Friday Favorites: Top 5 Football Players

With the Super Bowl Sunday upon us, I thought I would share my 5 favorite NFL football players in my life.   As with any list, it fluxuates, but here today, these are my 5 favorite: 

5. Warren Moon, QB, Houston Oilers: Moon had a gun for an arm and he could throw the ball.  This is
not an official statement, but it felt like most of his passing yards were in the air, not after the catch.  He threw over 4000 yards four seasons and two of those seasons were over 4,600 yards.  He made the Pro Bowl 8 straight seasons and nine in all.  

4. Jerome Bettis, RB, Pittsburg: They called him the "Bus" but Jerome Bettis was a tank carrying the
ball.  I will never forget how powerful he was playing the Bears early in his career with the Rams.  Bettis for his smash style of running, racked up over 1000 yards rushing in 8 seasons.  

Jerome Bettis: Top 10 Big Guys video  **

3. Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco:  No player frustrated me more in the late 1980's than Joe Montana.
  Why?  Because he, more than anyone, knew how to win.  He stopped several really good Bears teams from reaching the Super Bowl, but I suppose Montana was pretty good himself.  In 1987, he threw 31 touchdowns to lead the NFL.  Montana has a 16-7 playoff record and over 5,500 passing yards in the playoffs.  He won every Super Bowl that he ever played in which is four, if you are counting.  What I remember most about Montana was his poise on the field even when he was under pressure.  

Joe Montana: Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players  **

2. Barry Sanders, RB, Detroit: Sanders was a highlight reel every week on some pretty bad Detroit
teams.  What made Sanders special was his ability to improvise and make defensive players miss.  Sanders was power, but he could spin, cut left to right to make defenders miss and then put on the gas to out run most linebackers and many secondary players.  

Barry Sanders: Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players **

1. Walter Payton, RB, Chicago Bears: He was Sweetness.  What more do I need to say?  Walter Payton was my favorite player growing up and when I think of the Chicago Bears or even favorite players in the NFL, Payton is always the first player to come to my mind.  I will never forget my dad saying to me, as he would a decade later with Michael Jordan, he is the best in the sport.  No one even comes close.  Best is always debatable, but I will always argue that Walter Payton is one of the best.  

I remember as a young boy watching Payton crash into the line over and over and my dad would say, "two yards and a cloud of dust."  The thing with Payton was, he may pound the "two yards" but then he would break out, hit some defenders really hard, and drive down the field.  As he approached the endzone, he would start his classic high-step and run right in.  Where Barry Sanders was a magician in making defenders miss him, Payton would make defenders pay the price for getting in his way.  

Walter Payton was innovative as he made the goal-line dive famous.  I will never forget the front page of the Chicago Tribune sports page one Monday morning with a end zone line shot of Peyton flying over the defensive line to score the touchdown.  Besides just being one of the greatest running backs, Payton was versitle as he set numerous blocks to set the fullback free.  Peyton could throw the ball as he completed 8 touchdown passes in his career.  This Chicago Bear brought my brother, dad and I together every Sunday afternoon for years.  I am grateful for that, and for the amazing skill he shared with all of us.  

Walter Payton: Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players **

** The videos are not available to post on the blog, so I supplied the YouTube links to checkout the highlights for yourself.  

   

Friday Favorites: Saturday Relaxation

It is time for another "Friday Favorites" list.  This month: Saturday Relaxation.  In all seriousness, I came up with this topic as I woke up recently from a nap on a chilly, wet Saturday afternoon.  I often feel guilty on a Saturday afternoon when I have taken a long nap, and I wake up seeing others in the house being productive.  It made me think about what my favorite things are to do to relax on a Saturday.  

Let's face it, there is "lazy" relaxation and then there is "productive" relaxation.  Calling something lazy does not always mean bad. Personally, I would consider lazy as blindly scrolling social media and in a similar way channel surfing on television.  There is always a place for either, but I think we know when we have crossed a line. My Top 5 ways to relax are all what I would call "productive" relaxation.  What is lazy or productive is always up for debate, but here are my Top 5 ways to relax on a Saturday.  

5. Clean the house:  Yes, I realize it sounds crazy, but sometimes the process of cleaning brings relaxing satisfaction that the house looks nice.  The room that is most satisfying to clean to me is the kitchen.  I just love seeing a shiny stove and cleared off countertop after a busy week where the dishes may have built up a little or a lot.  I enjoy visiting the kitchen to pick up a snack or to start a Saturday night dinner when it is spotlessly clean.  It also makes for a stress-free Sunday while planning meals for the week.  

4. Write:  I don't often get to do this on a Saturday, but it is relaxing to me to get thoughts out of my head and onto a page or document.  I do try to write both ways: written and typed.  I tend to put more personal thoughts and ideas handwritten in a journal where I try to keep my creative writing typed on a document for easy editing.  I think I find it to be particularly relaxing because it is a solitary, reflective practice.  My writing will never be famous; I've never had that intention, so it is nice to just write and enjoy.

