Super Bowl XLVI, Why Peyton Manning Won't Win Even Though He Already Has (Weirdest Pregame Ever)

Since Peyton Manning isn't playing in Super Bowl XLVI (46 for non-Romans) he certainly won't be throwing any touchdowns passes, holding the Vince Lombardi trophy or telling the masses in a million-dollar shot, I'm going to Disneyland. No, Manning won't be doing any of these things in 2012 because he isn't playing in the actual game.
Why do I feel the need to inform the media of this fact? And no disrespect to Peyton Manning; the only 4-time league MVP and future Hall-Of-Famer hasn't brought any of this attention on himself in a Favre-esque manner. Maybe because the major headline on ESPN today, two days before the biggest game of the season, is that Peyton Manning Has Been Medically Cleared To Play. Really, where's he going to play, during the halftime Lingerie Bowl?
It's a tad disturbing that more press coverage this week is focused on Peyton than many other aspects of the Super Bowl. And since they're talking about the great number 18 so persistently, we haven't heard much about other fascinating pregame stories like:

-Tom Brady being one of just two quarterbacks ever to reach 5 Super Bowls and having the chance to tie Joe Montana for winning 4 of them. Tom Brady is in the discussion for best QB of all time among a handful of other legends including two who played for the Colts. By the way, Tom Brady's biggest nemesis: Peyton Manning.

-Eli Manning setting all kinds of Giants team playoff records including a stellar 7-1 win/loss when it matters the most and having the opportunity to earn his 2nd Super Bowl MVP, something very few players have achieved. After losing 4 straight regular season games, including to the 49ers and Packers (two teams the Giants had to overcome on the road in the playoffs), the Giants QB has led the team to 5 consecutive must-win games to reach the grand finale. By the way, Eli Manning's biggest nemesis: big brother Peyton.

-the Indianapolis Colts and their home turf at Lucas Oil Stadium are the first time hosts for Super Bowl 46 after finishing the regular season tied for their worst record in history with just 2 wins and 14 losses. The Colts booby prize for stinking up the field: the 2012 first round draft pick everyone's talking about as a once-in-a-generation quarterback, a guy like Peyton Manning who happens to be named Luck, Andrew Luck. The Colts are enduring a highly publicized decision over resigning their franchise quarterback who missed the entire season with neck surgeries and is due a $28 million signing bonus (if they decide to keep Peyton).  But is there room for two franchise QBs in the state of Indiana? If they release Manning, what kind of message does that send to the fans of the player who put the Colts back on the map? Decisions, decisions, decisions. By the way, at this point the Colts' and Luck's biggest nemesis might unfortunately be Peyton Manning.
Also notice how the media is hardly covering:

-Rob Gronkowski's ankle or Ahmad Bradshaw's broken foot, two impact players who could dramatically affect the outcome of this game. True, the media is covering the injuries but not to the degree you might expect. Remember how every moment leading up to Super Bowl 39 was filled with banter about Terrell Owens, who was listed day-to-day with a badly sprained ankle yet still caught 9 passes for a behemoth 122 yards and arguably should have been the MVP of the game even though the Eagles lost? Yeah, they're not giving it the same hype because it's all about Peyton.

-Watching ESPN Sport Center last night, I saw a new record since training camp began where the media actually went 47 minutes without talking about Tim Tebow--until Skip Bayless screwed it all up. Man, does that guy talk about anyone else? Sorry Skip, this year's Super Bowl is all about Peyton Manning, Tim Tebow's current nemesis.

-Gisele Bundchen, aka Tom Brady's wife, hasn't been getting near the press I was hoping she would. Oh well, at least I can plug her here. Let's just not start any gossip about Gisele and you-know-who.

Did you know there's an over-under bet on how many times the Super Bowl producers will call for a shot of Peyton Manning to be aired? I think it's around 5 times, and I recommend all gamblers to bet the farm on the over. We should see Peyton's mug a minimum of 8 times in this Super Bowl. Not too shabby for a guy who isn't playing, but how many emotions do you expect to see written in the lines of his face? That's my over-under bet.
The real question the media is avoiding, the one that dives to root level for the entire twisted Super Bowl mess in a very weird way is this--deep deep down inside, who would Peyton Manning rather see win the game: Tom or Eli? There's an obvious and politically correct answer, which is to report you're cheering for baby-brother Eli against your arch-football-foe Tom, but is it really that cut and dry? Boys will be boys, and what made the Manning brothers so incredibly successful is likely an established family competition of always attempting to beat each other in anything and everything, from Monopoly to Super Bowl wins for the ultimate bragging rights.
Sorry to break it to you, Peyton; even though any outcome of this game might feel like a loss at some psychological level, the irony is that you've already won both the game of it all and the MVP, Most Valuable Person during Super Bowl XLVI.

What are your thoughts?

--
Home Page of author Jason Matthews.

add me to your Google Plus circles

Moment of Creation in The Little Universe

That was when I realized I was nervous. Something changed in that moment of time as I stood in a dark room looking at black monitors and wearing sunglasses while a nuclear event was taking place yards away. Those jokes from Adams about a mishap destroying the planet must have gotten to me. Or it could have been the thought of Rose’s spirit in the room that made the skin on my arms break out in goose bumps.

