IN THE SOCCER WORLD, THERE WERE THE MAGICAL PEDI OF PELE'..NO ONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD WIDE SPORT OF CALCIO WAS EVER MORE POPULAR THAN PELE"..AT THE END OF HIS BRILLIANT CAREER HE BROUGHT SOCCER TO THE US of A...THE NEW YORK COSMOS WERE BORN AND THERE WAS STILL SOME MAGIC DUST LEFT IN HIS FEET..CAN ANYONE RECALL EVER SEEING A LAST NAME ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAZILLIAN STAR?
IN THE POP WORLD WE HAVE WATCHED THE MATERIAL GIRL REINVENT HERSELF MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS. MADONNA HAS BEEN POP SINGER, LOUSY ACTRESS, WIFE TO AN ASSORTMENT OF BOYTOYS, AND A CONSTANT LIGHTNING ROD TO THE WORLD WIDE PAPPAROZZI...DOES ANYONE HAVE AN IDEA OF HER LAST NAME?...DIDN'T THINK SO.
EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE WE TRY TO GIVE STARS THE "ONE NAME" TREATMENT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THEY ARE REALLY "BIG-STARS."..IN BASKETBALL THERE HAS BEEN "BIRD"..."MAGIC"..."SHAQ"...BUT REALLY?....WE ALWAYS NEW IT WAS SIMPLY larry BIRD...MAGIC johnson AND SHAQ o'neill...NO ONE WAS FOOLED....THEY NEVER DESERVED THE "ONE-NAME' TREATMENT.
BUT.....HERE IN BERGAMO...THERE TRULY IS SOMEONE WITH THE CACHE' TO BE A "ONE NAME " WONDER..HE GOES BUY THE NAME ,,,NUMA....HE IS SIMPLY THE LARGEST ITALIAN EVER..CERTAINLY THERE ARE SOME MEATBALL CHEFFS WHO HAVE MANGIATO THEMSELVES OUT OF THE LA CUCINA...AND THERE IS THE PHENOM BASKETBALL SENSATION WITH THE NEW YORK KNICKS NAMED DANILO GALLINARI..ALL 6'9"BEANSTALK THIN CORPO WHO CAN HOOP.
"NUMA"
NO NO NO...THIS NUMA WITH THE LIONS IS 6'9" AND 350 PLUS POUNDS...NOT FAT...NOT A BEANSTALK..JUST MASSIVE...BUT MUCH MORE THAN LARGE..OH YEAH THERE ARE THE SIZE 18 SHOES...HE HAS TO DUCK SIDEWAYS TO FIT THROUGH THE FRAME OF MOST DOORS..HE IS THE BUTT TO MANY BIGMAN JOKES...IN FACT NOT MUCH BOTHERS NUMA..ALL EXCEPT FOR ONE THING WHICH I WILL GET TO IN A LITTLE WHILE..
ON HIS WAY TO TO PATROL BLIND SIDE
YOU SEE NUMA IS THE TYPE OF ATHLETE THAT NFL SCOUTS DROOL ABOUT...PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF ONE FOOTBALL AXIOM THAT NEVER GETS OLD..."YOU CAN'T COACH SIZE."...HOWEVER, IF HE JUST HAD SIZE I WOULDN'T BE WRITING THIS BLOG RIGHT NOW
NUMA IS AN ATHLETE..WHAT KIND YOU ASK?..HE PLAYED PROFESSIOANL BASKETBALL HERE IN ITALY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS..AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS HE WAS REMARKABLE...NIMBLE LIGHT FEET,...DEFT SOFT BIG HANDS...VERY COORDINATED...NATURAL...AND A THE SAME WEIGHT HE IS NOW...THE 2ND NFL AXIOM ABOUT SIZE IS THIS..IF HE CAN'T MOVE IT THEN HE CAN'T CARRY IT...MEANING, PLENTY OF FAT SLOBS OUT THERE WHO CAN'T GET THE JOB DONE.
NUMA CARRIES HIS WEIGHT WELL....
JUST RECENTLY THE NFL FINISHED THE SCOUTING COMBINE IN INDIANAPOLIS...THE VERY PLACE WHERE MANY TEAMS HAVE A LONG AND TORRID HISTORY OF OVEREVALUATING TALENT BECAUSE OF HOW GUYS RUN AROUND IN SHORTS AND THEY SEE HOW HIGH GUYS CAN JUMP...ALARMINGLY, HOW STUPID NFL SCOUTS ARE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO MEASURING THE MEASURABLES....THE VERTICAL JUMP IS JUST AN EXAMPLE.....THE MOST EXPLOSIVE PLAYER I EVER PLAYED WITH, AND THAT IS WHAT THE VERTICAL JUMP IS DESIGNED TO MEASURE---EXPLOSION, WAS A FIRST BALLOT HALL OF FAMER...DT OF THE DALLAS COWBOYS FOR 15 YEARS BY THE NAME OF RANDY WHITE..HE COULDN'T HIGH JUMP OVER HIS HOME TOWN OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE'S PHONE BOOK.
