Off Topic: NFL Alternate History

 

I don’t watch much football nowadays.  I was turned off by the kneeling and I prefer the old style of play with more downfield passing.  I was a pretty big fan growing up and my favorite team was the Pittsburgh Steelers.  I’m fascinated by the fact that just ONE key play can and does alter the fortunes of a franchise for years to come, especially when it comes to the draft order.  Let’s take a look at a few examples.

In 1969, the Steelers quarterback threw an apparent game winning touchdown in the final minute of the game in the season finale.  The score was called back because of a questionable holding penalty and the Steelers lost by a field goal.  Because of the loss, the team secured the first overall pick, which was used on Hall of Fame Quarterback Terry Bradshaw.  The rest is history.  What happens if the penalty was not called, and the Steelers won the game?

The Chicago Bears would have had the number one pick and were also interested in Bradshaw.  The Bears did not have much of team throughout most of the 1970s.  My guess is that Bradshaw gets off to a rough start as he did in Pittsburgh, but he goes on to have a rather average career and does not win any Super Bowls even if Walter Payton eventually arrives.   Today, he would be largely forgotten.  I admire Bradshaw and can identify with some of his life experiences.  I too was pre-judged as dumb because of my southern accent.  Fact is that if the line doesn’t block and the receivers can’t catch, even the most talented QB will struggle.  On the other hand, journeymen QBs have looked great in limited action as a substitute for a championship team. 

As for the Steelers, I believe that they do win their first Super Bowl without Bradshaw but NOT the last 3.  There were not many quality QBs available in the draft in the early 1970s.  Kenny Anderson was the only one that could have been a possibility.  Their coach Chuck Noll preferred to build through the draft but may have been forced to make a trade for a QB.  Could the Steelers have been as successful with an average QB but an elite defense and running game?  I don’t think so. 

Let’s now move forward to 1974.  Dallas was all set to use their first-round pick on Wide Receiver Lynn Swann.  Unfortunately for them, Pittsburgh picked one spot ahead of them and you know the rest.  Swann torched the Cowboys in the 1975 and 1978 Super Bowls and won the MVP in the former.  If Dallas had lost just one more game in the previous season, at least one of those Super Bowls would have gone the other way.  Dallas also nearly drafted Jerry Rice in 1985 but San Francisco traded up in the first round to cut in front and draft the GOAT at his position.  Can you image the Cowboys teams of the early ‘90s with Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin AND Jerry Rice?  It could have been the greatest dynasty of all time.  As for San Francisco, they probably win the 1989 and 1994 Super Bowl without Rice but Cincinnati wins in '88.

Bo Jackson made it known that he would never sign with Tampa Bay, but they drafted him anyway.  Rumor has it that San Francisco offered a very good package including Ronnie Lott, but it was turned down.  The Niners would have scary good in the late ‘80s with Bo Jackson.  Assuming that Bo doesn’t get injured, he goes on to have a Hall of Fame career in football and probably never plays in MLB.  Another interesting possibility is that Tampa Bay passes on Jackson, and he is instead drafted number 2 by Atlanta.  I don’t think he wins any Super Bowls with Atlanta, but he would have been teammates with Deion Sanders.  Perhaps he does try baseball under that scenario.  I believe that the Steelers could have drafted Barry Sanders instead of Tim Worley in 1989 if they had lost one more game the previous year.  However, with Sanders still going strong, they probably don’t trade for Jerome Bettis.

My last what if is the tuck rule game in 2001.  The pass was ruled incomplete because the QB’s arm was going forward even though it was pretty clear that he was not in the act of throwing the ball.  If the play had been ruled a fumble, New England loses in the playoffs and the Super Bowl is probably Pittsburgh against the St. Louis Rams with a QB matchup of Kurt Warner vs Kordell Stewart.  Even as a Steeler fan, I’d have to bet on the Rams to win this one.  Despite the playoff loss, there is little doubt that Tom Brady wins the job over Drew Bledsoe and goes on to be the GOAT with only 6 Super Bowl wins.  This is unlikely but what if New England sticks with Bledsoe and trades Brady?  Does he have the same success with a mediocre supporting cast?   

IRL, both Stewart and Warner would be benched 2 years later and sign elsewhere.  Warner would go on to find a good home in Arizona while Stewart failed in Chicago.  I believe Stewart gets a longer leash by simply getting to the Super Bowl and so does Warner for winning it.  Warner bounces back and has a HOF career all with St. Louis and perhaps they still have a team.  Stewart continues to play erratically for Pittsburgh.  Perhaps the draft order in 2004 is different and the Steelers have a higher pick.  Do they still end up with Roethlisberger or do they go with the consensus pick in Eli Manning or even Philip Rivers?  I think it’s pretty clear that Pittsburgh got the best of those 3, but either Manning or Rivers probably does well as a Steeler too.  My second choice would be Rivers, but Brady may have 2 more Super Bowl wins if Manning was not on the Giants.   Wild stuff that could have happened very easily.              

