The Kid: A Tribue

One of the lasting tracks from my childhood that will play in my mind for the rest of my life is attached to the following introduction:

"Hi. This is Ken Griffey Jr. Let's play major league baseball." 

Ken Griffey Jr. was officially inducted in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 24, six years after his last game with the Seattle Mariners. His was a career that started as a teenager with the expectations of a number-one overall pick, featured games played in four different decades, and became one of the most productive and exciting careers in the sport's long and storied history.

He made his debut on April 3, 1989. During his first at bat, the announcer made the following proclamation: "20, 25 years from now, you're going to want to say 'I was there when Ken Griffey Jr. made his home debut.' " On the second pitch he ever saw, Griffey lined a Dave Stewart fastball off of the bottom of the left-center wall for a double. Many players throughout history have done more with their first pitch, so I am not proclaiming this event as clear evidence of what he was to become. But it does add to the legend that is George Kenneth Griffey II.

It is difficult for me to compare athletes across sports, distinguishing between basketball and football and baseball and hockey and golf and tennis players as to who a single-favorite athlete to personally behold and witness wondrously would be. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have their place at the table. LaDainian Tomlinson, Marshall Faulk and Calvin Johnson join the conversation. Alexander Ovechkin, Tiger Woods, and Roger Federer have all provided the highest forms of entertainment I have ever witnessed. But there is no athlete I have ever seen play in my lifetime (or ever, for that matter) who I loved watching play their sport more than Ken Griffey Jr. And there are three main reasons.

1. The Swing.

I can watch it over, and over, and over again. It is touted repeatedly as the sweetest swing that has ever graced the diamond. There's even a Reddit article from two years ago professing his superiority. And another one from six months ago, giving a little more fan analysis and swooning. Fans aren't the only ones who drool over it. Sean Casey was Griffey's teammate in Cincinnati for several years, and gives his own breakdown of why Junior's swing was so sweet. It begins with the early load, like a gun cocked and ready for action: back elbow high, hands behind his body, so there's no wasted movement in preparing as the pitch comes. The swing starts as his front foot steps forward eight to ten inches, further engaging the coil waiting to unleash on the unsuspecting ball. Then, like a whip, the whole motion is unfurled in a blaze of power and precision. Arms drive forward, compact and firm. The spine and back leg align to form a sturdy base that, when coupled with the strength generated by his driving core, expels force in waves. Once contact is made and the baseball begins its journey to the waiting hands of spectators many rows beyond the wall, Griffey's follow through is another sight to behold. The arms peak above his head as his left hand releases the handle and the right hand is left to continue on its own. He majestically completes the full arc of the swing to below his hip. The conclusion is a statuesque pose worthy of a Renaissance sculptor:

There is no athletic sequence I take more joy from watching repeatedly than Ken Griffey Jr. hitting home runs. I have spent hours upon hours enamored by the perfect combination of smooth, graceful power he showcased for 20 years in a simple, exquisite action.

For good measure, I'll just leave this video here:

2. The Glove 

Let's get this out of the way early: Willie Mays is not only the greatest baseball player who ever lived (not up for debate), but is by far the best defensive presence to ever roam the outfield (even less debatable). As centerfielders go, Ken Griffey Jr. is right behind him with a small handful of others. 

I am a firm believer in the cliche "Defense wins championships." I love a well-executed backcheck in hockey. If I had pursued playing football in high school, defensive end would have been my position of choice, in the hopes of becoming J.J. Watt. There are few basketball players I enjoyed watching, or having on my fantasy team, more than Ben Wallace; his highlight video consists of just as many blocks as it does dunks.

Ken Griffey Jr. brought just as much excitement to the centerfield position. If only Marv Albert had been a baseball commentator so he could proclaim his well-known phrase "With no regard for human life!" in reference specifically to Griffey launching his body into walls and onto the turf in repeated efforts to record outs. He won ten straight Gold Gloves (1990-99), one of just six outfielders ever to win such a total and one of five to win so many consecutively. Sabermetricians will tell you that Griffey was nobody to raise a candle to, but the eye test and praise of his peers is good enough for me. Certain defensive images will remain with me forever (Jim Edmonds diving with his back to the infield, Gary Matthews Jr scaling and twisting high above a wall, Derek Jeter flying into the stands, etc.), and Griffey has multiple spots: robbing Luis Gonzalez of a home run, crashing two-footed into the wall against Ruben Sierra, and youthfully soaring above the wall to take a four-bagger away from Jesse Barfield. Those three plays in particular display, in order, his supreme athleticism, reckless abandon, and the third Griffey quality that completes his legend...

