Weekend Activities:

Biking
Is totally stoked that NC is working on their Trail Systems, and bike paths! I just found a great ride that will allow me to traverse the once ensurpassable mountain that links the two counties I need to travel. At one time the freeway, and/or a gravel mountain road were the only ways to cross the mountain. The paved bike/walking/running path, now allows riders, walkers, runners, and hikers a safe passage through the mountains. It's wooded so cyclists have to ride cautiously, the wet autumn leaves could prove to be fatal. The open views to the mountains and valleys below are breath taking, and the ride is not a difficult one. It is a gradual climb to the west, and a sweet steady descend to the east. I wish that I had known about the trail earlier in the season!


NCAA Soccer That Matters
Tar Heels vs Devils Mens soccer... The two schools collided literally on Friday night. The conference foes both nationally ranked played fast and physical. The highlight for Duke fans, was the skirmish that saw Jordan McCrary red carded. He was ejected from the game. The Duke player that retaliated with a punch was not. So goes life, but we still didn't give up a W! They say that a tie is like kissing your sister. If that is the case, then tying Duke is like a kiss on the mouth from her, just after a vurp! Yes, it is just that nasty!

NCAA Football That Matters
Tar Heel Football... 35-20 Victory over East Carolina, in a win that could not be labeled as pretty. East Carolina, had more first down conversions, more total yards from scrimmage, and scored late to cut the lead to 15. A W is a W, but sloppy football will catch up with you!

Wisconsin, flexed their muscle in a very impressive victory against Nebraska. Wisconsin had big performances again from Montee "Let's Make A Deal" Ball, and Russell "Let's Move From NCSU To Wisconsin" Wilson. Wilson is now being mentioned among the Heisman hopefuls. 48-17 over a Top 10 Nebraska team, should boost their ranking a bit... I mean after all this wasn't Nebraska Community College, it was the Cornhuskerdoo's...

UPsets
Again Auburn was considered an underdog, and this game labeled an upset, but just because Cam Newton, is not involved in this college football program, doesn't make them dead! 16-13 Tigers over Gamecocks.

Speaking of Tigers... South Carolina's other football program went to Blacksburg and had a little Turkey! 23-3 drubbing of Virginia Tech, yeah should do a little somethin, somethin, for Death Valley's Jungle Tabby's ranking as well.

Pitt takes down South Florida, Arkansas recovers their own fumble for a TD, and defeats the Aggies of Texas A&M, and Baylor after upsetting TCU earlier in the season, was upset by Dorothy's State Kitty, the Kansas State Wildcats....

MLB That Matters

Brewers serve the Snakes a cold one. Nuff said.

NFL That Matters

Packers take on the Broncos, and I am going to say it now, this will be the week that John Fox makes a QB change, just sayin'! Here comes the Tebow express, so beware.

The Raiders will have their hands full with the Pats, and the odds are very much against them. Has Bilicheat's Pats ever lost three straight since winning a Super Bowl? Well if not, hopefully the Raiders will be the second defeat for them that leads to three, if not more.

Last but not least, it would be good to see Carolina walk all over the Bears, and Benedict Peppers. Again Nuff said!!!

Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings...

You ever just get one of those feelings? Some are good, and some not so good. Well watching in camp during drills, it appeared that Cam being hurried, and shown blitz packages struggled. But the struggle was a good struggle. One play Cam hit Sutton in the back with a pass on a blitz. Cam got rid of the ball quick, but with a great corner, that could have been six going the other way. So at times, the timing was a bit off, but when they studied, and talked things over, Cam never came out with his head down. His attitude was always fiery! On the next series of downs Coach Rivera had the D rushed him again in, and he lobbed the ball perfectly, perfect spiral, and just enough air under the ball, to Clowny who scored a 60+ yard TD! The one thing that scares me about Cam, is his attitude, and fire! Well it get him into trouble off of the field. I still do not like the fact, that he and his father flirted with NCAA violations, but that is now a thing of the past, and hopefully it, and any other situations like it stay there. I think Steve Smith likes him, as well as the Black Cat Club. I am a fan, just not as optimistic of a fan as I would be like to be, because if the trust issues. But hey, it's not like I haven't been given a second chance a gazillion times!

