Good Things Come…

It’s been a great week, truth be told.

It started off with the release of GTA IV. Went into Nottingham early on Tuesday to get the game, already on the side reserved for me, so no Gamestation-style madness of it being out of stock (although as it turns out, it was actually in stock at Gamestation all through release day!). The bus journey home, with the game in my hand, was unbearable!

First impressions were a little disappointment with the graphics. It soon became apparent though, that I was sitting far too close to my TV. I’d been using the Samsung telly as a TV and monitor, so I was really close to it. After moving things round in the bedroom, I got the telly a longer distance away and the game looks better.

It seems that Rockstar have taken all the good bits from San Andreas and improved the hell out of it all. The level of detail in the game is astounding, it really does give you the feeling that you’re playing in a living, breathing city. The realistic way things happen in the game are also notable, like when you’ve shot a cop in the leg or arm, he’ll still try and shoot you but will hobble along or be holding his injured arm. Another example is if you start a fist fight with a female passer-by, some random blokes will come to her aid and start to beat you up.

I could go on and on saying everything I love about this game, but I could be here all day. All the reviews that gave this game top marks will spot on. If there was ever a game to define the genre (that it itself created!), then it is GTA IV. Rockstar have raised the bar yet again, it’ll be interesting to see how the gaming world takes note of this gaming masterpiece. Though with the forthcoming release of Saints Row 2, I doubt Rockstar will be losing sleep.

Away from GTA – and trust me, this week it has been hard! – last week was when Leeds United were told the outcome of their appeal against the 15 point deduction. They’d pissed off the top six or so clubs in League One by this being dragged out. Swansea were still to be given the League One trophy and ourselves, Doncaster and Carlisle would’ve been displaced by a Leeds side that would have gone into second place had they been successful in getting all their points back.

Thankfully, they got absolutely nothing. When they were doing so well earlier this season, they didn’t care about the ‘injustice’ of starting on -15 points, but when things started to wobble they brought it up again. It’s not so much Leeds the football club I’m happy to see be unsuccessful in their appeal, it’s Ken Bates. To put it plain and simple, the guy’s a wanker.

With Swansea able to crowned champions, it was up to us, Donny and Carlisle to fight for second spot. I think it is safe to say that most Forest fans had readied themselves for another shot at the playoffs. We’d got into a form a little too late, i thought. I’d recently become a little detached from Forest (i’ve not been able to get to any games this year), so I decided not listen to the game (v Yeovil) at work yesterday. I might not be the super-mad Forest fan that I was ten years or so ago, but I still care about my club. Turns out though, that they had Radio Nottingham playing through the loudspeaker at the Mail Centre. Not just Radio Nottingham, but their commentary on the Notts County game.

I had to make do with Colin Slater first telling us that Forest were in the lead, then that Doncaster were losing. What had to happen yesterday was that if Doncaster drew or lost, and we won, we would get promoted. I was totally expecting us to choke, as we so often do, but after giving up and listening to my personal radio, I heard Forest to be totally in control of the game.

I’ve never felt so nervous about anything, I couldn’t concentrate on my work, i took too long on my break, my mind just wasn’t there! When Doncaster equalized, I could see us throwing it away. Yeovil then got another goal back and I was expecting the worse. Towards the end though, news came through that Doncaster were losing yet again, with only ten minutes to go. Our game had started about five minutes later than theirs, so as soon as the final score came in from Donny, we knew we were up. 

The whole City Ground was whistling, wanting the game to end. But word then came through that Doncaster had lost, Forest were up! No matter what happened in the remaining three minutes, we were up! The team played out the injury time, then all hell broke loose. The club had wanted the fans to remain seated, but it just wasn’t happening. The pitch soon filled up and the players got mobbed. There are a few pictures dotted around the internet that I’ve seen so far, all of them makes me wish I was there!

So, we snatched automatic promotion on the last day. Nottingham Forest are promoted back to the Championship, how good does that sound? I also think it is pretty safe to say that the future of our top players are secured, for another year at least. And it is so, so good for a little bit of luck and success to come our way after so much shit over the past ten years. This is our first promotion in 10 years, and I hope everyone connected with the club enjoys it all before all the hard work begins.

One thing I do wonder though, what is it that the runners up get? Is it a plate, trophy, plaque? And will we get an open top bus parade through the city? Hope so!