October 31st, 2005
I was reminded of another coach of the Minnesota Vikings while watching that dewdropper Mike Tice towering on the sideline in
Only once in my life have I seen a more downtrodden head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, it was at a pre-Thanksgiving cocktail party in 1984 and the man I saw was Les Steckel. It was the day after the Chicago Bears had completely mutilated his football team 30-3 and the Minnesota Vikings record stood at 3-10.
Some degrees of separation landed us at that cocktail party together and after I drank enough scotch a sentimental tendency kicked in. I had wandered into the kitchen to make another scotch. Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement in the back den. I walked to the doorway and Steckel’s hand was gripping his forehead like he was preparing to offer himself up as a poorly thrown knuckleball. No one was in the room with him, the kitchen buffering him from a floor flushing cocktail party a couple of rooms away with lots of flowered skirts, peanuts and scotch. I was forced to feel pity for the man sitting by himself in the corner, his face tangled from being severely out coached for 13 consecutive weeks. An orange hue, projected from the raging fire blazing a foot from his chair, flickered on his deranged face. I feared he might take the easy way out by tumbling into the fire. I kept an eye on him because I thought he might botch that too, setting the whole dwelling ablaze with his flaming body hurtling itself around the house setting curtains and dresses on fire.
I asked him if he needed a drink. He didn’t even acknowledge my presence. I asked him again and this time he lifted his head up toward me, his mouth was slightly open and traces of snot lingered on his upper lip with sweat glistening on his orange face. A Chet Baker vinyl was playing on the record player positioned next to the desk. I was emotionally struck down by the combination of Chet Baker’s voice and the sight of the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings in an unhinged state. A more unique moment I cannot recall; the den was a dangerous cocktail at that moment and I figured I should try to add some ice. I told him, “Steckel, you need a drink, whatta you want?” Steckel looked up at me just as The Thrill is Gone started on the record player. Unbelievably, the hayburner started crooning, “I can see it in your eyes, I can hear it in your sighs, feel it in your touch and realize the thrill is gone, the nights are cold, for love is old . . . "
I was shaken to the core, my senses rattled and my glass already empty. I’m not sure who’s den Les Steckel was sitting in but at that moment that place on earth was morosely and solely his. I thanked Steckel for the song and left the doorway with a pang of sadness penetrating the leather like exterior of my face, a frown on my open mouth.
I looked in on him a couple of scotches later and he was gone but a door leading to the back yard was open. There was a chill in the air created by the football ghost who recently vacated the room. I walked to the screen door and saw a figure on the lawn. I shook my head in a state of disbelief while the rest of the party seemed to be ignoring the elephant in the backyard, flat on his back, staring at the stars, contemplating his life in the football universe.
10 comments:
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors
oakley sunglasses
tiffany and co
pandora jewellery
nba jerseys
miami heat jersey
omega watches for sale
moncler outlet online
pandora charms
https://afu.ac.ae/ar overview
https://afu.ac.ae/ar sru/vision-and-mission
https://afu.ac.ae/ar goals
https://afu.ac.ae/ar university-council
https://afu.ac.ae/ar messages
https://afu.ac.ae/ar recruitment
https://afu.ac.ae/ar qualifications
https://afu.ac.ae/ar promotion
https://afu.ac.ae/ar professional-development
https://afu.ac.ae/ar evaluation
https://afu.ac.ae/ar full-time
https://afu.ac.ae/ar corporate-governance
https://afu.ac.ae/ar undergraduate-programs
https://afu.ac.ae/ar graduate-programs
https://afu.ac.ae/ar academic-honors-list
https://afu.ac.ae/ar undergraduate-admission
https://afu.ac.ae/ar admission/afu-general-admission-requirements
https://afu.ac.ae/ar admission/graduate-admissions
https://afu.ac.ae/ar collection
https://afu.ac.ae/ar opening-hours
https://afu.ac.ae/ar location-map
https://afu.ac.ae/ar academic-records-policy
https://afu.ac.ae/ar tuition-and-fees
https://afu.ac.ae/ar english-language-requirements
https://afu.ac.ae/ar general-education-requirements
https://afu.ac.ae/ar financial-aid-and-scholarship
https://afu.ac.ae/ar classification-of-regular-students
https://afu.ac.ae/ar registration-rules
https://afu.ac.ae/ar examination-by-laws
https://afu.ac.ae/ar grading-system
https://afu.ac.ae/ar transcripts
https://afu.ac.ae/ar academic-probation
https://afu.ac.ae/ar study-time-limitation
https://afu.ac.ae/ar graduation
https://afu.ac.ae/ar academic-honours
https://afu.ac.ae/ar refund-policy
https://afu.ac.ae/ar vision
https://afu.ac.ae/ar Admission-&-Registration/vision-and-mission
nfl jerseys
canada goose jackets
mlb jerseys
kate spade handbags
michael kors outlet clearance
canada goose jackets
mbt
ugg sale
coach factorty outlet online
michael kors
20171123yuanyuan
adidas shoes
coach factory outlet
christian louboutin
ecco shoes for men
coach outlet online
canadian goose
jordans
cheap oakley sunglasses
ralph lauren outlet
puma shoes
mt0319
coach outlet
michael kors outlet online
kate spade
ralph lauren polo
pandora outlet
pandora charms
ralph lauren polo
ralph lauren outlet
uggs outlet
pandora charms
chenminghui20180331
What an unflattering description.
Red Bottom Shoes
Pandora Outlet
Pandora Jewelry Official Site
Air Max 270
Jordan 11
Jordan 4
Yeezy boost 350 v2
Pandora
Pandora Outlet
Ryan20190108
Jordan 4
Jordan 11
Air Max 270
Adidas Yeezy
Air Jordan 11
Pandora Official Site
Adidas Yeezy
Pandora Jewelry Outlet
Air Max 270
Paul20190318
ارخص شركة نقل عفش بمكة ارخص شركة نقل اثاث بمكة
شركة نقل عفش من المدينة المنورة الى جدة
شركة شحن عفش من السعودية الى الامارات
شركة نقل عفش من الرياض الى الدمام
شركة نقل عفش من جدة الى الاردن
s5s01s2u95 q7y73v3i96 b1w65v9p02 i5b22n3e18 d3i58m2m07 l8w60z3u75
Post a Comment