TITLES

What is a title and why is it important? The American Heritage Dictionary defines title as "an identifying name given to a book, film or other work" as it's initial meaning. But that's not what I want to delve in, nor do I want to talk about a legal document that binds possession or control to an owner. No, I want to talk about the other usage of the word as it pertains to "a formal appellation, as a rank or office."

I don't come from a predominantly military household, but the importance of recognizing and respecting a peking order or chain of command was highly emphasized and stressed. From the home I was taught that the element that allowed family structure to flourish was the adherence to a precedented blueprint from the family members. The precedented blueprint was quite simple: Respect your elders.

The presence of Grandmother/Grandfather was prevalent from both sides of my family, and I'm lucky for that. When it came to family issues, delegation was always administered from up top, and trickled down to the bottom….bottom meaning the young "churen's" and if you don't abide by rules and regulations, you're getting beat down by anything handy ( i.e. hanger, belt, brush, phone chord, etc.---this mentality came b4 the "wussification of America" as PA Governor Ed Rendell so aptly and recently said following the cancellation of an Eagles game due to snow).

Once the patriarch/matriarch presence of the grandparents were fizzling (only b/c of age), it was up to the parents, uncles, and aunties to steer and guide the family. If you come from a cool family like me, you call your uncles and aunts by their government name. Only special uncles/aunts were addressed with that title. On my mother's side, the Aunti(ie) moniker was reserved for my mom's sister Valda. Conversely on my dad's side (who has no sisters), that honor was left to my Uncle Everett.

Internally, I did notice but never questioned that I reserved these "titles" for certain family members and not all of them, fair or not. That subconsciously taught me the importance of titles. Because I did address them with those titles, Auntie Val never physically disciplined me and showed me much favor. The same for Uncle E. In my dad's absence (school, work), Uncle E schooled me to the streets and supported my sports career….Who knows, maybe they were fueled to go extra hard because of the responsibility their title entailed….

Which leads me to my last and main point: If you have a title, do your best to live up to and represent that title. Not the titles that are gained from reputations and rumor (though that can lead to your title at times), but the title you work hard for. When my dad got his PH. D from Princeton, he told me to always address my school professor as "Doctor" as an acknowledgement of respect and that professor's hard work. He also said if "you're going to be a janitor, be the best janitor ever." No, no one wants to aspire to be a janitor, but if that's your title, take pride and own those janitorial duties ( One of Morehouses' greatest figures, Benjamin E. May's, said, and I'm paraphrasing : "if you do a job, do it so well that no man before you, alive, or after you can do it better.")

Sometimes our titles conflict with our dreams and our delusional perceptions we have of ourselves. So we run from our reality and to a certain degree, our identity. Whatever your title is, embrace it and be the best _______ you are. And remember, only YOU and God can come up with your title.

VICK-tim of the Moment

Earlier in the NFL season, specifically when Philly played Washington on national TV, the world probably bore witness to the greatest singular exhibition and execution of quarterback play when Mike Vick dismantled the Redskins. After 6 total touchdowns , 300+ yards passing and 80 on the ground, it was hard to argue for another qb having a better game then that, past or present.

Of course in this knee-jerk reaction nation we live in, people were (as ESPN's Skip Bayless coins it) "prisoners of the moment" and already crowned Vick as the MVP of the NFL. If there are 3 things this country has subconsciously taught me, it's this: always separate business from pleasure, separate church from state, and America loves a great comeback story.

And that's exactly what that game versus Washington represented to me: the finality and manifestation of a great comeback. I thought his performance on the field was a mere reflection of the man's life coming full circle and how he transformed. In his professional career, he's always been a bird (Falcon, Eagle) so it was poetic justice that he became another bird in front of us: the rising phoenix.

Well several weeks down the road, the wins for Philly keep coming and Mike Vick's play has been stable and consistent. Now I'm realizing the things we're seeing right in front of us is history in the making. He's already the only qb in NFL history with a 1000 yards rushing in a season, but this year he's on pace to be the only player in league history with: 3000+ yards passing, 20+ td passes, 700+ yards rushing, and 10 rushing touchdowns in one season.

Now his #1 competitor for MVP Tom Brady is no slouch or foreigner to big numbers either. The Michigan alum won the MVP in 2007 back as he eclipsed Peyton Mannings record for most touchdown passes in a season at 50. This year seems to be a continuation of that season statistically (30+ touchdowns, 4 interceptions, no interceptions in over 300 passes, best record in the AFC), but the once exception (an exception that may enhance his season in most people's eyes) for him this year is that Brady is doing it without a "household" name wide receiver as future Hall of Famer receiver Randy Moss was shipped earlier this season. Brady's main receivers (wes welker, danny moorehead and deign branch) maybe shorter then your little brother.

So what's the factor(s) that's going to decide who's going to win the award this year? Since their numbers cancel each other out mostly, I'm relegated to use the aforementioned Skip Bayless' "eye test." When you look at Tom Brady, he's physically the prototype specimen for qb: tall (6'5"), traditional pocket passer, and leader. But when you look at Vick, week in and week out, he's the best player on the field! Physically he's average (6'0'', 185 pounds), yet he's anything but average on gameday. Continually outrunning would-be defenders, zipping the ball 70 yards in the air in an effortless flick of the wrist motion, or precise, lob touch passes, he has the complete arsenal.

And besides, in the 3.5 games Vick has missed this year, the Eagles look like a different team. Their offensive scoring and yardage average drops tremendously when he isn't behind center, and their body language looks listless if not lethargic with Kevin Kolb at the helm, not to mention their .500 record. Mike has led them to a winning record and a division title that was favored to be won by the NY Giants. That's no knock to Kevin Kolb (McNabb's initial successor), that's just a reflection of the electricity of Vick and the confidence he instill's in teammates.

At the very least Vick is a pro-bowler and the leagues comeback player of the year, but don't be surprised if he walks away with one of the leagues most prestigious awards.