You Can Know God

Florida State vs. Florida

I'm going to the FSU vs UF game in Gainsville today. Anthony said that as long as I am with a Florida fan, I will not get beer or insults thrown at me while walking around the stadium. But I should not wander off on my own.

Speaking of the Seminoles, it appears that a few years ago we had good players but bad coaches. Now we have good coaches and not so much on the players. I think we are a head coach (Bobby needs to retire and FSU should steal Mark Richt from Georgia) and a top QB recruit away from competing seriously - but the FSU program will one day rise again.

I think going to this game is kind of like being a missionary. First, I'm the holy one going into the pagan culture of the University of Florida. I'll do my best to help these sinners see the errors of their ways and repent.

Bitter Old Football Players

I think it's somewhat funny and sad to see the members of the old Dolphins team (the last team that went undefeated in the NFL) sit around waiting for the Patriots (currently 10-0) to lose. They are hoping for it, and they are whining. They just don't want to let go of their record and they can't be happy for a team that might break it.

Not to mention that the 2007 Dolphins are also having a perfect season. They are 0-10. These old guys need to stop trying to wiggle their way back into the spotlight and need to stop complaining about thing and longing for the good old days. If you can't be happy for the next guy to break your record, you didn't deserve it in the first place.

Fantasy Football

One of the reasons fall is great is because it's football season.  Saturday and Sunday in the fall are great.  I love college football, the NFL, and Fantasy Football.  I'm in three Fantasy Leagues, but the one I really want to win is the inaugural Oak Leaf league.  Will isn't going to win because he drafted too many defenses.  Matt isn't going to win because he wears ugly pants.  Anthony doesn't even understand the rules and wouldn't join the league.  Anyway, here's my team.

QB: Matt Hasselbeck
RB: Willie Parker, Willing McGahee
WR: Marvin Harrison, Chris Chambers, Isaac Bruce
TE: Kellen Winslow
K: Stephen Gostkowski
D: Panthers
Bench:  Brett Favre, Cedric Benson, Leon Washington, Plaxico Burress, Donte Stallworth

Fantasy Football

Anyone interested in being in a fantasy football league?

Thrashers

I've never been to an NLH Hockey game, but was told by many that it was one of the best things to experience live.  This afternoon, I went to the Thrashers game and I'm sold out now.  I was probably spoiled by the fact that we had a private suite not to mention seats on the 6th row at center ice and complimentary drinks.  People were getting checked into the wall 25 feet from us. It was a lot of fun.  Even more fun than the Final Four a couple of weekends ago.

They understand how to make the most out of the breaks and it was very entertaining.  The Thrashers lost 2-1 though.  I may have to try and understand the rules now.

Thoughts from the Final Four - Part 2

Here's some of my thoughts from attending the National Championship game last night.

1.  We "upgraded" our nose bleed seats by standing behind the seats in section 100.  Lots of other people had this idea too, and we had a great view of the court.
2.  Section 100 of the Georgia Dome is the sport coat section.  Lots of rich people wearing sports coats.  Why would someone other than Billy Donovan wear a suit to a basketball game?
3.  Bill Russell walked right by us.  I could have touched him.  We also saw Kirk Herbstreet and some TV actor on a show that I can't remember.
4.  I wore my Florida State football t-shirt to the game.  Because we were in the sport coat section, I didn't get heckled nearly as much as I thought.   Even though the Noles didn't make the tournament, we did beat the Gators this year.  That's t-shirt material.
5.  Sadly, we have to put up with another year of the obnoxious Florida Gator fans.  Luckily, none of their starting players will be back next year and they will stink.  I hope Donovan goes to Kentucky, but I don't think he will.
6.  Every time Ohio State would make a run and get to within 6 or 7 points, Florida would hit a three.  Those guys can shoot pretty good.
7.  Now that basketball is over, we can all start paying attention to the real national pastime and the sport that really matters...football.

Thoughts from the Final Four

The Final Four is in Atlanta this weekend, and John and I have tickets.  Here are some of my thoughts from the semi-final games last night:

• I think the UCLA cheerleaders all work at the same strip club.
• It's kind of funny that a band can play a few notes and a bunch of grown men start putting their hands together like alligators.  It's really kind of childish, or cult-like, when you think about it.
• The guys around me used their binoculars more for the dancers than for the game.
• A bunch of Georgetown/Drunk fans walked in near us.  They were chanting something like "Hoya Zaxsun" in an annoyingly loud voice.  Lots of people asked what that meant, to which one of the more sober drunk girls replied, "it's Greek and Latin for 'that rock.'" 
• Note:  if your school's chant has Latin or Greek in it, you go to a nerdy school.
• A lot of the Georgetown girl fans were dressed like lawyers.  A lot of the Florida girl fans were dressed like hookers.
• I paid $8 for a hamburger and $4.50 for a coke.  I didn't mind that I paid $8 for a burger as much as I minded that it tasted like a brick.
• We saw Patrick Ewing coming in the door near us. He's old.  And tall.
• The games really weren't all that good. 
• They did not make good use of the screens, hardly showing any replays.  This is probably due to some NCAA contractual thing, but it was nevertheless, quite lame.  The crowd needs to see more replays.
• I can check "Final Four" off my list of major sporting events to attend.  1 down.  About 7 more to go.
• It's Ohio State vs. Florida.  I'm rooting for Ohio State, but I think Florida will probably win.  Go Noles.

Superbowl: The First Half

The first half started off good with a kickoff return for a TD, but the halftime show was terrible.  Prince cannot sing or play guitar.  They should have kept that sheet covering him up the whole time.  I could not imagine a worse half-time show.  I don't think any of the commercials have been that good either.  However, the cheese dip and brownies I've been eating have been good.

Superbowl and Church

Just made a quick run to the store and drove past a couple of churches doing Sunday night services.  I bet somewhere in some of those services, a pastor will say to the faithful..."good to see you all this evening...we're not going to let some game decide when we have church."

Final Four!

My buddy John and I just used the royalty money we've made from Everyday Jesus to buy Final Four tickets.  I already had John booked to speak @ Oak Leaf that weekend, and the Final Four just happens to be in Atlanta at the same time. We're going to all three games.  This won't quite make up for not getting to go to the Super Bowl a couple years ago when I had a free ticket, but maybe it will be close.

So, if you've purchased your copy of Everyday Jesus...thanks!  If you haven't gotten the book, which is a 30-day devotional guide, you can order a copy at Amazon.  I think it's a good book.