Post-Super Bowl Sadness, Will I make this team?.. etc

Well it's over. Five plus months, minus the combine and draft of course, of utter football-less misery. It's still snowing in Syracuse and I have a class from 7-9:45 tonight, and I'm in a contemplative mood.

First, the Super Bowl last night was incredible. 3 years in a row of top-notch games to remember, and congrats to the Saints and the city of New Orleans. I picked the Colts to win the game big, so count me on the list of people who were wrong on that one. I question the Colts taking their foot off the gas late in the first half, but ultimately it came down to just a couple plays within the huge game that changed the tides in the Saints favor. Either way, an outstanding game on all fronts, and I can't wait to see what NFL Films does with America's Game to tell this epic story.

In terms of Hopeless Walk On, I've been thinking about how this crazy plan of mine is going to turn out. Thinking about the scenarios, the successful one, and what that would be like, and also failing, and what that would be like. I really hope everything works out, I know that goes without saying, but I was thinking as I was walking home from the gym earlier today how much time and effort that I have put into this, and how badly I want to play football. (and how badly it would suck to fail at trying to play football)

It seems insane when taking a step back to try this hard for a goal that in the grand scheme of things, probably will not do much for my life. It seems as though at this point, I should be focusing more on career-related things and not some pipe dream of playing collegiate football, but I can't avoid it- I want to play. I'm keeping the foot on the pedal, and if I fail, at least I can say I busted my ass every single day to make it happen. Some people just aren't good enough, but I'd like to think that I could be good enough.

I guess I know how much I can learn from this experience from a football standpoint, a life standpoint, and about myself, and how much I have learned about myself already. You learn what kind of grit, commitment, and determination that you have really fast even when training for something like this, and I know if I were to make the team, that this would be the very tip of the iceberg. Let's hope it all works out.

Tendinitis...I hardly knew her

Just got home from a physical therapy appt with good old Colleen O'Hara of the Rothman Institute in King of Prussia, PA. I've had some back problems, apparently from horrific posture coupled with horrific form while squatting and doing dead lifts, in addition to the good old ankle issues I've come to know and love over the past 6+ months.

Some good and bad news. The good news is that my ankle has excellent range of motion, meaning it moves each way pretty well. The bad news is that I have some tendinitis going up the bottom of my foot, Achilles, and up the side of my leg. No big deal, I have some exercises that I can do to combat it, so it shouldn't be the end of the world.

Same with the back- working on a few things, and I should be pretty good, pretty soon, hopefully. It's good to be back in there and say hello to everyone where I used to work, I even saw a patient that I used to hang out with all the time who is a history teacher at a local high school. I told him he inspired me to be a History minor, and he told me I should be a teacher, then proceeded to laugh his ass off.

Times at NFL Films have been interesting, as always. This has been a lot cooler than a lot of days over the summer, because since we're in the thick of football season, a lot of live TV is being made on the go and I'm lucky to be a part of it. Pretty neat the way everything works, and how smoothly it's set up.

Gym Updates

Been working out with a buddy of mine since I got home (miss you Josh baby), introduced him to this high-intensity workout that was given to me. He's taking it like a champ, although he threw up last time we went. I, on the other hand, am kind of plateauing a bit in a lot of ways.

Good times though, thanks Bally's Gym, because every time we go in I'm just like yeah I'm with him, on the guest pass, and they just sorta nod and grunt at me. They just don't care. It's awesome. If I can go this entire break pulling that nonsense, I'll be a happy man with an extra 50 bucks or so in my pocket-- God bless America.

I've also been coming in to NFL Films and helping out every day, so I haven't had a ton of free time to do the things that I wanted- not that I'm complaining, there is coaching tape here that I've stared at whenever possible, mesmerized. Once again, God bless America.

Squat is up to 200 lbs (longggggg way to go) bench is stuck at 175 (3 sets, 10 reps, down to 8 reps next week we'll see where the weight is then. Also only 30-45 seconds between sets). I suck. Just gonna keep on the grind here, like I have been. My weight is a steady 180, hoping to add a bit more weight over this next month. I've also begun jump roping and sprinting.

Lastly, I won my fantasy football league, so I'm walking around with a strong sense of entitlement, like I really knew what I was doing. Hell, I won last year, so lightning DOES sometimes strike twice.

