5 Beyond Solid-Good Things Done this Week, Check! Art Stuff Too

#BoomerwithAttitude is still on tap, no great sympathy for those creating chaos with external meddling AND, even though nobody asked, willing to quantify what’s on my overall plate.

Getting in three full 10.5 mile rides on X-Charlotte Trail over 8 days is legitimate #1 on Count it! physicality. Haven’t done over thirty mile week in a year, stubby tires mountain bike is a challenge. Riding as reward factor for writing Monday ‘Resumes’ piece that included Gene Hackman and me, I’m positive about pursuing the right opportunity.

Getting a *great* haircut from Desirous was a clutch decision about feeling shaggy for an important presentation. No kidding, Looking Good and Old School tactics like ‘Being there’ are still difference makers.

Bike riding is my very quantifiable, long-term asset for physical confidence, and counting positives physically at sixty-eight is a legitimate good habit. Staying on fun and firmness brings lots of people out to share the well-maintained pavement with. Ride in 74 degrees and sunshiney NC afternoon, then Food and NCAA hoops watching was overall Saturday Reality. There’s plenty of tense going around, I’ll be for more tennis – not ignorance, choice.

Yes, I admit loving how the Canadians, calm and clear Trudeau, excellent hand-off of a small crisis to New Guy, still stuffing trump every shift (hockey term) of news cycle, making it clear its not about hating US, but Tariffs- Elbows up, damn straight! (AND PAY YOUR ELECTRIC BILL, EY! notice is coming from Ontario soon…)

Four more with Good Reasons, ey?

A physical release in optimal weather is a deserved time-out reward, so take credit for doing something necessary, important, or Special. Including ‘Me’ in the company of Hackman and NFL QBs in Monday morning LinkedIn article was being seriously happy about a ‘specific and terrific’ cover letter I’d sent about a challenging EA administrative role.

Adding in the killer haircut and not-worn-often-enough-lately charcoal suit and sweet, coral-colored with ducks tie, presenting myself at their local HQ with additional quality examples of my written communications expertise, was a solid, Old School doubling down Tuesday. Since the HR person is now a LinkedIn connection, I’ll point out that ‘Resume’ piece shortly. Call the total effort #2,3 on good things accomplished.

#4 Mint Museum, Wednesday for Freebie Night

I decided on visiting the Mint late last week, and arriving 6:20, strolled three floors and multiple galleries for 90 minutes. Perhaps not demonstrative proof of culture, but I defend those exceptional aspects like the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (which played for Pavoratti), does four wonderful June concerts behind SouthPark Mall and Christmas events downtown; regular Broadway tours at The Blumenthal, and culture *does* includes TWO Mint Museums and a Bechtler.

I only gave away two CDTalententerprises cards, one to Brittny ‘without an A’, a favorite kind of memory hook clarifier, me being a two N Glenn. She said she was a newbie to Charlotte, we walked and talked, plenty of other participants to share opinions with too. I came back for her when I found something unique-r, and I’d be pleased if Brittny uses the good information that’s found on my good-looking card.

I have a tux & I know how to use it.

Clothes make The Man? If not now, When? Compared to mid-week usual, Styling a black felt hat that keeps getting noticed, Dad’s brownish-green hounds-tooth jacket, green shirt, antique-unique tie, tuxedo pants, I thought I might even drop in someplace afterwards. Wound up 100% satisfied as imagined with a self-guided event.

As I conveyed to an LI connection afterwards, networking has always been a strength, I have plenty of confidence in talking to others. Sports writing background and sales, Q&A has always been my standard, and after two full years WFH, I’ve missed that aspect. If not Great Expectations, engaging on Art is do-able.

I’ll get around to describing a microeconomic situation at Nordstrom’s in my ‘Don’t Give Up Your Day Job’ non-fiction book, but having a bit of artsy background, and being historically gregarious, Wednesday counted as a terrific reboot, new Social Goodness as an easy to achieve priority.

#5 – Opportunity to be of Service – Good Thought, it worked out

While I declined a nomination for Club Secretary in February, somebody else stepped forward during actual elections Friday for our community Mens Club meeting, so while I rethought taking the post (4x previous) because certain long-term organizational knowledge might be a clutch difference in success, guess we’ll see. More actual good PR for solid, long-time organization continues with Fridays annual Fish Fry. As a #BoomerwithAttitude, I’ll keep that communications/leadership club in my bag, use my five wood more in the Spring Captain’s Choice.

OKAY – Create a 700-900 word blog on a regular schedule – 1st of three on Monday, check on new habit, Week Two. Quantified, specific. Just me.

This ex-Yankee sharpens 2024 production – Panthers, politics, Red Silk Boxers

Talk about a classic shot: December game at Clemson, 1995. Sam Mills is going to try and stop Steve Young sneaking in from the one. 31-10 was final.

I bought tickets for Knights game on 17th, expect to ride bike downtown and see how close to Panthers practice fields I can get this week. The names of those who won’t be playing football in Charlotte long will be, well, long, starting soon. Lots of people to not learn about.

My red silk boxers picture, from just before moving to Charlotte in 1995, was about elementary personal positivity I’d like to revisit in 2024. That feeling a rising tide lifts all boats, the sunshine-y promise over four days that April for folks anniversary, became Go! action 38 days later. I was never a Giants or Jets fan.

I attended my first Panthers game, against the Steve Young-Jerry Rice 49ers, at Clemson. Panthers made it to NFC championship in Year 2, lost 32-29 to Patriots in their first win (2004) of Super Bowl run, and Broncos in 2016.

