‘The Quarterback’

The Palisadian-Post presents an homage to Will Rogers’ column, “Will Rogers Says,” with a column by Palisadian Jimmy Dunne—on life in the “greatest town in America.”

At the fantastic USC vs. Notre Dame rivalry this past weekend, I did something pretty fun.

I hung out on the field with a pal for part of the game.

Looking up at an absolutely stuffed Coliseum, hearing the roar of 73,000 passionate fans—was something else.

And some of the plays happened right in front of us. I mean, right in front of us.

I felt like they were going to plow us over.

On one play, USC’s quarterback was scrambling for his life in the pocket in heavy, heavy traffic.

I was stunned at the sound of these human beasts snorting toward him like a stanza of hungry lions charging a helpless gladiator.

He dodged and ducked and swirled, and I don’t know how, somehow spotted a receiver 30 yards downfield—over an army of huge people. And he had the guts to throw it—delivering a bullseye in a receiver’s arms. It was impossible.

I’ll think twice next time I’m sprawled out at home on my comfy sofa, dipping my 13th chicken tender in some snappy sauce—yakking, to an audience of one, my big opinions about what the team should be doing.

Maybe there’s a reason the coach isn’t calling me up at timeouts to get my incredibly brilliant sage advice on what play they should call next.

Here’s what hit me, standing there on that field.

In the day to day of it all, we’re not looking at it on a screen. We’re in it.

We’re the quarterback.

You and me, we’ve got a whole bunch of things charging at us all the time. Sometimes from a blind spot we never even saw coming. Trying to knock us down.

Here’s my holiday wish.

Tonight, before you go to bed, I hope you look in the mirror—and say to yourself, “Cheers to me.”

Cheers for ducking all those quarterback sacks along the journey.

And even better, cheers for when you did get sacked—you got up. You stood up, a little dazed, shook it off, and called another play.

Cheers to when you just put your arm out and ran full-speed around the corner—creating some of the best, wildest, unexpected plays of your life.

What a game. What a game you’ve played.

And what a fantastic highlight reel.

Full of heart. Full of love. Full of joy.

And, even better, you’ve still got plenty of time on the clock.

Jimmy Dunne is a modern-day Renaissance Man; a hit songwriter (28 million hit records), screenwriter/producer of hit television series, award-winning author, an entrepreneur—and a Palisadian “Citizen of the Year.” You can reach him at j@jimmydunne.com or jimmydunne.substack.com.