Columbia University Part 2:

This is what happened when the College Republicans invited the Minutemen Project to speak at Columbia a couple of years ago. I can't even understand what these morons are saying. (By the way, I totally stole this comparison from Tammy Bruce who is awesome and who's site you should check out.)

Ahmadinef---ingidiot or whatever and Columbia University

More proof that college kids are the most vile human beings on earth?

If you watched that "speech" and didn't at the very least throw up in your mouth a little that it even happened, then I'm sorry, but there is something terribly wrong with you.

And now, after the fact, I hear all of these college kids shouting "free speech, free speech" and praising him for his "dialogue."

I am the biggest pro-Constitution, free speech, etc. person I know. And despite what my grades or SAT scores were, despite how hard I worked in school or how involved I was, I have never been nor will I ever be "cool" or fortunate enough to attend Columbia University and only know, personally, one or two who did, so maybe there's just something I'm not getting here.

To me, to say this is a "free speech" issue is ignorant and immature.

I suppose these kids are upset they didn't live in a time when they could invite Hitler to speak. Ironically, it seems a lot of them are Jewish (and/or womem and/or gay and/or not Muslim and/or Americans...well you get the point).

To see these brats there praising this man and the school for allowing this makes me...well, I'm having a really hard time even finding the words to express myself (and that's rare.)

Week 3... in letters

(I actually did this for week 2, but never published them here...Yes, I have too much time on my hands.)

Dear Cedric Killings,

Please get well soon!

Sincerely,
SEA
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Dear Media,

Today, as you know, Cedric Killings was involved in an on-the-field collision that resulted in a neck injury. I think we can all join in and wish the best for him and hope for a full and speedy recovery. That said, I mean absolutely no ill will towards Mr. Killings with the following statements.

While this is an extremely horrible incident and happens on the heels of the most unfortunate accident that injured Bills tight end Kevin Everett, I have to ask you to please not waste the next few weeks of my time taking an "in depth" look at football. Please do not put segments titled "Is Football too Dangerous: A Closer Look at the Sport" into your newscasts. Please do not saturate us with your "serious journalist" voiceovers, dramatic music, and interviews with the rare angry former athlete afflicted with a permanent injury.

Please do not put ideas in the heads of looney liberals, lobbyists, and politicians such as "something needs to be done about this." Please do not do anything that promotes sports (and I use the term loosely) like "soccer." Please, PLEASE do not make this a political matter. Please do not encourage those who can't think for themselves to desire more rules and regulations. Please leave football alone.

As with anything, these men know what they are getting into when they sign up. And the truth is, the good things about football at all levels far outweigh the bad. Why football keeps kids out of trouble, toughens them up and prepares them for the real world, and brings people together over a common bond...just to name a few.

How many grown men in say, Congress, do you see kneeling to pray with tears in their eyes upon hearing one of their colleagues has been injured or is not well? Again, how many of, say, a Congressman's constituents, upon hearing their representative is not well, sit breathlessly awaiting any news on the condition of said representative? Enough said.

Sincerely,
SEA

PS. My young soccer playing cousin is now on crutches after last night's game and I'm willing to bet my aunt will let him play again without so much as a second thought. I'm just sayin'.

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Dear Matt Schaub,

I love you. I really do. For the years you sat on the bench, picking at your socks...I loved you. When you almost beat the Patriots in your only start in 2005, I loved you more because you proved my point just as Michael Vick has proven my points about him.

And while we've never met (as far as I know) and you never got much local press, from what I understand you are an awesome guy off the field and an amazing leader for your team.

I wanted you to win today, even though I am usually a Colts kind of girl and that put me pulling against 50% of my fantasy team, but I can say you put up a tough fight and I think the Killings injury got your team a little out of whack, which is completely understandable. This may be the first time I've ever pulled against P-Man.

You have turned your team around from laughing stocks to contenders. You are proving to Arthur Blank who should be our starting QB this year, and next week I hope you kick some Falcons ass. Apologies to the Falcons for not upholding a promise I made many years ago.

Love,
SEA

XOXO

PS. Are you married?