Even behind the silly shades, I could see the anticipation and anxiety written in the lines of his face. This event defined a decade of work, from Rose’s theorizing, to planning, to convincing Maxwell and Adams it could be done. Then after her death, the thousands of hours of bringing all the pieces together.

I wiped the sweat from my palms onto my pants. Adams gripped the back of his swivel chair as he stood behind it, pressing his thumbs into the fabric. His stare remained locked on the blank monitors. I felt the tension getting worse, and I wanted to say something witty to break the silence but nothing came to mind. Instead, a calm peace spread over us from the dark screens. I could hear my breathing and feel my heartbeat over the sounds of anything else. The silence made me think something wasn’t working. I looked at the control panel and noticed Jim’s green light was glowing as brightly as I had ever seen it, as if at any moment he would explode from thinking. I figured there must be a glitch, and I expected Adams to take off his glasses in frustration and start complaining to Rose about what went wrong.

Then suddenly, a tiny spot of light began to show on the main monitor.

As soon as I could focus on it, it flashed into a brilliant explosion across all the monitors. Then it was dark again. Jim’s light dimmed to a dull green glow. I looked to Adams for an explanation. He started laughing out loud, staring at the screens. The flash had blinded me after it dissipated. Eventually I saw tiny dots of light remained. Those spots of white emerged from the center of the main monitor and began spreading out and getting larger.

“Yes!” Adams cried.

“Yes, what?” I asked.

“Everything okay, Jim?” he asked, taking off his glasses.

“I think so,” Jim said. “I think it’s working.”

The screens remained primarily dark, but small areas of glowing light were visible.

“There!” Adams said. “Let’s get a closer shot from Monitor One.”

As the camera zoomed in, I could make out what looked like glowing gas. The light was bright yet transparent. It floated outward and settled into swirls with other bits and pieces. My hand made swirling motions, mimicking the action on the monitors.

I turned to Adams. “What is that stuff?”

“Matter,” Adams said, smiling broadly. “Pure matter.”

It didn’t look like matter. It looked like a bundle of glowing gas. As the shot went closer in toward the light, I could see big blobs and little blobs, each pulsing with tiny specks of light.

“Chemical analysis of the matter, Jim?” Adams asked, nervously spinning the chair in front of him.

“Hydrogen. Entirely hydrogen.”

“Perfect!” Adams said, rubbing his hands together.

“It’s just gas,” I said. “You took hydrogen from one source and merely placed it into another.”

We watched the images of the glowing gas blobs become larger. They spread out and intermingled with other blobs of light. It was mildly intriguing. We stood motionless for several minutes just watching.

Then Adams broke the trance. “See, Jon. These lights number in the millions. Most are locked in orbits with others.”

As I looked more closely at the tiny areas of light, I suddenly realized they looked like galaxies.

A shiver traveled down my spine. A tiny universe had been created before my eyes. Within minutes, dozens of different masses sparkled against the darkness on the screens. Each mass hovered about on its own, tracked by a different camera within the cavity of the building and displayed on a monitor. Our dimly lit lab room was filled with light from these newborn galaxies.

Adams laughed again. “Jim, zoom Camera Two in closer.”

Monitor Two revealed a cluster of stars, tons of them surrounded by extraordinary colors and formations. It was like a fountain of magic dust, reminding me of the pictures in the hallway I passed by each day.

“What’s happening here?” I asked. “This doesn’t look like gas anymore.”

“It’s a nebula!” Adams cried out, raising his arms to the ceiling in victory. “We have a nebula! Slow down the rate, Jim. Take it down to a crawl.”

The twisting and moving slowed down, halting the lights. The monitors displayed dozens of galaxies frozen in time. Adams, mystified by his creation, stared at the screens. Each one showcased a galaxy of brilliant lights and amazing colors. He laughed in delight.

“We did it,” he said, shaking me. “We really did it.”

I looked around at the monitors into a vast horizon of heavens, feeling like I was on a space station in the center of the universe.

“I still don’t understand,” I said. “How did this come from a little atomic matter?”

Adams sat in his chair, calmed himself, and stared at the monitors in a dreamy way as if the full understanding of the invention had just come to him.

“When you analyze extremely small things, like quarks and elements of atoms... and when you compare them to extremely large things, like stars and galaxies... they’re oddly similar. Physical size may be one of the great mysteries of life.”

Then it became clear to me. I found myself saying out loud, “We have a model of a universe. Not just a plastic model, but a living, breathing, real universe right in front of us.”

All that time in the making, I never really understood the significance of what he was attempting until that moment.

“What’s more,” Adams added, “we’ve just witnessed The Big Bang.”

“Creation has happened! It’s been a long road, but we arrived today. Rose, you were right as usual. Portal from ct over zero at parsec y! If I die tomorrow, I’ll be happy. Doubtful to sleep tonight, the rush of it all is still in me. Watching light come out of nothing... watching the birth of stars! It was everything I had hoped for and more.”

- from p. 23 of Webster’s journal.

Share a thought or comment?

--
Click here for the home page of author Jason Matthews.

add me to your Google Plus circles.

