Passion, Pride and Camaraderie

So,

it's Super Bowl weekend. 

I get sick to my stomach when I even think about the teams that are playing.

I can't even type their names. 

The media has done a superb job of helping fuel my fire of hatred towards both teams.

Between the cheating,

and the pretentious a-holes,

it's confirmed that neither team is worth any of my energy. 

So, I will not be watching the Super Bowl this year--I just can't. 

But that isn't what this post is all about. 

This post is about navigating my grief process around the BRONCS! losing to the Colts and all the changes that are taking place with the organization. 

{I recognize that I'm being dramatic here, but guys. My BRONCS! let me down! 

I have to blog it out!}

My dad helped me put language to what I think we were missing this last season 
and what we need now.

Of course it's my dad; my rock, my BRONCS! companion, who helps me!

 It boils down to three ideas:

Passion

Pride

and

Camaraderie

My dad read an article in the Denver Post about a BBQ competition that was held in the parking lot at the stock show in Denver a few weeks ago.

 The article talks about how BBQ competitions are no joke. There is a lot to think about
 and do in order to win--and by winning, I mean they rack up as much as $25,000.

Anyway, deep within the story, my dad reads this:

"...but talk with competitors, and the words popping up are more about passion, pride and camaraderie than purses, prizes and costs."

And this got him thinking.

These are the elements that have been missing or inconsistent for the BRONCS! and he's right. Allow me to rant explain. 

Passion.

You gotta have passion for the game AND for winning in order to take it all the way. So, the way I analyze Peyton Manning's choice to not run 3 {freaking!} yards to get a first down during the Colts game--is lack of passion. It didn't seem like he was thinking about a      "do or die" situation like a passionate player might. 

...A passionate player, like, say, John Elway? 

Glory, this is a beautiful moment in football. 

I feel like Peyton, a handful of the coaching staff, and other players lacked passion this season. It felt like they were pulling teeth to amp up and be in the game. It feels like they were distant, not connected and it affected us. Passion for the game will make or break a team. History has shown us this over and again. 
If we don't have passion, we don't have anything. 

Pride. 

Unfortunately, football has become a money game. Contracts, sponsors and egos seem to be taking away from loyalty to a city and a team. I feel like the old school BRONCS! bled orange. They understood that the pride of their TEAM was on the line. They seemed to understand that the fans were wholly invested and they wanted the fans to be proud of them--on and off the field. 

I have to pick on Peyton Manning again. I have not really felt like he was ever a true Bronco.

 He shopped around for a new team and I kinda feel like we were the lesser of evils for him. 

I can't say that for sure, and I think he's a swell guy; I think he possess the character quality of loyalty, but does he or will he ever bleed orange?

I really don't think so...!

We need players and a coaching staff that believes in the Mile High Magic.
We need players and a coaching staff that truly understands what the Orange Crush is all about.
We need players and a coaching staff that, put simply, bleeds orange. 

Camaraderie.

I swear I respect Peyton Manning, but here's the deal. Does he truly have his teammate's backs? I mean, really, really have their backs? I listen to The Drive on 104.3 The Fan and Alfred Williams and DMac told a story about how it is extremely rare to see Peyton congratulate a teammate after they score a touchdown. He usually runs right to the sidelines and begins planning his next play. While his forethought and planning are a strength, he is missing the essential skill of taking in the moment and cheering on your fellow comrades. Alfred and DMac went on to say that it is well known that Peyton doesn't really have any friends on the team. 

No one asks him to go and get a beer or hang out.
This is a red flag to me.  Camaraderie means that mutual trust and friendship exists because of how much time is spent together. There is a sense of fraternal brotherhood where you would do anything for one of your own.

 The idea of there's 'no I in Team' is not just a bumper sticker--it's a way of life. 

Did the BRONCS! have true camaraderie this season? 

I don't think so!

I had to write about this today because not only does it help me grieve, it helps me see hope in all of the decisions being made right now for the BRONCS! and I feel like the decisions being made so far points directly to Passion, Pride and Camaraderie. 
I also write about it because I think these principles should guide my life in general. I should be asking myself if what I am a part of and what I am helping build in my profession or otherwise, has these elements. If not, why and what can I do to make it a part of what's happening? 

{And if Peyton Manning decides to stay, I can only cross my fingers and hope that 
he gets it sooner than later.}

I think that we will rise from the ashes of this season {and last year's Super Bowl debacle} with a vengeance. Watch out, world, cause here we come! 

This just in: Today,  Demaryius Thomas said essentially THE SAME thing I just said! In an interview for NBC Sports, he said: “I feel like some guys, you know, didn’t have the fight or whatever it was,” Thomas said Friday. “It was totally a different team than last year."
Well, DT, the "whatever" are Passion, Pride and Camaraderie--of this I'm sure. 
BRONCS!

