Play by Play Day by Day with Amy Lawrence

It’s been 24 hours since the news broke … Peyton is choosing Denver! Peyton Manning will play for the Broncos next year, instead of suiting up for the NFC West champion Niners or staying close to home with the Titans. WHAT?? My reaction then and now remains the same. It may not be completely real to me until I see him step on the field in his #18 Broncos jersey this fall. But digging deeper, there are two sides to every story; and after time to process, my reaction also has two faces, two variations, and I’m still waffling back and forth between the two.

The Peyton face: Not kidding when I tell you this, the phrase “He’s PEYTON MANNING!” (with emphasis) has come out of my mouth at least two dozen times since I heard. Fellow football fans keep asking me what I think, and that’s my initial reply. Why? His name conjures up all the images, statistics, and track record you need to understand what he can mean to an NFL franchise. In Peyton’s 13 healthy seasons, the Colts reached the playoffs 11 times and the Super Bowl twice. They were perennial contenders, even when they didn’t have elite personnel around Peyton. The Colts won the 2007 Super Bowl and built a new stadium on Manning’s back. His cerebral approach and infamous work ethic only enhance his deadly accuracy. His signature style of calling and changing plays at the line of scrimmage forces defenses to scrap their game plans. Four MVP awards and a continual assault on the passing record books make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he retires. And Peyton raises the level of play around him because he demands the same excellence of his teammates. He’s a winner!

During the pursuit of Peyton Manning, two questions lingered. Is he healthy after multiple neck surgeries, and is he too far past his prime? As part of the recruiting process, Peyton went through an extensive physical from doctors hired by the Broncos, and he passed with flying colors. He also threw the football for a Broncos contingent that included John Elway. Who better to evaluate Manning’s status than a Hall of Fame quarterback who blazed the trail in Denver? Elway also won his Super Bowl rings at age 37 and 38, which is older than Manning even after he celebrates his birthday this week. Questions answered.

The Tebow face: Let me be clear about Tim Tebow. Even if he wasn’t a Denver Bronco, I would still be cheering for him to succeed. After watching him run my favorite team for the better part of a season, I’m sold on everything he brings to the table. Competitive fire, mental and physical strength and toughness, amazing leadership, the ability to inspire greatness, and a never-say-die attitude. Whether or not you like his unconventional style and unique skill set, you can’t ignore the 6-game win streak, AFC West title, and playoff win by the Broncos after Tebow won the starting job. Despite constant volatile criticism, you never saw him get defensive or fire back. His grace, humility, and unwavering commitment to his teammates are just part of the reason Tebow-mania consumed the NFL last season. His jersey sales were second only to Aaron Rogers in 2011. Millions of football fans can’t be wrong about his charisma, character, and impact on the field. Just like Peyton, he’s a winner!

Tebow’s entering his 3rd season in the NFL. It’s way too early to give up on him. I wish the Broncos would keep him in the fold. I don’t want to see him playing anywhere else but Denver. I already know it will sting to see him in a different uniform. Down the road, we may look back and recognize him as a once-in-a-lifetime player. But Peyton’s already there. It’s likely only two teams will ever get to claim him, and I’m proud to say Denver is one of them. The Colts’ loss is the Broncos’ gain. There are only a few quarterbacks that I would choose over Tebow, and Peyton’s one of them. I never thought I’d get to make this choice but he’s PEYTON MANNING!!!

I still remember crying when the Boston Celtics traded one of my favorite players Danny Ainge to the Sacramento Kings in 1989. He was part of the core five that won a pair of championships together. Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, and Danny Ainge. I lived to watch their games, even owned a poster which featured all five (still have it), so when Ainge was traded, I was heartbroken. There was absolutely no way to convince a young girl that dealing Ainge for a center named Joe Kleine could make the team better. I felt betrayed, and I knew my Celtics would never be the same.

Not sure that irrational fanatacism ever goes away completely. We eventually understand the sports industry is driven primarily by money. But no matter how old we get, a chasm will always exist between head and heart when it comes to our sports heroes. It still hurts when our favorite athletes move onto another chapter in their careers.

