Finally we have football games back on the air! \o/ But i didn't watch the game last night... Why you may ask? Primetime at the US Open. :) Man Roddick looked BAD last night. He just can't get the angles. It's almost likes he relies upon his incredible serve (he holds the world record at 155mph!). Gjokovich played great and has been steadily improving his game. Fedderer and Nadal need to step up their games as they both look like they are vulnerable. Ok, back to football...
The
Panthers finally begin their 2008 season and they are only 9 point underdogs to the
San Diego Chargers this Sunday. I won't be able to watch the game since i don't live in the Carolinas, but i plan on following it on my phone as much as possible - as well as whatever game i can get on the TV. We'll see. Speaking of the upcoming season there are a few games i am looking forward to:
14-Sep: The
Chicago Bears - this game is sort of a personal rivalry thing. Back when i was called up to active duty my poor
Panthers were struggling. They were coming off of their 1-15 season and was working their way through a 7-9 season under first year head coach John Fox. Any way my platoon leader, a die hard
Chicago Bears fan, wanted to "make the game interesting". I relucantly agreed when he mentioned sweatshirts. I thought to myself, "how much could that be? $20-$30 at most?" It ended up he wanted to do the
NFLshop.com! I gulped when i found out, but i was committed. By the grace of God the
Panthers won. I still have the sweatshirt. :) The tradition has continued and i now have a nice hat and 3'x5' flag - all Carolina Panthers gear. :) I think that tradition is due to swing the other way - but this time my friend is serving over seas. Not sure what he might he might want - but I'd be willing to send him something, just to let him know i am still thinking about him.
12-Oct: @ the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - the past several seasons this has really developed into a nice rivalry. Each time both teams bring their very best effort. It is also a division game, and the Panthers tend to wear their 'alternate' uniforms. A dream present for me is an authentic John Kasay jersey. But i hope i never get it in a way... they are incredibly expensive.
19-Oct: The
New Orleans Saints - Since Hurricane Katrina, with the exception of the season they played all 16 games on the road, have been playing with a chip on their shoulder. They have also really stepped up and actually performed with more than pride. Even before that though, the two meetings each season between the
Panthers and the
Saints have been some really good games.
8-Dec: The
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (
ESPN) - for the same reasons above, but to include that this is the only nationally televised game for the
Panthers so i will plan on sitting down and watching it.
28-Dec: @ The
New Orleans Saints - for the same reasons above, but this is also the game that closes out the regular season. With God's provision this won't be the last game for the
Panthers this year, but... we shall see.
I also found a new button for my
Facebook flair board:
Sad, i know. LOL
Not too much more to report other than it is still 52 more days until the release of the game. I've also been busy on
eBay to try and pick up a few trinkets. All of them are sales like promos done by
Bethesda Softworks.
The first is a CD that i got when i pre-ordered the game from my local
Game Stop. The label on the CD and the jacket were both done up to look like an old 45 lp. The songs are not all that great from strictly a music stand point, but are funny and fit the atmosphere of the game.
The second item i picked up was the 'Vault Dwellers Survival Guide'. This is a tongue in cheek 'guide' for how a person who is used to living under ground all their lives should act in order to survive out in the nuclear wastelands. This was a promotional item available at a computer games convention known as the "
Penny Arcade Expo" (or PAX for short).
The last item i picked up for fun is a 'Nuka Cola bottle opener'. Since I am such a fan of
Coke and
Dr Pepper (especially in glass bottles for some reason) i thought i would pick this up. I am not sure if it is even usable as an actual bottle opener. All of these things will most likely sit on a shelf somewhere until i die and my kids are going through my personal affects and they say, "what in the world is this", and "what was he thinking"? LOL Still, they are interesting conversation pieces I guess. None of them cost very much, but I am sure I will feel guilty for spending the little bit extra it did cost me.
Two countries,
Australia and
Germany, have restricted the game in some sense. Australia does not like the 'realistic' depiction of the use of drugs within the game (I totally understand their reservation here). Germany on the other hand has reservations about the graphic depiction of violence within the game (yet another "i get it"). I've considered trying to get the game from
Germany but I am not sure. Part of the game is the 'campy over the top' of certain things. One of them is the result of combat within the game. Having said that i have also learned that it is completely possible to play the entire game in 'pacifist' mode. That is you would only have to kill one creature, and that is in the tutorial at the beginning of the game where you are trying to learn the controls of the game.
Verse for today:
Psalm 25 : 1-7,
ESV
To you, O
Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
Last week the Panthers had another great game! Of course it was 'great' because they won. ;) The defense made a late stand and stopped the Bears on a key 4th down at midfield. This week they travel to take on the Vikings (my best friend from High School's favorite team) and they will have their hands full. I know Steve Smith will be coming back, and I know the Vikes have been struggling, but I can't help be cautiously optimistic. The Vikings have benched their QB and have decided to go with Gus Frerotte. This is a QB that has done some good things coming off the bench in his past. He was a starter at one point in his career. He is also a QB that the Panthers will have limited game film on. Still, my fantasty team will hopefully get a boost with good ol' #89 back on the field.
I hope you all experience the wonders of God's amazing grace this weekend.
Verse for today:
Psalm 86 : 8-13, ESV
There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
