5WGaming.com

Here's a shout-out to 5WGaming.com, one of the best gaming sites on the web. I lost track of 5WG when it moved to a new address and I missed it like hell. Shawn Drotar does an amazing job keeping up with what's hot in gaming and he's one heck of a writer as well. If you are into gaming, do yourself a favor and follow the link to 5WG. You'll be glad you did.

Bad news/good news

Scott Burress has decided to shut down one of my favorite blogs, Who Needs Rules. He had a great run there and consistently made WNR a place worth visiting frequently. But while we're sorry to see it go, WNR staff writer and good buddy Dave Roland has decided to do more with his own blog since now he'll have more time on his hands. Dave is determined to keep his site updated and fresh and has promised to include game reviews and apps for the iPhone. Plus he has a great, irreverent sense of humor. I am really looking forward to reading more Dave. Check out Dave's Not Here Man and see what I mean.

Good luck, Dave!

Awesome blog, great job!

Just wanted to mention that I ran across a blog that is right up my alley. Genuinely Sarcastic is a Michigan Wolverine fan's dream come true, a site that covers the Maize and Blue and mocks their opponents mercilessly. Full of great info (check out the recruiting stuff) and a smart, snappy sense of humor, Genuinely Sarcastic provides tons of entertainment in one great package. Stop by if you love Michigan or just want to see the way a fan blog should be done. Kudos to Brian and Matt for creating such a nifty place to visit.

GTSM

Here's another shout-out for another terrific web site. Gaming Theater Sports and TV Media (GTSM) is a blog which looks at gaming and all other aspects of entertainment. It also has a nice set of forums, populated by very friendly people who enjoy all sorts of conversation. The site is run by George Theofanoupolos and Ted Rorabaugh and they have done a wonderful job making the site a place I like to visit multiple times daily. George is constantly blogging and the news and opinions he offers are first-rate. He's a real hands-on guy and his constant presence on the blog and in the forums make GTSM a special place. It has been a real pleasure to watch GTSM take shape and become a must-visit web site. But don't take my word for it. Visit the blog and if you like what you see take a few minutes to register and join the forums. You'll thank me later.

Who Needs Rules?

I have already touted Operation Sports, which is a must-have link for serious sports gamers. They have a great forum over there and excellent articles written by a fine staff of writers. The info you can get there is incredible.

There's also a relatively new sports gaming site that has already shown itself to be just as valuable. Who Needs Rules? is run by the distinguished Scott Burress, a.k.a. ExtremeGamer. He has assembled a stellar staff of writers who have already made a name for themselves in the sports gaming community. The articles there are fresh, relevant and very well written by guys who simply love games. They have an awesome set of forums there as well, populated by knowledgeable fans who know what they are talking about. It's a great place to find in-depth info and strong opinions about what is happening in the sports gaming world.

So here's a serious shout-out to Scott Burress and his staff at Who Needs Rules: Our good friend Dave Roland, Dave Lint, Greg Callaghan, Matt Kabara, Chris "Sully" Sullivan, Mike Snider, Dave Roberts, John Enoch and Steve Semple. Congratulations, fellas. You have already made Who Needs Rules a vital player in the sports gaming community.

Why I love Operation Sports

As you may have noticed, I provide a link to Operation Sports on this blog. I have been a member there for a long time and there is always good info on the site and in the forums. But it's like a community as well. For example, I give you the story of BluenGold, a guy who talked his wife into making a 442 mile round trip drive with him to pick up a copy of MLB 08: The Show three days before the actual release date. Now that may sound crazy to you, driving all that way for game just to get it 3 days early, but when it comes to sports gamers, we are completely irrational when a major game is nearing release. I myself wouldn't have made that trip, but I definitely understand why BluenGold would do that. Anyway, here's what happened:

They made the drive to a Wal Mart which was 221 miles from there house. His wife thought he was nuts, but she also thought it would be a fun road trip so she gamely went along. He got to the store, bought the game and at that point all was well. He stopped at a gas station to fill up for the trip home. As he pumped gas, his wife cleaned out the car and threw away trash that had accumulated during the trip. They drove back home and then they realized that along with the trash, she also threw out the game. Uh-oh. His wife wanted to drive back to get it, but he said it would be foolish, given what they had spent on gas already and that by the time they got there, the trash might have been taken. So BluenGold posted on the Operation Sports forum that the game was in the trashcan at this gas station and if anyone wanted to go there and get the game, they could keep it. He just didn't want it to be a total waste of money (and a great game).

A poster named JSKYWALKER1 read the message and said that he lived 20 miles from the gas station. He made the drive, looked in the trashcan and plucked the game right out of the garbage. He called BluenGold and told him that he had the game and that he would gladly give it to him if he wanted to drive back. So tomorrow at 5:00 A.M. BluenGold is driving down to pick it up. He'll get his game, his wife won't feel so awful and JSKYWALKER1 knows he did a very nice thing to help out a fellow gamer. JSKYWALKER1, you sir are a hero. And BluenGold, that's one hell of a wife you've got there.