My Dad: The Man--The Legend

We celebrated my dad's 70th birthday yesterday up at my parent's house.
Brian cooked all the food and my mom and I did all the "extras".

We all wrote toasts to my dad with the theme of Stan:

 "The Man--The Legend."

Today, my dad said that yesterday was the best day of his life.

I wanted to share my toast to my dad in this space and continue to
celebrate the amazing person he is.

When daughters refer to how great their dads are, they have no idea what kind of competition they have with who my dad is.

My dad is the sort of person that would sacrifice all that he has to help another person. He is the type of person that gives others hope that they can accomplish anything they want. He is the type of person that people want to be around and they are glad they were around him—even for 5 minutes.
The people he interacts with walk away changed— for the better.

My dad has been known to tell legendary stories about life, love and football.

From the Flyin’ '37 rolling into ditches, fist fights with those trying to date my mom and broken noses of "Nebraska" football players, his stories never cease to be entertaining.  I think, though, that the best thing about his stories is that the core of them shows the resilience of the human spirit.  His stories are ones that people remember because they show heart. They show courage. They show that one can accomplish anything they want.



My dad has endured a lot of heartache throughout his life but he has managed not to allow these things to fester for long. He finds ways to crawl out of spaces that seem impossible to get out of. He finds ways to “dig another well” because he knows that’s all one can do. He then inspires others to do the same.

 

My dad’s generosity is legendary.

His love for those who don’t seem ‘lovable’ is legendary.

His kindness to strangers is legendary.

His love for his family {especially his favorite middle child} is legendary.

His ability to make you feel special is legendary.

His heroic spirit is legendary.

My dad is a man that people strive be like.

His legendary life is one that produces hope that is rare and desirable.

 

Cheers to my dad, truly the best dad in the whole world.

I love you.

October 15, 1984

I just need to blog this out.

I Instagramed and Facebooked{Are these really verbs??} about this, but to stay true to my

Miracles in the Mundane philosophy, I have to blog it out...

My dad is the very best dad in the Universe.

There are many, many reasons why this is true, but one of them is that he sends real mail, often.

I love getting mail from him.

{We onlylive 35 miles away from each other, mind you!}

He sends newspaper clippings from the Ortonville newspaper {Where the CABIN! is} he sends news reports from the sports pages and sometimes just writes notes that say "Howdy."

Today, I received an envelope with this on the outside of it:

Oct 15 1984

Bronco snow day--17-14 BRONCS

Kari and Stan were there!!

{BTW, I was 13 (almost 14) at the date of this game...!}

This is amazing for so many reasons.

First, the contents of the envelope had nothing to do with the BRONCS!...My dad must have had a random  memory hit him as he sent off the envelope. To see this memory in my dad's handwriting is so, so precious. It brings tears to my eyes to know that he cherishes our times together as much as I do. I know I am sentimental, and I know that I hold memories in a freakishly close way, but to see this from my dad, just means so much.

*sigh*

I don't think my words {or picture} capture what my heart feels...but know that this Miracle in the Mundane is not being taken lightly. It is sitting deep, deep in my heart and it will never leave me.



Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's day to the best dad in the Universe.
{Yeah, I know Father's Day is in June but I was on CABIN! time, so I am not late at all :)}


It's really difficult to describe the deep respect and love I have for my dad.
He is my hero in so many ways.
He is generous, kind, loving, funny, sentimental, adoring, loyal, hard working, forgiving, resilient, magnetic...

I just really love him a lot and I am inspired to be a better person every time I am with him.


xoxo, dad.
You're the very best.

GO JACKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The South Dakota State University Jackrabbits made it to "the big dance".

The NCAA's March Madness has hit the high plains.

The town of Albuquerque will never be the same again.

Yes, folks it's true.

The Jackrabbits are officially THE Cinderella team of the tournament....at least to me and my family, especially my dad.

My parents went to SDSU in the early '60's. My dad played football there and was a part of a team that went to the national championship. He is on the "Wall of Fame" at the college and he has stories about playing that borders folklore.

When he found out that the Jacks made it into the NCAA tournament, he called me--it was 9:30 at night and the excitement in his voice was something pure, rare and downright awesome.

They play tonight at 5:27 (on truTV) against the #3 seed, Baylor. South Dakota State is ranked #14,

 but we aren't going to let a few little numbers intimidate us.

We are going to go out and fight like a Jackrabbit.

We'll be scrappy, fierce and full of passion.

When we *win* I will be out of my head excited because I know that my dad will be through the roof excited! He is such a loyal person, so for him to experience his loyalty to the Jackrabbits so tangibly tonight is just perfect.

Go Jackrabbits!

Kick some Baylor Butt tonight and know that your loyal fans are with you no matter what!