January Training

 

UGLY!  I’m not even keeping track anymore, but I will estimate that my monthly total will be around 40 miles.  Longest run of the month was a mere 4 miles though I may try to beat that this weekend.  Fastest pace was 8:28 per mile on a 2 miler in 16:56. OUCH!  No interval workouts.  Pretty much all junk.  If I do go to Hawaii, I have just under 3 months to get in shape for a 13.1 miler.  At this point, I will not even try to run it all the way through.  It will be a Gallo-walk with a 4:1 ratio, which would likely bring me home between 2:20-2:30.  Normally, I would never show up at the starting knowing that it will be that bad but, I only have ONE to go. 

Pills:

Good news is that as long as I take the Intrinsic Factor, the inexplicable reactions SHOULD stop!  That’s a MAJOR victory.  However, there are several pieces of bad news.  First, I have 2 MUST take treatments every day with Thym-Adren and Fulvic Acid.  Fulvic acid has apparently REALLY spiked my adrenals.  I’ve had to go with the drops simply because the powder is too strong.  Even on the drops, I need 6 pills every day.  If I take neither or the Fulvic Acid alone, I can’t run at all.  I tried to run on the Thym-Adren alone without the Fulvic Acid and started off pretty well but faded early and was done after 1 mile in 9:xx. 

As for the other pills, I can handle a long weekend without them, but I cannot quit any.  Perhaps if I was taking more Fulvic Acid, it would be a different story but that’s not an option.  If I did that, I’d need 9-10 Thym-Adren pills and still would not perform as well.  No Thanks.  I had one bizarre episode with CBS drops.  Without the Intrinsic Factor, I could not tolerate that stuff at all.  With the Intrinsic Factor, I cannot function without it.  WHAT THE  _______!  While my dietary habits have worsened in recent years, even complete abstinence from the forbidden drinks would not have done it without the Intrinsic Factor.  For the record, I’ve had only 1 cheat day in the 10 days since I returned from El Paso.  The good news is that once I figured out that the missing pill was hurting me, I was noticeably better immediately after taking it.  By the second day, I was pretty much back to the new normal.  By comparison, with the inexplicable reactions, it often took 3 days before I could run again and 5 days for it to totally clear. 

Yes, there have been small signs of improvement in recent days.  After I got back from El Paso, I barely broke 28 minutes for 3 miles running almost all out.  Yesterday, I actually dialed back the effort a bit but still managed 4 miles in 35:17 (8:49 pace).  That is what should happen.  Improvements from day to day should not be significant and may not even be noticeable but over time, it becomes evident that the process is working.  Think about the hour hand on a clock.  You can’t even tell that it is moving at first glance but if you come back 6 hours later, it is in the opposite position.

Leaning AGAINST Hawaii in April

 It's a tough decision.  If I don't go now, I may not get another chance but then again, there are a lot of potential SNAFUs.

As of now, if you want to go to Hawaii and bypass the 5-day quarantine requirement, you have 2 options:  Get triple vacksinated despite the fact that by Pfizer CEO’s own admission that it provides limited protection OR get a negative test from a partner lab ONE day before arrival.  Obviously, the former is not an option for me and too many things can go wrong with the latter.  I saw this coming, which is why I went last year without a race to complete my Visit all 50 States Challenge.  Normally, I would not even consider going to a place with such stringent restrictions, but everyone knows why I still might make an exception.  I have just 1 state to go to finish the Half Marathon Challenge and am rapidly declining.  Training has been AWFUL!  Today was 3 miles in 27:54 (9:18 pace) and this was actually one of my BETTER showings so far this year.  At the rate that I am going, it won’t be long until I cannot run at all. 

Here is what could go wrong:

Omicron is still surging but is expected to calm down before race day in April.  I’ll find out next month whether my New Year’s respiratory illness was COVID or not.  If it was, I will be much less concerned about catching COVID again.  That said, there is still about a 1 in 50 chance of a false positive.  If that happens, I’m screwed.  No go on the trip and I may not get a refund for the flight.  I certainly won’t get refunded for the race but probably won’t have to pay for the hotels.

