‘Top Gun‘ (1986) (dir. Tony Scott) starring Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis, and Anthony Edwards
September 14, 2022
The Danger Zone
Papillion La Vista South High School
64 degrees and clear
How long does it take to get from Elkhorn to the Danger Zone? Well, I listed to Kenny Loggins classic hit of the same name about six times on the drive over. I pulled into the parking lot at about 5:00am. I could see Animal House setting up his ShovelFlag. This was going to be fun.
I was immediately impressed at the quality of this AO – hills, walls, and turf! Oh my! We are definitely not in Kansas anymore… wait, how far did I drive?
Animal House and I had a very peaceful set up on the glorious turf field. So peaceful that some doves hung out with us until we turned the lights on.
I then saw my dear friend Convoy! He made the long drive, in part, for my Q – the remainder because this man loves turf workouts almost as much as his beloved Red Wings. The rest of the PAX rolled in – some new faces for me and some I knew from namearamas. If you are the kind of guy that reads backlists, but have not ventured out to a far away AO to Q, then you are missing out!
Had some great mumble chatter with Echo. Low Flow and I compared knee injuries. Then, there were 11 of us.
At 5:15AM, we hit the usual F3 intro. I emphasized that I was not a professional, but that I was really good at injuring myself. No FNGs.
When I explained that I do Burpee Trivia when I Q, my new Sarpy friends looked at me with some apprehension. When I explained that today’s trivia would, of course, be about the movie ’Top Gun’ the PAX looked a little relieved. I then volunteered Animal House to answer the following question:
Q#1: true or false – Top Gun was the recipient of a Golden Globe, a grammy, and an Oscar?
A: True. Correct! Take my breath away by Berlin won an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Song. The instrumental theme song won a grammy.
Bobby Hurleys x 7
WoR
At the field behind the ShovelFlags we did…
SSH x 15 IC
Tappy Taps x 15
Big Ones (20 seconds each side)
Then we did some Broga. The PAX’s apprehension returned. (“Did I get up at 5am to hear some guy from West Omaha tell Dad jokes, ask trivia questions, and do yoga?” Yes. Yes, you did.)
Then we moseyed to a gorgeous wall and did a Wall Pyramid:
But first!
Q#2: Name the 1991 film starring Charlie Sheen that was a comedy spoof of Top Gun.
A: Harding had the answer before I finished the question: ‘Hot Shots!’
Bobby Hurleys x 7
Pre-Thang: Wall Pyramid
Australian Mountain Climbers x 5
Chicken Peckers x 10
Donkey Kicks x 15
BTTW 20 Seconds
10 Count
BTTW 20 Seconds
Donkey Kicks x 15
Chicken Peckers x 10
Australian Mt Climbers x 5
These Sarpy guys are fit! I noticed Harding was really pushing himself – this was a fun morning.
Energized, we ran to the turf field. We set up for two-man grinder after the next trivia question:
Q#3: In the movie, who wins the Top Gun trophy?
A: Harding again! Iceman, played by Val Kilmer. Correct!
Bobby Hurley’s x 7
Tha Thang
Back to the grinder…
One guy runs from the 50 yd line to the end zone to do
Alarm Clocks x 5 (this was new for some guys, so we did a demonstration)
Other guy does AMRAP exercises on this list:
AMERICAN HAMMERS
COPPERHEAD SQUATS
WERKINS
FREDDIE MERCURYS
ALTERNATING SHOULDER TAPS
MONKEY HUMPERS
GAS PUMPERS
LITTLE BABY DIPS
PLANK JACKS
BURPEES
We were about to do Burpees, but then the Q called Omaha. Truck Stop looked disappointed.
I asked Harding to come on up and do the last question.
#4: In the movie, Charlie is serenaded by The song “You’ve lost that loving feeling” as performed by whom?
As a lawyer, I love that he took this literally and said “At first it was Maverick and Goose, and then it was the whole bar!” A righteous answer from my brother Harding!
Bobby Hurleys x 7
6MOM
Beast Mode 30 seconds
Alternating knee taps x 20 IC
Plank 30 seconds
Gator Spears x 20 IC
Chilcut x 30 seconds
Gator Tails x 20 IC
Mosey to Shovel Flags
Namearama – I really enjoyed the Truck Stop honks from the PAX!
Annoucements
Vala’s tickets
Donate to squeaky – check slack
Catamount complex opening 10/4
Only silent prayers today
Top Gun Award
I love that Animal House hands out gold coins to anyone who Qs. Even better, the Q gets to award a gold coin to the PAX of his choosing. No question here: this guy pushed himself physically (and mentally to get the trivia questions correct) throughout the workout: Harding! (he did not say “Why me?!?”)
COT
Like many of you, I grew up with the movie “Top Gun’ – and almost everyone I’ve ever not only likes this movie; they absolutely love it. It was at that moment that I felt it was finally time to confess: For most of my life, I did not like the movie.
(PAX: Shocked): “What about the movie didn’t you like?”
(Me:) “The Ending”
I explained. When I was younger, I didn’t like that Maverick did not win the Top Gun trophy. Clearly, he was the best. It made no sense to me. Especially, because Maverick was at peace with losing.
This year, I watched the movie again. And it clicked: this was a perfect ending.
For me, work was my focus for most of my adult life. It was the most important thing. I was always working to win whatever the “Top Gun Trophy” was at the expense of everything else. It wasn’t until F3 how misguided I realized this was.
Today, I have different priorities because of what I have learned from the concentrica. And re-watching Top Gun…
With gratitutde,
Gator