THEY MAKE THE COMBINE INTO A MEAT MARKET...THEY ALSO ADMINISTER THE WONDERLIC TEST DESIGNED TO SEE HOW SMART PLAYERS ARE..I WONDER WHAT LT#56 OF THE NY GIANTS SCORED ON THE TEST?...OH AND THE QUESTIONS AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING...AND THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT BOYSCOUT IS ALL PART OF THE PROCESS..NONSENSE..ITS THE MOST VIOLENT SPORT ON THE PLANET PLAYED BY VIOLENT PEOPLE..NOT MANY ARE INTO STUDYING THE VIOLIN..KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
ANYWAYS I DIGRESSED TO MAKE A POINT..IF YOU PLOPPED NUMA INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE COMBINE AND LET HIM RUN AROUND FOR 3 DAYS WITH THE REST OF THE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN...HE WOULD BLOW THE PLACE UP WITH SUCH A BUZZ...THIS YEAR OT IS THE POSITION THAT IS THE DEEPEST IN THE DRAFT..AS MANY AS 6 OR 7 GUYS WILL GO IN THE FIRST ROUND...I REMEMBER LAST YEARS #2 OVERALL PICK, JASON SMITH FROM BAYLOR. WATCHED HIM PLAY A COUPLE OF PRESEASON GAMES..COULDN'T BREAK AN EGG...YOU COULD PUT NUMA SIDE BY SIDE AND THE KID WILL HOLD HIS OWN.
NUMA AND GROS....MY GUYS
WHEN I RUN HIM BEFORE PRACTICE THROUGH A SERIES OF INDIVIDUAL DRILLS..THE SIZE 18 HOOFERS DANCE OVER AND IN AND AROUND OBJECTS LIKE HE IS A 7 YEAR OLD PLAYING HOP-SCOTCH IN THE STREET..NEVER A STUMBLE..NEVER A FALL..NEVER A TRIP.
SO NIMBLE THAT HE IS A BLUR TO THE CAMERA
NOW HE IS NOT WITHOUT FLAWS...YES, HE WOULD BE A SENSATION AT THE COMBINE..WHILE HE IS A TALENTED PLAYER, HE HAS ONLY PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR 2 YEARS...HE IS RAW..HE NEEDS TO PLAY..HE NEEDS TO WORK...
MY JOB THIS YEAR IS TO SEE HOW FAR I CAN DEVELOP HIM..HE IS NOT NATURALLY AGGRESSIVE..NOT UNUSUAL FOR BIG GUYS...THE PASSIVITY CAN BE COUNTERED WITH WORK ON TECHNIQUE..
BIG PEOPLE THAT ARE TALENTED AND CAN MOVE ARE A COACHES DREAM..JOHNATHAN OGDEN WAS THE BEST IN RECENT HISTORY...FREAKISHLY LARGE, BUT NIMBLE..COULD SURF...6'9", UNLESS THE AFRO WAS STANDING TALL..HE COULD APPEAR ALMOST 7"...THE SCALE AT THE RAVENS TRAINING CAMP WAS AN OLD MEAT LOCKER SCALE AND TOPPED OFF AT 350.."J.O." WOULD STEP ON AND OFF JUST TO MAKE SURE HE WAS STILL OVER 350..BUT AS PASSIVE AND NICE AND SOFT SPOKEN AS ANY NERD YOU HAVE EVER MET
NUMA IS SIMILAR.....
I ASKED HIM LAST SUNDAY BEFORE OUR GAME WITH THE LAZIO MARINES IF HE EVER GETS PISSED OFF?...HE GLANCED DOWN AT ME WITH HIS MENACING FURROWED BROW...HE PAUSED...FOR A LONG TIME...HE PONDERED...I PATIENTLY WAITED ON WONDERING IF HE HAD A HOT BUTTON I COULD PUSH TO GET HIM MORE AGRESSIVE...THEN HE SPOKE...FIRST THEIR WAS THE TWINKLE IN HIS OCHIALLI...THEN THE CORNER OF HIS MOUTH WAS PIERCED...THEN HE BREATHED DEEPLY AND SAID...FINALLY..."YES, THERE IS ONE THING THAT REALLY UPSETS ME..WHEN PEOPLE TOUCH MY BIKE."..YOU SEE ITS A HARLEY DAVIDSON...AND ITS HIS PRIDE AND JOY..AND NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO LAY THEIR GRUBBY MANI ON IT.