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Dear Joseph Addai,

I love you too. Where did you learn how to do that? You are freakin' awesome man!!! Who needs E. James?

Sincerely,
Number One Fantasy Player (this week, so far) in small but competitive league.


PS. Thanks for the two touchdowns and 91 yards.

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Dear Joey Harrington,

Things might not suck as bad if you didn't have a stupid "where am I" sort of look on your face all the time. I'm kidding...you see, Joey, I don't dislike you and I don't blame the Falcons season thus far on you. Hey, as I write this, you guys are tied with Carolina 10-10 and you've done some good things today. Perhaps because you now know Leftwich is nipping at your heels. Either way, this ain't Pee-wee. Start acting like it.

Sincerely,
Annoyed Former Falcons Fan Who Tries Really Hard To Like You
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Dear D-Nabb,

Good game. (EDITED because I was told it was tasteless)

This is the second letter for you this week, I know.

You know I'm a fan. I think you have alterior motives. Just do your thing.

Sincerely,
SEA (who thought it was funny but will leave it out all the same)

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Dear teams that are playing after about 5:30,

Sorry, I can't watch you. I have many things to do before the new episode of Family Guy comes on tonight (though I question the whole Star Wars theme). You see, I promised myself I'd get these things done yesterday so I could sit around all day and watch football today, but somehow I manged to stumble upon what is apparently an abandoned blog by someone I don't know but who I consider to be very brilliant among other things and spent many hours reading it and confirming my previous thoughts. Then I managed to avoid my responsibilities again today by watching the teams that played before 5:30 and writing these pointless letters. So, carry on. Go Falcons, go Cinci.

Sincerely,

SEA

You can't call him "Tommy" Glavine

I don't think Mets fans should be allowed that privilege. He's Tom to you...and that's only if you aren't a jerk. Then it's Mr. Glavine. You guys Y'all didn't see him up through from the minors and through some of the best pitching of the 90's.

Sure, you got your 300th Win. Woo-hoo, big deal.

We got two Cy Youngs and a World Series MVP among lots of other notable stuff I'm too tired to look up.

Oh wait, what's that? World Series MVP? Yeah, that's that thing where they pick the best player on the WINNING team. You know...wait, my bad.

Sorry...that just sets me off!


And speaking of Atlanta sports people we should still have...though I would hate to see what it would do to my fantasy team...I'm going to pull long and hard for Matt Schaub to kick some Colts ass tomorrow. (I hear you laughing, and I choose to ignore you.)

What will he "evolve" on next?

Giuliani Claims An Evolution On Gun Rights

Something about that makes me want to go put the bumper sticker I got (from my "candidate of choice" - and I use that phrase loosely) on my car...and I so don't do bumper stickers.

And I know I said I was avoiding most"current events." And I am, for the most part, but you should all know I have commitment issues at this point!!

Walter Banks: The greatest man in baseball you will probably never know

I'd mentioned writing about him earlier but after this, I decided to go ahead.
My dad calls me and says, "HURRY, PUT YOUR TV ON ESPN!" So, I did. "MLB 2007: Never Miss a Game" was on and guess who was being featured? None other than Mr. Walter Banks, himself.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to the see the whole thing, but I saw some interview with him and some interview with some of the more old school Braves guys like John Smoltz and Bobby Cox. They were talking about what a great guy he is, and so on, but I'd like to attest to that, myself.

So who is Walter Banks, you ask? Well, he's an usher at Turner Field. Before that, he was an usher at Atlanta Fulton-County stadium and he's been with the Braves for over 40 years. Most real fans will know who he is as he has become something of a celebrity in Atlanta. They've even named the owner's suite at Turner Field after him. His proper title is apparently "Executive Usher of the Owner's Box." He's about 70 years old and extremely humble, despite all of the media attention he's received throughout the recent years.

Anyway, my father and Mr. Banks worked for the same company for years (he's not just an usher and from what I understand he's still with that company) and somehow befriended each other. I was just a little girl at the time but as I've mentioned, I've pretty much been a sports fan and a Braves fan since birth and Mr. Banks is probably, in part, a huge influence on that.

