West. You can quote me on this and when it happens, I'm going to claim that I was the first one who said it. They're better than the Chargers and Denver and KC are horrible. I like what the Raiders have going on and hardly anyone knows about them. Darren McFadden is the best running back in the NFL. I feel bad for Nnamdi Asomugha.
* By the time this season is over, there are going to be some ridiculous statistics on the leader board. They could legitimately approach Madden-esque numbers. Tom Brady is on pace to throw for 7,077 yards and 59 touchdowns (I think he'll only end up with 5,500-45). Darren McFadden is on pace for 2,100 yards rushing and I think he can break 2,000, seriously (who knew?), but what's funny is Wes Welker is on pace for 165 receptions and 2,440 yards receiving. He's half way to 1,000 with 13 games left. Ho-hum. Oh, and by the way, Chris Johnson is on the dark side. He thought he was bigger than his team and he's getting what he deserved. I knew better than to pick him or Arian Foster in my fantasy leagues (I did pick Steven Jackson, though...he'll be back and will be solid).
* After week 3, the best players in the NFL are as follows: 1. Aaron Rodgers, 2. Tom Brady, 3. Clay Matthews, 4. Calvin Johnson, 5. Darren McFadden, 6. Drew Brees, 7. DeMarcus Ware, 8. LeSean McCoy, 9. Ryan Fitzpatrick, 10. Jason Pierre-Paul.
Run your own race
I subscribe to a large number of blogs and spend most of my morning reading each one. A favorite of mine is by Seth Godin. He's a world renowned author and leadership and marketing guru. His revolutionary ideas have the changed the way I approach life. He has a new book coming out tomorrow entitled We Are All Weird (the title alone is captivating, isn't it?) I'm telling you, this man is a genius. I had to share his blog post for today because it echoes much of what I stand for and one of the foremost reasons I started this blog. For more information on Godin, go to sethgodin.com.
Run your own race
By Seth Godin
The rear view mirror is one of the most effective motivational tools ever created.
There's no doubt that many people speed up in the face of competition. We ask, "how'd the rest of the class do?" We listen for someone breathing down our necks. And we discover that competition sometimes brings out our best.
There's a downside, though. Years ago, during my last long-distance swim (across Long Island Sound... cold water, jellyfish, the whole nine yards), the competitiveness was pretty thick. On the boat to the starting line, there were hundreds of swimmers, stretching, bragging, prancing and working themselves up. By the time we hit the water, everyone was swimming someone else's race. The start was an explosion of ego and adrenaline. Twenty minutes later, half the field was exhausted, with three hours left to go.
If you're going to count on the competition to bring out your best work, you've surrendered control over your most important asset. Real achievement comes from racing ahead when no one else sees a path--and holding back when the rush isn't going where you want to go.
If you're dependent on competition then you're counting on the quality of those that show up to determine how well you'll do. Worse, you've signed up for a career of faux death matches as the only way to do your best work.
Self motivation is and always will be the most important form of motivation. Driving with your eyes on the rear view mirror is exhausting. It's easier than ever to measure your performance against others, but if it's not helping you with your mission, stop.
Run your own race
By Seth Godin
The rear view mirror is one of the most effective motivational tools ever created.
There's no doubt that many people speed up in the face of competition. We ask, "how'd the rest of the class do?" We listen for someone breathing down our necks. And we discover that competition sometimes brings out our best.
There's a downside, though. Years ago, during my last long-distance swim (across Long Island Sound... cold water, jellyfish, the whole nine yards), the competitiveness was pretty thick. On the boat to the starting line, there were hundreds of swimmers, stretching, bragging, prancing and working themselves up. By the time we hit the water, everyone was swimming someone else's race. The start was an explosion of ego and adrenaline. Twenty minutes later, half the field was exhausted, with three hours left to go.
If you're going to count on the competition to bring out your best work, you've surrendered control over your most important asset. Real achievement comes from racing ahead when no one else sees a path--and holding back when the rush isn't going where you want to go.
If you're dependent on competition then you're counting on the quality of those that show up to determine how well you'll do. Worse, you've signed up for a career of faux death matches as the only way to do your best work.
Self motivation is and always will be the most important form of motivation. Driving with your eyes on the rear view mirror is exhausting. It's easier than ever to measure your performance against others, but if it's not helping you with your mission, stop.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
A thought on potential
Micaiah is nearly 14 months old and is my youngest son. He's full of life and energy and his attitude is infectious. He emanates joy. He's scared, though. Scared to walk. In the grand scheme of things, it's not important that he walks immediately, however, I see the potential inside of him and want nothing more than for him to "let go."
Micaiah has possessed the necessary skills to be able to walk on his own for over 3 months. While holding on to our hands, the table or other movable and immovable objects he walks with precision and boldness. When he lets go, he suddenly sits or falls to his hands and knees. It's a perfect picture to how everyone handles the potential inside of them.
I know Micaiah can walk on his own, but he's not interested right now. And that's alright. If he would just let go while we're moving around the living room floor, he would see for himself that he can do it. For a 1-year old boy, there's no urgency, but for adults there is.
Has someone pointed out the potential that is inside of you and you're to scared to let go? Micaiah cannot see the potential in himself, but I can. Much the same, we may not be able to see the potential inside ourselves. We need others to speak to our potential. Micaiah cannot comprehend this, but you can. Let go and walk. Tap into the potential that rests inside of you.
Micaiah has possessed the necessary skills to be able to walk on his own for over 3 months. While holding on to our hands, the table or other movable and immovable objects he walks with precision and boldness. When he lets go, he suddenly sits or falls to his hands and knees. It's a perfect picture to how everyone handles the potential inside of them.
I know Micaiah can walk on his own, but he's not interested right now. And that's alright. If he would just let go while we're moving around the living room floor, he would see for himself that he can do it. For a 1-year old boy, there's no urgency, but for adults there is.
Has someone pointed out the potential that is inside of you and you're to scared to let go? Micaiah cannot see the potential in himself, but I can. Much the same, we may not be able to see the potential inside ourselves. We need others to speak to our potential. Micaiah cannot comprehend this, but you can. Let go and walk. Tap into the potential that rests inside of you.
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