Light/Breezes

Light/Breezes
SUNRISE AT DEATH VALLEY-Photo by Tom Cochrun
Showing posts with label Peyton Manning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peyton Manning. Show all posts

Monday, February 8, 2016

TRADITIONS AND LEGACIES

OLD SCHOOL WINS
     Old school sportswriters, before modern media, often wrote with the wisdom of sages and the language of poets. Modern America has a couple of contemporary tableau that are living personifications of traditional vs brash modern.
      The presidential sweepstakes offers contrast. The Democratic debates have been deep on substance, policy and agendas. Despite what a voter may think of the Clinton or Sanders philosophy, as a viewer you are treated to thoughtful articulation. The Republican debates have been "slice and dice" sessions with candidates attacking each other, often on less than substantial matters. Bombast and bravado have been the headlines, maybe inevitable when three of the leading candidates are Trump, Carson and Cruz, outsiders at best. Trump and Carson have no political experience and Cruz is detested by his own colleagues in the Senate and in the GOP. To this blogger's point of view, Ohio's Kasich has taken the traditional route and also the high ground. Florida's Bush has tried to play it that way, with questionable affect. In demeanor only, those two Governors have shown the class and capacity to be a President. They have shown intelligence.
       Maybe the biggest window came in the biggest American party-the secular spectacular. As the nation nurses Super Bowl hangover, the 50th edition wrote a legacy headline-Peyton Manning, supported by the earnest hard work of a smashing defensive unit rides off into the sun set in one of American sport's greatest fairy tale endings. Probably the hardest working/studying if not the most intelligent quarterback ever ends an all time record setting career with the biggest victory in the sport. Experts are quick to list Manning as one of the best 5 players ever. For those of us who know, support or cheer Manning, this is a glory moment.
        An Indianapolis sportswriter opined last week how the home of the Colts, where Manning led the team to a Superbowl, was for Super Sunday, a suburb of Denver. People love Manning, almost everywhere, and there is good reason.
       His brilliance at reading defense, and his physical skills will indeed be legend in the game. But there is more about Peyton and the run up coverage about him and his challenger quarterback Cam Newton is a classic example.            Newton is an extraordinary athlete. He is handsome, powerful, charismatic and in his own words representative of the new kind of super athlete who is taking over the game. Like many in modern America, Newton struggles with proper grammar, but he is still an articulate young man and personifies the kind of brashness and pride that is so rampant today. He is a football version of Donald Trump, though with more measurable skills. Peyton is old school.
       Manning is and has always been, humble and quick to give praise to his teammates, coaches and others. He told the pregame show he simply wanted to be remembered as a guy who was liked by his teammates and remembered for being a good team player. No doubt, ever.  He's the oldest Quarterback to play in the Superbowl, so he is old school, but there is something enduring about humility in a game of millionaires, swagger and bling.  Something rewarding too about a team that can win by defense--the hard, hard, agonizing work of grinding away. It is telling that Manning, who earlier in his career could run and could sail passes with the precision of a laser, but as a hurt, hobbled and aching old veteran could lead an offense and willingly cede the gridiron stage to the defense to let them control the pace of a game.
     Modern America likes flash and sizzle and selfies, the sort of thrill that an offensive game provides. Peyton used to be that way, as Cam Newton is now. But traditional ways require sacrifice, hard work and doing what it takes, even in the age of selfies and touchdown dances.  Selflessness wins over selfies.
       Had Peyton and the Broncos lost, you know he would have faced the media, answered their inquires, no matter how much he hurt. Cam Newton says he is a great fan of the game, and I don't doubt that. But I hope he is also a student. His post game behavior and his pre game "superman" swagger show that as good as he is, as promising as his future there are some old school lessons he should learn.
        Peyton Manning did it by hard work, very hard work, discipline and intelligence. Defensive hard work pays dividends. America should be paying attention.

        See you down the trail.

Monday, February 3, 2014

DYLAN SCORES-SEATTLE POUNDS-USING THE RAIN AND OTHER GOOD THINGS-CHEERS

GOOD THINGS
(For the Dylan surprise and the Super flop
read below--but first....)
     A painted sky, from the deck of friends Jacque and Mike.
THE FIRST RAIN OF THE YEAR
   The California drought was dampened with a bit of rain on Super Bowl Sunday.  A little more than an inch fell in the first measurable rain since last year, but conservation minded Californians went to work gathering what we could.
 Lana made repeated visit to empty a catchment vessel, filling storage containers. 
    The harvested rain water will irrigate a vegetable garden.
  All communities ought be more aggressive in harvesting rain flow. 
 MORE GOOD STUFF
   Comparing French Burgundy to Windward Pinot. Vintage tasting from 2000 to 2014. Our favorite was Windward in each year and these women are two of the best wine hostesses in the state, any year.
    Carpaccio covered with a Parmesan and truffle sauce!
    Catching the Moon and Venus in a ballet.
   And one more look at a rain wet deck-a delightful scene to dry Californians.
NOT SO GOOD
    Disappointed by the Super Bowl-not just the outcome, but the lack of excitement, balance, and competition.  Seattle's defense was relentless and effective. Denver's was not. 
     It is almost a sport to criticize Peyton Manning today, though not fair or objective. Manning never really got a chance, his line did very little to help, though his performance still set a record, but is of little consolation. Seattle's offense and especially Russell Wilson were champions. Seattle won the game, handily and deserve accolades.I wish it would have been closer, just because it would have been more fun. And while the Red Hot Chili Peppers are fun, I would have preferred a half time show with more Bruno Mars and less Peppers. But the party was cool, the company was great and the food was good, so, why should I complain.  Go 49ers!
     And while some of you are yelling "sell out," I was knocked out by the Bob Dylan Chrysler commercial. I certainly didn't see that coming! I was surprised that he'd do a commercial, yes, but I loved the tone and vibe of the piece he did.  
     I can't understand why folks would be upset. After all the music biz is just that, a business. Why shouldn't a poet, songwriter or rock star be able to earn a bit more by doing a commercial? It raises the quality of the advertising. Are artists supposed to give away paintings, or songs, or novels? I'm not sure it makes me want to buy a Chrysler, but I give them credit for making the American road, a patch of Highway 61.