There is a "worser case scenario" than that too.  Suppose that I take the test and the results don’t come back until I am on the plane.  I was nearly sent to quarantine last time because I didn’t have a hard copy but protested that my results didn’t come back until I had left home for Atlanta.  Fortunately, the boss over-ruled the employee and accepted my electronic result.  I REALLY don’t want to be put in that position again.  If I test positive, I will be stranded in either Hawaii or my connection city for who knows how long.  If the negative result does come after I land in Hawaii, I suppose that I would be released from quarantine but even that may not be guaranteed.    

There is also the possibility of a flight delay and a missed connection.  I could still fly out of Atlanta but would have to stay overnight in a hotel with access to a printer in case the results come overnight.  Last time, I connected in LAX, which worked out well logistically.  Both flights were about 5 hours.  I would prefer to take 2 flights instead of 3 to reduce the risk of a missed connection.  Suppose that happens and I do not arrive in Hawaii until the next day, which is 2 days after the test.  That would render the results invalid, and I will be sent to quarantine.    

As of now, I am leaning AGAINST going to Hawaii but I could still change my mind.  The backup plan for that weekend is beach hopping from Tampa to Fort Lauderdale, which would be nice but pales in comparison to Hawaii.  I am just ONE state away from finishing my goal.  Fortunately, the time limit is generous so that should not be a factor.  Still, I would strongly prefer to end this NOW rather than later.  If not for COVID, I likely would have finished this in early-mid-2021.  What could happen in the future?  Will the restrictions continue into the endemic phase?  Probably.  In fact, it could get worse.  What if there is a rigid vackseen mandate with no option for a negative test?  For the record, I would still decline the shot. 

El Paso Trip Report

 

1/13-

Despite some concern about cancelled flights due to the Omicron surge, my flights out of both Birmingham and Dallas went off as scheduled.  I had a slack day planned just in case something went wrong.   I picked up my rental car and drove about 20 minutes to a parking lot about a half mile from the Sante Fe Street bridge to Ciudad Juarez in Mexico.  Downtown El Paso is much like any other American city but as you get to the Centro shopping area on the border, you will see some Spanish language signs so there was a bit of a Mexican vibe before I crossed over.  As usual, there was no passport check, and it was about 2:00 PM when I arrived on Mexican soil.  My first step there was a near disaster as I almost twisted my ankle on a crack in the road but fortunately my luck held, and things would get better.  Juarez is the former murder capital, but things have become a lot safer in recent years.  I never felt in danger as long as I stuck to the main roads and did not go out after dark. I was offered taxi service but responded with a polite: “Yo puedo caminar.” (I can walk.)  

I followed Juarez Ave and eventually found my way to the famous cathedral, where I spent some time in prayer.  I would have liked to have attended church there, but it did not fit my schedule.  Next, I would spend some time in the market just to take in the vibe, some culture and a few short conversations in Spanish.  I did purchase a Coke, a cake and a smoothie.  I had hoped to tour a museum of the Revolution but unfortunately it was closed so I headed back towards the USA and a stop at the Kentucky Bar, which is supposedly the birthplace of the Margarita.  I had one of those and some wings for dinner but no real authentic Mexican food this time around.  I did enjoy conversations with a couple local girls.  After some deliberation, I decided to spend the night in Mexico.  Hotels are a lot cheaper, and I did not want to have to go to the bathroom while waiting in a long line back to the USA.  The hotel was bare bones, so I did go out for an after-dinner drink, but it was just across the street.  I had a VERY nice server there.  Her smiles truly touched my heart.  They really did like the gringo with the southern lingo.  I wish I had said "Me encanta tu sonrisa." (I love your smile.) 

1/14-

I was up and out the door at 5:30 AM hoping to beat the rush to the USA.  No issues with customs and no COVID checks (I verified this beforehand) but I still had to wait 30-40 minutes.  I timed it well however as I got some great shots of the sunrise from Scenic Drive overlooking El Paso.  From there, I headed east to Guadalupe Mountains NP.  I won’t say that was a bad call but there just wasn’t enough time to do it justice as all the hikes were 4+ miles.  I spent about 2 hours at Franklin Mountains State Park back in El Paso and wish I had more time there.  That was spectacular with its canyon views and rock scenery.  I treated myself to steak at a bar and grill that night and enjoyed a conversation with a girl from Seattle. 

1/15-

Crossed into New Mexico.  I did some hiking in Lincoln National Forest on a trail called Bridal Falls.  It was little more than a small stream but the desert and mountain views along the way were worth it. After lunch in Alamagordo, I headed to White Sands National Park.  WOW!  That was awesome.  Snow white sand and mountains in the background.  On rare occasions, these mountains are capped with snow, which would have been epic. 

