An Open Letter To An Aged Peyton Manning

If you do not know who Peyton Manning is, then quite frankly, it is time for you to come out of your shell. Peyton Manning is the NFL’s biggest name in the modern era, is the greatest regular season quarterback who ever lived, and is one of the greatest quarterbacks ever period. Here is an open letter to Peyton Manning from me.

“Mr. Manning, let me begin by congratulating you on one of the greatest football careers ever. You are without a doubt, a first ballot hall of famer, and rightfully so. But, as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. We have enjoyed every moment of your career, but at the same time, Father Time is calling for you. Before you think about putting it off, remember, Father Time waits for nobody. If you believe you can defeat Father Time, let me also remind you that Father Time has never lost. He is undefeated, perfect, and without a loss since the beginning of time. Some may take longer than others, but eventually, Father Time defeats every opponent he comes up against.

I know you might also say that you think you can still play this game. Well, this may sound very brutal, but it is the truth. Sorry Mr. Manning, but you have looked old, tired, and uninterested the entire season. If I were your adviser, I would strongly advise you to walk away now with your health and dignity. I understand what you are chasing, it is the same thing Brett Favre was chasing. You, like Favre did, want the one thing you don't have, a Super Bowl MVP. I’ve got some bad news for you though, it's not going to happen. There is a reason why it is called "the prime of your career", and that prime does not take place at age 40. Brett Favre found that out the hard way as well. This is a young man's game.

You were beat on Sunday by young man named Andrew Luck who is better than you now. I know what you see when you look at Mr. Luck, you see yourself 15 years ago. You see a young, talented quarterback on the rise, destined for greatness, much like you once were. It is the same thing Brett Favre saw when he looked at Aaron Rodgers. I understand it must make you older guys jealous whenever you do that. Mr. Luck will continue his ascension to the NFL's elite next week when he defeats your career adversary, the legendary Tom Brady, and advances to the Super Bowl. After that he will complete his rise when he defeats the Seattle Seahawks on the biggest stage in football and walks away with the Lombardi Trophy as well as the Super Bowl MVP award, then rides back to the house that you built in Indianapolis a hero.

If you are reading this you must not feel too good about yourself at this moment. But Peyton, you can’t play forever. Nobody can. You have nothing to be ashamed of and you have nothing left to prove to anyone. Everyone enjoyed every moment if your great career,  and you can walk away with your head held high. So go ahead, take your millions, your health, your dignity, walk away for good, and start preparing that future hall of fame speech that you will need ready in five years. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors Mr. Manning, and one last time, thank you for a great career.” 

Milwaukee Wave 2014-15 Season Schedule

After opening the 2014 season at St. Louis in November, the Milwaukee Wave had only been home once until this weekend. The longest-running professional indoor soccer franchise in the country played just a single game at the new named UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena during its first eight games of the season, a win against the Ambush. But, on Saturday, the team returned to Milwaukee for a six-game home stand, defeating the Tulsa Revolution 9-3 in front of a capacity crowd.

Players commented to reporters that they were relived to finally have some consistent time back at home. Midfielder Ian Bennett said that the bus trips and extensive plane rides were starting to take a toll on the players, evident during the team's final three games of the away-stint, which were all losses.

First-year head coach Giuliano Oliviero said at a press conference that he was disappointed about the sour end to the road trip, hoping to return with at least a 5-3 record. Instead, the Wave enter the home-stand with at .500, with four wins and four losses.

Saturday's game against the lowly Revolution, who have only won a single game this season, bumped the Wave to 5-4, good enough for second place in their division. The unbeaten Missouri Comets maintain a commanding lead of the central division, however, with 8 wins and no losses to date.

The Wave host Missouri on New Year's Eve in Milwaukee as the third game of the current home-stand, which lasts through January 16.

Along with Missouri, the Wave will also welcome Detroit, Rochester, Chicago, and Baltimore to the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena during the six-game home-stand.

