Been gone a while

Hey guys. Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I had three papers due in three weeks. Then, this week, my wife has been sick most of the week so I have been domestic dad a lot.

This week, I will be in Mexico for our annual mission trip from Westwood. We will be building houses in a colonia in Progresso. We are staying at a Methodist church, so I don't anticipate having much of an internet connection. I may be able to find something and post progress once or twice.

Big happenings this last week:
MS State basketball won against Arkansas.
Red Sox pitchers and catchers reported to Florida.
Nathan got a call from his coach. Practices start next week.

I'll let you know if I have a chance to check in. I've been saving up a lot of ideas and opinions that I hope to post soon. I know I promised a 2nd posting on the Christians and alcohol.

Adios!

Farewell to a Great Bulldog

This week, it was announced that Michael Henig was leaving the MSU football team because of a hip injury that affected him most of the season. While the stats may not show it 20 years from now, the Michael Henig era was one of the most important ones the Bulldog team ever had. A small kid from Montgomery was a member of Coach Croom's first recruiting classes. He didn't have the stature or stats to be recruited by most SEC schools, but he did have the heart.

During Henig's freshman year, starting quarterback Omar Conner went down with an injury and in stepped this unassuming freshman. He wasn't surrounded by a huge talent pool. There wasn't a lot of anticipation among Bulldog fans to see him in the game. But he stood in there and made pressure throws and took the big hits. As a freshman, he led State to beat Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. As a sophomore, he pushed senior Omar Conner to the WR corps. Henig had the heart and determination of a winner.

In the first game of his sophomore season, he broke his collarbone against South Carolina. When he went off the field, the air deflated out of most MSU fans. He fought back and later in the season led the Bulldogs to a victory over Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium against one of the teams from his home state that overlooked him. I was at that game and saw again the heart of a champion on display.

Henig started this last year running for his life and throwing six interceptions to eventual national champion LSU. Two weeks later, he broke his hand against Auburn, giving way to freshman Wesley Carroll. He spent the rest of the year in recovery and in a backup role.

I was never angrier or more embarrassed as an MSU fan this year than at the Tennessee and Ole Miss games when I heard many boos when Michael Henig came in to try and jump start a stalled offense. Many MSU fans took a step back into some of the classless levels of some SEC programs that have booed their players in the past. Most of them showed their ignorance of the situation, not knowing that Henig was coming into the game with a slight hip fracture. I hope I never hear another instance of a Bulldog player being treated so bad.

Here's to you Michael Henig! Thanks for being a winner, no matter what the win-loss record may indicate. Thanks for always giving your best. Thanks for performing above the level of your physical ability. Thanks for playing with a broken hip, broken hand, or broken collarbone. Thanks for always being a model of the character needed to be a Bulldog.

Top Ten Super Bowl Commercials for 2008

Alright, I'm a day late on this one. I promised I would post my take on the top commercials. That's why most people watch the Super Bowl anyway, right. Overall, I would say that I thought the humor quality of the commercials was down this year. I didn't see as many that just came out of nowhere and made me slap my knees in humor.

With that said, here's my take on the Top Ten Super Bowl Commercials for this year.

10. Diet Pepsi Max "Bobbling Heads" - This one set to the classic Chris Katan SNL skit was really funny to me. I liked all the celebs falling asleep and having Katan at the end was great.
9. The E-trade Talking Baby - Talking babies are always funny - I don't care who you are. When the baby threw up at the end, I busted out.
8. Bud Light Cavemen - Overall, I thought Bud Light commercials took a step back this year. Like babies, talking cavemen are always good for a laugh. I liked the "Stone Sucks" line.
7. Coca-Cola "Jinx" with Bill Frist and James Carville - This one probably went over the head of a lot of younger viewers, but I thought Frist and Carville were the perfect couple for this commercial. Seeing that Coke brings everyone together brought a tear to my eye.
6. Bud Light - Will Ferrell - Will Ferrell is a nut...no doubt about it.
5. Planters Cashews - Ugly Woman - Seeing all those guys fawn over that ugly woman was awesome. Man she was ugly!
4. Bridgestone - Animals Screaming - Seeing that squirrel scream and all those other animals was very creative.
3. Tide - Talking Stain - This one was close to being #1. I thought that talking stain murmuring over the words that the guy was speaking was awesome.
2. FedEx - Carrier Pigeons - Birds Gone Wild!
1. Sobe - Dancing Lizards - This one had my kids on the floor laughing hysterically. Nice use of Michael Jackson and "Thriller"

You may or may not agree, but that's the best of the commercials in my humble opinion.

I was wrong (why I'm thankful I don't make a living predicting games)

Ok. So I was wrong. The Giants won. Little brother Eli followed in his brother's shoes. Great story. Big upset. Not quite Jets over Colts, but close. I thought the Pats had won it when Moss caught the ball. Eli made a great play eluding the sack and throwing down field - Play of the game. Glad I had no strong close tie to the Patriots. Dolphins hold on one more year. Now I have to hear Mercury Morris run his mouth again.

Halftime - Pats 7, Giants 3

It's halftime and unless there is a huge offensive output in the second half, I am going to be off on my score prediction. The Giants defense is killing Tom Brady. I think the Pats will get it fixed in the second half.

Looking forward to Tom Petty.

Super Bowl XLII ( or why the Patriots will complete the most dominating season ever)

Alright, since the Super Bowl is tonight and since I haven't blogged in over a week, I think I need to put a short post here going on record about the Super Bowl tonight. I am not a big NFL fan. I mostly only watch the NFL to keep up with my Fantasy Football players. I personally have no attachment to any NFL team. I mostly pull for whatever teams have an Mississippi State player who plays significant time (like Jerious Norwood for the Falcons).

Most everyone knows that I am a huge Boston Red Sox fan. By proxy, I also have some affinity for the Patriots. I have been rooting for them this season because it would be a magical year for the city of Boston to win the World Series, the Super Bowl, and have a chance for the Celtics to win the NBA Championship.

I am rooting for the Patriots tonight for a few reasons. First, I like Tom Brady. I have always pulled for any University of Michigan quarterbacks, especially a likeable guy like Brady. Second, no offense to my good friend and Miami Dolphin fanatic Danny Wash, but I am tired of hearing about the '72 Dolphins. I'll give Don Shula credit for an awesome season, but every year we hear about whether this team or that will pass the '72 Dolphins. Let's get it over already! I am tired of seeing Mercury Morris run his mouth on ESPN. I am tired of Shula's comments. Third reason I am rooting for the Patriots is because they are playing the New York Football Giants. It's the classic Boston - New York rivalry. I will never pull for a New York team over a Boston team. It's heresy! Fourth reason - ELI. Eli (I will never be as good as my brother Peyton) Manning followed in Daddy Manning's footsteps and went to Ole Miss. I couldn't root for him to win a spelling bee.

Anyway, it should be an entertaining game. The Giants played the Pats to the toughest game they faced this season. I think they have a chance to win. But, my prediction:

Patriots 35 Giants 24

I will be watching from the comfort of my living room. It should be a lot of fun. I'll post tomorrow my Top Ten Super Bowl Commercials.

Go Pats.