3. The Personality

For a quick photo summary of Ken Griffey Jr. personality snapshots, look at these baseball cards. He smiles. He smiles a lot. He smiles All. The. Time. Even at the bottom of dogpiles, which is never comfortable or enjoyable, he smiles. He enjoyed playing baseball every second he was out there, and he made sure you knew it all the while. 

Then there's the backwards hat. Few images evoke joy and youth more than seeing somebody with their baseball cap backwards on their heads. Nobody wore it better than Ken Griffey Jr. During batting practice, for photo shoots, and at home run derbys, he made that style look cool and required for all athletic endeavors. To this day, I wear my hat backwards during at-bats in adult softball league situations and when I'm on the field playing ultimate frisbee. The backwards hat is such an indelible part of his legacy, he broke it out at the end of his Hall of Fame induction speech, while analysts and fans of all ages from all parts of the country clamored for it to be on his Hall of Fame plaque. Who else would engender such a cult following for such a trivial piece of material than a player like Griffey?

Take all of the smiling, laughing, and joyful exuberance, combine it with supreme athleticism, talent and confidence, and you have created an individual of atmospheric marketing potential. His appearance in brilliant commercials include, but are not limited to:

Cloning

Sammy Sosa and Pepsi

Hitting targets

And being the Swingman

Not to mention a stellar movie cameo

He was a big enough star that he participated in one of David Letterman's top-10 lists (special appearance by Sean Casey), and he even had the most famous athlete on the planet seek his autograph at an all-star game. As a 30-year old man who, at 6'7" and 230 pounds, is larger or of comparable size to a large percentage of professional athletes, I am no longer awed by them as I was in my youth. Ken Griffey Jr. is on a short list of individuals who I would likely crumble into a mound of blithering idiocy in the presence of, for every reason mentioned previously.

BONUS REASON:

4. The Stats

630 Home Runs (6th All-Time)
1,836 RBIs (15th)
1,662 runs (33rd)
.284 Batting Average
.538 Slugging Percentage
.907 OPS
One of 5 players ever with multiple seasons of 56 home runs or more
One of 3 players to hit a home run in 8 consecutive games
Named on 99.3% of Hall of Fame ballots, the highest percentage ever

In Conclusion

There are many other details about Junior's life that could be recounted as part of looking back on his legacy. From the contentious relationship he had with baseball and his father that led to a suicide attempt when he was 17, to the biological son and daughter who have inherited stellar genetics and are excelling in their young adulthood, and an adopted son who is keen to follow in those same footsteps. Ken Griffey Jr. let his talent, production, and joy for the game bask him in the spotlight, while keeping his personal life just that. In a world filled with PEDs, steroids, HGH, and all other forms of performance-enhancing opportunities, Griffey allowed himself to get old, break down, and exit the game per Father Time's wishes, as so many true baseball greats did before him.

From Seattle, to Cincinnati, to Chicago, and back to Seattle, Ken Griffey Jr. placed an everlasting mark on the game of baseball. The Kid amazed and astounded from his first at bat to his last, bringing beauty, joy, and passion in a way that will likely go unmatched for generations. The Hall of Fame has welcomed another legend, and few have ever been more deserving. Congratulations, Ken. Thank you.

Goodbye Peyton, Pt. 2: The Reflection

At an emotional press conference on March 7, Peyton Manning announced his retirement from the NFL and professional football. The full video of the press conference can be found here. There was a lot of stuttering, choking up, goosebumps, and tears. And that was just from me watching the video. Seriously, though, the first 11 minutes are worth the watch.

Moving forward, I am coming to terms with the reality of watching an NFL that no longer has Peyton Manning as a starting quarterback. Aside from one injury year, I have never watched a full season of NFL football without Manning's presence on the field. The first Super Bowl I ever saw was the San Francisco 49ers victory over the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX, completing the 1994 season. In subsequent years, I remember the Super Bowl games themselves (Larry Brown as MVP for the Cowboys over the Steelers, Desmond Howard's kick return in Packers over Patriots, John Elway's helicopter into the endzone in Broncos over Packers) but not their regular seasons. The first full season I paid attention to coincided with the year I began my fantasy football-playing career, during the 1998 season and my 8th-grade year in school. That year, Denver's Terrell Davis earned the MVP award as he ran for 2,008 yards and 21 touchdowns; Randall Cunningham and Randy Moss led the Minnesota Vikings to a league-leading 15-1 record; and a highly-touted, first-year QB out of Tennessee set a league rookie-record by throwing 26 interceptions for the 3-13 Indianapolis Colts.