When he learned of my love for the game, souveniers from the team began to trickle in. Sometimes it was a leftover from game day giveaways, sometimes it was something that most people didn't have access to, but it seems like I got something almost weekly during the season. Posters of my favorite players, baseball cards, media guides, etc. and what's even better is that I think I still have most of it!! I really didn't know who this guy was at the time, aside from the stories from my dad about "the nicest guy you could ever meet," but I knew he was amazing and now that I've grown up and know more about him, I still think so. He made many a day for me as a child.

Unfortunately, my father was transferred and eventually left the company, so I never had the opportunity to thank him in person, but that man really meant the world to me.

Anyway, I have a really nice article about him from the Atlanta Journal Constitution and one from Choptalk but since they are both buried in my closet and I don't currently have a scanner, this was the best I could find with a quick google search: Astounded by Walter Banks. There is so much about him that I can't even begin to describe. He can tell you everything there is to know about baseball and everything there is to know about Atlanta and then some. He can relate anything to baseball, particularly numbers. As the article says, he's often called the "Walking Encyclopedia" and they talked about all of this on ESPN tonight.

Anyway, that's my goofy little tribute. I had to type fast, so ignore the typos and bad grammar (as though everything I type isn't filled with them/it).

I'm not sure if I'll be around tomorrow so everyone have a good day!

Dead man walking

1. ABC News: 'Dead' Man Wakes Up Under Autopsy Knife

I'm sure there is a Michael Moore/Hugo Chavez health care joke to be made here but I am just too blah to make it. ('Cause you know, it takes place in Venezuela.)


2. And in other news, more proof for my theory that college kids are possibly the most obnoxious beings on earth though I'll bet this is the most exciting Kerry-related event ever!!

I actually had a joke planned about having tasers at the Emmys but apparently I'm a little late in the game and that joke has been made today. I'm sure there are other jokes, lessons, and comparisons to be made, but see above. Hey, I should at least get points for trying.


3. ABC News: Crocs Can Pose a Danger ... and not just to your sense of fashion.

So maybe I am a bit of a fair-weather fan?

I tried to watch the Falcons today... I really did.

Or least I planned to...Falcons on Fox, Colts on CBS, what is a girl with dead batteries in her remote to do? The truth is, the Colts game was exciting. Aside from the fact that Vince Young runs plays like a cocky kid* and Vinatieri looked like Jay Feely circa late 2005 (which almost cost them the game), it was a good game...and they actually scored points!

OK, maybe I'm exaggerating. I mean Warrick Dunn did score a TD today. Joey Harrington's TD total for the season? Zero. That's 13 less than the numbers of times he's been sacked.

So yeah, I didn't actually watch the game (just a few seconds, long enough to see the new kicker - who looks like he was found hanging around Venice Beach just before the season started - miss an easy shot) but I did see J-ville celebrating in the lockeroom afterwards, as though they'd accomplished some great feat. Beating THESE Falcons by six points is nothing to get excited about. Watching THESE Falcons reminds me of Friday nights years ago, in the stands at my high school.

In related news, anyone catch the Houston game? I hate to say I told you so...

As I've said before, there was a time when I was a HUGE Falcons fan. My friend, Jessica, and I used to drive out to Suwanee to watch summer practices and were happy with nosebleed seats at the Dome (that's all we could afford). Then the whole drafting Michael Vick thing happened and it all went down hill. Honestly, I can't even name one forth of the team these days and the only reason I can name that many is because I did have a couple of them on my fantasy team last year and because Keith Brooking once tried to hit on me.

And on a whole other note, Braves won today...not that it really matters. THANK GOD Blank didn't buy them, too.

And on one last note, GO CHARGERS.


Oh and you can't make this stuff up

*edited because even though I don't have to be objective for a few more months, I've decided I should really watch my "filthy" mouth. It's not lady-like.

Cheaters & Patriots...Patriots & Cheaters

I know I said no more posts but I couldn't let this one slip by me...plus I got a call this morning saying I needn't come in to work but for an hour or so (and I'd still be paid for the whole day!)...but back to the point. Y'all know how much I hate the Patriots. As THE person who picked the Jets, I demand a forfeit, or even a replay.

