10.13.07 5:00 AM CDT
• Sports
• Rocky Rakovic
Our intern Nicole DeLuca has been looking terribly teal lately. She explains why:I’m coming out of the closet: This year I’m pulling for the Carolina Panthers. Yes, you read correctly. The lights just flickered and a shriek came from the cubicle next to me—the secret’s out.
I’ll catch a lot of grief from fellow New Jerseyans over this. It may even be considered sacrilege. But I have my reasons, and none are their wonderfully crafted dazzling blue and sparkling white uniforms adorned with a sexy black animal of the wild—but that doesn’t hurt.
The Panthers (3-2) have this underdog or in this case “undercat” stigma lately that appeals to many people, such as myself. When they lose, I feel bad and want to gather the whole team and give them a nice group hug. When they win, I want to smack their asses and tell them “Job well done!” This is the first time in recent years that experts and Vegas were down on the Panthers in preseason. And look at them now: tied with Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South division.
This may be the year for Carolina. With backup quarterback Jake Delhomme out for the season due to elbow surgery, 43-year-old Testaverde signed a one-year deal on Wednesday, who was cut by New England before the start of the season. How can you not like Vinny? Ironically, the Panthers next game is against Arizona, the team that Vinny rebuffed to join Carolina. Due to quarterback David Carr’s back injury we might have a chance to see Testaverde in action. This past Sunday, the Panthers played their division rival and Playboy’s preseason favorite to contend for the Super Bowl, the Saints, and clawed out a 16-13 victory. Nothing is slowing down my boys! (Lights just flickered again). Now that I probably have a few hits out for my life, laying low seems like a good idea.
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