| Although I'm not a sports writer by trade, it would | | | | license. A harmless idea, I suppose, unless you get |
| have been considered bad journalism if I had come | | | | pulled over by a state trooper who roots for the |
| out on the side of Alabama or Auburn before last | | | | other side."Mr. Jones, I'm only going to issue you a |
| Saturday's big game. But now that the Iron Bowl is | | | | warning this time, but... uh oh, says here on the back |
| over and the season is almost at its end, I can finally | | | | of your license that you're an Alabama fan. That |
| reveal which team I claim as my own.I was rooting | | | | changes things a bit. It's a good thing you marked |
| for . Fact is, I've been a huge fan for thirty years! I | | | | this organ donor box. You're about to make some |
| want all my kids to graduate from !Okay, I know | | | | kidney patient very happy. Step out of the car |
| what you're thinking: "Hey, Tim, why are you using | | | | please..."Football fanaticism has been known to break |
| that annoying instead of the actual team name? Why | | | | up families, cause domestic violence, and drive |
| are you so hesitant to reveal the name of the team | | | | otherwise sane people to do really stupid things. |
| you were rooting for? Huh? Why?"I'll tell you why. It's | | | | Take my brother, Shemp, for example. Shemp is a |
| because the game is not really over. Alabama and | | | | rabid fan who somehow managed to hitch his marital |
| Auburn fans will be replaying every second of that | | | | wagon to a lovely woman who is an equally rabid fan. |
| Iron Bowl until the next one comes around. And the | | | | Talk about your mixed marriages. I don't think that |
| Monday morning quarterbacking began even before | | | | "Men Are From Mars" guy put this chapter in his |
| the game was over. Within five minutes of the end | | | | book.Shemp and his wife get along as well as any |
| of the game here's a small sampling of the email that | | | | married couple, until their teams play each other. |
| was coming into Alabama Live's feedback line.Let's | | | | Then things turn ugly, Veeeery ugly. Shemp takes |
| begin with this one from a member of the fairer sex: | | | | over the house like a Branch Davidian at a real estate |
| "Please print the real reason 'Bama lost to Auburn: | | | | auction, refusing to let his wife in until after the |
| DUMB coaching. DuBose should have been fired on | | | | game, which is just fine with her. She would rather |
| the spot, along with whoever called the dumbest | | | | watch the game at her sister's house because her |
| play in the history of Alabama football. The players | | | | husband is, and I'm quoting her, "an obnoxious |
| played great, and should have won. The coach lost | | | | fan!"Hmm, I didn't know there was any other kind.It |
| the game." | | | | is worth noting that we Alabamians are not the only |
| And this from an Alabama fan living in Florida: | | | | ones who go nuts over college football. Take last |
| "Dumb Bose" has got to go! That pass play was, | | | | weekend's Michigan/Ohio State game, for example, |
| without a doubt, the stupidest call I have ever seen | | | | which Michigan won 20-14. 120 people were ejected |
| in 30 years of football. There is only one to blame. | | | | from the stadium for being drunk. Seven fans were |
| "DUBOSE!" GOT TO GO!!! FIRED TODAY." | | | | ejected for disorderly conduct, six for urinating in |
| And this little ditty that says what the majority of | | | | public, four for being on the field during the game and |
| Alabama fans were probably thinking:"The Alabama | | | | two for possession of marijuana. One fan was also |
| offensive coach should be taken out behind the | | | | ejected for assault. Someone must have drank his |
| Auburn stadium and shot. That 3rd down pass play | | | | beer while he was down urinating on the goal |
| was the dumbest play in the history of Alabama | | | | post.When this year's Iron Bowl came to a close, the |
| football. Get some new coaches, I can give you | | | | Auburn Tigers came out the winners by one very |
| some names."The great thing about football mania is | | | | slim point. I discovered something then, watching the |
| that it is the most honest kind of fanaticism, breaking | | | | Auburn players celebrate and the Alabama players |
| all barriers of race, gender and age. Even the | | | | cry. I discovered that it really didn't matter which |
| teachers in our elementary and middle schools fan | | | | team I had been rooting for because in the end, I |
| the fire. Chelsea, my 9 year old, came home Friday | | | | was happy and sad, elated and disappointed, amazed |
| with tears in her eyes because her teacher, a | | | | and upset.Both teams played their hearts out and I |
| woman she respects and loves, wore a jersey to | | | | think we should, as a state, be proud of Alabama |
| school. My little girlwas devastated."Mrs. Smith is for , | | | | and Auburn. It's just a damn shame that in football |
| daddy. I can't believe it. I'm never going back to | | | | somebody has to lose.And still you ask, which team |
| school again! Never!" Great, a 9 year old dropout. | | | | was I rooting for?None of your business.From "Small |
| Thank you for ruining my baby's life.Sometimes I | | | | Business Q&A" With Tim Knox |
| wonder if we take our football too seriously in | | | | Tim Knox is a nationally-known entrepreneur, author, |
| Alabama. It wouldn't surprise me if legislators in | | | | speaker, and radio show host. |
| Montgomery passed a law requiring everyone to put | | | | Tim has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs realize |
| their team preferences on the back of their driver's | | | | their business dreams. |