+Jason Matthews

The Little Universe rates Top 3 out of 120 books

Very honored to hear author and book reviewer, Jess Buike, has rated The Little Universe in her top 3 picks out of 120 books read during 2011.
When her original review came out, I thought it represented the novel very well. For those interested in Jess Buike's original review, see it here - http://authorjess.blogspot.com/2011/09/recommended-read-little-universe-by.html

--
Click here for the home page of Jason Matthews, spiritual fiction author.

add me to your Google Plus circles.

How Big is The Universe?

The other day my daughter asked, "How big is the universe?"

Wow, a simple question to ask yet a really tough question to answer. I told her the universe is so enormously huge that it's beyond my comprehension to understand it even though I can describe it in gigantic measures of distance, like light years. It's strange to think of distance as light and its speed of travel, but there's no other way to do it. To try and define the size of the universe in miles would make the numbers so enormous it wouldn't make any more sense than saying it's a gazillion miles across in diameter.

I told my daughter, "Let's start simple." The distance of our solar system from our Sun at the center to the furthest planet (arguably Neptune or Pluto) is roughly 30 AU (astronomical units). Comparatively, Earth is just one AU or about 93 million miles from the sun. Light travels at 186,000 miles per second or 700 million miles per hour. Light takes eight minutes to go from the sun to the Earth and about five hours to reach Pluto.

Now, this is just our solar system which resides in the Milky Way Galaxy. How big is that? The Milky Way Galaxy contains an estimated 300 billion stars (like our sun) inside it and is about 100,000 light years across in diameter. Remember that a light year is not a time but a distance; it's how far light travels in an entire year. So if you made a large flash of light at one end of the Milky Way, that light would travel for 100,000 years before someone on the other side would see it. Even though we're just talking about the size of our Milky Way Galaxy, these kinds of numbers already perplex my brain. YouTube video on right from gohepcat.

But still, this is just the distance for our local galaxy. The universe has an estimated 300 billion galaxies, some similar to our Milky Way and some very different. Recent guesses by top astronomers say the universe is over 100 billion light years across. And yes, trying to understand how light could travel for 100 billion years is beyond the scope of my comprehension. Especially when the universe itself is estimated to be around 14 billion years old since the Big Bang theoretically occurred.

My daughter asked, "If the universe is 14 billion years old, then how can it be 100 billion light years across?"

My answer was, "You're right. That doesn't make any sense to me either. Have some more Cheerios." Smart kid.

What are your thoughts?

--
Click here for the home page of author Jason Matthews.

add me to your Google Plus circles.

+Jason Matthews

Black Kickers in the NFL 1966 - Present: Final Prejudice or Rarest Athlete?

The lack of black kickers in the NFL, a league that's long been dominated by African American players, is one of the most perplexing sports anomalies of all time. The numbers are staggeringly low, so low they don't make sense and beg the question, how did this happen? (post updated Oct. 2022)

The NFL is in its 57th season since the Super Bowl era began in 1966. Roughly 60% of all NFL players have been black. Of the approx. 1,674 team roster spots for place kickers during that time, only 14 spots have been held by 5 black kickers.

Incredibly, just 5 black place kickers have played since 1966. Gene Mingo kicked for the '67 Dolphins and Redskins plus the Steelers for '69-'70. Donald Igweibuike kicked for the Buccaneers '85-'89 and Vikings in '90. Obed Ariri played one season for both the Bucs '84 and Redskins '87. Then there was Cedric Oglesby (Cardinals '01) and most recently Justin Medlock (Chiefs '07 and Panthers '12).

5 kickers with brief careers.

This does not include Chad Johnson's preseason extra point in 2009. It also does not include Lonnie Perrin, who did part-time kickoff duty for Denver ('76-'78) and Washington ('79) but did not attempt any known field goals in the NFL (added via comments).

To keep it simple, look at the phenomena from the beginning of the Super Bowl era until now, or from the 1966-67 season onward. That means this conversation post-dates Cookie Gilchrist, who primarily played fullback and never kicked field goals or PATs beyond 1962.

Also note that place kicking and punting are different positions. Though this post is on kicking, the number of black punters in NFL history is almost as bizarre in rarity. ESPN's Scott Ostler said, "Equally few African American punters have secured regular-season NFL jobs -- most notably Greg Coleman and the late Reggie Roby, who between them kicked for seven different NFL teams over 12- and 16-year careers, respectively. (Since then, several black punters have played including Marquette King, Pressley Harvin III and Corliss Waitman.)

This is how the game has expanded from 24 teams to 32, including both the AFL and NFL from 1966-70 and the NFL since:

1966 - 24 teams
1967 - 25 teams
1968 - 26 teams (1970 AFL and NFL merged to NFL)
1976 - 28 teams
1995 - 30 teams
1999 - 31 teams
2002 - 32 teams

The minimum number of kickers needed, assuming just one kicker per team per year, for this 57 year period would be (24)+(25)+(26*8)+(28*19)+(30*4)+(31*3)+(32*21) = 1,674 kickers. This does not mean that many have played, just that there have been 1,674 team roster spots for kickers for those years.

If over half of all NFL players have been black, one might assume about half, or 837, of the kicking spots would be held by black players. The odds of having so few are astronomical. It's like flipping a coin 1,674 times and having it land on tails only 14 times.

Even historically black colleges and universities primarily have had, and continue to have, white and Latino kickers. Those exact stats are difficult to get, but the trend remains. What might explain this? 