And I just have to say GO BRAVES! Things aren't looking good, but I'm not giving up. I got a little too caught up in football this past week, but I'm back and ready to watch them take on the stupid Mets (where the hell did they come from??) again tonight. I'd feel better if Carlyle didn't suck lately, but I think "El Duque" has been hurt...so we'll see what happens. Oh and Chipper is "hurt." Again. I actually think I have more hope for the Braves than the actual Braves do.

I also thought I'd add a quote of the day...it bothers me a bit when people jump on this patriotic bandwagon on 9/11...only to forget about it on 9/12...just as much as it bothers me that half the country became Braves fans in the 90's and now they can't sell a seat, but I do think it's important for people to think daily about the direction the country is going in, so whatever it takes, huh? Anyway, this is one I really like from my BTP guy:

"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men." - Samuel Adams .

Count the brave, count the true...

Well, I have no work lined up today, I had to reschedule a hair appointment, and aside from some cleaning that I'd like to put off, I haven't got anything pressing, so, I decided to try to watch General Petraeus testify before Congress. But I can't. Why? Well, not only will these stupid blowhards not let him talk but now they appear to be having technical issues.

And if I keep watching, I may develop high blood pressure. I don't know who the hell these politicians think they are, but they can't even begin to take credit for serving their country in the way this man has and I'd like to know where it is, exactly, they received their military training, how decorated their military careers were, how many times each one has actually been to Iraq and what they did once there? After all, they all seem to think they are experts. Blame Pres. Bush, blame whomever for the mismanagement of this war, but I'll blame ALL of the so-called "leaders of our country" who put politics before strategy. Continue on with whatever it is you do these days (scandals, pandering, voting for your own pay raises?), and give the military a chance to do what it is they do. Ask what you can do to help us win and then get them home instead of wasting their time with nonsense...

Gen. Petraeus just mentioned his chain of command and I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure Tom Lantos isn't on that list and right now he's being the smuggest of every jerk up there... I don't know, I'm just annoyed. It's far time for the morons to grow a pair and stand up for something and listen to the PEOPLE of this country. ALL of the people, not just the ones footing your re-election bill, but the ones who give up huge chunks of their paychecks to pay your salaries, so you can sit around on your ass and come up with this crap... and I'm pretty sure those people would say get out there and win this war, get our troops home, and don't let your petty crap weaken our military, our country, and our reputation.

Don Delillo

Have any of you read anything by Don Delillo? I'm dying for something good to read and since the only things I read this summer were pretty lame, I decided to go for something a little...I don't know...smarter? Anyway, I loved White Noise, but I just wonder if the rest of his stuff is good. (On another note, I read on Wikipedia that Barry Sonnenfeld was supposed to do a film version of White Noise, last year - no, not the crappy Michael Keaton movie - but it didn't happen.) That would have been interesting.

Anyway, I've narrowed it down to Delillo or Nathanael West after cruising my own bookshelves. I loved Miss Lonelyhearts and The Day of the Locust as well and plan to read them again this week since I've got a lot of free time at "work" these days during which I can't really do anything but sit and wait.

A few interesting headlines...

I'm posty today because I doubt I will be the rest of the week...I think my "flu" is just a bad cold and I've got things to do...and I've got lots to say...and I just know you people love to hear me ramble!

I thought Sheehan "retired" or was it too much trouble to get a real job?

On a serious note, after being injured during yesterday's game, Buffalo Bills tight end, Kevin Everett is in ICU after undergoing spinal surgery yesterday and things don't too look good.

Vick gone from Madden, but I'm sure playing Joey Harrington will be just as fun.

And they wonder why people aren't watching as much baseball anymore...

I had no idea (nor did I care) that the VMAs was on last night (but wasn't that and damn good game between the Giants and Cowboys?) That being said, and I totally hate to mention Britney Spears and/or link Gawker because they epitomize what I mean about "media girls", but some of the comments under this post about Britney describe her "performance" much more than I ever could.

And in other VMA news...get a life, Kanye. You are as "gangsta" and as "poor black man" as Paris Hilton.

