KEEPING THE BLUR IN FOCUS

I had the absolute pleasure of attending and volunteering at the National Premiere of the inaugural Branson Wright film documentary "The Blur" The Dwight Anderson Story: From Stardom to Streets to Survival in Dayton, Ohio last night. As a friend of the Producer Branson Wright (full disclosure here) I could not be prouder. As a fan of sports and proponent of documenting our history I am encouraged that we are capturing more of our stories to help shape, in this case, future athletes and the decisions they make as it affects their life choices.

Blur Producer Branson Wright with the Official Blur T-Shirt

Keeping the Blur in focus, and the many other documentaries and films that chronicle our truths is necessary to ensure preservation of our past. We've seen any number of stories hit the big and small screen and we're left wondering how you forgot this key element; why you didn't interview the friend or family member who knew the real back story. Yet we understand their end game was ratings or embellishment versus the truth. But with the Blur we have added another critical piece of cinematography straight from the community to the screen instead of the other way around.

A capacity crowd with overflow at the premiere in Dayton, Ohio

I remember this film's birth and the 6 year journey. I know how many times Branson wondered how do I get the next piece and parcel completed. His unwavering faith and inner-circle of support fueled by the need got him to this premiere and on to the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival September 19th. The outpouring of love and community pride was the ultimate confirmation of his work and the indication that it was worth the pursuit of truth.

With the launch and long running ESPN 30 for 30 series, the market has proven unequivocally that the interest in redemptive and survival stories are in demand. In truth funding is always the key driver as to whether these are ever brought to life and it takes true visionaries and philanthropic patrons to push the project across the finish line and into our view. The out and out truth is this one film and a few others typically find their way to the finish line with the former and rarely the latter. The cutting room floor is laden with nearly complete films buried under debt and deceit, false promises and vanishing investors who claimed to see the vision, proclaiming to be the missing link and/or champion of the cause. But GOD, as we say boldy, saw this to completion matching the blessing of recovery that accompanied Dwight Anderson's ability to not only be in the audience but to answer all questions with candor and concern.

Former NFL Running Back Keith Byars, Branson Wright and The Blur Dwight Anderson

I would venture to say in every urban community there are stories and mythical story lines that would capture our imaginations and pierce our hearts with compassion for the individual struggles of these folk heroes and sports martyrs. But who will tell the story? Who will document the truth? Who will fund and finance the film to the screen? As the African Proverb says "Until the lion tells his side of the story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter."  We have let the hunter tell our stories long enough and they forgot to mention what really matters most. The Blur used the community lens to show and share the truth. May this open the floodgates for more of our stories to hit the screen and more of us to support them. That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

SHARING MY VOICE

I was pleased to be a guest columnist thanks to my man Paul Daugherty of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Paul has covered every major sporting event for a number of years now and has written a beautiful book about he and his daughters life. Check it out, it is very enlightening to learn how he and his wife raised their daughter like anyone else despite her Down Syndrome.

I share some of my thoughts on LeBron, UC's basketball venue, Cincinnati being a sports town and so much more. Enjoy!

The Morning Line Courtesy of the Cincinnati Enquirer

That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat...

TENNIS TOWN

This week places Cincinnati at the heart of the Tennis World with the Cincinnati Western and Southern Tennis Open. With $2 million in prize money available this is no lightweight tour stop. In fact many players acknowledge that this tournament is needed to ready them for the pinnacle of tournaments the U.S. Open happening next month.

The biggest names in Tennis including Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and others make this a can't miss tournament for Tennis fans and sports fans alike. The tournament is growing as evidenced by the periodic expansion of the facilities and events leading up to the tournament itself. The tournament director Vince Cicero has created a world class feel to the tournament with his staff and the support of the title sponsor and benevolent volunteers.

If you have never been to the Western and Southern Tennis Open, I would call that an unforced error. The excitement is real; upsets are bound to happen and for novice sports fans, at some point you'll see some plays on ESPN's Top Ten. Cincinnati is a sports town and a Tennis town make no mistake. It is not uncommon to see players out at restaurants, enjoying Kings Island or taking in a movie while they're here, because the fan base is very respectful and welcoming. I have heard many a player speak to the uniqueness of the region as a value add in making the decision to come here year in and year out.