Acknowledging Peyton Manning's accomplishments first begins by listing his incredible statistical records. He is the NFL's all-time leader in:

-Passing Touchdowns, Career (539)
-Passing Touchdowns, Season (55)
-Passing Touchdowns, Game (7, tied)
-Passing Yards, Career (71,940)
-Passing Yards, Season (5,477)
-4,000 Yard seasons (14)
-NFL MVP Awards (5)
-Wins, including playoffs (200)






There are many other random, abstract categories one could come up with, but those should provide a basic understanding of his impact on the game from a production standpoint.

As for his impact as a person, here are some reactions from players:

"Not only was Peyton a great teammate, but he is an even better man of faith. He instilled in all of his teammates that if you want something done, you have to set your dreams high and do each action to get there like it's your last. Thank you." -Demarcus Ware

"Love playing against Peyton, one of the best QBs ever, made teammates better! Peyton had his offense playing perfect football! Enjoy." -Ed Reed

"It's bitter sweet to say goodbye to you Peyton! You made such a big impression on my life. So much so, that we named our first born after you. Selfishly, I'm mad I didn't get to live out my dream of picking you off for a TD in the Super Bowl, but, I will take with me the memories growing up watching you pick apart defenses and making all of our heads spin with your pre-snap adjustments. All with class! So thank you. Most importantly, thank you for showing me that to be successful in the NFL, preparation and being humble must come first!" -Patrick Peterson

"I am grateful to have shared the field in your last game but most importantly I am grateful to have mimicked a style you created to bring out the best in me! And that style is/was mastering the art of: preparation. You have changed this game in ways you will never know and I admire the man you are on and off the field. You set the bar high... Extremely high and knowing your family, I know that's just the norm. I came into this league gauging and still gauging my talents to this day off of the things that you have done and accomplished; because you are and you will forever be the standard! So long Sherriff!" -Cam Newton

"Congratulations Peyton, on an incredible career. You changed the game forever and made everyone around you better. It's been an honor." -Tom Brady

Cam Newton and Tom Brady are elite and all-time great, respectively, quarterbacks who know what it takes to compete and excel at the highest level, on the grandest stages of the game. Patrick Peterson, Ed Reed and Demarcus Ware are current and retired players who are/were regarded as the best at their positions on the defensive side of the ball. So they've stood across the line of scrimmage (Ware during his time on the Cowboys), doing everything in their power to limit Manning's performance against them. All of these quotes came via their own personal social media accounts. They were not interviewed or asked directly by media personnel. It takes a special kind of individual to elicit these unsolicited reactions from colleagues and opponents. Peyton is that kind of individual.

Peyton Manning is also the kind of individual who has the unique ability to effortlessly crossover to other mediums of entertainment. His performance on Saturday Night Live is legendary. Not because he's an amazing comedian, because he most assuredly does not fall into that category. Athletes generally make for less-than bearable entertainers. More frequent are performances like Shaq in Kazaam, Dan Marino in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and Michael Jordan in Space Jam. Less frequent are Ray Allen in He Got Game, or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Airplane. Or maybe all of those are of equal quality. Your call. In Peyton's case, his comedic timing is near-flawless. He can gauge his surroundings and produce the right line with the right tone at the right moment to create a memorable scene. Even in situations that are as clearly produced and manufactured as television commercials. His series of Mastercard commercials are, for lack of a better word, priceless. From chanting "Cut That Meat" at a deli worker, to asking a bag boy, "Can You Sign My Melon?"; assuring his hired help that onlookers are encouraging ("They're Saying Mooooo-vers"), to turning hotel-worker vitriol into humor ("Getting a Massage Today"), Peyton delivers the goods every time. As for his afore-mentioned appearance on SNL, this United Way spoof will be his lasting cinematic legacy. And most recently, though certainly not the last line of marketing he'll pull off, professing the virtues of chicken parmesan via Nationwide Insurance.



