Athletes around the globe are in motion, with preparation and readiness for their next great challenge. In Colorado, the big deal is Peyton Manning and then the X Games. Manning is unquestionably one of the most upstanding individuals to personally meet and likely to compete against as a great quarterback. With “OMAHA” though comes Brady. And both men understand fine art.
Top Quarterbacks, 1961 pose for Ralph Morse. © Time, Inc courtesy gallerym.com
Competitors like weakness. Brady too has the ideal surroundings. Some might say that his 2010 marriage to fashion’s hottest model at the time, Gisele, was an “All American Dream.” And the NFL has not lost sight of this.
Gisele vs. Brady, After Penn courtesy of gallerym.com.
Denver’s premier fine art, photography and sculpture gallery, GALLERY M, has understood what power these icons – be it Manning, Gisele, or something as transforming as The Brooklyn Bridge, mean to collectors, spectators and fans. Those around these symbols – or purveyors of style, sport and acumen – find time to share with us wonderful moments.
In 1961, LIFE photographer Ralph Morse had the honor of sitting and photographing the Top National Quarterbacks. Morse’s career spanned that similar to Sean Penn’s character, “Sean O’Connell” in Ben Stiller’s 2013 film, The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty. Irving Penn, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Horst P. Horst, Yousuf Karsh and today’s top photographers, like Howard Schatz and fine artists like Alex Cao use their lens and technology unlike any of us can today with our iPhones or Droids.
Tomorrow’s playoff championship will ring registers for T-Shirt vendors, advertisers, and team owners because of the image that they represent and the joy that they embody. This latest showdown in Denver should likely garner an overdose of speculation and anticipation.
As we watch, remember those who create the brands, the imagery and the culture are the teams of artists, photographers, laborers, field hands, gate keepers, ticket checkers and chauffeurs who make the ends met for each team to be able to win.
Morse’s 1961 photograph holds significance for those fans and if you will “Culture Vultures” who understood the moment in time that they were a witness too. Biased to the dialogue are likely ESPN’s Tom Jackson, Adam Schefter, Carl Quintanilla and Phil Lebeau from major news outlets. These media blitzers though share a wide welcome to Denver. Enjoy your stay New England vs Denver, pre-game 2014.