ITALIAN HABITS ARE HARD TO BREAK
OFFENSIVE TACKLES ARE HARD TO FIND...THE REALLY GOOD ONES ARE QUIETLY AGRESSIVE...THEY DON'T START CAMP FIGHTS..THEY MAY FINISH THEM..QUICKLY..BUT THEY DON'T START..THEY DON'T TALK ALOT..THEY LET THEIR PLAYING DO THE TALKING..
THEY ARE BASICALLY GRAZERS...THEY GUARD AND PATROL A 3 BY 3 YARD AREA...THEY WALK A LOT TO AND FROM THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE...THEY KEEP THEIR YARD CLEAN...QB PROTECTION IS THEIR GAME..THEY ARE LIKE ELEPHANTS IN THE SERENGHETTI...FAMILY MEMBERS..HANG WITH THEIR GROUP..NEVER IN TOO MUCH OF HURRY..SNACK ON BRUSH..BUSHES...HERBIVORES...CARRY PEOPLE EFFORTLESSLY ON THEIR ENORMOUS BACKS..FUN..AND PLAYFUL....UNTIL...THERE IS DANGER...AND INSTANTLY THEY CAN RUN SWIFTLY WITH ALMOST ANY ANIMAL IN THE KINGDOM..AND TRUCK ANYTHING IN THEIR WAY
THIS IS THE MINDSET OF OFFENSIVE TACKLES ...THE GOOD ONES IN THE NFL...JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE...COACHES LOVE THIS MENTALITY..THE GOOD ONES DON'T LIVE IN THE WEIGHT ROOM TRYING TO BUILD UP THEIR BODIES..TRYING TO LOOK PRETTY..THE SZE AND STRENGTH AND DISPOSITION IS NATURAL..THINK OF OGDEN...RUNYAN..TRA THOMAS...AND PERHAPS THE BEST EVER..WALTER JONES..PEACEKEEPERS..UNTIL DANGER STRIKES..THEN WATCH OUT..NUMA IS EXACTLY LIKE THIS
NUMA.....OUR PEACEKEEPER
HOLLYWOOD MADE A VERY GOOD MOVIE THIS YEAR CALLED THE "BLIND SIDE."..VERY GOOD MOVIE ABOUT A LARGE ATHLETIC KID FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS..GETS AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRACKS WITH A FAMILY WHO GIVES HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE COACHED AND LOVED AND VOILA!...A STAR WAS BORN..HE NAME IS MICHAEL OHRER..
HE PLAYED COLLEGE FOOTBALL AT OLE MISS..I ANNOUNCED HIS FINAL COLLEGE GAME WHEN OLE MISS PLAYED TEXAS TECH IN THE COTTON BOWL..I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET AND TALK WITH HIM...SOFT SPOKEN..ARTICULATE..SMART..AND FIERCELY COMPETITIVE..WHEN OZZIE NEWSOME MOVED TO DRAFT HIM WITH THE RAVENS 1ST PICK LAST SPRING IT WAS CLASSIC OZZIE...HARDLY EVER A MISTAKE WITH THEIR FIRST PICK..AND OHRER WAS VERY VERY GOOD IN HIS ROOKIE CAMPAIGN..
NUMA WILL NEVER BE A 1ST ROUND PICK...AND HOLLYWOOD WILL NOT COME TO BERGAMO LOOKING TO MAKE A SEQUAL..NUMA IS NOW 29 YEARS OLD...IS A PHYSICAL THERAPISTS HELPING PEOPLE RETURN FROM INJURIES...HE IS PLAYING FOR THE LIONS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ...FOR FUN ..FOR COMPETITION...FOR COMRADERIE..
VERY VERY COACHABLE......A NATURAL
BUT TO ME...HE IS MY BLIND SIDE PROJECT....THERE IS A PART OF ME THAT WONDERS WHAT IF THE NFL GOT A HOLD OF THIS FREAKISH ATHLETE 10 YEARS AGO...BEFORE BASKETBALL...IN HIS YOUNG PRIME..WITH HIS RARE SKILLS...COULD HE HAVE BEEN THE PRODUCT OF A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE..WE WILL NEVER KNOW....FOR NOW I WANT HIM TO GET READY FOR, IRONICALLY ENOUGH, THE CATANIA ELEPHANTS..
NUMA....PREGAME..NEED HIM TO PLAY BIG
OH YEAH....HE HAS A LAST NAME...NUMA MALGARINI.....AND LEAVE YOUR HANDS OFF HIS BIKE...
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