Peyton Manning IS the Indianapolis Colts: the most famous player in franchise history. Their number one draft pick in 1998, he led them to 11 playoff appearances and a pair of Super Bowls; helped them win a ring while racking up four MVP awards; and became the face of the franchise as well as an ambassador for the NFL. He’s a future Hall of Famer with an Indy children’s hospital bearing his name. Peyton IS the Colts … or rather, he WAS until this week when the team cut him loose instead of paying his $28 million dollar bonus. Granted, he missed last season after multiple neck surgeries and may not be the same player when he returns; but after a few tears, the marriage ended with no backward glance. Loyalty flies out the window in the face of business.

If there’s any consolation, Colts fans, you can be sure plenty of other people feel your pain. Not that long ago, it was Packers’ fans mourning the departure of Brett Favre, and to make matters worse, he eventually landed with their chief rival. The Niners bid farewell to not one, but TWO Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Joe Montana and Steve Young, and then they let Jerry Rice finish his career somewhere else. Johnny Unitas was shipped from the Baltimore Colts to the Chargers to play out the string. And these painful sports divorces aren’t limited to football. Lebron James stunned the Cleveland faithful by announcing his unceremonius departure on national TV. “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky won four Stanley Cup titles in five years with the Oilers, only to ask for a trade to the Kings. Albert Pujols earned a pair of World Series rings with the Cardinals but didn’t like their contract offer this winter and took the money and a fresh start with the Angels. Johnny Damon stabbed the Red Sox crazies in the heart when he donned pinstripes with the rival Yankees.

Whether it’s the decision of the player or the team, it never gets easier to see our favorite athletes wearing different uniforms, throwing touchdowns, hitting home runs, or wooing fans in a new city. When you’re a kid, you have no idea why your hero deserted you or how you’ll survive. When you’re an adult, you realize sports is NOT just a game; instead, nearly every decision comes down to the bottom line. When you’re an adult, you’re expected to be rational. You can’t cry and throw a fit and refuse to come out of your room when your favorite player is traded. But admit it — that’s what we all WANT to do now and then, right, even if the tantrum only lasts a moment? So go ahead, Colts fans, we totally understand.

“The more boys I meet, the more I love my dog.” – Carrie Underwood

Okay, that’s not entirely true, but it IS funny! Catchy line from one of my favorite country music artists. The lyrics describe dogs as loyal and friendly, valuable qualities in any companion whether human or canine.

Loyal and friendly top my list of reasons to adopt a dog. I’ve been mulling over this decision for years, even coming up with “pros” and “cons,” but it never seemed like the right time…until now…maybe. I’ve straddled the fence. Because my work schedule can be crazy and because I like to travel and stay busy, a dog would require adjustments to my lifestyle. Because my home is already run by two cats, it would take a very specific dog to fit into the mix. Because I recently took care of a friend’s puppy for a week, I would only want an adult dog. Ha!

I grew up with dogs; in fact, I can’t remember a time when my family didn’t have at least one. Australian shepherds, German shepherds, a few mutts, a dalmatian, even a Siberian Husky shared our various homes. My mom’s latest dog is an Aussie with a giant bark but a sweet temperament. I talk to her on skype and leave her messages on the answering machine. She stares at the computer when my mom listens to my radio programs on-line because she recognizes my voice. The right dogs are excellent sidekicks. They don’t care if you mess up or fail miserably; they’re still happy to see you. They’ll protect you and your home, and they always enjoy going along for the ride. So many “pros” to having a dog! But will I have time to devote to a dog who can’t be left alone all day? Do I really need to run my own zoo? Am I turning into the “Pet Lady”? Will another animal disrupt the cats? Do I want to spend the money to properly care for another animal? Do I want the added responsibility?

A few months ago, I decided I would ONLY adopt a dog if I could find the perfect fit. I started researching on the internet. (Word to the wise, do NOT look at dogs on the web unless you’re serious about taking one home. It’s dangerous for your heart.) I narrowed my search parameters: adult female Aussie, housebroken and crate-trained, friendly, fairly calm, healthy, up to date on her shots, and beautiful. Not too much to ask, right? I honestly didn’t think I’d find anything close. Who would give up a dog like that? But then I discovered Sadie — from her description, she seemed made to order . Surely, she was too good to be true, and how would I ever know since she was also 500 miles away?