3. Work out:  Once I start a workout, I thoroughly enjoy that time.  It sometimes takes a little willpower to motivate me to start a workout on a weekend (don't want to get all sweaty, don't want to spend the time, lazy), but once I get going, I am always happy I did it.  In fact, I cannot think of one time where I thought, "Jeez, I wish I wouldn't have worked out today."  Whereas, there are a number of times at the end of a Saturday I think, "I wish I would have worked out today."  I always feel energized when I complete a workout, and for those times the workout wears me out, it is Saturday and I can take a nap.  Speaking of naps...

2.  Take a nap:  Taking a nap is my number two most relaxing activity for a Saturday.  It is so satisfying to lay down in the middle of the day with the purpose to cozy in on the couch or back in bed to take a snooze.  I have nothing more to say about that!  

1. Read:  I just love to pick up a book, newspaper, comic book or magazine to read on a Saturday.  Normally, my day begins with the local newspaper, which continues to become smaller and smaller as newspapers become more and more obsolete.  I refuse to give up on local journalism, but it seems that financially, they will give up on me.  Until that day comes, I will continue to read the Saturday paper with my morning coffee.  When I don't have as much time, I will find time to look at a magazine or online article, but if there is time for a book, you better believe I am settling in to do some reading.  Reading really helps me to escape as my mind slips away from our world into the setting of the book with the characters and I am taken someplace else.  It is the best escape for me, and therefore it is my number one way to relax on a Saturday.  

Relaxing and taking time for ourselves, our families, or our friends is a positive way to spend a Saturday.  In my mind, the idea of relaxing seems like a waste of time, but really, it is quite productive because it energizes us and helps to clear our minds.  Make relaxation intentional to keep it productive and keep yourself from participating in "lazy" activities that can sometimes actually zap our energy and motivation.  Take some time to relax this weekend by yourself, with family, or with friends.  It will be a good use of your free time.  

Friday Favorites: Top 4 Frozen Pizzas

 In last month's Friday Favorites post, Top 5 Breakfast Cereals, I noted how my daughter, when seeing the question online of what food reminds you of your father, said that cereal and pizza are the foods she thinks of when she thinks of me. I gave you my top cereal, so here are my Top 4 Frozen Pizzas. 

Before giving my top 4 though, I did want to establish some expertise.  Not only do I eat an unusually high amount of frozen pizza now, I always have.  In high school and college, my pre-dinner was a pizza, not some pizza an entire frozen pizza.  In college, being budget conscious, I always bought the cheapest or best sale pizza I could find.  I mention that to establish that I have tried dozens of different kinds of frozen pizzas.  I will acknowledge that when it comes to the regional pizzas, I will be limited except for the region in which I live.

I have so many stories to share about frozen pizza, but I will leave you with this one that pretty much summarizes my experience with frozen pizza and how I consume it.  In high school, I was spending the night with a friend, and late at night, we cooked a frozen pizza.  My friend, who was getting the pizza out of the oven, asked me if I wanted to just split the pizza.  I said sure, that's what I was thinking.  I heard him cut the pizza and come into the living room where we were watching Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.  He walked over to me and literally handed me half of the pizza.  This was a new one for me, but there we were, each holding half a pizza, and eating it like watermelon.  It was great!  

Another reason why I claim expertise with this topic is that years ago I worked in the field.  I sold and drove a truck for Tony's Pizza Service.  As part of my training, we discussed what makes a good frozen pizza and I sat with my colleagues and taste-tested our pizza with national competitor pizzas.  We discussed many things from toppings to sauces and crust.    

With all that, here are my Top 4 Frozen Pizzas: 

Red Baron Four Meat:  The rest of the frozen pizzas on this list I would consider "craft" pizzas.  Red Baron is the best of the "mass-produced" pizzas.  There is no question it is a frozen pizza when cooked in the kitchen, but it is a good frozen pizza.  I like the healthy dose of meat on the "Four Meat" version of this Red Baron brand.  

Calipower Uncured Pepperoni:  This is the one pizza that I can actually eat, and I mean that in a couple different ways.  First, it is gluten-free and I don't have to worry about how it might impact me. Second, I have tried a whole bunch of gluten-free pizzas and this cauliflower crust is the most un-cauliflower and crunchy crust of them all.  It is more than just tolerable, it is tasty.  I highly recommend this pizza for anyone who is gluten intolerant or like me, just needs to limit gluten.  

Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza Breakfast Pizza:  My wife came home and thought she had purchased a sausage pizza for dinner.  When we realized our error, there was some disappointment for that dinner, but when we popped this pie in the oven the next morning, we were blown away!  This is an awesome breakfast pizza!  It has a crispy crust and generous toppings for a frozen pizza.  This is a special breakfast treat around our house.  

Home Run Inn Sausage: Hands down, this is the best frozen pizza on the market.  It has a yeasty "bar-like" crust that is filled thick with cheese and the best pizza sausage out there.  It is light on sauce, so if you like a lot of sauce, this won't be for you.  I like it because all parts of the pie are filled with flavor.  If you have this frozen pizza in the market in which you live, it is definitely worth cooking in your kitchen.  

