Opportunities Await!

So the Saints are out of the playoffs. There's a lot of reasons for that. Despite a valiant effort on the part of our beloved New Orleans Saints, they shot themselves in the foot too many times in their playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. Including the bewildering illegal forward lateral pass thrown by Marques Colston with 3 seconds left on the clock. All he had to do was step out of bounds and give one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history an opportunity to go for a touch down and get the chance to tie the game.

We now know that the pass was a designed play called by head coach Sean Payton. Poorly executed by Colston yes, but the responsibility for the call is on Payton's shoulders. I think there are at least 3 great life-lessons in the Saint's blunder that cost them the opportunity to play in the NFC Championship game this weekend:

1. Always know what point you are at in the game. 

Timing is everything and as it relates to opportunities in life, we often miss out because we're just not paying attention! 

2. Sometimes you gotta step out of bounds!

Often the best thing you can do is just stop the clock and look at your options.

3. Be prepared to vary from the game plan.

Plans are important, but sometimes at the last moment we have to be intuitive enough to make a change that allows us to accomplish what we might not otherwise be able to if we stick with the original course.

Just some thoughts to ponder as we face the opportunities that await us in 2014 and while we look forward to next's season's Super Bowl win by the New Orleans Saints!

The Malzhan Effect

By guest contributor Pastor Danny Duvall

   As with many pastors, I share four passions: God’s Kingdom, college football, my family and golf. I rarely look at one without seeing the other three. This time of year the first two seem to be on my mind. 

    Stunned by what I just witnessed in college football defaults me to think, could I possibly be seeing the same thing unfold before my eyes in regard to the Kingdom of God? Can a team go from worst to first overnight? Can a once proud powerhouse look up as ask “What just happened?”  The Auburn Tigers/War-Eagles/Plainsmen, who were winless in the conference last year (not to mention having an acute identity problem) just won the Conference championship and will play for the National Championship soon.

   As a lifetime Hog fan, I cannot help but think, “What just happened to me?” Gus Malzhan was passed over as a candidate to coach the Razorbacks this year and then went on to be hired by Auburn. With the aftertaste of what could have been, fresh in my mouth, I realize I am living in the after-glow, better yet the exhaust fumes of what I call, “The Malzhan Effect”.

   The Malzhan Effect for that other team is of course, positive. However, to be “Malzhaned” on my side of the line of scrimmage makes one feel a little black and blue. The Malzhan Effect takes place when the following happens: innovation proves to be “old school” wrapped in a fresh package, home grown talent goes to the other camp and finally, future star recruits migrate to a better system, I have been “Malzhanned” in one of my passions. I do not want it to happen in my other three passions.

    First is the innovation issue. Ringing in my ears are the words from the hill (powers that be) Malzhan’s offense will never work at the highest level of SEC football. To win at the highest level you have to have a power game. Finesse football will never get it done. Power is all that matters. After all, finesse football is merely smoke and mirrors, gimmick and tricks, nothing but a fad. To win at the highest level you have to be Plain Jane line up and run power up the middle on every play. The notion was: Finesse works fine early in the season when the September sun is shining the grass is green and the tuff is secure. However during the cold and ice of harsh weather during the championship drive in late November only teams with a power game prevail. 

    Christian leaders understand finesse church may work for believers during the sunny September of the year but when times get tough it will be churches that have the power that will eventually win in the final championship round. All of that is true, only teams with a power game win in the end. However the “Malzhan Effect” is unstoppable because it may look like smoke and mirrors or lights and videos to some, however it is power wrapped in finesse.  It is power in a new delivery system. The power veer option of  Broyles, Royal and Switzer of forty years ago is not only back, it is back and better. The "Malzhan Effect" takes what worked years ago, applies innovative thought and makes power football work better than Bear Bryant could ever thought possible.  

    The unstoppable Church will get the “Malzhan Effect” working on their behalf. They will spread the field, take what is given them, use inventive thought, yet all alone are doing nothing more than bringing old time power to the Church in ways that are as dynamic as ever. The “Malzhan Effect” means understanding power plus finesse equals wins. It is also smart.

     Second the “Malzhan Effect” takes place when you realize that great leaders are in your back yard, but they go to the other camp because you failed to give them a chance. Sociologist report that  merely 4 to 5% of the population are creative in nature, while 20% have skills to manage and the remaining 75% of the population thrive best when they are carrying out what they have been instructed to do. If that is the case, any organization must understand the 4% will always be discounted by the majority, but they are the future. Corporations with the greatest vision, pay their creators to think outside the box. Many belittled Malzhan because he was “high school not ready for primetime.” To coach or pastor at Hughs High School, in rural Arkansas, is as small time as it gets. With the limited resources of Hughs High School, Malzhan’s  only choice was  to think creatively or lose. To feel “Malzhaned” means to have that empty feeling hit you because you think, “Arkansas already sent Alabama Bear Bryant, surely we did not just send Auburn Bear Bryant version 2.0 because we had no room for creators and out of the box thinkers.”  