And finally, why can't people just leave Wal-mart alone? *

*Please note, I did get that Wal-mart thing from my AOL Welcome screen. Under a big picture of the Apple logo with a headline about "fastest growing companies." According to Fortune,
Apple is the 6th fastest growing company. Fine. I hate to be conspiracy theorist, but I do find the placing of these articles suspect, especially considering what AOL normally does with their "news." All I can say is which company do you think does more good for the average person, yet which ones gets more positive headlines.

Falcons suck, Braves suck

When the defense of the other team scores more TDs than your QB, you might be in for a long season. I vote the people of Atlanta form some sort of coup to overthrow Arthur Blank...in other things Blank screwed up news, did anyone catch the Houston game? What did I say about Matt Schaub?????? Of course, we'll see how he does on the 23rd when they play the Colts.

Anyway, Joey Harrington has already said today's game was just a "stroke of bad luck." We shall see, but somehow I doubt it. Let's just say Vick is probably safer in a minimum security federal prison than he would be behind that offensive line.

During that "stroke of bad luck," I decided to flip over to watch the last couple of innings of the Braves game and they lost to the Nationals (so much for the first week of football, huh? The only other game to watch at that time was Patriots vs. Jets and I HATE New England). I believe the Braves are still 5 places out of a wild card slot or well, I hate to say it but 19 or so games away from going home for the season. For the rest of the month, they play mostly away games, the next three of which are against the Mets.

Back to football, I won't even get into my fantasy team. Let's just say Sweet Home NOT New Orleans. I should have put...well anyone but Brees and Bush in. But it's only the 1st week. I'm in second place for picks, would be in first if I had not picked the Jets...once again letting my emotions get the best of me...this is why girls don't play football.

Anyway, now I'm convinced I'm getting this flu everyone I know has had lately. I thought I was just extremely tired since I was pretty busy last week after a month of mostly doing nothing, so I decided to just lounge around all weekend (I even gave up going to the game yesterday!) and I still feel like crapola. Now I'm debating Cowboys and Giants or going to the pool...or maybe both. Either way, I'm outta here.

Steve Spurrier, David Lynch, and the Church of the Fonz...

I'll try to make this brief because now that I've sworn off obsessive talk about certain subjects (hey - August was a slow month for me, pretty much all I did was follow football and watch Red Eye, if you didn't notice! Well, and plan a move that didn't happen, which left me bored to tears), next, I need to swear off these "what I did today" posts. I so can't stand that. (Though all I've really been able to come up with is sports related and all of my "sports friends" are all basically married and too cool for anything that doesn't involve their husbands or wives!! You know who you are!!)

1. Steve Spurrier can take his fake abstract play calls and shove them up his Gamecock coaching ass. I'm kidding, of course, but it's hard to see UGA get off to such a good start and then blow it with the first SEC game. Spurrier is a great football mind, to say the least, but South Carolina made Georgia look like a high school team.

2. David Lynch. I FINALLY saw Mullholland Drive (yes, I'm behind) and now I'm planning a mini-David Lynch marathon at some point in the near future. I'll admit, I'm curious now. This whole Netflix thing has been lots of fun when I actually have time to sit down and watch movies. (Another thing that filled my "not moving after all" time in August.)

3. And for no reason other than it cracks me up. Who wouldn't love to go to the Church of the Fonz? Random fact: I saw Henry Winkler in a hotel in Los Angeles, once. I was a little annoyed that I didn't get to meet him because he was actually there for something I was associated with and the person I was with who he was talking to said, "Oh you should have told me you were a fan." Who's NOT a fan???

Breaking News...

Bin Laden proposes Clinton/Edwards '08 ticket, accepts pundit job at CNN, and predicts Red Sox in six.

Quote of the Day 9/7/07

"I'm glad to see Peyton was finally able to get himself a commercial."

- My father, very nonchalantly, after the fifth or so pregame commercial starring Peyton Manning.

(This may have been one of those "you had to be there" moments, but it cracked me up!)