Top 5 Breakfast Cereals

Recently, my oldest daughter saw a post online that asked what food reminds her of her dad.  Her reply was pizza and cereal.  It is true, I am not handy when it comes to the kitchen.  I like to keep it simple, but it is also no secret that my favorite meal of the day is breakfast.  Let's face it, it is the meal of the day where basically cake is acceptable: Donuts, pastry rolls, pancakes and syrup, French Toast, and the list goes on.  It is also the meal that often features bacon.  

My most common breakfast food though is cereal.  It is easy.  It can be eaten with milk or just throw it in a ziplock back and it is on the go.  Breakfast cereal is also good at any time of the day.  My favorite time of day for cereal besides breakfast is as the midnight snack.  

I feel that a list like this is best written by an adult because as a child, part of the breakfast fun is trying the 1000's of different kinds of cereals.  These are the sugary, colorful, fun shape cereals and the trial and error as a kid is endless.  It isn't until adulthood that you really start to shape a serious opinion, but hey if a kid wants to share her top cereals, don't let me stop her!!  It would be fun to see. 

Anyway, here are my Top 5 favorite breakfast kinds cereals: 

5. Frosted Mini-Wheats - I just love filling these little pillows of cereal with almond milk and eating them.  They fill my stomach, they are sweet, and satisfying to eat!  

4. Frosted Flakes - When I need a dose of childhood, Tony the Tiger and Frosted Flakes are there for me.  As an adult who doesn't eat the flakes often, they do tear up the roof of my mouth a bit, but it is totally worth it as they taste so good. In fact, they're Grrreat!!!  

3. Chocolate Chex  It is gluten-free and satisfies a chocolate craving.   

2. Honey Bunches of Oats with Strawberries - I like the variety of texture in a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats with the clusters, flakes, and strawberries.  The flavor is also sweet but not overwhelmingly so.  

1. Honeynut Cheerios - This is the champion of cereals for me.  First, it is delicious any time.  I enjoy it with some almond milk, but when I am rushing out the door for work, I throw some in a bag and enjoy later.  On top of all that, it is a gluten-free option that takes care of any sweets cravings.  

Welcoming Friday Favorites!

I'm starting a new monthly post of Friday Favorites!  This will be a series of Top 5 or Top 10 of some of my favorites in a variety of topics, and they will appear on the second Friday of the month.  

Some of these lists are inspired by the discussions I have with the most excellent Dan Zehr and Cory Clubb on the podcast CWK Pourover.  If you are ever up for some great conversation with an even more wonderful community of listeners and participants, check out this fun group.  We can sometimes be pretty serious, but most of the time craziness ensues for some great laughs.  Some of these Top 5 lists come from conversations with my daughters.  I often pose this question on car rides or at dinner, "What are your Top 5..?"  Most of the time that question is met with eye-rolling, but sometimes clarity and meaning come from those moments.

Anyway, to kick-off the first Friday Favorites, here are my Top 5 Mobile Apps: 

5. Marvel Unlimited - 10,000 Marvel comics at my fingertips?!?!?  Yes, please.  I can download 10 at a time when I don't plan to be connected to wifi for a while.  Take a look at my 2021 Personal Stats posts to see how often I use this app.  I can tell you, my library grows a lot faster than my consumption.  At least they don't stack up next to my reading chair!  

4. Twitter - This is my favorite way to keep in quick contact with everyone and to keep my ear to the ground of what is going on in my favorite communities.  It is my most wide-open social media in that I follow the largest groups of people and organizations.  All my other social media is much tighter and curated in what I follow.  Twitter is my ear to the ground.  

3. Instagram - Instagram and Twitter would have been tied for my consumption time until my family introduced me to Instagram Reels.  Those have caught my fancy.  I laugh, ogle at the cute animals, and am amazed at some of the dancing talent!  Oh, then there is the Instagram feed.  I love the visual aspect of Instagram; it allows me a quick view of the groups and people I enjoy.  It is a much tighter group than Twitter and Facebook. 

2. Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes - I just love games. I somehow found a good group of people to join who are super positive and help each other out.  There is something I have just enjoyed about the challenge of collecting heroes and villains of the Star Wars Galaxy, powering them up, and creating odd teams to do the fighting.  I probably dedicate 30-45 mintues a day building up my characters, ships and profile on this game.  

1. Topps card trading apps - I realize that this is kind of cheating (my blog my rules), but of the four Topps apps that I collect, at least one of them would always be number one with my phone apps.  I have told the story many times, but I will never forget my first introduction to Topps Digital cards.  I was at the Indiana Comic Con with my Coffee with Kenobi friends, Dan Zehr and Cory Club, when they introduced me to the Star Wars Card Trader app.  This led me to discover Marvel Collect, Bunt and Disney Collect.  I collect, trade and drool over these cards.  I am in real trouble when all four apps have sets I am chasing at the same time.  It happens...often...

These and other apps can be really consuming, and I just wanted to be clear that I most certainly do use the Digital Wellbeing function that my phone offers.  I limit the time I spend on each app every day, and the Wellbeing feature will just shut the app down once I reach the time allotted.  Please do me and yourself a favor and set those boundaries, because these apps are awesome, but so are the face-to-face people in our lives.