The Tao is a Chinese concept or philosophy known as the way. Laozi (or Lao Tsu) says in the foundational text of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching, the Tao is the underlying natural order of the universe which, as opposed to material manifestations, cannot be named.
Thus, football. Therein lies its essence- an underlying natural order of sport which cannot be named.
It’s that time of year again, ladies and germs… Football Season in the great old US of A! College ball has already started. The pros play for reals next weekend.
Here’s the deal. I fell in love with football as a child sitting on my daddy’s knee. It wasn’t just Joe Namath’s tousled locks and bad boy good looks that sucked me in…
It was the zen of a perfect throw and catch, the leap of faith that allows a runner to run a pattern, blind to his quarterback, yet turn and expect the ball. The leap of faith that allows a quarterback to release a ball from his fingertips, a ball which sails in a beautiful spiral to the exact spot where a runner will be when the ball at last spends its kinetic energy and returns to earth in an arc linking the two men like a perfect umbilical cord.
Oh joy! Rapture!
When the stars are in alignment, no moment in time has greater mystical significance than that particular throw and that particular catch. But the experience is larger than that. It is, if you will, a moment out of time.
And therein lies the appeal of football, it is filled with such moments which cannot be named. Takes my breath away.
Over the years I’ve had my up close and personal moments- a former boyfriend, T. Z., a tight end with the nicest, ahem, tight end. I will always remember his 80 yard touch down run- our quarterback, M.K., threw a twenty yard pass from our own goal line. T.Z. ran down the left sideline, glanced over his right shoulder just as the ball arrived. He pulled it into his chest, tucked it under his left arm and ran for an 80 yard touch down. The Tao.
But here are a few of the greats and my favorites:
Now, for all you die-hard sports fans, a guest commentary on the nature of today’s quarterbacks by none other than ‘Oscar’, my own in-house sports expert:
We seem to be at an inflexion point in football. The classic drop back QB is no longer the only way to go. Last season 4 young QBs burst on the NFL scene and led their teams to the playoffs. They seem to be the heirs apparent to Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.
The new QBs are Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, Robert Griffin (RG3) and Colin Kaepernick. There are other talented young QBs (Cam Newton, Matthew Stafford) but these are the guys who have shown the ability to win consistently.
The QB in college football is changing too. Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy as a 6’1″ running freshman QB and after week 1 of the college season several freshman have already broken records including Cal’s Jared Goff who at 18 years old and 4 months removed from his high school prom threw for 455 yards in his college debut (more than Aaron Rodgers (former Cal QB) ever did and the second most in Cal history.
It is hard to project QB excellence as players advance from one level to the next. Case in point, the freshman QB for Texas Tech, Baker Mayfield. He was a walk on (meaning nobody recruited him and he didn’t have a scholarship). So how did his first game go? Not bad, 413 yards, 4 TDs passing and another rushing and no interceptions in a win.
So much for 5-star recruits. Luck and Griffin were the #1 and #2 picks in their draft but neither Kaepernick nor Wilson were first round choices. Manziel was not one of the top 20 QB prospects coming out of high school.
Forecasting QB success is not easy, but it’s always interesting.
When we lived in IN and I worked at Purdue, a work mate’s fiance was doing a book on Joe Namath. He’d chatted with him and met both Joe and his wife. Joe sounded like a really nice guy. I got to hear all kinds of interesting trivia.
That is super interesting, Sandra! I bet he is a nice guy. He was certainly an incredible athlete - maybe the first superstar quarterback.
With thanks to you and ‘Oscar’ for the details and predictions, Julia.
Your fluid and fluent lesson in the Tao of football, the zen of the perfect throw and catch, is impressive. But for me, yeah, Joe Namath’s tousled locks and bad boy good looks that sucked me in… ;=)
Yes, Marylin - what a crush I had on him when I was a kid!
i would like to read but am too sick w kidney inf. have not patience for words.
I have always though great baseball was poetry in motion. You have now shown me the true meaning of football - Tao - a close cousin of poetry in motion.
And, yes. I too had - have - a crush on Joe Namath. He was pure joy to watch and he had a pure joy in living life big. Although gorgeous and sexy I always loved his common man touch and his down to earth realness. His sense of humor - doing a commercial for panty hose (Leggs??) was too funny.
I hear Joe Namath has big trouble and pain with his legs after so much professional football. I wish him well.
I hope you feel better soon, Steph. Kidney infections are tough. Blessings for a speedy recovery.
Yes, Roberta - football is the gift that keeps on giving. I worry very much about those head injuries. Baseball is actually the most zen of all sports, softball is my fave- but football is the most Tao-ish.
Dang, Steph, feel better fast!
Ever heard of Johnny Unitas dear?
Well, hubby - he was before my time. However I’ll give you this - Johnny Unitas was the first superstar quarterback and Joe Namath was the first celebrity quarterback.
Interestingly, Unitas was a lightly regarded 9th round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers who was quickly cut from the squad and picked up by the Baltimore Colts the following year. The rest is history.
Hell Brady was a 6th round pick. It’s always a crap shoot. Nice change of pace from the food blogs we’ve been inundated with lately.(or so it seems)
My crush was Joe Montana. No I wasn’t a child, but didn’t get into football until my early 20′s.
Now Colin, hot damn he’s awesome.
Thanks for the post ‘Oscar’.
Hi Amber! Loads of people I know have a crush on Joe Montana. He lives around here. And yes, Colin is a hottie!
Yeah he was, Ray, it’s true. Happens that way - top draft picks tank, late bloomers rise to the top.
My husband, Rob, is a diehard fan. He watches every Canadian football game.
I watch many with him. The rules are different from American (and yeah, we’ve watched a number of those as well) but the thrill with the artistry of the game is the same. Never quite thought of it like you, though. Fun.
I’ve never watched Canadian football, Diana. I’ll have to look up the rules and a video of a game. I guess when football is perfect, it’s really really perfect!
Barry Sanders, the running back with tao.
Looked for, he cannot be seen.
Listened for, he cannot be heard.
Reached for, he cannot be touched.
Totally Tim. I actually thought about including him. I was also a Herschel Walker fan.