So if you haven't been get to an early round just to get your feet wet. If you've not been in a while maybe it's time to dust off the casual clothes and the hat (just in case your seat parks you in the sun) and if you're going again take someone new with you to introduce them to a tournament that is known throughout the Tennis world as a must play event. Yes Cincinnati hosting Tennis akin to major markets on a global scale.

This year's tournament won't be any different but actually could be better. Serena needs a great tune up for the Open as she goes for the elusive grand slam and as great as Djokovic has been, he has one tournament trophy yet to hoist as champion and it's this one. Those two story lines alone are reason enough to attend and support the Western Southern Open. And just in case you think I'm writing this for compensation, I am. By having the pleasure of saying this Tournament is in my back yard and not yours is all the compensation I need to encourage you to check it out. Trust me millions around the world will be, wishing they could see it live; and you can

. That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

PRE-SEASON REASONS

I understand that fans are not necessarily enamored with pre-season but if you're a coach you certainly love it. There is no other way to evaluate rookies, emerging players and if you have new coordinators, new schemes. For fans we know the excitement of new football season is tempered by the fact your favorite players will probably make a mere cameo in pre-season game one. Obviously they already know what is expected of them and secondly it reduces the potential for injury I would summarize.

So as the Cincinnati Bengals prepare to meet the New York Giants tonight at Paul Brown Stadium there are lots of things for you to set your sights on. Veteran Andrew Whitworth is down 40 pounds and looks like he added 5 years to his career. Former Green Bay Packer A. J. Hawk will see his first action as a Bengal and certainly will be welcomed as a native of Southwest Ohio and Ohio State. I will be curious to see the defensive backfield players like Dre Kirkpatrick who continues to stake his claim as a starter and Darqueze Dennard try to justify his value as a number one pick.

The Bengals also drafted one of the most exciting players from the college ranks and he should not only add excitement and energy that the fans love but the yardage and field position the coaches care about. If you love and play video games the name Super Mario is an appropriate one for Mario Alford who joins a long list of West Virginia players who have donned the stripes including one Adam Jones who has been Mr. Electric and now coupled with Super Mario will make it hard for a special teams coach to sleep at night.

As you can see these story lines and so many more are why pre-season is worth the watch. Keep it in perspective because sooner than later the starters will be front and center and the the season will be in play. Who knows; tonight may be the start of a love affair with a new fan favorite. Super Mario seems to be the obvious one but in the midwest the hard working guy usually gets the nod and a spot on the roster. That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

THE EYE IN THE SKY DOESN'T LIE

Seldom noticed by fans but highly regarded by teams are the cameras that sit high atop practice and games on a daily basis. Football is like a car engine with so many moving parts that it's hard to keep up with everything going on if you're a Head Coach like Marvin Lewis or coordinator like Hue Jackson or Paul Guenther.

So how do you evaluate, review and even assess schemes, packages and their effectiveness? Technology certainly is your friend and your eyes give you the close-ups you need but when you need to see all the moving parts at once there is nothing better than the Eye in the Sky. This addition to football and others necessary activities has become a fixture for a lot of valuable reasons. And maybe one day the drone(s) may retire the crane but certainly not the camera. The amount of information it yields is priceless and even on game day the camera that sits high atop the field is sending coverage information that allows team to possibly adjust or initiate plans to succeed.

When novice football fans ask for tickets they certainly tell on themselves by asking to be as close to the field as possible. Real football fans, those that know the game want to be elevated in order to see as many moving parts as possible. If the team is in a cover 2 zone, you can see whose out of position, or if a safety rushes to play run and it's play action you can see a speedy receiver already with an advantage before the quarterback throws the ball. On offense did a lineman get his hands on the defensive player or a fullback pick up an on coming blitz? Depending on how close you are or how fast your eyes can move you may miss it but not the Eye In The Sky. When it comes time to break down film, review the game or put in packages, coaches have to see as much as possible and that is the value of that single camera and camera man high up on the crane. To capture what the eye on the ground might miss and as the pro players and coaches will tell you: "The Eye in the Sky Doesn't Lie" and that's good for those who make great plays and not so good for those who don't. For those trying to make the team, prove themselves or hang around another year it could be your friend or foe. But one things for sure it will always be there for the proof; the whole proof and nothing but the proof. That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

THEY MAKE IT L.A.S.T.™

The Cincinnati Bengals, fairly or unfairly, used to receive a lot of criticism for players who chose themselves to go astray or drift from the confines of football and what is deemed appropriate behavior. What's more complex is those usually filing or reporting the complaints were no better but simply didn't live in the spotlight. I learned a long time ago that we're all just like the people we criticize whether we believe it or not. Well that's good news if I'm like these two former and highly successful Cincinnati Bengals Dave Lapham and Takeo Spikes.