    Third and most important, it is not fun to be on the wrong side of the “Malzhan Effect,” when you see future stars migrating to what appears a better system.  After all, recruiting is a big deal! Some athletes are rare talents. Others are system players. Should young people full of possibilities be frowned upon when they see a system that creates running room for them? While we offer nothing but pound and grind? Wins create wins. Success builds success. Systems win wars. Systems trump talent. However talent, heart plus systems are unstoppable. If blue chips are to come our way, we must set them up for long gains. The Bible tells us to be weary of the schemes of the devil. If the devil has systems and schemes I must assume God has better ones. To be “Malzhaned” means to be standing flat footed and saying “What just happen?” while the opponent uses systems to make you think, “I didn’t know I could lose that way.”  Systems alone will never get the job done, but systems plus heart is not to be overlooked. The powers on the hill were right and will continue to be right. To win at the highest level you must have a power game. Malzahn’s offense will be slowed down some day in the future. I just hope when it does, I have eyes to see the next delivery system that will bring power to the game. 

    I have four passions: The Kingdom of God, college football, my family and golf. I just got “Malzhaned in football.” Clearly all the dancing was on the other side of the field.  In my other three passions if I can understand: innovation is merely yesterday’s success wrapped in new packages, keep my eyes open for creators that others discard and provide systems where the next  wave of winners want to commit to then the “Malzhan Effect” will work on my behalf. Who knows with the “Malzhan Effect” on my side I may get a couple of good son-in-laws, a church full of young All-Americans and a golf swing that will keep me out of the woods.

                                                                                                                                                                                           

 Danny Duvall Pastors in Cabot, AR

Golf - On Again!

I have had an on-again, off-again relationship with the game of golf for a long time. I never was any good at it. I never had a lesson and never had good equipment, so it was a pretty frustrating game for me. I gave it up about four years ago, but earlier this year some friends asked me to go up to Alexandria to play in a tournament benefitting Teen Challenge. I thought, "Good friends, a good cause - why not?" So I pulled my old clubs out of storage and went along for the ride. My partner was my good friend Spanky Arsement, who had probably given up the game before I did. Needless to say we didn't score well in the tournament. My clubs actually had rust on them! We shot a miserable round the first day (dead last) but did better on the second day and actually started enjoying ourselves. Spanky owns Moore's Machine Shop, so I asked him if he thought he could sandblast the rust off my clubs and maybe we could start playing every once in a while. He agreed to do so and took my clubs with him after the weekend. He and his business partner Kerry Emanis (another good friend) invited David and I to play the next week and when I got there expecting to get my sandblasted clubs from them, they instead presented me with a brand new set of Callaway Razrs! If that weren't enough, they also set me up with lessons with the pro at Oakbourne Country Club and a nice Sky Caddie. 

Since then we have played at least once a week, I've had four amazing lessons from Cliff Wagnor at Oakbourne and I am LOVING the game like never before and getting better each week. I actually shot two rounds in the 80's this week! 

The Highs and Lows of the NFL

I can't even tell you how furious I am with the NFL and their idiotic decision to suspend Sean Payton for an entire season over his knowledge of what's become known as the "Bounty Scandal." Excuse me, but Roger Goodell's hypocrisy knows no end! We need to investigate and see if he has ever given a bonus to anyone on his staff who has performed well. If so he should be fired immediately! I know many of you will argue, "This is about paying people to purposefully hurt other players." The NFL is entirely made up of people paid to hurt each other. It's a violent sport! I'm not here to endorse or criticize it as such. I'm just saying it's pathetic to pretend that it's a not a violent sport, pocket billions of dollars off of all of the violent hits associated with that violent sport and then penalize a team for simply giving their players a bonus when they performed well! EVERY team does it - one way or another.

Before you're too quick to criticize this post simply because the Saints aren't your team and you won't have to lose to them again this season - Just remember that next season, every time you cheer when one of your favorite players lays a member of the opposing team out with a huge hit, you are celebrating what the Saints just got penalized for. Your favorite player was paid to hit that guy like that - and you LOVED it! 

On a more cheerful note - While my favorite team is being robbed of the opportunity to continue the winning seasons we've enjoyed as of late, my second favorite team just got a little closer to the Super Bowl. Welcome to Denver, Mr. Manning!

MVP

This guy set an all-time single season passing record, crushing the record held for 27 years by Dan Marino!  He has more yards, more touch downs, more class and more talent than any other quarterback in the NFL! He should be the league MVP! 