Back to the real stuff. The Peyton Manning who became known as The Sheriff. The field general
who controlled every aspect of the offense. The competitor who refused to miss a snap, regardless of what the game situation called for. The overseer at the line of scrimmage who barked out observations, orders and audibles, utilizing every possible second of the play clock before allowing the play to commence. Not a single moment of an Indianapolis Colt or Denver Bronco offensive play was missing Manning's fingerprint. He was the single most-prepared individual on the field at any given moment. His work ethic was unparalleled, spending hour after hour during offseasons getting in reps with his receivers, leaving no room for error in the timing of their routes and when and where the football would be delivered. His connections with Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark are legendary, and are what every teammate relationship should strive for.

He may not have been the most athletic quarterback in history. He will not have won the most Super Bowls, and most likely will not be regarded as the best quarterback the game has ever seen. But if there were ever an athlete I would want to model my competitive career after and influence others to do the same, it is Peyton Manning. The game may not lose him altogether, as he will likely be involved in coaching, broadcasting, analysis, or team management/ownership in some way or another. But his presence and value on the field will never be forgotten. Least of all by me. Goodbye, Peyton. Thank you.

Goodbye Peyton, Pt. 1: Retirement Press Conference

Peyton Manning announced his retirement from the NFL in a press conference held in Denver today. Here is the full video of his prepared statement, and the subsequent question and answer segment:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/denver-broncos/0ap3000000641998/Peyton-Manning-announces-his-retirement

Here are a few moments of personal significance for me:

(0:00-0:45) Mentions Marshall Faulk, Marvin Harrison, and Dan Marino as Hall-of-Famers on the field with him for his first game, and the moment he knew he would be able to compete in the league. #goosebumpsmoment number one.

(1:05- ) Johnny Unitas tells Peyton, "You stay at it. I'm pulling for you." He is surely proud of you, Peyton. As we all are. #goosebumpsmoment number two.

(1:35) "18 is a good number."

(2:00) Stay in school, kids! If it's good enough for Peyton to stay in college for four years, it should be good enough for you.

(3:10) Peyton still holds the record for interceptions by a rookie (28). 2nd-most is John Hadl with 24. Eli only had 9, but only started in 7 games.

(3:25) Weekly conversations with his grandfather about whether or not John Madden and Pat Summerall would cover Peyton's games. Not until his second year, when the Colts played the Cowboys: "I called Pa Pa. 'Guess what. Madden and Summerall are broadcasting the game.' He said, 'I can't believe it.' He was elated, he was very proud, and we beat the Cowboys that week, and we let the world know that the Colts had arrived." #goosebumpsmoment number three.

(4:35) "Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a manas he could be and he will become what he should be."

(6:45) Peyton’s conversation with his daughter, Mosley, is why I can’t wait to have kids.

(7:15) “Mort and Adam Schefter had gotten to my daughter to cultivate a new source.” Classic.

(7:45-9:40) “Teach them to enjoy the little things in life, because one day they’ll look back and discover that those really were the big things.” Followed by an incredible list of people, places, and moments. #goosebumpsmomentnumber4

(9:09)   “…And afterwards I’ll miss recapping the game with my dad; and checking to see if the Giants won, and calling Eli as we’re both on our team buses.” Almost cried. #goosebumpsmomentnumber5

(10:12) “Football has taught me not to be lead by set back and destructions, but to be lead by dreams.”

(10:30) “Life is not shrinking for me. It’s morphing into a whole new world of possibilities.”

(10:50) "Every moment... was about one thing. Reverence for this game... There were other players who were more talented, but there was no one who could out-prepare me. And because of that I have no regrets."

(11:20) 2 Timothy 4:7 "God bless you all, and God bless football."

*Press conference starts at 12:40*

 (17:05) I have a lot of bad words that I will spare you all to describe the woman who decided this moment was the right time to bring up the allegations about Peyton during his time at Tennessee. I understand it's a media event, and that you have a job, and the story is relevant in that it's been talked about over the last couple months. I get all of that. But all these couple of days leading up to this moment have been about have been celebrating this man. And you bring this up. I'm appalled, aggravated, and furious that you chose this moment to put yourself and your own agenda first. 

BUT, Peyton is the most professional professional ever, addressed it calmly, and then quoted Forest Gump: "And that's all I have to say about that." Brilliant.

And he completes the whole conference in the best way possible: "Omaha." 

Seriously. Watch at least his whole prepared speech at the start. It's worth it.