I had a chance to sit with them this week as we talked football, life and family. One common denominator about players who are successful off the field as much as they were on the gridiron is their down the field of life vision. Dave spent ten years in the NFL as a multi-purpose lineman and two more years with the now pre-historic USFL. He was consistent, reliable and part of the Bengals first Super Bowl team that ultimately lost to those find-a-way-to-win 49ers. Now a 30 year veteran of football broadcasting including the analyst for Bengal Radio, he has seen the good and the bad in players past and present and will be happy to tell you there are so many good character players on the team now it's hard to remember when it wasn't. I have never worked in radio with a more prepared, detail oriented broadcaster than Dave Lapham with the exception of Dan Hoard (On Twitter) so I'll call that one a tie. If you ever get the chance to talk football with Dave Lapham you will never watch the game the same way again.

There was nothing ordinary about Takeo Spikes (webpage) when he came into the NFL. The first round pick out of Auburn was noted for his speed, tackling ability and yes his large neck. But I can tell having worked with him on the marketing side when he first arrived in town is that he is goal oriented and task focused. Not many players have goals above their headboard to remind them why they are getting up everyday to play this game and play it better than most. As a result his 15 years in the NFL were not by luck but by hard work, professionalism and commitment to his craft. Takeo could have played in eras that preceded his because he was that tough, brash and respected the game. As he now spends some time on the NFL Network, in media for the ACC and is involved in several other ventures, I can tell you he is already evaluating how it will all come together. Takeo Spikes looks as if he can walk on the field right now and give you 10 tackles and 4 assist yet as he says the scars are hidden so thats just conversation for now.

Either way it goes there are so many other Bengal Players who have successfully transitioned into great media and business careers off the field it would take a while to document them all. Solomon Wilcots, Cris Collinsworth and Bob Trumpy to name a few have really help establish the Bengal to media pipeline as a viable one. When I started a concept called "Make it Last™"Life After Sports Today this is what the end result looks like. We all know football careers and life won't last forever but some of us pretend otherwise. These former Cincinnati Bengals and others have set a tone for doing it with the end in mind. They realize being a pro is more akin to your personality than your profession. That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller

...AND WE'RE OFF!

Training camp has started and so goes the dreams launched of teams, players and fans with the desire to be the last team standing holding the trophy high in the sky by the San Francisco Bay in 2016. Super Bowl L would be a fitting place for the Cincinnati Bengals seeing that the legendary Paul Brown is as much the NFL as the football itself. His innovations and formative mind is evident in every part of football.

So as I , albeit early in the season, I see a team and coaches pushing from the word go to get it right, consistent and make it habitual. Winning teams master the fundamentals and techniques that is success in the NFL and judging by the competitive nature of the WR's and DB's the challenge is on. Adam Jones was reminding Andy Dalton your best throws are needed going against someone of his caliber so keep that in mind as we practice. Players were working at speeds reserved for games but this Training Camp theme seems to be "Game On" so starting in 5th gear is the pace.

No one knows where their team will end up but without injuries (and thank goodness Michael Johnson's injury wasn't season ending) this team has more weapons than Apple has gadgets that dominate the market. With the return of wide receiver Marvin Jones and tight end Tyler Eifert this offense can be as intimidating as any that the league has to offer. I know, you're saying but with respect to the quarterback and to that I say some the quarterback doesn't have to win the game, just don't lose it.

With another of Hue Jackson at the helm of the offense and another off-season with Andy expect improvement from the QB position from game one. While expecting that maybe they can expect to you be optimistic from day one too? After all it is a team game and that team includes you the fan...

So let the games begin after the practices end; but in the meantime lets enjoy the start of what we hope is a season with a few losses and one Big L as in Super Bowl L. That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.