During the 70s and 80s very few QBs were black. Those days are long gone thankfully. Then there were few head coaches but fortunately that's changed too; there were 7 black head coaches in 2011 alone. So what gives with the kickers? Why has this position remained so white and Latino? Is this an unspoken and bizarre case of prejudice?

Here are the main opinions I've heard to explain this over the decades:

1. Black athletes don't want to play kicker. Hey, some athletes want to play the game, period. If a kid can't make the team at receiver, linebacker or another position, they might try for kicker if they have talent, and potentially go on to college or pro ball if they can.

2. Kickers don't get any respect. Historically kickers have been smaller or less athletic than other players, though it's ridiculous not to respect the kicker. It's how the game starts and often how it ends. Every team wants a strong kicker for the option of long field goals. If kickers still don't get respect, then there is something wrong with the mindset of NFL players, coaches and fans. And even yet, how would a lack of respect separate the races for a job?

3. Kickers don't make good money in the NFL. This used to be truer decades ago than it is today. In comparison to how much the other positions made on average, yes, kickers often made less. But the average kicker makes great money now and has for a while. Today's top kickers are making over $20 million in just a few years. Back in 2013 Sebastian Janikowski signed a 4 year, $16 million contract with the Raiders. Even way back in 1967 the average kicker pay was around $10,000 (about half that of the other positions) which was still decent money for a part-time job.

4. Most of the kickers played soccer first. Blacks don't play soccer. Again, this used to be truer decades ago but isn't true anymore. Approx. 25% of the MLS is black. Many have been stars on the USMNT including Altidore, Beasley, Zardes and others. Additionally, kickers can come from foreign countries, where soccer is king. Donald Igwebuke and Obed Ariri came from Nigeria, but why haven't others? African nations are full of soccer players as well as Brazil, Columbia, England, France, Germany and more. Why haven't more of these kids come to the NFL or been recruited?

5. Kickers aren't seen as that important. This is an older mindset but perhaps still active, which is ironic since kickers make up the bulk of the all-time leading scorers. The top leading scorers in NFL history played as place kickers. The highest scoring non-kicker of all time is Jerry Rice at #41 with 1,256 points. After Rice, Emmitt Smith is #59 as the second highest non-kicker with 1,052 points. (However, QB's aren't credited points per touchdown pass, so factor that in. If they were, Tom Brady would top the list.)



It would appear this may be due to a lingering position prejudice that has been difficult to kick, pun intended. It's not my intention to offend anyone; it just seems to be the biggest anomaly in sports. Whether this has to do with a deep, hidden and perhaps subconscious agenda to keep place kickers white or Latino by coaches and players, then that's a strange possibility to explain it. Sounds bizarre but not the worst theory on why this has happened.

This trend is probably about to end. The kids out there certainly can do it.

What do you think? Leave a comment.

---

HOME PAGE

Recent Reviews for The Little Universe

Some recent reviews have come in from review bloggers, authors and readers for The Little Universe.

"Not only is the plot based on a brilliant and original concept, it is well crafted, tightly paced and beautifully written"- Charlotte Abel, author of Enchantment.

"This was quite an inventive story. I don't know how realistic the science was (don't worry, the author kept it very simple), but it made for a marvelous story." - Jim Chambers, Red Adept Reviews

"So different from most other science fiction - this book goes beyond the norm and looks at important Mind/body/Spirit issues in a science fiction setting. Folks wanting the normal kind of shoot-em up with rayguns SF (basically a cowboy yarn in a futuristic setting) will be disappointed. This book has SOMETHING TO SAY. It is not a religious rant. But it does deal with spiritual issues." - Tui Allen, author of Ripple.

"One intriguing aspect of the story is the ability of the scientists to monitor anything in their entire universe, to 'zoom in' on individuals on any planet anywhere." - David Rubenstein, http://www.wonderful-music.com

"The Little Universe is one of those rare books, light enough on the surface to be a fun summer read, but deep enough to keep you thinking about it long after you've turned the last page. The story is absolutely fascinating, one of my new favorite science fiction books." - PT Cruiser, top 50 Amazon Reviewer.

"The story is a blend of science, romance, and spirituality - unlike many books of this nature, it was never 'preachy' or condescending... A surprising twist toward the end! I found myself thinking a lot about the book after I finished it." - ForeverAloe, Amazon reader

"I hate giving spoilers, so I will just say that there is a fun "stunner" three-quarters of the way through the book that will shock you - I usually can tell what will happen ahead of time, but this book actually surprised me!" - Jess Buike, author and review blogger

"Inter-weaved with the scientific are the spiritual, metaphysical queries of life as well: What is consciousness? Can it transcend matter, distance, and time? Is there a higher evolutionary position we are all destined to arrive at--individually and collectively? Is life intended to be more? These are some of the questions underlying the themes of this unique work." - G.F. Smith, author of SUBJECTED: Eye of God (book 1), Parallax (book 2) and the Predicate (book 3)

--
Click here for the home page of Jason Matthews, spiritual fiction author.

add me to your Google Plus circles.

+Jason Matthews

NFL Players Life Expectancy Might Be Longer Than Experts Say

(updated Sept. 2014)
There appears to be exaggeration that NFL players have a life expectancy of around 55 years, a full 21 years sooner than the average US man. The reports are alarming to say the least, and possibly misleading when you look at life spans of players from recent decades: men who played with less protective gear, less concern for head injuries and fewer rules dedicated to player's safety.