While I was visiting my brother last week, I sent an email inquiry about Sadie on a whim. Not only was she still available, but I was able to make a small detour on my way home to meet her. We hit it off instantly. She’s sweet, social, and well-behaved with a gorgeous red merle coat. It was love at first sight. And that’s the last “pro” I needed to tip the scales. I hope to bring Sadie home by month’s end. I promise to post pictures when she officially joins the family.

I wouldn’t say my family is full of sports fans. My mom followed my brother and me to all of our high school basketball games, and my brother cheered me on in college. When we were younger, we’d watch NFL games or the Celtics in the playoffs, and we enjoyed attending NASCAR races when I was a kid. Both my nieces play basketball for their town and school teams now. That’s pretty much the extent of their interest. They’ll do Super Bowl parties every other year, and my mom listens to me on the radio as often as she can. But it’s safe to say most of my family is fairly unimpressed by what I do for a living.

I’m visiting my brother for a couple days, and I got out of bed to see everyone off to school and work early Thursday. After greeting me with a mouth full of waffle, my younger niece threw her arms straight up in the air and began hopping up and down and shouting, “JEREMY LIN!” Imagine my surprise since I wasn’t even sure she knew the New York Knicks existed. My older niece proceeded to inform me that Lin is Asian…which matters in my family since my sister-in-law is Filipino. She lived in the Philippines until she was 12 and still speaks Tagalog. And now she’s a huge Jeremy Lin fan. Ever since she read about him on the web a few weeks ago, she can’t get enough. She watches all of his highlights on YouTube. My sister-in-law can’t name 5 other current NBA players, but she won’t go a day without googling Lin. The best part of the morning was listening to her and my brother argue over who heard about Jeremy Lin first! My brother rattled off a bunch of facts and figures, and his voice grew louder and louder the more excited he got (just like mine does). He went on to say, “Amy, he’s BRILLIANT!”

This the beauty of the Jeremy Lin story: something for everyone. Hardcore fans appreciate his skills on the court. Marginal fans love how he came out of nowhere to take the NBA by storm. Academics tout his Harvard education. The Asian community points to how he’s breaking ground. And what human being hasn’t felt overlooked, underappreciated, and invisible? Who hasn’t run into a brick wall while chasing a dream, but refused to give up? We can ALL identify with his story. Plus, the more we learn about Lin, the more likeable he becomes. Under a white hot spotlight, he remains humble, gracious, thankful, motivated, articulate, thoughtful, and passionate about basketball. He’s amazed by all the attention, and his focus stays on filling his role with the Knicks and helping them win.

Jeremy Lin, add one more item to your incredible list of accomplishments: getting my family excited about an athlete, a sport, and my job! We all watched the Knicks battle the Heat on Thursday night. I enjoyed watching my brother and nieces cheer or groan with every New York play, and I laughed when my sister-in-law couldn’t watch the end because she’d be too excited to sleep. In my mind, a perfect night, thanks to Linsanity.

Ever wonder why you go through hard times? They take so many forms: health problems, money issues, family struggles, broken relationships, job loss, or worse, the loss of a loved one. Ever wonder “why me??” as you suffer through weeks or months or years of pain and darkness when nothing seems to break your way? There’s at least one answer that applies no matter how often you ask the question or how frequently you feel like the bug instead of the windshield.

We struggle through difficult times so we can support and encourage other people going through the same things.

Whatever you’re facing, you’re not alone. Whatever you’re going through personally, professionally, mentally, or emotionally, you can be SURE countless other people are struggling with the same demons and fighting the same battles at the exact same moment. It’s taken me a long time, but I now realize that knowledge isn’t enough. In order to make sure the dark stretches in my life don’t go to waste, I MUST open my mouth!

Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton is waging a war with drug and alcohol addiction, and it’s no secret. He waited eight years before making his MLB debut, thanks to failed drug tests and subsequent suspenions. After his trade to Texas in 2007, he turned himself into one of the best players in the game, even collecting MVP honors in 2010. Fans won’t ever forget his emotional appearance in the 2008 Home Run Derby at Yankees Stadium when thousands chanted his name as he belted a record 28 homers in the first round. But amidst the glory, Hamilton has made at least eight trips to rehab and suffered through a pair of relapses in the past three years. Instead of hiding his missteps, he’s faced dozens of TV cameras to admit those relapses and apologize for messing up again.

I’ve heard from recovering addicts who admire Hamilton’s courage and vulnerability in going public with every bitter step. He answers the same questions over and over, never shying away from the harsh spotlight that constantly exposes his mistakes and regrets. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is the same way. He spent two years in jail for his role in illegal dogfighting, and he never misses an opportunity to talk about how prison made him a better man, a better father, and a better leader.

What good are the struggles we face if we don’t SHARE them so others know they aren’t alone when they stare up at those same gigantic mountains? My dad was a deadbeat who refused to pay child support for most of my life. His verbal abuse, constant lying, and drug use left an indelible mark. But I’ve crossed paths with many other people who bear similar scars. That’s not an accident. When I hear from someone else with a past like mine, it never fails to lift me up and remind me I don’t walk alone. By opening up, we can offer hope, encouragement, support, and the promise of light at the end of the tunnel. We may be a lifeline for people on the verge of giving up.

We may never fully understand why we suffer through hard times, I’m determined not to waste the tears and the pain and the struggles. And if that’s the ONLY answer I have to “why me?” … it’s enough.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a love-hate relationship with writing. Always a labor of love and typically weighed down by writer’s block. From English papers in high school to my mammoth research project at Syracuse to beat assignments and magazine articles, I almost ALWAYS procrastinate up to the deadline, and there’s often a fair share of stewing and stress and fretting. I love the finished product, but I hate the process … which is why my choice to start a blog is laugh out loud funny!

This won’t be a blog about me, but it will be my perspective. So in order to understand me a little better, there are a few things you should know.

• I’m ALL girl – emotional to a fault, complicated, passionate. A friend once told me I cry more than anyone she knows. Ha! Probably true since I cry when I’m happy and cry when I’m sad. I cry every week over Grey’s Anatomy, and I always tear up over the National Anthem at major sporting events.
• I’m a huge goofball. I once told a reporter I was a “dork,” and he included that in his article. I love to make other people laugh, even if it means they’re laughing at me.
• I don’t want to be like everyone else. I like to swim upstream, difficult as it can be. It’s not an accident God created me this way, given my chosen career.

When I was in high school, I fell in love with Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics – head over heels, completely irrational, crazy love! My family lived in the backwoods of New Hampshire without cable TV, so the only way I could follow my beloved team was with the radio. During that time, I developed a real affinity for play-by-play. It’s the whole idea of describing the action on the court in a way that people don’t feel like they’re missing a thing, as though they can SEE the game unfold in front of them. It didn’t take much convincing from my best friend to set my sights on a career in sports broadcasting. I used to tell anyone who asked that I would be the first female Johnny Most.

When I started college, lots of authority figures suggested I have a “backup plan,” so I doubled up in communication & accounting – two opposite sides of the same brain. But once I tasted radio for the first time, I knew where I belonged. I’m a radio junkie. It’s part of who I am.

My improbable journey carved a path through New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, western New York, New Hampshire (again), Vermont, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island before arriving in Connecticut … and I still haven’t run out of things to say! The same friend who suggested a career in sports radio also suggested I try my hand at blogging. (You can thank Stephanie!) I’ll tackle a wide range of topics from sports to pop culture to family to travel, everything but politics, and I’m always open to your suggestions. I can’t promise you’ll always agree with me, but I can promise authenticity and honesty and humor. I write just like I talk.

Thanks for taking the time to read … and giving me a secret weapon in my war with writing.

Thanks for checking on my new blog. The official launch is set for Tuesday, February 14th! Woooooo!