The franchises overall record is 223-260-1, 31-68 since #MrTeppers$ bought the team. Its not all his fault, but…Without 15-1 record in Super Bowl season, Rivera wouldn’t be nearly their winningest coach. I lucked into Panthers-Cowboys playoff tickets on Christmas Eve.

I’ve seen the depths three times, but just about every righteous button has been pressed by Panthers GM Dan Morgan in 2024, starting with extending stud defensive tackle Derrick Brown. https://www.nfl.com/news/panthers-dt-derrick-brown-agrees-to-four-year-96m-contract-extension While extensive coverage went to Brian Burns struggles with getting paid, Brown’s stats became a profound statement of his value to this organization – any upgrading of talent or regard for its #3 yardage defense ranking last year is based on his effectiveness.

Not Cam Newton’s RPO

Its not necessary to visit any Panthers practices to know run-pass options won’t be in Head Coach Dave Canales playbook, even though he speaks regularly about running the ball offensively. Defensive coordinators figured out long ago that whacking the QBs *on*every*play* was a definite way to slow an RPO offense down, and yes, ‘6’5″, 250 and runs like a deer’ description of early Newton’s physicality is 180 degrees different from Bryce Young’s much slighter frame.

Otherwise, yes, there will be a real quantity of head banging for Panthers O-line in 2024.

If even TWO of the reports that Young is throwing it accurately to Everyone, Everywhere, All the time is true, *that* is still what most sports pundits consider a major criteria for Good Quarterback. The only time Cam hit a receiver on ‘up’ throw in red zone, Devin Funchess reached OVER a Redskin defender from behind to pluck what would have been an easy INT free. https://www.panthers.com/news/devin-funchess-becomes-first-nfl-player-to-sign-professional-basketball-contract (Who knew he was this good an athlete?)

Chuba Hubbard is the stalking horse for Panthers running game – at least right now. He’s been a grinder (3.9/carry) and scored 12 TDs for Panthers, five in ’21 when McCaffrey was the lead back and got traded, five last year (238 carries/902 yds) when there was NOT a great O-line in big picture. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/4241416/chuba-hubbard

If only thing that’s come out of camp about Miles Sanders is he’s lost some weight, Canales still likes crowds in RB and TE rooms.

Sizeable IFs

Austin Corbett’s move to center (post-knee surgery) and early addition of free agent guards Hunt, Lewis to run with the extremely solid Taylor Moton at right tackle, and betting on a better, remotivated Ikem Ekwonu on the left, is highly anticipated. Corbett has never played center as a professional, Ekwonu’s rep took a righteous dinging in a sophomore season full of penalties and shredding by blitzers that ruined Young’s first season.

Brady Christiansen will be backing up most line positions, but people will be leaving camp sooner vs. later if results are lacking. Morgan replaced Rashaad Penny’s retirement in less than a day. There’s already position competition gents… Cade Mays (3 yrs.)? Stephenson, excuse me, Steven Sullivan?

Solid Credit for upgrades to receiving corps

Best news for WR room is (seriously) that Jonathan Mingo spent time with Panthers great Steven Smith, Sr. during off-season. Mingo has all the physical tools, as does Terrance Marshall, and by all accounts, Ian Thomas has shown something under Canales early coaching. Keep the standard of ‘Whatever improves the competitive outlook of team’ in mind. Football Operations is getting great PR for consistent moves, and yes, it still seems #MrTeppers$ is being invested appropriately and without any hoo-ha.

When talking best moves on upgrading front, getting All Pro who runs great patterns Diontae Johnson as WR1 for CB Donte Jackson, who was about to become an economic cut ($14.5M), tops the trade list. A close #2, because Charlotte has gotten some quality personnel on the roster vs. shunned as ungood place to be, is Xavier Leggette (lee-get), the first round pick Panthers didn’t have going into draft. He’s a rookie most likely to earn a nickname and too modest to accept it. An inch shorter and a ripped 221 lbs., he’s Mushin Muhammad size with serious giddyap, and he’ll be a party to watch happen.

Canales-OC Brad Idzik won’t take as long to get production from him at WR2 as Panthers waited for Ohio St. blur Curtis Samuel to succeed (and then go free agent). Mushin is a franchise great, will be inducted into Ring of Honor with Julius Peppers during Week 8 game vs. Houston Texans.

Ja’Tavian Sanders out of Texas has got to be a prayer answered at tight end. My credo is use that weapon until a defense proves they can stop him, don’t sweat his blocking. Pavoratti didn’t sing the praises of Buicks or Golden Corral, right? Has it only been since 2020 that Olsen has been gone? 15.3yds./catch at Texas and almost elite speed, check, so maybe, please, show us how touches can (always?) equal catches.

Because I like the prospect of calling an obvious event early, mark Sanders down for a red zone TD catch early in season; he’ll filter outside on a goal line defense, be an unstoppable 1-1 cover. You might call it ‘best practices.’

–GShork says, 8/1/24

No pressure on Brooks cutting things up too soon, adding catch-run yardage out of backfield? Noooo, zero expectations…

Hey, WR room still has Adam Thielen, won’t get 1,000 again as primary, but he keeps getting open, so Young has the safety blanket tosses. He’ll earn his check and be a great teammate too. If part of what’s being rebuilt in Panthers organization is culture, with dawgs and foxhole guys in the mix, Thielen deserves to run some routes with daylight between catches and getting thumped by OLBs on a bad team at ending of solid career.