Extreme events have brought the issue center stage. Was obesity a factor in the death of 27 year old, 355 lb Korey Stringer, an offensive lineman for the Vikings who died following a heat stroke during summer practices? Or what about Hall of Famer Reggie White, who was just 43 and died of cardiac arrhythmia? Those tragedies and others got people's attention. Many articles make startling claims that life expectancy for NFL players is around 51 to 58. If you dig at all, quotes such as these are readily available:

"...men who play five or more years in the NFL have a life expectancy of 55... For linemen, perhaps due to their size, the life expectancy is 52." -http://www.nowpublic.com/sports/average-lifespan-football-player-52

"...a violent sport characterized by startling low life-expectancy rates, depending on playing position, of 53 to 59." -http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/New-NFL-goal-A-longer-life-1272886.php

"While U.S. life expectancy is 77.6 years, recent studies suggest the average for NFL players is 55, 52 for linemen." -http://www.sptimes.com/2006/01/29/Sports/A_huge_problem.shtml

The CFL Players Association reported this: 

"The average life expectancy for all pro football players, including all positions and backgrounds, is 55 years. Several insurance carriers say it is 51 years.”

Recognize the difference between life span and expectancy. Life span is how long people actually lived based on numbers after death. Life expectancy is how long experts think people will live, an estimate based on data and opinions. My research suggests the experts are exaggerating and raising concern for the general good of focusing on better health and a safer game (e.g. less obesity and not leading with the helmet). But shouldn't known life spans of NFL players over recent decades be taken into account when predicting life expectancy? Certainly that data must relate to today's predictions.

Football is a dangerous sport with pressures to continually be bigger, stronger and faster. Players push their bodies to the limits to make the grade at practice and in games. Many ex-players suffer from a range of ailments including concussions, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, knee/back/hip problems, neck and spinal cord issues, memory loss, dementia and other things. This report makes no intention of down-playing the physical and even emotional risks of football, especially in the NFL. I also recognize that players are larger and (often) more obese today than a few decades ago. This report only serves to offer some balance to several studies that may have exaggerated how low the life expectancy is for NFL players.

Let's factor in results of known life span with predicted life expectancy. For this study, examine the rosters from Super Bowl winners, the most battle-tested NFL players. In a random pick of three teams that represent a cross-section of America, look at the 1971 Dallas Cowboys, the 1981 San Francisco 49ers and the 1986 New York Giants. Look for a sign from these players' life spans, and presumably life expectancies, to see if today's dark picture shows up as evidence that was brewing in the past.

The 1971-72 Dallas Cowboys were champions of Super Bowl VI. Some of the famous players then and now include Roger Staubach, Calvin Hill, Dan Reeves, Mike Ditka, Bob Lilly and Charlie Waters. Of the 45 players on the roster, here are some interesting facts:

• 4 have died, 41 are still alive. (91% are living as of Sept. 2014)
• Average age of the 4 deceased players is 56.
• Average age of those living, 70. 
• Positions of deceased: Receiver, Defensive End, Linebacker, Kicker.
• The players had a 16 year age range. Those alive are 64 to 80.
• Average life span if every living player suddenly died today would be 69.
• Average life span if average living player lives 10 more years would be 78.
• Average life span for US men is 76.
• Average weight of '71 starting Cowboys offensive line, 253 lbs. For 2014, 318 lbs (gain of 26%).
• Average height of '71 starting offensive line, 6'4". 2014, 6'4".

The 1981-82 San Francisco 49ers were champions of Super Bowl XVI. Some of the famous players then and now include Joe Montana, Dwight Clark, Freddie Solomon, Keena Turner and Ronnie Lott. Of the 45 players on the roster (not including the reserves), here are some interesting facts:

• 3 have died, 42 are still alive. (93% are living as of Sept. 2014)
• Average age of the 3 deceased players is 53.
• Average age of those living, 58. 
• Positions of deceased: Receiver, Running Back, Offensive Guard. 
• The players had a 12 year age range. Those alive are 54 to 66.
• Average life span if every living player suddenly died today would be 58.
• Average life span if average living player lives about 20 more years would be 78.
• Average life span for US men is 76.
• Average weight of '81 49ers starting offensive line, 261 lbs. For 2014, 315 lbs (gain of 21%).
  
• Average height of '81 starting offensive line, 6'4". 2014, 6'5".

The 1986-7 New York Giants were champions of Super Bowl XXI. Some of the famous players then and now include Phil Simms, Joe Morris, Mark Bavaro, Lawrence Taylor, Pepper Johnson and Jim Burt. Of the 47 players on the roster (not counting the 5 punter-kickers), here are some interesting facts:

• 1 has died, 46 are still alive. (98% are living as of Sept. 2014)
• Position of deceased: Receiver.
• The players have a 13 year age range of 48 to 61.
• Average current age is 53.
• Average weight of '86 Giants starting offensive line, 270 lbs. For 2014, 308 lbs (gain of 14%).
  
• Average height of '86 starting offensive line, 6'4". 2014, 6'4".