My Take On Super Bowl XLV

I've always loved the Super Bowl. It's fun to get together with family and friends to eat junk and talk smack while America's two best teams slug it out on a world stage. I really enjoyed this year's match up: The Green Bay Packers verses The Pittsburgh Steelers. Two great teams, with great history - It was the perfect setting for a memorable game. There was only one problem: Once your home team has been to the big game, the Super Bowl is never the same without them in it! The Saints will be there again. Maybe even this next year! Until then you just have to make the best of it.

Super Bowl XLV definitely had it's highs and lows. I've already mentioned the actual football equation. I wasn't disappointed there. The team I was pulling for won! I wanted to see Aaron Rodgers come out from under Brett Farve's shadow once and for all - and he did! Although I once was a Farve fan, I've become increasingly disgusted with his behavior off the field and I am thankful to see him go away. After a Super Bowl win and a MVP to boot, Rodgers should never have to worry about comparisons to Brett again. On the contrary, it's Brett who should be worried.

For me, the Super Bowl is more than football. I also always look forward to the commercials and the halftime show as well. This time around, those were both a huge disappointment. I thought the best commercial was the Budweiser spot that featured the old west cast who break into a rousing version of Elton John's Tiny Dancer after the beer arrives. Pretty funny stuff. As to halftime, I thought the Black Eyed Peas had a spectacular show, but they didn't sound good at all. I know it's hard to mix live music for television, but it was pretty bad!

So that's my take on the big game. I'm hoping next year's post will include feedback on lots of funny commercials, a killer halftime show (John Mayer would be my vote) and a picture of Drew Brees holding up that Lombardi trophy again!

Piling up scrap lumber and playing nose tackle

Albert Haynesworth of the Washington Redskins is paid $100,000,000.00 to play football. His team came under new management this year and switched to a different type of defense which required Haynesworth to move from defensive tackle to nose tackle. His response was to protest by skipping the team's off-season conditioning program and practices as well as a mandatory minicamp. He was unable to pass the team's conditioning test until the 10th day of training camp.  This week he came out and said that his $100 million dollar contract doesn't make him a 'slave' to the Washington Redskins. He said that just because someone pays you money that doesn't mean they can make you do whatever they want.  Are you kidding me? This guy needs to be fired and have to stand in an unemployment line until he gets a firm grasp on reality. I can't tell you how much this mindset disgusts me! This is what's wrong with this country! 


Some of the best advise my dad ever gave me concerning my work ethic came one summer I was working as part of his framing crew building houses. I wanted to be on the roof nailing decking down with the other guys wearing a cool leather nail apron, swinging a hammer. Instead, dad had me piling up scrap lumber. When I complained my dad told me, "Son - It all pays the same. You're going to make $2.15 an hour whether you're swinging a hammer or piling up scrap lumber. Now get busy piling up scrap lumber." Someone needs to tell that to Albert Haynesworth! 

Greatest of all time?

            Michael Jordan                                                                                                        Kobe Bryant

Not even close - MJ is the greatest of all time! 

Who Dat?

I can't believe the day has finally arrived! The day I've been waiting for since I was just a little boy: The Saints are going to the Super Bowl! No more jokes about Hell freezing over and signs of the Apocalypse! The boys in black and gold are for real!

You have to realize, this has been forty-three years in the making and I've witnessed it all: The early days with Archie Manning that had moments of greatness, but just never could quite get us there. (Isn't it ironic that the Saints first Super Bowl appearance will be against Archie's son Payton? No sentimental feelings here - drive him in the dirt!)

Then there were the long, embarrassing years of sack-wearing misery as the home team lost game after game. In the eighties; Ricky Jackson, Bobby Hebert and the boys gave us a glimmer of hope - getting us into the post season, but still - No Super Bowl. The Benson Boogie would always end a few yards short of the big game! We began to think the team was cursed. We began to think that the New Orleans French Quarter voodoo stood in the way of any hope of victory!

Then it happened: Katrina washed the curse on down the Mississippi River and fate brought us the likes of Sean Payton, Reggie Bush, Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Jeremy Shockey, Darren Sharper and so many more!

Last night, I screamed myself hoarse as our New Orleans Saints won a hard-fought battle in the Louisiana Super Dome against Brett Farve and The Minnesota Vikings, advancing to Miami to play in Super Bowl XLIV!

The days of watching through the eye-holes of our brown paper bags as those dynasties emerge in Pittsburgh, Dallas, San Francisco and New England while our beloved Saints remain the laughing stock of the NFL are officially over! Perhaps we are watching the emergence of a new dynasty right here in New Orleans? Who dat?