I missed the first half of the game... I had a lapse in judgement (and I'm not talking about putting Drew Brees in as my QB) and committed to, well, we'll call it a "social engagement" tonight. Labor Day must have thrown me off because once I realized what day it was, I started thinking of ways to get out of it but because of my virtually non-existent social life as of the late and just pure politeness, I went anyway.

So, after the pregame bit, I popped a tape in the VCR (again, that's an old fashioned tivo for my fancy friends) and left, just daring anyone in my path to tell me what happened before I could watch. Long story short, I was back home by the start of the third quarter.

I suppose there is a some sort of football fans anonymous group out there but I have no interest in joining. Is that pathetic? I'm seem to get worse each year. Even the commercials excite me. Maybe all further dates, social engagements, and gathering of friends should involve stadium seating, beer and hotdogs. Truthfully, I wouldn't mind. I've never been big into the whole party scene anyway.

In the end, yes, putting Drew Brees in this week was a stupid mistake (every time they showed him he was throwing cups on the ground, whereas P-Man was throwing the ball to Reggie Wayne), but I did put Wayne AND Harrison in and because of that, I rule.

A few little links...

I just wanted to post a websites of interest (to me anyway):

1. Awful Announcing: The Origin of Draft Day Berman - in honor of football season. I just thought this was kind of funny...you probably will too, or you won't get it. And if you don't get it, well, that's too bad.

2. Whoopi Goldberg Defends Vick - I got this from the local ABC station by way of The Daily Gut. I won't comment because I'm blue in the face from doing so, but I think it all speaks for itself.

3. Gathering of Eagles - I got this from Michelle Malkin's article at National Review Online. (Malkin is sort of growing on me...a little) I doubt you'll hear much about it anywhere else, so check it out.

Breaking news...when it's really hot, people go inside.

And apparently it gets pretty hot in the summer...and sometimes it rains a lot.

And so I'm glad I have the experts in Hollywood/at Variety to figure this stuff out for me.

I mean, here I am, reading an article about how Hollywood is most definitely is not completely out of touch with most of the country and I had no idea I would get a cleverly inserted mini-lesson on why it REALLY got hot this summer. (wink-wink, nudge-nudge)

It's like two valuable articles in one!

Just makes you want to run out and by a Prius and some of those weird little light bulbs, huh?

So now I wonder, if global warming is, in part, a reason as to why It Happened One Night was successful, seeing as how NASA recently declared 1934 was actually the hottest year on record?

Anyway, I have my own theories on movie going trends, but I won't bore you (most of you I talk to regularly have probably heard them anyway). It just seems like many of the ones listed in the article are a desperate attempt to explain away the obvious.

This is where I used to live.

Well, my weekend trip to Athens actually happened (though not exactly what I planned). I was actually going to post some of my pictures but I realized two things:

1) They suck, I'd like to think, in part, because I didn't take them. They are certainly not what you'd get from three years of high school photography, half a film degree, and a fetish for taking pictures. All but one or two were taken by the self-proclaimed "gay artist." However, in his defense, all pictures were taken from the car, traffic was bad, and I was barking orders with little warning.

2) They are pretty boring. I actually started to post them but at the risk of becoming my grandmother, I'll spare you the least exciting set of pictures ever taken!

All in all, it was an OK trip (and quite a "scenic" one as we drove home - uh thanks, Emily!), but I'm glad to be back from the middle of nowhere.

Fair-weather Fans

Today, as I sat down to watch the Mets crush the Braves...again, I noticed there were a lot of empty seats at Turner Field...again. And while some will argue the money or politics involved, I think it's something else.

I've always had a problem with fair-weather sports fans. I think it all goes back to the early 90's, when the Atlanta Braves went from a team that couldn't fill Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium to a team who's logo was on every other t-shirted person in the Southeast. I'd been a fan for as long as I could remember. I thought Dale Murphy was one of the most amazing baseball players ever and I actually enjoyed hearing my dad's stories of when he lived a few houses down from Hank Aaron. I begged to stay up late to watch west coast road games and I refused to leave the stadium during the 8th inning to "get a head start on traffic" when the Braves were pretty much guaranteed to lose. For me, there was always hope, and if they lost...well, there was always the next game.