Players from the recent past appear to have a close to normal life expectancy. Since height has stayed the same over the years, the thing responsible for recent concern is the increase in weight. Remember, some of that gain must be muscle while much appears to be fat. Since we know offensive linemen are the group with the most concern--I see no need to discuss many other positions, especially the speed positions like wide-receiver and secondary (other than to say I can't believe a wide-receiver or secondary player in the NFL is expected on average to only live to 58). If offensive linemen of 2014 are approximately 14-26% heavier than the men of the 70's and 80's, perhaps a quarter of that extra weight is muscle. It's a rough estimate, but perhaps the linemen today are about 10-20% fatter than they were 15 years ago and about 10% more muscular.

If players are roughly 10-20% fatter, are they really predicted to miss about 20 years of life? What about the prospects of losing weight, like Mark Schlereth, an offensive lineman from 1989 to 2000 for three Super Bowl Champions (twice with Broncos, once with Redskins)? Schlereth played around 287 lbs but now weighs 230 lbs at age 48. He looks fantastic, like he'll be alive far beyond 10 or 20 years from now.

It appears the main way to fulfill the 55 year life expectancy, is to not lose any weight after retirement and even to add more, which men commonly do as they age. This is an opinionated scenario, especially in a time with ever increased public awareness and scrutiny for good health habits. Perhaps this is my main beef with the recent studies, the perceived assumption that bad habits will remain and good health habits won't come into play.

Skeptics of my rational will immediately point out the time-lines involved, that even at the high school level today many players tip the 300 lb mark. In the 70's and 80's, NFL players over 300 lbs were rare. Today, nearly every NFL offensive lineman is over 300 lbs, many NFL defensive linemen are as well, and so are some high school players. This creates a longer time-line of obesity along with a more difficult job of losing the weight later; all of which are tougher on the heart and vital body organs.

Another example of a recently retired lineman with many eyes watching is Tony Siragusa (pictured right), who played 12 seasons as a defensive lineman and is now 47. His weight when he played was notoriously around 350 lbs. I haven't found stats on his weight since, but he appears not to have lost as much as Schlereth. Siragusa may likely become a poster boy for this entire issue. We'll wish him the best on that.

Nate Newton is another player who comes to mind. It's reported Newton weighed as much as 400 pounds before "vertical gastrectomy" was performed to surgically remove weight. He's currently around 220 lbs at age 52, and probably increased his odds at living to be 76 by a huge amount. This brings another question into the mix; how might modern medicine and procedures of the future affect weight loss? What if nutritionists develop fat-eating enzymes that can go through our bodies eating excessive fat and leaving us far healthier in a matter of weeks or months? Sounds like science fiction, but it might not be too far away with modern medical breakthroughs.

Clearly it's the rise in obesity rates, especially with linemen, that have the experts concerned. I believe they're painting a darker picture than what reality likely is, thinking it's in the best interest of people to take a hard look at a dangerous trend in football. If their dire predictions are true, then we should see players from the 80's dying off in bunches very soon, men in their late 50's and 60's who weren't much thinner than today's players and had fewer rules for physical safety.

Other questions that we're not getting to--what about athletes like basketball stars, Hank Gathers and Reggie Lewis, people in perfect shape who died in the prime of their careers from heart related issues? What about sumo wrestlers in Japan who reportedly live to be mid-sixties with even higher rates of obesity than offensive linemen and are encouraged to drink heavily to gain all that weight? And perhaps most importantly, what about all the health benefits of playing football, which include a lifetime of consistent exercise, stretching and increased attention (now more than ever) for taking care of the body? Might those benefits balance some of the risks?

We recently saw the passing of famous football greats, Deacon Jones (74), Alex Karass (77) and Pat Summerall (82). These legends had an average of 78 years between them. Not bad for men who played without as much protective gear, concern for head injuries or refs and rules dedicated to player's safety.

Admittedly, I'm just someone willing to do basic research to satisfy a personal curiosity. NFL football players may live abnormal lives, but recent decades have shown they live fairly normal life spans as a whole. Do many of them have complications from years of playing a physically demanding and punishing sport? Of course. Do many of them, especially linemen, show an abnormal increase in weight gain over the past decades that is a health concern? Of course, that's also true. But that's not the only point of this article. The point is this: it seems hard to quantify that NFL players have a life expectancy of just 51 to 58, with linemen being around 52. That appears to be a gross exaggeration not supported by recent decades, even if it's for a good cause.

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment.

---

HOME PAGE

add me to your Google Plus circles

--

Book That Thing! Review of The Little Universe

Book that Thing! is a review blog hosted by Saskia Kanstinger, who just did my book the honor of a thorough review. Here it is below, or you may visit Book that Thing! to keep up to date with the latest reviews there.

