Comeback Kids

BLOG FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Comebacks!

 If you look closely, you’ll see this is not a self portrait (of me).  The hair color and texture is similar, but that’s really about it.  I can’t grow that good of a mustache, and my nose does not turn up.

And, the picture, which is a American football card says his name pretty plainly: Pete Athas.

My name is Mark Power.

I have never heard of Pete Athas, and I have never seen this picture before. This is not a current player.  It’s a picture of a trading card from the 1970′s.  Mr. Athas evidently played for the New York Football Giants.  He did not play for the team when they made an improbable comeback for victory in the February 3rd, 2008 Super Bowl.

February 3rd was a Sunday in 2008.  Sunday is the day of the week they play the Super Bowl.  That’s why they call it Super Bowl Sunday.

The New England Patriots is the name of the team the New York Football Giants defeated back in 2008, coming back to win with less than a minute left in the game.

Now it’s the New England Patriot’s turn for a comeback. They get to play the Giants in the Super Bowl again this Sunday.  Pete Athas will not be playing in that game, and neither will I.  That is what we have in common, Pete Athas and I.  Neither one of us could ever even dream of playing in a real American football game again.  There is no way either one of us will ever get a chance for a comeback.

I realize that I have done nothing but state the obvious for well over 100 words.What might surprise you is that at least once a month I have a dream, or you might say, nightmare, that I’m putting the pads back on ready to go onto the field to take back the district championship (not exactly The SuperBowl).But before I get onto that field, I have convinced myself, in my sleep, somehow, that I am in a dream, and never take the field.

You see, I literally can’t even dream of playing again.  Neither can Pete.  I don’t actually know about his dream life.  Heck, I don’t even know him.  Never even heard of him.

But most ex-players are in my shoes, I think.  Like many of my football brethren, I tried to comeback in a game, and failed – fairly miserably. Unlike Tom (Brady), Pete and Mark will never even be able to dream of a chance of a comeback for that big win!

“Forget-da-bout-it”, as they say in New York.

What’s the good word of the day?  The word is – you can come back from most other things, at least the things you can control, and are supposed to control.

Impossible comebacks happen every day!

They are achieved by regular people, and “no-names” like Pete and Mark. Now, that is something to cheer about!  You want to, need to, make some kind of comeback concerning some things, right?  Best if you make a game plan to defeat one of them at a time.  Remember, most importantly, it has to be your come back has to be in context of you bing in control  – in the right way.  I know, I keep saying, “control in the right way”.   The right way to control is with things you can control.

You can’t control things like time and age.  You’ll never get the time back that you could throw a ball 55 yards with accuracy, especially since you already graduated from high school, and college, and graduate school.  They don’t even let you come back no matter how much you insist, like “Uncle Rico”, of the film Napolean Dynomite, that you swear you can throw the ball over “them there mountains”.  I’m all for dreaming big, even unrealistically.  I, too, wish I could actually get back into that game and win it.  At least I could wake up with some sense of satisfaction.  But when in comes to come backs, I heartily recommend being realistic. 

And (then) get your A Game on!!  It’s not going to be easy.

I will try to help you as I am (game) planning on helping myself.  In fact, I believe this topic is so vital that I will write the sequel to this quick essay of 500 words, or more (or less), tomorrow – the day after the Big Game!  So stay tuned, after you enjoy the Super Bowl come back!  And then I’ll see you tomorrow.

In case your literally looking for me (tomorrow), remember, I’m not the guy in the Giants uniform with the sick ‘stache, and turned up nose. I’m just another guy who sorely needs a come back.

Peace,

MPower