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