You can have an interesting story about a person living an interesting life. And if it’s done well, that is just as engaging as the end of the world. A million people dying – we can’t process. One person, we can process. – Patrick Rothfuss
You might be surprised to learn I subscribe to Men’s Journal. Maybe it was the sub-head which got me attention: Live The Interesting Life. I’m entirely up for that. Always have been.
Anyway, there’s an article – as told to Sean Cunningham – in this month’s issue entitled The Art of the Corner: Inside The Mind Of Darrelle Revis. The one page of copy is preceded by five pages of a fashion layout wherein the NFL star models much the same outfits I wore fifty years ago. Tweed, vests, argyle, bow ties… very preppy.
Revis is considered the top shutdown defender in the NFL with all the physical tools for greatness but “the secret to his success has more to do with a fanatical devotion to understanding and outwitting his opponents.” I am thinking I can be as fanatical as the next guy.
Unless, of course, he is an actual fanatic. Then I am not so sure.
Revis breaks down his craft into ten (10) elements.
Study hard. Watch film for hours. Study your opponents’ body language. Look for tells.
Quicken your step. Flexibility is important. Stay loose. Get strong.
Gladhand the refs. Treat the dealer with respect. Be polite to all casino staff.
Trust your intuition. Weigh your options as a student of the game. Study your opponents and be confident with your reads.
Make a push. Disrupt the other players’ timing as much as possible. Try to get the other guy out of his comfort zone.
Watch their eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul, someone once said. Which explains the propensity for sunglasses at the felt.
Play dirty. We don’t mean you should cheat. We do mean bluff, donk bet, change the size of your bets, whatever…be sneaky.
Ignore Peyton Manning. Some of your opponents won’t have a reliable tell. Study them, but do not allow yourself to become confused. You have to know what you want to do.
…and Chad Ochocinco. Forget trash talkers. They are just trying to get you off your game. And you really, truly don’t care what they have to say.
Forget mistakes. Revis explains, “A favorite motto for DBs is ‘Have a short memory.’ If you get beat, don’t dwell. Don’t be yourself up. It’ll get you out of your game. Move on.”
Revis, who held out all of training camp, injured himself during the first game of the regular season. And he’s been ineffective ever since.
So, permit me to suggest some final words of advice: show up on time in shape to play your best.