A Changing Landscape? Inspiration & Reflection.

What Does the NFL Do With The Millennial Mindset?   President Lincoln and More.

I guess there are some things that just bother me about the Falcons, or maybe it is just the NFL in general.  The Falcons’ current head coach, Dan Quinn, was preceded by former head coach, Mike Smith,  who has the better record through the first 61 games. Smith, in his post-game interviews, ALWAYS used the word ‘Process’ multiple times to explain the team’s issues and plight.  Now I hear Dan Quinn using the word ‘Identity’over and over again explaining how the Falcons, his team, has lost its way.  It is maddening to see a team in their 13th game of the season perform at such a low level – mistakes, penalties,and the lack of execution on both offense and defense.  These are professional players and yes, injuries have affected the Falcons….but EVERY team has injuries.  The Falcons have a leadership problem that is NOT the head coach, along with a fitness problem and most certainly attitude issues.  No one can tell me different.  On top of everything else, Arthur Blank, the owner of the Falcons, has another team that is the exact opposite of the Falcons.  Strong leadership from management and the coaching staff guide a tough group of Atlanta United players who are willing to go into an all out war against their opponents. Examples include last  Saturday night’s MLS Championship game, when Atlanta’s Josef Martinez, the leading scorer in the league, tracked back 40 yards to stop a counter attack, and the defense hammering home an early message to Portland’s attackers with very hard tackling and ball-winning.  Mr. Blank has a problem and that problem is keeping his NFL team relevant in the city of Atlanta.  There were hundreds of people taking photos of  a poster at the end of Saturday night’s MLS Championship game. The poster read: “We are not the Falcons”.  I just laughed it off until later that night when I realized that the poster was 100% true. It is not only the Falcons who have issues, but many of the teams in the NFL. Don’t get me wrong, the NFL is a powerful brand and a massive attraction to both over-the-air and digital networks.  I am just pointing out that when the millinneals, the vast demographic who attend United games,  grow older and have children, it is apparent to me that most families, in the not too distant future,  will favor the MLS over the NFL.  Obviously, just my take.

Sometimes I look for inspiration by looking at historical quotes from various leaders throughout the world.  The Holiday season, for many reasons, provides for a reset and some grounding.  You may or may not agree or like these quotes but they do give you something to think about, especially when of all people, with the groundwork that was provided by leaders around the world, we have the nerve to bitch and complain about our ‘tough’ lives.  Here are a few:

“Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations against us, nor frightened from it by menaces of destruction to the government nor of dungeons to ourselves. Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith let us to the end dare to do our duty as we understand it.”

—President Abraham Lincoln, 1860

“Retreat? Hell, we just got here!”

—Marine Captain Lloyd Williams, answering a messenger from the French Commander as Marines arrive at the Belleau Wood sector in WWI.

“I hear a lot of crap about what a glorious thing it is to die for your country. It isn’t glorious—it’s stupid! You don’t go into battle to die for your country. You go into battle to make the other bastard die for his country.”

—General George S. Patton, Jr., speaking to troops in 1941

“It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.”

—General H. Norman Schwarzkopf

“Atlanta United – incredible, amazing, and a championship.  Now what the hell are you going to do for an encore?”

-A United supporter who now lives in Orlando

Adios and Have a Funday Sunday!