Jason Matthews - The Little Universe
This copy was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. (Available at all major retailers as a paperback and ebook.) 
Kindle Edition, published June 16th, 2011


What defines a loser? Jon Gruber wonders if it’s him. He’s an unmarried carpenter without a car. Do I even need to mention he’s over 30? Maybe meeting Webster Adams is a blessing, for the astronomer gives Jon a new outlook on life. He’s a brilliant inventor trying to create a universe in miniature form. Against all odds the experiment works and a journey of wonder and discovery begins. Who created our universe? Does God exist? Just like the little universe and all the questions that arise, Webster’s daughter Whitney intrigues, yet confuses Jon from the get go. He finds himself not sure of anything except the need to see this through.
Ever had a hard time writing a review? I’m raising my hand. Just saying! The Little Universe isn’t something I would’ve picked up on my own. In fact, I probably would’ve steered clear of it for no apparent reason (other than not being able to put it into a category). However, the author offered me a review copy. I had a slot open and thought it’d be a great idea to try something a little – make that a lot – different. Something I’ve never read before. This particular phrase is used often, but I mean it. I have never read a book like this. Let’s find out if that turned out to be a good thing, shall we?! A quote that came to mind: “Success isn’t permanent and failure isn’t fatal.” (Mike Ditka)
There’s absolutely nothing I can criticize when it comes to the writing. Matthews knows his craft. Dare I say better than most? It’s true. The writing was superb. I loved the subtle changes that occurred whenever the situation warranted it. Thus depending on the circumstances the writing took on a slightly different tone. For example Webster’s journal entries or Jon in his work environment versus Jon after hours. Taking the plot’s complexity into consideration it definitely acted as a safety network. A story that had me pondering various issues; a story that raised so many questions - it simply couldn’t have worked had the writing been sloppy.
The character I connected with the most was Jim. Now, this might sound strange, for Jim’s a computer. Sorry, Jim! I know you don’t like being called a computer. In my opinion he was the one constant throughout the book. Jim was aware that his free will was only free within his confines. One could argue it shouldn’t be called a free will after all, but I won’t get into this now. My point is that he stayed true to himself. He used every opportunity to learn and every loophole that allowed him to break through the confines of his habitat. Of course, this wasn’t always possible. He wished for dreams to come true just as a human being would. Funny enough, I was annoyed by pretty much all of them at one point except by Jim. Don’t get me wrong, the others had their allure as well. I focused on the outcome of their experiment. Not as a whole, instead I was especially interested in what it would mean for each person involved.
No doubt about it, the plot was character driven. Then again, the recreation of the Big Bang can only be labeled point of reference. The character development was hugely dependent on the experiment. The little universe affected not only Jon, but also Webster, his daughter Whitney and their two colleagues in ways I found both fascinating and dangerous. Jon and Webster couldn’t have been more different. That’s probably why Webster had no problem letting Jon in on his secret. A very interesting dynamic. I loved it! Similar to the intelligent life they discovered. While Whitney realized the importance of other aspects of these people’s everyday lives, Webster and the colleagues almost exclusively limited themselves to their technological progress. Two different views made for a beneficial tension.
Science fiction with a splash of philosophy. Shaken not stirred!
I’m not religious. I don’t believe in God. However, I’m more than open to the possibility that there’s something out there I could believe in. For the time being I’m the sole master of my universe. Okay, maybe not the sole master. Society’s moral code and all. I obviously didn’t raise myself either. Hey mom and dad! I don’t know if the author intended to send a specific message – an answer to the most pressing question carrying the plot. Does God exist? If he should wish for my answer to be yes after reading the book I’m sorry to disappoint. To me, the beauty of the story was the lack of a convincing answer. Fear not! There was an aspect of the story I agree with a hundred percent. Money makes the world (the little universe that is) go round. Behind all this - the philosophical elements, the religious undertone, the imagination running wild - stood one big whopper of a condition: The economic interests. No funds, no story to tell. Kudos to the author for realizing that!
What didn’t work for me?
More emphasis should’ve been put on the fact that progress of any kind has a healthy pace that was discarded by the success of Webster’s experiment.
The ending, too, rubbed me the wrong way. I found the state and place of mind Webster ended up in absolutely unacceptable. It sent the wrong message, for it was not something to be happy about. Sometimes a wish simply shouldn’t be fulfilled. Just because something is possible doesn’t mean one should do it. Also, I would’ve bought into a connection between Whitney and Jon if it hadn’t been for the random involvement with another female character. I know what the author wanted to achieve with the conflict (Jon’s confusion). It didn’t work. This resulted in the main plot line being dragged along, rather than staying the main focus. For about a hundred pages or so I was waiting for something essential to happen. Unfortunately the drought lasted too long for comfort. I wanted to skip the pages. It felt like Matthews wandered from the path for the same reason Webster did what he did. Simply because he could, not because it was the right thing to do. A mind-boggling read that lost its center for a time. Where there’s a storm, there must be an eye of the storm. Despite its flaws, you should give this book a shot. I was pleasantly surprised for the most part. 3 stars to The Little Universe by Jason Matthews!


Beware of Spoilers!
A few of my favorite quotes for those of you who are interested:
° “It was my first conversation with a computer, and I felt a little awkward about what to say.”
° “If I can create a universe…then what does it say about who created ours?”
° “The more he studied the universe, the more complex it remained. He realized he was just one person on a little planet drifting in a cosmic ocean without a guide.”
° “Religion is a mythical history used by primitive people to explain the world and heavens…”
° “I needed a reality check from the lab…”
° “You are the creator and the creation. You are the director and the actor and the play.”

Thank you, Saskia. Your review was thoughtful and thorough!

