Double Nickel...and Counting

Published continually since 1994

The blurb at the ArmchairQB.com home page reads “My take on football and, from time to time, other things.” but, for the past three decades, I’ve only penned columns about the game I love.

That’s about to change, occasionally, and we’ll start today - my 55th birthday. That’s right - THE GURU has hit the double nickel.

The number that Dikembe Mutombo wore so well. The total that Jordan famously dropped on the Knicks in his 1995 return to the Garden. The limit that Sammy Hagar, after a long flight home, insisted he couldn’t drive.

I was 14 years old when at song hit the airwaves in 1984, a high school kid living in the Denver suburbs. Like most teens, I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

What kind of advice would I give that teenage boy if I had the chance? Well, I guess there are a lot of tidbits I could offer about friendship, finances, and football but, at day’s end, I’d probably keep it simple:

Keep going, trust God and believe in yourself.

When the classes get tougher, the teachers get more demanding, and the stakes get higher.

Keep going, trust God and believe in yourself.

When football gets tougher, the coaches get more demanding, and the stakes get higher.

Keep going, trust God and believe in yourself.

You were built for this moment, built to be a great student, a great friend, a great athlete. Built for this.

Keep going, trust God and believe in yourself.

Fast forward four-plus decades and the past year has been one of significant change for the Williamses, beginning with addresses. Indeed, we left our Battery Park home of 15 years in July, moving to Jersey City to be close to THE TRE MAN’s high school. Thankfully, the transition has been every bit as smooth as the late Luther Vandross’ syrupy voice.

Born in New York City, Vandross passed away in New Jersey in 2005 at age 54 and, like yours truly, was long known for his prodigious appetite. In fact, he allegedly invented the Luther Burger, a decadent concoction with glazed doughnuts forming the bun.

That said, in the last year, there haven’t been many burgers for yours truly. A year ago, I tipped the scales - and everywhere I walked - at 318 pounds. I’m sorry but I have to ask, “How did you people let me get so fat?!?”

This week, I hit 243. No magic formula - just started counting calories, enlisted a fantastic accountability coach from the SupraHuman folks - shoutout to my guy Keagan Barnes! - and that’s it.

Do I feel much differently? Not really, because I felt fine before. Yet, I knew that, with seemingly little warning, I could fall off a cliff and struggle to recover from there. That I could let down my family, friends and so many others to whom I’m accountable.

I guess an old dog can learn a new trick once in a while.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about the possibilities of my new year, beginning today. Excited about experiencing life with family and friends, excited about my potential to grow as a person, excited about my work at EPH2.

And, whether you see me in the next year or not, please know this: I’m grateful for the gift of your friendship. For YOUR time. For YOUR willingness to read this homespun newsletter.

I’m glad we’ve crossed paths over the past 55 years and can’t wait to see what the next five-and-a-half decades bring. Upward and onward, folks. Let’s do this!

#55 is #1 in my book (Photo: New York Post)