 

1/16-

Skiing in Cloudcroft, which was a bit of a bust.  Only the bunny slope was open, and I stayed for just over 2 hours.  Just not enough snow and I did not have the time to go further north for real skiing.  Not a total loss however as I caught an epic sunrise and some snow-capped peaks.  I should have done more hiking instead.  In New Mexico, palm trees can grow at 4,000 feet elevation in the southern part of the state but just 20 miles away at 8,000 feet, you will usually find snow on the ground during winter.  Really cool.  I spent the night in Las Cruces about 45 minutes from El Paso and walked down Main Street, which had a real New Mexico vibe and felt like a smaller version of Santa Fe with palm trees. 

1/17-

Back to El Paso for a walking tour of downtown and a visit to a nice lake with mountain views where I did a junk run.  I hoped to see the history museum but not surprisingly, it was closed for MLK Day.  Out of things to do, I went to the airport early, which proved to be a good call.  My Dallas flight was delayed but I was able to get on an earlier flight.  Not sure if I would have made my connection otherwise.  Good trip overall but I could have done a few things differently.  One person asked why a Bama boy would want to come to El Paso and Juarez, Mexico.  WHY NOT?  The scenery is beautiful.          

Sinus Cold or Omicron (Personal Anecdote)

 After some deliberation, I decided to come home for Christmas and attend the family party in spite of the Omicron surge.  My brother-in law caught a cold before the party but tested negative for COVID on both a home test and a PCR test.  My Dad woke up on Christmas Day with a nasty cough that evolved into a pretty bad cold.  He also tested negative for COVID.  Both my Dad and brother in law are fully vacksinated and boosted.  My nephew who is vacksinated but not boosted was down with a fever and nausea for a few days after Christmas.  He also tested negative.  

As for me, I was symptom free during Christmas and tested negative with a home test prior to the party on Christmas Eve. I attended church with my mother then put in an appearance with the extended family on Christmas Day.  The next day on the trip home, I had some weakness and a bit of a tickle in my throat.  I figured that I was just tired from the driving.  I got extra sleep and took it easy for the next couple of days.  It appeared that I had fought off whatever it was and thought I was in the clear.  Not so fast.

December 30 (Day 1)- Feeling weaker and weaker as the day progressed.  Mild sore throat and very watery stools.  That's not out of the ordinary for me especially if the pills are out of whack.  It wasn't until lunch time when I had no appetite and could barely eat one small hot dog that I began to get a little worried.  I wanted to get tested again but there were no appointments and home kits were sold out. I left work early and when I got home, I felt no better after extra pills and a big glass of water.  I ate nothing for dinner.  Took my secret formula of Lactoferrin plus Benadryl, which knocked me out and put me to sleep.

December 31 (Day 2)- Pretty much out of commission.  Spend most of the day in bed.  Developed a cough, sinus congestion, a mild headache and a low grade fever.  I could not find a thermometer but I estimate that my temperature was about 99.5F.  Concerned but no feeling of panic or doom. I certainly have felt a lot worse than this in the past with other infections.  Took Motrin, cough syrup and a double dose of Benadryl with Lactoferrin.

January 1 (Day 3)-  MUCH better in terms of strength and energy.  Voice sounded awful and still had a pretty bad cough.  Fever was gone (98.1F) and my appetite was beginning to recover.  Felt well enough to do a 1 Mile junk run.  Of course, I did very poorly (9:36) but that has been the case with or without the virus.   

January 2-3 (Day 4 and 5)-  Pretty much the same.  The cough lingered for another 4 days and I began coughing up small amounts of phlegm.  My voice didn't really recover until Day 7.   I was well enough to work on January 3 but as per CDC guidelines, I stayed home until the 5th day was completed.   

The big question:  Did I have COVID?  If so, it was almost certainly the mild Omicron and not the more serious Delta.  My Mom is pretty much convinced that it was NOT COVID because nobody in the family tested positive and my Dad's symptoms were very similar to mine.  I'm not so sure.  The loss of appetite and the watery stools are 2 common Omicron symptoms.  Moreover, home tests are not always reliable when it comes to Omicron.  I read reports of people testing negative on Day 1 then positive on Day 3.  

How would I rate this in terms of discomfort? On a scale of 1-5 with 1 being a typical cold and 5 being a bad flu, I'd rate this as a 2.  If this had hit during the week and COVID was not a concern, I would have missed just 1 day of work.  Basically, a 2 day illness plus a week of residual crud.  Most people who caught Omicron said it was a 3-4 day illness with a quick recovery.  Perhaps the Benadryl plus Lactoferrin made a difference.  The best way to tell at this point is to go for blood donation next month.  That will reveal whether or not I have COVID antibodies.  I actually hope that it was COVID.  I will be less likely to be forced into taking the vackseen if I can prove natural immunity and because my case was so mild, I will feel fully vindicated for my decision to decline it.