Going downhill fast

I’ve always been a fan of Sisyphus; I mean who couldn’t be? The dude gets condemned to a death time of useless labor, and he sticks with it.  Kinda like playing for the Orioles for all eternity but still batting .300 for the career. Heroic, even.

Were I Sisyphus though, the thing that would worry me would not be the part about pushing the rock up the hill; I mean that’s just good exercise. No, what would worry me would be what the rock was going to do going down the hill. Think about it; we’re not just talking a pebble here. This is a boulder suddenly showing that it has a mind of its own and that its mind is made up to do us as much evil as it can muster. Not the recipe for a rockin’ good time (sorry!).

That thought was on my mind as I was watching the opening edition of Monday Night Football, featuring the Baltimore Ravens against the newly minted, far from ocean blue Las Vegas Raiders. They may not be raiding any local shipping, but they had it in their minds to roll down on the Ravens endangered quarterback, Lamar Jackson.

Now one of things all football coaches try to teach is what is called “downhill tackling.” In other words, we want our D-line and backs to not just hit the ball carrier, but roll through him like Sisyphus’s rock looking to turn him into leftover jelly.  I know, not overly delicate, but you have to admit, it gets your attention.

Anyway, nobody on the Ravens’ staff seemed to think that Jackson’s health was worth giving him an O-line that could keep the Raiders’ downhill boulders off the QB long enough to ensure that he wasn’t going to be run over and jellified. 

They also didn’t tell him to stay in the pocket and pay attention to keeping his body parts intact. He ran, and the Raiders tackled downhill. Ouch!

The lesson here is that there are old quarterbacks (think Tom Brady) and there are running quarterbacks; but there are no old, running quarterbacks. Keep those fellas at the bottom of the hill and don’t give those NFL boulders a running start.

 

Millerton resident Theodore Kneeland is a former teacher and coach — and athlete.

Latest News

Demolition of Millerton’s fire-damaged highway and water building begins

Demolition crews from BELFOR Property Restoration began demolishing the fire-ravaged Water and Highway Department building in the Village of Millerton on Monday, Oct. 27

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON — The long-awaited demolition of Millerton’s Highway and Water Department building began Monday, Oct. 27, marking a major milestone in the village’s recovery from the February fire that destroyed the facility.

The demolition, handled by BELFOR Property Restoration, is now underway. Eddie Collins Park, located next to the site, remains open to the public, though visitors are asked to steer clear of the demolition area.

Keep ReadingShow less
Keane Stud developers present environmental impact analysis

A preliminary draft of an impact analysis study for a Keane Stud subdivision application drew residents to a Planning Board meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Photo by leila Hawken

AMENIA — Residents had the opportunity on Wednesday, Oct. 22, to weigh in on the proposed Keane Stud subdivision, a plan that would divide roughly 605 acres into 27 mostly residential lots, during a meeting of the Amenia Planning Board.

The session was part of the State Environmental Quality Review Act process, following the board’s decision that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement should be prepared to evaluate potential environmental and scenic impacts from the project.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amenia investigates budget officer over use of clerk’s signature
Amenia Town Hall on Route 22.
Nathan Miller

AMENIA — Amenia budget officer Charlie Miller has been accused of submitting the town’s tentative budget with an old signature from Town Clerk Dawn Marie Klingner.

Klingner said she reported the issue to the Town Board in executive session on Oct. 3, prompting members to assign the town’s labor attorney, Robert Schofield, to investigate.

Keep ReadingShow less
Local, county candidates gather for NorthEast-Millerton Library forum

Millerton and North East residents crowded into the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex on Friday, Oct. 24, to hear from 10 candidates seeking office.

Photo by Christian Murray

MILLERTON — A crowd of about 60 people filled the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex for a political Q&A session with candidates for local and county offices on Friday, Oct. 24.

Panels of candidates rotated across the stage, answering questions submitted beforehand and impromptu questions from audience members in the room.

Keep ReadingShow less