And then it happened.

In 1991, the Braves went from being the worst team in baseball to winning the NLCS and I was thrilled. My favorite players were suddenly everywhere and the city was excited! But being that I was only something like 10 or 11 years old, I had no idea what was brewing, though I'll admit I found it a little fishy that all of my classmates were suddenly sporting Braves theme clothing. It started deep in the Atlanta suburbs and soon spread throughout the country. People who couldn't name three players on the team or explain a ground rule double, were suddenly "HUGE BRAVES FANS!" The stadium became less about the game and more about being the "in" yuppie pastime.

To be fair, Atlanta is not an easy city in which to be a professional sports fan. You've got college football...a fall Saturday at Sanford or Bobby Dodd is a whole different experience from anything the Braves, Falcons, or Hawks have to offer (Do not e-mail me and tell me I forgot the Thrashers because I rank hockey up there with soccer on my list of "actual sports" and will do so until proven otherwise). You've also got the fact that unlike New York, Chicago, etc., Atlanta wasn't really a professional sports city until the 60's... among other smaller factors.

I didn't care so much back then. My dad tried to explain to me what a "bandwagon" was, but I was too busy basking in the glory of my team being on top. As I got older, it all seemed a little disingenuous to say the least. These days I cringe when I see someone become a fan of a team after a winning season. I have this Indianapolis Colts hat...I've had it for several years and it shows. I've always worn it when I felt like running errands incognito, but I haven't worn it once this year out of the very fear of being labeled a fair-weather fan.

I suppose the fact that I even owned the Colts hat may put me in the very category of people I loathe. I suppose the fact that sort of I've pulled for the Mets these past few years could also put me in that category, but I guess I don't see it that way. I think there is a fine line. I've just managed to maintain my loyalty to Tom Glavine and the Braves, thank you. And despite all the crap I've written about hating the Falcons for drafting Michael Vick (which is all pretty true), I have never told anyone the Colts were my favorite team because it simply wasn't true.

Team and player loyalty is something in which I've based my career as a sports fan. Loyalty is just something you don't see much of in the sports world these days. And I don't put all the blame on the fans. Like my dad and Hank Aaron, how often can someone say the star of their local professional team lives "up the street" year round? How many players will give up a small chunk of change to stay in a city which has embraced their every move since their rookie year? Besides that, you've got teams and leagues who would merchandise their own brand of ice cubes if they'd sell and let's just say on any given day, my choice of sporting events to watch is no longer limited to the Braves on TBS (and I don't even have satellite). And while I understand why, I can't help but be a little sad and wonder what it was like to be a sports fan many decades ago.

Next week, sports fans, tune in to read my thoughts on we can do about those damn woman announcers. (Kidding, I think.)

That was much longer than I intended it to be.

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Ok, and one more thing...I guess I can't avoid this. I suppose I was being a bit of a Red Eye fair-weather fan. I know I promised no more Andrew Levy talk as of September (I'll make that September 2nd) and here it is, only September 1st, but what can I do when it is quite possible the man himself left a comment here? And after a brief Dick Cheneyesque moment (that's heart attack Cheney, not shoot someone in the face Cheney) of shock and a little embarrassment, I had to question it. I can't even get my cousins to comment here, much less...well you see what I'm saying. Maybe they should change their motto (or create one?) to "Red Eye: We keep people watching, one viewer at a time." Or maybe I'm just a sucker for all things A.L.? Either way it worked and I guess I'll keep watching for now. I actually caught the last half hour, last night, and I think I was kind of right about the "Half-time Report" not being quite as good if you didn't catch the first half of the show...or maybe it was that darn black, open collared number that prevented me from understanding what was going on?

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And that's it for me for a few days. Tomorrow I'm going to be out of town for a day and possibly a night, Monday, I'm sure there will be some sort of Labor Day cookout type event to attend, and Tues-Thurs I actually have some work lined up.

And now I'm off to watch the rest of the UGA game do something fabulous with my Saturday night. Actually, I guess after last Saturday, I really can't complain.

Have a great weekend, everyone!