--
Home Page of author Jason Matthews.

add me to your Google Plus circles

Extreme Skiing and Psychedelic Mushrooms: The Art of Chasing Fear

There's a new and free short story ebook called Extreme Skiing and Psychedelic Mushrooms: The Art of Chasing Fear. It's based on a true story from my life with one or two dramatic licenses added, almost entirely based on actual events from a day in 1992 that etched itself in memory due to many factors.
This is a short story of 8,522 words and involves co-workers/friends at a ski area pushing their limits. It also involves fear of the known and unknown, and attempting to get past fear whether it's a physical boundary, a sexual desire or a complex psychological entity.
Like the title indicates, there are psychedelic mushrooms involved with extreme skiing in the backcountry, so if that sounds like something you might enjoy, please check it out.
It's freely available at Smashwords in every ebook format - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/91204 and also at Scribd - http://www.scribd.com/doc/66073604/Extreme-Skiing-and-Psychedelic-Mushrooms-The-Art-of-Chasing-Fear as a pdf file.

--
Click here for the home page of Jason Matthews, spiritual fiction author.

add me to your Google Plus circles.

Edgar Cayce's Psychic Teachings Missing Link to New Age Novel

Back in 2000-2005 when writing The Little Universe, I knew the most incredible discovery of the science project (the universe generator) would be from planet Theta and its people. The Thetans were to be a source of profound knowledge, so deep that they'd be able to answer any question imaginable. At the time, this concept was pretty overwhelming for a young author who didn't want to presume knowledge about life's biggest questions. Fortunately, that's when I stumbled into the readings of Edgar Cayce and found spiritual lessons much in line with the doctrines of the greatest teachers in history and even beyond (in my opinion). Those readings became the perfect voice for The Grandmother and other Thetans mentioned in the story, which enabled me to finish the novel.
If you're not familiar with Edgar Cayce, he's arguably the most famous recorded psychic in history with over 14,000 documented readings. He was born in rural Kentucky and lived from 1877-1945. He's been called "the sleeping prophet" and without any schooling past the 6th grade, he had his greatest success helping others with medical/physical ailments as well as spiritual lessons. You might find this YouTube video of him fascinating. There's loads more on him at the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.).

--
Home Page of author Jason Matthews.

add me to your Google Plus circles

Jana Matthews Runs Around Lake Tahoe

My lovely wife, Jana Matthews, just ran around Lake Tahoe. That's right, all the way around, and it's a big lake if you haven't heard. 72 miles around the perimeter, not an easy run. Okay, so it was more of a very brisk walk than actually running, but it's still pretty impressive if you ask me, not some walk in the park that any joker could do. It took her many days, enduring all kinds of weather conditions like sunny, party cloudy, mostly cloudy and partly sunny. As you can see many people began the journey. (They're represented by all the masses of humanity on the left of the picture.)

But very few made it the entire way. Approximately four and there were also a couple that turned around and went back, but they're not pictured for showing off. Weather could have played a factor for those that couldn't rise to the challenge, not to mention the vastness of what 72 miles really means. Oh sure, it's easy to say, "I think I'll go walk around Lake Tahoe," but it's another thing to actually do it. It's like starting a New Year's Day resolution and being pretty good about it for, like the first few days, and then just going back to those old, lazy routines. But not Jana; she's got determination and follow-through.

Just in case you think I'm fibbing, here's a close-up of Jana at the finish line where California meets Nevada and people like to gamble away their hard-earned money. She's the pink one on top. Yeah, the picture's a little fuzzy, but that's really her. I know what you're probably thinking, how could you be married to a little piece of paper? But I don't see it that way. I love her for who she is inside, and that's a very special being who just happened to walk around Lake Tahoe. Go girl!

Hah, had you going there for a minute. She's really real. And I'm a lucky guy, not some schmuck married to a little piece of pink paper. Besides, paper cut-outs can't really walk around Lake Tahoe anyway. But Jana can-a.

Nice going, babe. I love you.

--
Home Page of author Jason Matthews.

add me to your Google Plus circles

Author Jess Buike Reviews The Little Universe

Very pleased to see this recent review of The Little Universe by author and reviewer, Jess Buike. Just my opinion, but she really nailed it. This review can also be seen as her website, http://authorjess.blogspot.com/.

 

Recommended Read - The Little Universe by Jason Matthews

Author Jess Buike's rating: 5 of 5 stars

Though touted as a "spiritual novel," this book really can appeal to all people interested in existentialism, evolution, creationism, sci-fi, science, and more!

Imagine being able to create a self-contained universe in a room, and being able to monitor how it evolves and changes throughout millions of years while you are only experiencing days - that is the intriguing concept behind this book. Would you want to learn more about spirituality? Or scientific advancement? Or human nature? Evolution? Something else?

All those views are held by the various scientists and staff working on this large project. As a reader, you are drawn in and asked to examine your own beliefs about life and what true advancement as a race really looks like.

The characters are remarkably developed, and feel like they could be someone in your own life. The situation is made more believable by the in-depth use of scientific explanations - but they are all written in everyday language so that you don't have to be a scientist to understand what is happening.

I hate giving spoilers, so I will just say that there is a fun "stunner" three-quarters of the way through the book that will shock you - I usually can tell what will happen ahead of time, but this book actually surprised me!

Overall, this is beautifully written and well worth the read.

--
Click here for the home page of Jason Matthews, spiritual fiction author.

add me to your Google Plus circles.

+Jason Matthews