Obligatory Christmas Post, Updates

So life is good. Just got back from the gym (went with my boy to Bally's, that gym seriously sucks- creepy people there in King of Prussia, PA) and realized that I have nothing else to do for the rest of today. Gotta love it.

Christmas was good- drove up to Long Island to see Mom late the night before Christmas Eve, hung out with her on Christmas Eve night. Good times and all. She woke my ass up early to drive to my brothers somewhere in nowhereville, New Jersey (yeah Ginsberg) where I hung out until 4, when I had to go to work for NFL Films.

There I helped produced the webcast on NFL.com of the Titans vs. Chargers epic beatdown. The Titans live and die by Vince Young, and it shouldn't be that way- not with the way CJ was running last night. Too many drives with three straight pass calls, or two pass calls, hampering the hell out of their offense. I say fuck it, be predictable, run it right at them until they prove that they can actually stop it. Especially when VY was clearly having an off night.

But anyway, Merry late Christmas. I'm not too festive this year. Sort of hate driving around to see all the different relatives and all, and too much to do. I didn't even get to eat Christmas dinner with the fam, so whatever.

And what did I get? Cash, Amazon gift card, and a bottle of Soco from my brother. At least they're all useful. God bless America.

Last Day at NFL Films, moving forward

Definitely was weird leaving NFL Films today. I worked my ass off at that place all summer. I hope that I made some sort of impact, I really do. There are a lot of great people there and it's just a class organization all the way. I was lucky to have interned there. I'm gonna miss it. Maybe some day I'll be back, who knows.

Some notes about whats going on in the life of your favorite (only) hopeless walk on:

-Leaving for Cuse on Friday -classes start Mon.

-Gotta buy a bed, and all other applicable furniture during next weekend. Anyone have a bed for cheap? I do mean cheap. I'm cool with peed on stuff.

-Have tickets to Birds preseason game vs. Jacksonville on Thursday (thanks Lindsay) and if anyone is going and wants to tailgate........I'll be tailgating........oh I'll be tailgating

-Working out again today (day 3 in gym) as well as Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning before I leave for school. Making minor progress, not being able to lift while standing or do any legs stuff is hurting me badly.

-In terms of my health I'm walking around a tiny bit more, gimping, and it still hurts like hell. Not much to report in terms of a serious breakthrough I CAN USEEE MY LEGGGSSS AGAINNNN........not just yet. stay on the line

Gym Round 2 and Eagles vs. Colts

Leaving NFL Films a bit early today to make sure I have time for the gym before Eagles vs. Colts tonight at 8.

Gonna try a few more things than I did on Monday. I'm still completely sore but I'm just gonna man up on this one. Still all upper body stuff, not taking any chances with my legs.

Leaving for school next week. Last day at NFL Films tomorrow. There is a lot going on and a lot of changes. I'll post thoughts tomorrow.

Last Week at NFL Films, ETC

I've had the opportunity to intern at NFL Films this summer, and it's been an equally surreal and humbling experience. I've learned a ridiculous amount. I'm staying on this one extra week to help train the new interns who will be replacing me.

As I sit in the Playbook war room, my home for the past 3-4 months (minus the time I was in the hospital, doctors offices, and staring at my ceiling at home in recovery) I'm thankful.

Just a few short years ago I was not where I should be in life, and although theres a longgggggggg way to go, it feels good to be moving in the right direction.

In a health update, I'm walking around without crutches today. By walking, I mean really, really slow limping, a la Frankenstein. It hurts like hell but I just can't stand the crutches anymore. I'm gonna try to do half the day like this (already been a few hours) and maybe crutch later on.

So, after an uncharactaristicly serious moment here at hopelesswalkon, let us get back to our regularly scheduled idiocy, with a story about falling down in the shower a couple weeks ago.

It's true, I tipped over in the shower while still in the cast, banging the top of my forehead into the wall as I was trying to get in. I really wanted to sort of hop over the edge of the shower, and I'm a retard because I tried it sort of nonchalantly, and in my nakedness at 6:30 AM ate shit against the wall of my shower. I've only told one or two people of this nugget of idiocy, so enjoy my misery.

I say this in celebration because I STOOD IN THE SHOWER TODAY...what a country, what a world, I stood up in the shower like a normal person again and man I am not 84 years old anymore baby!!

More updates to come about me falling over in various other situations.