In an effort to earn back my Man Card after all those cake decorating posts, I joined a fantasy football league. And I’m in first place heading into the play-offs. Boom.
But this isn’t a post about my fantasy football skillz. This is a post about progressions and the importance of working them…or knowing someone who can.
To win at fantasy, I read a lot about football and listen to sports talk radio. Recently, I heard an analyst comparing Andrew Luck and RGIII – both rookie quarterbacks who were very successful in college. But both are treated very differently by their coaches in the pros.
RGIII’s coach is letting him run something called the option offense. In the option offense, on a passing play, the quarterback has one primary receiver he’s supposed to throw to. If that guy isn’t open the quarterback can run the football himself. He could also find another open receiver but there’s no pressure to do that when you’re RGIII, arguably the fastest man playing quarterback in the NFL. If the primary receiver isn’t open just run past everybody!
Andrew Luck, on the other hand, is running a traditional pro-style offense. When the play calls for a pass, he looks for the primary receiver first. But if that guy isn’t open Andrew has to “work his progressions.” That means he looks to see if the number two receiver is open, and number three, and the tight end, the running back… If the ideal isn’t possible, his job is to see new possibilities and execute them.
The analyst wasn’t saying that one quarterback was better than the other, but was saying that – right now – Andrew Luck’s job is harder. “It’s easier to keep the ball and run it when you’re as fast as RGIII than it is to stand in the pocket – with guys running at you trying to take your head off – and look at every other option, weigh which one is the best and then execute. Oh, yea, and you’ve got three seconds to do all that in!”
Andrew Luck is a smart guy. So is RGIII. But RGIII doesn’t have to be.
Micah is my booking guy, road manager and sometimes banjo-playing background-singing partner on stage too. (And Matt Redman lookalike) His most important job is getting me gigs. If I’m not on the road kids aren’t getting sponsored and he and I can’t pay the bills either. It’s kinda important work Micah does.
And what Micah does well as a booking guy is work his progressions. In early Fall, for instance, I was invited to be the opening act on a large Christmas tour. But in November that tour folded and Micah and I were suddenly without work for the Winter.
Micah’s a smart guy. And because of situations like this – to book any independent artist – he has to be.
Deadlines were rushing at him. I was calling him asking what the plan was. But he stood in the pocket and scanned the field for options that would pay his bills and mine, and benefit Compassion well. Within a couple days he pitched me the idea of putting together an acoustic advent tour of our own. I quickly created a graphic and wrote a blog post and Tweeted and Facebooked while Micah sent out an email blast to potential promoters.
Touchdown! We got more invitations than we had openings for on the calendar! This is my busiest Winter in years. All because Micah didn’t quit when Plan A fell threw. He worked his progressions.
There are better independent singers and songwriters out there. But they’re not busy and they’re not selling records. They need an Andrew Luck on their team.
Everyone does. We all need those people who see the possibilities when the ideal falls through. Do you have one of those? Can you be one of those?
Lindsay says:
I <3 Andrew Luck! As a lifelong Colts fan, I'm quite lucky to have been able to cheer for two incredible men as QB1!
As for Micah, I've said it all along, but I was delighted when you announced he'd be your new road manager. Such a great partnership! I'm so thankful that you guys have a nice, full Winter line-up. 🙂 Way to go, Micah!
Kris says:
I confess, the football talk leaves me a bit bleary-eyed, I’m such a girl when it comes to dudes wearing tight pants and piling on each others heads. BUT, I get what you’re saying and thank God for people like Micah–for him specifically, and for a God who never ceases to swing wide the gates of provision where His children are concerned. I’m bummed you won’t be anywhere near Columbus Ohio, but I’m crazy happy about this twist in events. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow. Woot!
Brad says:
Yep, Micah rocks! Hope we can find a guy like that at some point.
Cheri says:
Praise God for Micah and you Shawn! Yes and Micah can even work his progressions on stage when the banjo strap breaks. He stays in the pocket and gets it done! So glad that you are booked and spreading your passion for Compassion to more lives who need to hear God’s message through you. You have a great way of delivering the message.
Jen (Balancing Beauty and Bedlam) says:
Hmmm – you are interested in football? You talk fantasy football? I would have never known!! 😉
And so glad Micah persevered, but even more glad that he left a week open in November so we could share Peru with others.
Kari says:
Great post, and I’m thrilled for your busy Winter!
I do have to admit that before I actually read the post, I felt compelled to check out the cake-decorating posts, and so got my daily quota of belly laughs for the day.
Bless you guys. I’m taking a moment now to pray for tons of new sponsorships!
Matthew (FzxGkJssFrk) says:
Hmm. 1) No – never have – and 2) probably not.
In other news, I closed my music bank account today. Sometimes one has to recognize reality in order to make progress.
Great analogy, BTW. I suppose if I don’t have Luck I’m just relying on Providence. (sad trombone)
Jason Dollar says:
Shaun, you are describing a 1 Cor 12 scenario (“On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensabe…”)
But I’m curious (and this is a serious question). Does it ever bother your relationship that Micah is the engine that “books the gigs” while you are the popular guy on stage?
I don’t mean to pry with the question. And I certainly appreciate your tribute in this post to Micah, which is well-written and well-deserved. But I’m probably not the only one who wonders about this type of thing, and it might be helpful for the body of Christ as a whole to hear how this type of relationship fleshes out in your case.
Bravo to you both. Bravo mostly to Christ.
Thomas says:
I’m still not sure if you have earned your Man card yet by playing and leading at fantasy football. Maybe after you rebuild an engine or transmission, do a brake job on your car, hang some drywall, or shingle a house can the discussion come up about a Man card.
All kidding aside, you earned your Man card a long time ago. Being active in children’s lives, loving your family is what earned you that Man card.
Thomas
Uche says:
Micah is the man!