Milwaukee Wave Remaining 2014-15 Season Schedule

December 27 – vs. Detroit (1:05PM)

December 31 – vs. Missouri (3:05PM)

January 3 – vs. Rochester (6:05PM)

January 10 – vs. Chicago (6:05PM)

January 16 – vs. Baltimore (7:05PM)

January 24 - @ Detroit (6:05PM)

January 25 – vs. Wichita (3:05PM)

February 6 - @ Tulsa (7:35PM)

February 7 - @ Wichita (7:05PM)

February 14 – vs. Syracuse (1:05PM)

February 21 – vs. Detroit (6:05PM)

Milwaukee Air and Water Show | Fun Along The Lakefront

Did you think that Summerfest is in a class of its own, as one of Milwaukee's largest annual summer festivals? Think again. The Milwaukee Air andWater Show returns to the downtown lakefront this year, attracting nearly 1,000,000 people to the just two-day event in recent years. The 2014 performance, which will be held on the weekend of June 21, is already predicting the largest attendance in the show's ten year history. Free to the public, the best views can be had along Lincoln Memorial Drive on the city's east side as the planes circle Lake Michigan.

This year's Milwaukee Air and Water Show marks a reunion with the famous Blue Angels. The Navy-based stunt team was the show's headlining attraction in 2010, and was scheduled to perform in 2013, though was absent due to budget limits. President of the event, Paul Rogers, told reporters that his group was very excited to welcome back the Blue Angels, further placing the event as one of the best in the country.

Army branch counterparts, the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team will join the Blue Angels as the top-billing in the 2014 show. Stunt pilot's Sean Tucker and Mike Goulian will also be there, along with Team Oracle and a number of other impressive acts and aircraft. Tucker is one of the world's most renowned performance pilots, earning hundreds of honors and awards since introducing his act in the 1970s. He has been named to the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and is recognized as a Living Legend in Aviation.

Not often thought of as a hotbed of flight, Milwaukee's flying past dates back over 40 years. Rudy Malnati, now director of the Air and Water Show, helped to organize the city's first aviation festival in the 1970s. Regular events began in 2002, when Italian Fest hosted an air show. Major sponsor funding began in 2004, the first year the event was dubbed the Milwaukee Air and Water Show.  This year's show will take place from 10AM to 4PM on both Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22. Times are dependent on weather. 

Milwaukee Wave New League Information | Giuliano Oliviero Replaces Tozier

Things continue to become brighter for the once lowly-looking Milwaukee Wave indoor soccer club. Just a month after falling from the playoffs for the second time in as many years, acknowledging a lawsuit against owner, Susan Black, and losing veteran head coach, Kieth Tozer, the longest-running indoor soccer franchise in the country seems to have found its feet again. The team joined a number of counterparts from the former Major Indoor Soccer League in transferring to the newly formed Professional Arena Soccer League in May. The Wave's new league features teams from the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and is the largest entity of its kind in North America.

This week brought another bit of good news, as the franchise announced it had hired Giuliano Oliviero to fill the vacancy left by Tozer, who left the position this off-season after over 20 years as head coach.

Oliviero is no stranger to Milwaukee or its fans. The 40 year old Vancouver native has worn a Wave jersey for nearly his entire career as a professional soccer player and coach, starting in 1995 and returning in 2003 after spending five seasons elsewhere. He was promoted to an assistant coaching position under Tozer in 2008, maintaining his duties as a player as well.

When asked this week by reporters if he would now retire as a player, Oliviero was vague, though he did say that his full concentration would now be on coaching.

Regardless of weather he continues his dual roles, Oliviero has made quite the impact for the Wave both on and off the field. He was one of the most important ambassadors between Tozer and the players during his tenure as an assistant, also helping to broaden the team's scouting net, recruiting multiple internationals. As a player himself, Oliviero earned second-place in Rookie of the Year voting in 1995 and is currently the Wave's sixth all-time leading scorer.

Outside of the Wave, Oliviero lives with his wife and children north of Milwaukee. He also coaches at Waukesha West High School.

Stepping-up to fill head assistant role for the 2014 season will be Wave goalkeeper Nick Vorberg. Vorberg was chosen by Oliviero soon after his own promotion, citing the goalie's 11 years with Milwaukee and his place as team's second-most winningest player.