Lou Pickney's Online Commentary
The New Game
Sunday
July 20, 2003
Well hello there. It's been nearly a week since my last column on here. And that doesn't really count, since it was more of a rant against Karl Malone than anything. But what can I say, these are busy days.
Things at work with Bubba The Love Sponge are going great on the new station front. Not to jinx it, but we have 4-5 substantial leads at this point. The ratings results from the next two weeks in a number of markets will be telling. For me it's been exciting getting to talk with GMs and station owners literally from coast to coast. I love my job. I can't say that enough. Like I told Mike Deeson on the phone last week, sometimes when you go through a really difficult experience (like my 13 months of hell under the Executive Meddler) it makes you appreciate a good situation.
Former WTSP morning anchor John Harding is the latest victim of 10 News Survivor. From what I'm told, they held a big meeting on Friday morning to announce that he's being released from his contract. I wish John the best. He's a very intelligent person; I learned a great deal from him in my time at Channel 10. Plus he has a great sense of humor. They wouldn't always let him show his humor on air, which is a shame since he has a real gift at making people laugh. His antics involving monkeys are among the all-time funniest I've seen. I'm happy to have been able to contribute; I sent John via e-mail a most disturbing photo that I found via the Drudge Report of a woman in India nursing a monkey. John tells me that it's now posted on his fridge at home. Hahahaha, I'm laughing right now just thinking about that. But John will find work elsewhere, and I wish the best for him and his family.
|  | | NCAA Football 2004 is an amazing game. |
The new
NCAA Football 2004 game from EA Sports is out. I thought they'd be hard pressed to advance the game from last year's excellent title, but this one is much improved. I can't stress enough how much attention to detail that EA Sports put into it. The game boasts a depth that is truly unique. Remember how the game
Baseball Stars for the NES was so ahead of its time with stats? And then later how
Tecmo Super Bowl for the NES was as well? Well NCAA 2004 is that far ahead of its contemporaries in the modern era. Good times, for sure.
One feature though that has the potential to be a bit troubling is the EA Sports Bio where it keeps track of the total number of hours spent playing the game. Some things I think people would rather just not acknowledge, like gamblers at the casino where losses are minimized in storytelling to friends but the big hits are played up like a champ ("I won $40 at baccarat!")
But the best part of this year's game is that it (knock on wood) doesn't freeze up on me like the 2003 version did. That was about the only thing that got me to quit playing it. Frustration is being up big against a conference rival... and then experiencing a lockup. You want to punch someone at that point. Not fun.
I also invested in an
X-Port, which is a great device that lets you download game save information from the internet, as well as back up your own info on your PC. That is a most convienant trait. I downloaded a save for
WWE Smackdown: Shut Your Mouth with a bunch of created wrestlers. I proceeded to have a four-way Hell In A Cell match with Shawn Michaels (in his Rockers garb), Rick Rude, Jake Roberts and Ted DiBiase, following by Bret Hart vs. Ric Flair in a ladder match. It would've taken me hours to make all of the created guys, but now I can utilize other people's work that's been generously shared on the internet.
Things here, besides video game distractions, have been busy. Along with the work with Bubba, I've been doing some website development, both for my Dad's company and for some of my own interests (such as DraftKing.com).
Well it's time now to try and take Mississippi State to 3-0 in NCAA 2004, though I have to do it with my backup QB, Kyle York (as Kevin Fant is out for 5 weeks with fractured ribs). If it's in the game...
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