Monday, January 3, 2011

Sayonara, Brett Favre!

Let me first say that I used to be on "Team Favre" whole-heartily.  Outside of my "any player from my beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers" love affair, Brett Favre was the man.  He was a risk-taking gunslinger who was always an entertaining sound bite.  He was an everyday kind of guy - I mean he wore Wrangler jeans!

However, I bored quickly of the retired/not retired distractions, and the drama that followed.  But it's not all his fault. Some of the frustration stemmed from the tireless commotion created by the diabolical media outlets.  It's kinda like Lebron's "The Decision" where he announced he was leaving Cleveland for sunnier Miami.  Lebron's fiasco only lasted a couple of days though, whereas Brett's drama overtook several complete summers.

 I would say that if he was honest, he would share that he would not have returned this year - 19 interceptions and 22 sacks vs. only 11 touchdowns, plus the whole Jenn Sterger scandal didn't help his image with the public.  As amazing as his 2009 season was (33 touchdowns vs. 7 interceptions, with a trip to the NFC Championship game), 2010 was not.

Looking forward, which Brett will the fans remember?  The fun, wreckless gunslinger, or the old man who couldn't walk away from his passion?  In 5 years, when Canton is calling, I believe the memories will mostly be warm and fuzzy.  I still see him in his Packers uniform, taking the Lambeau leap after scrambling for another game winner.        

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Are You Ready for 2011?



Here comes 2011 - are you ready for it?  Some of you are hoping for a better 2011 versus the old 2010, while some are counting on a great 2010 leading to an even greater 2011.  The goal is that, with each passing year, the days continue to improve the quality of our lives.

If your moment to shine does come in 2011, are you going to be ready?  Instead of waiting for things to happen, or for someone to give you a hand, what are you doing to do to make 2011 better than the preceding years?  What resolutions have you made to be prepared to succeed in 2011?

On November 20, 1973, the British band The Who were kicking off their Quadrophenia US Tour in San Fransisco, CA.  During the concert, the band's drummer Keith Moon, drunk and high, passed out and was unable to finish the show.  Without a drummer, the music came to a screeching halt.  Half joking, half serious, guitarist Pete Townshend asked the audience if anyone could play the drums.

Up stepped 19-year-old Scot Halpin.  The teenager played drums back home in Iowa, and he and his friends moved to the front of the crowd to help the band out.  As amazing as it sounds, Scot ended up on stage, playing 3 songs with the band that evening.  Can you imagine?  It's the movie Rockstar coming to life.

Scot was in the right place, he was prepared, and he took the opportunity when it came available to him.  Are you looking for a rosier financial situation?  Then how are you increasing your revenue, or reducing your spending?  Do you want to impact others for God?  Then what are you doing right now to improve your usefulness to Him?  Do you want more friends, or better friends?  Are you being the friend that people need?

What about you?  Are you ready for 2011?