If It's Not Broken, Don't Fix It!

Just a quick post as I'm preparing for my first test of the semester, but I thought this couldn't wait. I love Ralph Lauren. Really, I do. I know I've complained about this more than once, but this big pony thing is getting out of hand. Check out what I found in my e-mail this morning with the subject "New Big Pony Styles In Fresh Fall Colors."





I guess "Better than ever" is subjective. Please, Ralph (can I call you Ralph?), stop while you're ahead. There are better ways to update your polos than with ... this. Why ruin a perfectly good polo with this monstrosity? Really, I want to know. Inquiring minds are screaming out, "Whyyyyy?!"*


*I know what happened to Nancy Kerrigan was awful and not funny, but, let's be honest with ourselves here, that soundbite is never not funny.

Fresh From Key Largo!

I have made my triumphant return to my homeland (North Carolina) and I come back a certified scuba diver! Yay! The trip was great. So worth it. And flying over driving? Best decision ever (I know, I know, I've said that before. But I mean it!). Now I'm ready to leave for my cruise! We fly to San Juan tomorrow morning and the boat leaves Sunday. I can't wait, I'm so excited! The only problem is packing. I'm already busting the seams on my suitcase. I still need room for the things I plan to acquire on the trip! Grr! Damn airlines and their stupid paying for checked luggage ridiculousness. Oh, well. I'll keep working on it, I guess.

In other news, I graduated from college. Yes, it finally happened and, no, I'm still not sure about it. The graduation was great. Our commencement speaker, Archbishop Desmond Tutu was simultaneously insane and awesome. There were lots of mentions of the basketball championship (speaking of, this is completely unrelated, but totally worth checking out). I'm going to miss it. I just can't fathom my life without school. And lately it's really been starting to hit me that I will not be going to Chapel Hill in the fall. I guess I will technically still be a student since I'm enrolled in a graduate program, but still. It's not the same. We'll see how things go.

Why Do We Play the Game?

Just the other day, I was bitching whining complaining opining that one of the big three networks hates me. Well that hate seems to have spread to my beloved Carolina Panthers. They just dropped their chance to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by losing a game to the New York Giants they should never have lost.

OK, so it wasn't that bad. And the Panthers don't hate me (but ABC still certainly does). But it was dissapointing. The game was theirs to lose and they just blew it. Big time. When are coaches (Foxy, I'm looking at you!) going to learn that you can't play not to lose. Why do we play the game? Let me tell you why. WE PLAY TO WIN THE GAME! (End Dan Hawkins.) We don't play not to lose. Now, I love John Fox. He has done wonders for this organization since he took over. However, he often plays too conservatively. There are times when you just need to go all out. And if playing for the top seed in the NFC isn't one of those times, I don't know what is. This time, Fox and Company's conservativism, I would argue, lost them the game.

But, like I said, despite my overly dramatic post-title and introduction, I don't think this is that bad. OK, OK, immediately after the game, I thought it was terrible. End-of-my-NFL-football-world terrible. But that was just in the heat of the moment. Now I have time to mull it over (i.e. read the opinions of cooler heads online) and I've decided the outcome of the game is not that bad for the following reasons.

First, it was a great game. Sure, my team lost and that always sucks but the Giants didn't blow the Panthers out. In fact, the Panthers lead most of the game. They proved the could hang with the best the NFC had to offer. The Panthers were thisclose to winning. Just a yard closer and the infamous Meadlowlands wind wouldn't have blown John Kasay's field goal attempt left. Steve Smith's holding penalty brought back a tremendous DeAngelo Williams run. The game was close and it could easily have ended with a Panthers victory.

Second, I think the Panthers needed to lose. I realize losing is generally considered a bad thing, but the Panthers have been on a winning streak for a while. They needed a wake-up call and I'm sure this one was loud and clear.

Third, the Panthers have a tendency to defeat teams in the playoffs that they lose to in the regular season (See Cowboys, Rams, and Eagles in 2003).

Fourth, we still have Steve Smith who, last time I checked (barring that one holding issue), is still the best receiver in the NFL. As long as we have him, things will always be pretty good. Plus, the Panthers have a lot of talent and good leadership.

I still have high hopes for my team in the playoffs. Of course, I would love for them to be in the Super Bowl, but I won't go so far as to predict it at this moment. Not that I'm terribly superstitious or think they don't have a chance. I'm just taking a wait-and-see approach. However, I'm fairly confident that they will make an appearance in the NFC Championship Game. Heck, maybe we'll end up with home field advantage by default because I wouldn't be surprised if the Giants bite it in the second round.

Of course, the Panthers still have to play the Saints this Sunday and win if they want a first round bye. So let's hope things get back on track in New Orleans.