The UCI World Championship in Denmark will wrap up all of the major events for this cycling season. Fabian Cancellara will go for his fifth title on his third brand of machine. I am praying that he can win the fifth on the Trek, but there will be some young guns looking to dethrone him this year for sure. Tony Martin looks like he will be very tough to beat this year. I guess we will see on Sept 21st. GO Trek GO!

Well hate to leave a party short lived, but the next one is about to crank up soon... Raiders-Broncos y'all. Are You Ready For Some Football...

2011/12 Panther Training Camp

The sun was relentless at the start of the day. The players looked fresh and very alive. Coach Rivera seems to have the team geared and ready to play in the Rivera Era! The veterans seemed to mesh well with the rookies, and believe it or not one of those rookies was Cam Newton, and Cam Newton's attitude seemed contagious! Mr. Newton got the crowd into the spirit, bounding around the field like a young buck and flailing his arms up and down to pump up the fans, and then he got the receiving core fired up. Cam was giving out high fives and motivating fellow rookies and vets alike. Yes, including one Steve Smith.

Moving onto the other QB's (quarter backs)... Clausen showed some good signs, but on the down side he showed signs of the same rookie mistakes that he manifested from last year. Clausen was still hesitant, but not horrible. He tried to force a few passes (a couple of potential interceptions), but did manage to find Steve Smith on a pass or two where Smith erased the young QB's mistakes by making some circus snags.

Anderson took limited snaps, and appears to be the clear cut starter. He has the NFL experience, but is he the guy that you want guiding your younger and rookie QB's?

Newton didn't look bad, appeared a bit rattled when blitzed in passing drills, but showed his strength and his touch on numerous occasions. He looked good throwing to Steve Smith and had a sixty yard strike to Clowney, which seemed to please the crowd -including yours truly- and allowed Clowned to redeem himself. Newton seemed to make the pass with ease!

Stewart and Williams looked poised and ready to return healthy and in peak form. If the offensive line stays healthy and makes lanes for the S&W Express then it should also open up lanes for the receivers and buy Anderson the time that he needs to deliver. I don't expect a Super Bowl run this year for the Panthers, but certainly not another 2-15 season either!

Eric Norwood looked as if he has bulked up even more, and the stand out from South Carolina looked faster in drills. He broke up a few pass plays and got to each QB in drills. He is not Peppers at 6'0" and not a prime Dwight Freeney, but he is a good football player and seems to be an even better person.

Should be a good season and the beginning of a very successful Rivera Era!

#1 or One #?

My Philosophy is: You never know what one is capable of, until that one has done it.

Heisman jinx, Jamarcus Russell comparisons, and all of the negative press you can throw at Carolina's new adopted football son. Who is this manchild? Cam Newton that's who. His father took full responsibility for possible commitment to NCAA rules violations, and was banned from his sons biggest game, the NCAA National Championship. To show that he's a man of integrity (said with heavy sarcasm) he shows up abruptly on National Television to give Cam a hug after he and his team win. So, this goes to show you how much his father cares about his son. Hmmm be selfish and turn this into an all about me event and help scar my sons reputation a bit more, yeah the run down to the field is worth it. Sorry, I am just not a fan of greed, or stupidity. Most critics have said that Carolina has made a crucial mistake. The so called experts have rated Cam as a C+ pick. So did Carolina make such a huge mistake after all? Cam is no slouch, but is Coach Rivera the Cus D'Amato of the new era NFL? And can he fuel the fire in a QB that will have to be the Mike Tyson of the new era NFL to make Carolina a success? Charlotte is not NY, or LA, the fans won't pay top dollar in the Dirty South just to boo you. No instead they will stop going to games. So now Mr. Richardson did you indeed make the right choice? Back to our QB, Mr. Newton how do you silence the critics? The same way Cus and Iron Mike did... by swelling the mouths of the nay sayers shut by knocking opponents out! The only factor here is Cus dealt with a fatherless Mike Tyson like Mike was a D'Amato, like his own son. Cam on the other hand has a corrupt father that he is very close to. For the sake of the Panther Nation I pray that the Panthers have a game plan to sign that ego of Cams and a plan to keep daddy far, far away from the negotiations table. It's already evident that Cam's father is caring of one thing... money! How do I justify saying that? For grins and giggles let's say the money that he took costs Cam his collegiate career. Dad has a fist full of dollars and Cam has no shot at a Heisman or #1 draft slot. So, you tell me it wasn't 'bout the Benjamins! Cam I wish you well and to your father all I can say for him is that I'm praying!

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