It's Fixed

    When I was growing up my dad, watching any sports on TV, would say, "It's Fixed". "The league wants that team to win. " "The TV people need this guy or that team to win." My brother and I would look at each other, and not in words mind you, but thought in our minds, "dad was crazy". Well it might be that I'm getting old and cynical but I think the "fix" is in.  If Tom Brady's suspension was reduced to 1 or 2 games he would be playing against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. America"s Team dodges the bullet again. My dad would say the league needs the Cowboys to make the playoffs. I am a Cowboy fan so I'm happy: Garoppolo or Brady is a no brainer. But I don't understand how deflating footballs is a 4 game suspension. We have had several murderers and rapists that played in the league and didn't get 4 games suspensions. I know Goodell is the "New Sheriff" in town but really. Ok, I did hear that they(The NFL) wanted two former Eastern Illinois QBs to face off in a real NFL game. NOT REALLY!!!! It might be a fluke or it could be I'm turning into my dad but this smells fishy. Just sayin'

Poker

   Many of my friends play poker, specifically Texas Holdem'. My live poker night is on a extended break so I was going to start a poker game on Sunday nights for all my facebook friends. It is an online "play money" poker league. I had one before and it work for a while but kind of fizzled out. So if you are interested in playing in my poker league send me a message or comment on this post and I will send you the info. There are about 4 people already in the league but that's not really enough if one or two can't show up one week. I play poker just about every day on Pokerstars so if there is not enough interest that's ok. But please don't send me game request on Facebook, I don't play any Facebook games, including poker.
    If I hear another word about Tom Brady's suspension I might throw up. Enough already. DUI + Marijuana usage = 2 games, deflate some footballs = 4 games??????
MIB44

Toby Mac

  I pre-ordered Toby Mac's new record last night and I thought I would get 3 songs off the record now. Well I didn't get 3 I got 4. So I was pleased to be able to listen to some of the record already. The record comes out in a few weeks.
  My daughter, Courtney Jackson, reminded me of one of my favorite, old, records this morning. "Listen" by Cindy Morgan. I listened to it again and have to get in my old iTunes and find that record. It is still good. The music is not even dated like some Christian music from the 90's.
   And NFL camps are opening all this week. I can almost taste the grass again. Yes I said "taste". If you've ever played football you know what I mean. Now they have to taste those rubberized pellets in the field turf, yuck.
MIB44

Monday QB

   Like I said yesterday Lexi Thompson is only 20 years old and has won 5 times on the LPGA now. Well Jordan Spieth turns 22 years old today. He also has won 5 times on the PGA Tour, two of them majors. I think the future of professional golf is going to very good. Jordan Spieth is my new favorite golfer to root for especially in the majors. When Rory McIlroy comes back we might have a great rivalry to watch.
    BTW I spent some of my birthday money to get a new Super Stroke grip on my putter. Same kind Jordan Spieth uses.

Thoughts for Sunday

    Has Lexi Thompson been on the LPGA for a long time, seems like it.....But she is only 20 years old and has won 4 times and going for the win in Grand Rapids today.
    Toby Mac's new record is coming out Aug 7th but if you go to iTunes and pre-order it you get 3 songs before the release. I think I will do that.
     Anyone have any thoughts on RG III. I traded him in one of my keeper fantasy football leagues for Carson Palmer.
     Hern, Bubba, or Jason Day? Hern is the Canadian at the Canadian Open.
    USA men's soccer team lost again in the 3rd place match of the Cobcacaf Gold Cup, what's up with that? I didn't get to see that game but where is Altidore?
MIB44

Pet Peeves (Just A Few)

Messing with my shoe laces
People trying to talk about sports when they don't have a clue
Full price athletic shoes
Prosperity gospel (Jesus never owned anything)
Mascots
Cable TV companies
FIFA Referees

MIB44

Liberty University Football

  Some of you might know that I played football at Liberty U. back in the day(leather helmets?). Well I am now a huge supporter of the program. I am a Flames Club member and go to as many games as possible. Each year the football program plays at least one big 5 FBS football game on the road of course. Last year UNC was the game. They have played NC State and Wake Forest in recent years. I have been going to those games. This year they are playing at West Virginia in Morgantown, I can't make that trip but the Flames are opening at home this year against Delaware St. and I am going to that game. I will try to go to at least 2 or 3 more games including Homecoming in Oct.The Flames Football program is in the Division I FCS (used to be 1AA) and are ranked in most of the preseason polls. The highest ranking I have seen has them at 12th. I am so excited about this upcoming season. Last year was the first playoff appearance and first playoff win so expectations are high. And one more thing. The football program has met all the requirements to jump to the FBS. Just waiting for a conference to vote them in. Just missed getting in the Sunbelt Con. last year. If you want to follow the Liberty football program or any of their other 23 division 1 sports programs you can go to: libertyflames.com
MIB44

Hank Murphy's Record

     At my church, The Summit Church, we have more talented people than you can imagine. Many have written books and songs that we regularly sing in our worship time. What I like the most I think is the fact that none of the proceeds from the sale of any of them go to the creative individual. The money is all funneled back into the church ministries, Which brings me to the latest talented person. One of our worship leaders at our Brier Creek campus, Hank Murphy. He just released a record on iTunes called "Smplfy". This is kind of a review and a plug.
    I was telling some folks the other day that it is a "cross" between Toby Mac and Justin Timberlake. The music is modern and upbeat and sprinkled with Rap. But you won't find any gangster stuff in here. The record is chocked full of uplifting insight into life and our struggles against sin and ourselves. And it is definitely worth $4.99(remember all the $ goes back to the church) So this might not be your favorite style of music but you might know a young person or music junkie like me that would be thrilled with this record. My only problem with the record is, it's not long enough. I wish it was not just 4 songs. (EP)  Did you notice there is no "I" in Smplfy, because it's really not about us it's all about our God.
MIB44

Sports, CCM, and stuff I like.

     I don't know if anyone will ever read a blog from an old guy who usually flies under the radar. But I do know that all the cool kids blog and tweet and post and the list goes on and on. So here goes.... I'm just gonna blog about stuff I like. You might agree or not but that's not the point. The point is I might have something in my little pea brain that makes since. I'm not going to blog too much about my strong faith based convictions or conservative political leanings, that's no fun. I probably will have enough controversy on my sports teams I root for, not to mention my opinions on "real sports fans". (That's for a later blog) 
     Today I just want to mention Zack Johnson winning the "Open" (I still want to call it the British Open). I root for lots of different golfers who play on the PGA Tour, but mostly the Professed Believers in Christ. Zack is one of those guys. So I was pleased when he won although I'm a big Jordan Spieth fan. You might not like Tiger Woods but I always root for him too. Back to Zack ...He was emotional after the win and I like that. It might make a lot of folks uncomfortable but that softness of the mans heart, I believe comes from knowing what life really is all about. From a small town in Iowa to the birthplace of golf what a story. My hats off to one of the shortest hitters on the PGA tour that has found a way to win 10 tour events including two majors. 
      Well, I don't know how often I'll post on this here blog but I think I might have a few things to say so check it out. Below is a list of topics I'll talk about and things you can ask me about. I'm not Wikipedia so don't ask anything that's too hard.

Anything in the sports world (I mean anything)
Contemporary Christian Music
TV, Movies,The Theater
Liberty University
Books