Give 'em Hell, Rooster

Earlier this week when we had our show with Logan Fano, the subject of Top Gun: Maverick came up. I had not seen it yet, and Jeff and Logan made sure to not give any spoilers. But tonight I rectified that situation.

@rakoto10 has horrible taste in movies - @IanP

I gotta say I agree with Ian on this one and so does everybody else. While the other two said it was just okay and didn't get the hype.

I am ready to declare Maverick to be the greatest sequel of all time. I dare you to find one better that:

• Has multiple decades of pent up hype built on top of a timeless movie
• Has a plot that doesn't feel forced for the sake of having a sequel
• Can be watched as a standalone without feeling like you're missing something
• Has enough hints to the original to bring back the magic without feeling like an homage.
• Cinematography that's never been done before and at times flirts with The Fast & the Furious franchise's level of improbability but it's all real with actual pilots.
• Took one of the most recognizable movie theme songs of the last 40 years and Hans Zimmer-fied it

Maybe 6 months from now it without theater speakers blaring it won't be as cool, but I was on the edge of my seat every second (meaning full reclined shoving my face full of popcorn) and after we walked out my wife said "I want to watch it again".

I can write this without giving spoilers, but the film revolves around Rooster, Goose's son, and his realationship with Maverick as they go fly a mission. There are plenty of moments that call back to role reversals in the first movie, but I think there are some key take aways for life in general we can get out of this.

Play by Bent Rules

"Maverick" is the perfect call sign - the dictionary definition of "an unorthodox and independent-minded person". He's the best raw talent at flying there apparently is in the Navy. He lives on the edge and pushes the envelope. While he may have a little too much fun, he ultimately squares up when it's time to focus and performs.

Being a clutch player gets you a lot of leeway. On the football field, in the office, anywhere. If you deliever when SHTF then you go to go to some of your own orders. The whole team has to play in the system, but when you have the athleticism to go a step outside and make a play - you do it.

Take the Risk

Being a bit of a playboy, Mav has it easy when he gets up in the air. We never hear about his mom. His dad was KIA in 'Nam. He's not married. He doesn't have kids. So I get it, he doesn't have to worry about nearly as much as the other pilots.

In a deck sent to all of their portfolio companies last week, the leadership team at Sequoia Capital discussed being aggressive in times of duress. It was pretty eye opening in terms of their economic outlook, nevertheless it included a quote:

You cannot overtake 15 cars in sunny weather...but you can when it's raining
- Ayrton Senna, Brazilian F1 Driver

I think we can all agree perilous economic times are probably coming up ahead. We're all nervous. Hopefully each of us didn't get caught in the pride cycle and saved for the rainy day we knew would come.

There are tons of companies and fortunes that were started DURING the recession. If you have an idea, or can make a move and you believe in it - take the risk. Multiple of our subscribers are working on launching new businesses right now and we applaud them.

Yeah it could flop. But it could've also flopped in 2017 or any other year too. Part of taking the risk is feeling when to pull the trigger and the timing is right, but you can't play the game scared.

Give 'em Hell

Okay maybe this falls under taking the risk. In the movie, just before they take off on their mission, one pilot says to Goose's son:

Give 'em hell, Rooster

I would like a royalty please, Paramount Pictures.

We should all be on the attack, not waiting to be reactionary. This goes for the BYU AD as well moving into the Big 12 in 379 days (but who's counting). We can't do things the way we've always done them, the world is different and our circumstances are different.

We can't ignore what has been successful, but we can't say that's everything there is to do (remember that guy who was the head of the US Patent office that said we had already invented everything possible?)

BYU is a loner in the landscape of academia. It's unorthodox and independent-minded, content to do things the BYU way for better or worse. Academically there is a lot of merit to that, and it seems the school has embraced its identity as a heavily religous institution even if other private schools shy away from that history.

The AD is primed to branch out and find it's own way. There's more money available from contracts, more fans with open checkbooks, and a unique tie to the program held by people otherwise unrelated to the school only surpassed by Notre Dame and Catholics. We can be okay if we do things ho-hum and just follow the crowd around us in the experiences they create for fans and the ways they fundraise and opportunities available for athletes.

But why be a loner when you can be a maverick?