With Thy Keenan Sword Impress. Wanker: “The title is a clear reference to Macbeth, which tracks with his use of the skull lamp. In the play, the mad king Macbeth, who cannot be harmed by any man of woman born, boasts to Macduff, ‘As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air with thy keen sword impress as make me bleed.’ And just as the keen sword cannot make any impression on thin air, talented receiver Keenan Allen cannot make any impression on the game’s outcome due to a string of injuries which seem as supernaturally unavoidable as the witches’ prophecy to Macbeth. McCoy’s collage technique here is blunt to the point of crudity, but that doesn’t mean it’s thoughtless. Allen is literally falling apart on the field: his ankle, his knee, his kidney, his collarbone. But not just Allen: the Chargers themselves, because of Allen. With him, they’re a top-5 passing offense. Without him, they’re a bottom 10. The receiver becomes a metaphor for the team, which needs all of its parts working together if it is to stand a chance.
Posted September 16, 2016