    See you down the trail.

Friday, January 31, 2014

MANNING UP THE SUPERBOWL-A SHORE REFRESHER-THE WEEKENDER

HERE'S HOPING
    Peyton Manning exemplifies excellence. He is testament to the virtue of hard work, preparation and discipline. He's a role model as a leader and he could be the best, or smartest, quarterback to ever play the game.  He might be both. I became a fan of both the football player and the man when we were both in Indianapolis. I didn't like the way Jimmy Irsay, owner of the Colts, handled Peyton's employment when he was injured and fighting to recover and I've told him that.  So with all of this as preamble it is no surprise who I will be rooting for this weekend.  It would be a sweet thing if Peyton can steer the Broncos to a win, gaining himself another ring and validating the extraordinary effort he's put into rebuilding himself and proving the power of overcoming.
THE SHORE
   The Pacific Coast is forever fascinating and begging for a camera.





WEEKENDER VIDEO
     If you are feeling landlocked, suffering cabin fever, tired of winter or maybe just a little tense, this weekend's video may be for you.  Three minutes of peace by the pacific.
See you down the trail.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

A GOOD GOODBYE, AFTERNOON SUN AND HAWK NOTES

DONE WITH GREAT CLASS
Photo by Associated Press
     One of the world's premier athletes made one of the classiest exits in sport.  After 14 years Peyton Manning, perhaps the game's greatest quarterback, is leaving the Indianapolis Colts.
      It was an emotional goodbye but done with goodwill,
sincerity and humility.  Those are three qualities terribly lacking in the world today, especially in professional sport. 
Photo by WRTV 6/ABC.com
     Manning's legacy is 11 playoffs, 11 pro bowl games, 4 times he was the leagues MVP, 2 super bowl games and 1 championship.  Manning is responsible for turning Indianapolis   into a genuine NFL city.  Indianapolis loves him.  He is an icon in what used to be exclusively a basket ball town.There are countless young Peytons, both male and female, in the Hoosier state.
     Money, negotiations, positions in the draft, medical uncertainty and other at times difficult issues were behind
the departure, but at the farewell news conference, Manning
was, as he was when directing the Colts on the field, eloquent, brilliant and on target. 
     As a kid I liked Johnny Unitas, the great Baltimore Colt quarterback.  In this age of media, super stars and the modern NFL, the great Colts quarterback for the age is
Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning.
      Soon we may see what Andrew Luck brings to the big shoes to be filled. But for now Manning's number 18 has been retired and it will be hard to see him as anything but a Colt, which he says he will remain in his heart. 
DAY BOOK
IN THE AFTERNOON SUN

      Lana was looking after neighbor's cats when she spotted
the hawk, catching a few afternoon rays.
 Photo by Lana E Cochrun
Photo by Lana E Cochrun
     This appears to be a young hawk, of which there are many in this area of the highlands and forest.  I spoke with a man last evening who has trained a young red tailed hawk to hunt rabbits.  Now that rabbit season is about over, he will begin a kind of reverse training process to release the young raptor
back into the wild.


A QUESTION FOR YOU CINEMA BUFFS
    My friend Neal Moore, a fellow Churchillian and one of
technologies earliest adapters, is seeking information.
What Hitchcock film includes a famous no edit, single camera, boom shot? Let us know.  Thanks.

      See you down the trail.

Monday, January 2, 2012

SOME DIVERSION, HUH?

PRIORITIES
First the Colts
then the Paradise Walkers
My blog mentor, The Catalyst, shot a missive, noting no blog yet, nor on New Years day and wondering as to "too much New Years eve?"
Not the case.
I got sidetracked by the decision of Indianapolis Colts owner Jimmy Irsay to fire vice chairman and football operator
Bill Polian.  I know both men and I hate to see the parting, but after winning only 2 games, there is a fever in the bunkhouse. Polian brought football knowledge, and eventually greatness to a then foundering Colts organization.
But things and times change.  And not having an 
active Peyton Manning makes a difference.
So I was offering my unsolicited advice to Jim and the fans of the Colts.  
Make Peyton Manning a player coach, and draft 
Andrew Luck.  If Peyton is still able to play, allow him to take few snaps, share playing time with the brilliant young quarterback, and gradually assume the position of offensive coordinator. Eventually he can transition to full time coaching, maybe someday to be head coach.
Manning is a brilliant offensive strategist already and
would be the ideal heir to the great offensive coordinator
Tom Moore.  I think it would make a great
story line for the franchise, the kind of thing of
legends. I'm confident Colts fans would love it. I hope Jimmy Irsay also sees the "brilliance" of the idea.  
Jimmy, I'll be in town in a few days, if you want to talk.
NOW TO THINGS CALIFORNIA
The first day of the new year gave the new
Paradise Walkers a chance to 
do their thing.
  The always beautiful San Simeon Creek  Road
was the perfect setting for an ideal
Central Coast day.





 No play for this Californian







The merry band of Paradise Walkers.
See you down the trail.