Don’t blame fandom for Toomer’s Corner oaks poisoning
Let's keep the blame for the poisoning of the Toomer's Corner oaks where it belongs. (Associated Press)
The temptation among some in this whole sorry Toomer’s Corner oaks affair is to shake their heads and say, “Those crazy Alabama fans,” or huff and puff about SEC football and its fans being out of control.
But it’s patently unfair to take the actions of one individual who uses his fandom for a college football program as an excuse for destructive behavior and lay them at the feet of the school or blame the intensity of big-time college football. Just as it makes no sense to take anyone who commits a shocking crime and somehow attribute it to his race or religion or make the leap to blaming it on society in general.
Remember the guy who threw security into a tizzy and briefly shut down the Atlanta airport a few years back by running down the “up” escalator, and how some idiots tried to use it as an opportunity to bash the University of Georgia simply because he was a Dogs fan on his way to a game?
That was illogical and unfair, and so is blaming the University of Alabama, Crimson Tide fandom, the Alabama-Auburn rivalry, the SEC or college football in general for the poisoning of the oaks.
I like the way the Senator put it at Get the Picture (though I have to sanitize it for a family newspaper’s audience): Sometimes people behave like complete [jerks] simply because they’re complete [jerks].
IT’S NOT TOO LATE…
I speculated here a while back that for those young Dogs fans who haven’t been able to afford the minimum “buy-in” level of a Hartman Fund contribution to get season tickets, the aftermath of a disappointing season might make this the year to make the move.
And, indeed, it looks like donations to the Hartman Fund, aka the Bulldog Club — which entitle the donor to buy season tickets — must be flagging this year. The donation deadline was Tuesday, and yet two days after that a notice was put up on Georgiadogs.com that “If you have not yet made your 2011 contribution, please donate today to ensure you receive season ticket priority for the 2011 season.”
In other words, the deadline has passed but they’re still soliciting donations.
Even if you don’t want to buy season tickets for 2011, a donation of at least $100 to the Hartman Fund makes you eligible to request tickets to the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome between the Dogs and Boise State.
So what are you waiting for?
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— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg
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382 comments Add your comment
how2fish
February 18th, 2011
12:19 pm
I’m not blaming Bama for this moron, we all know (even if we won’t admit it) there are morons like this wearing all of our schools colors..sad but true. I think if the trees survive they should give this guy a one way ticket out of Bama..if they don’t I think they should use the wood to make a scaffold to hang the moron from.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
12:19 pm
“It would have been too embarrassing if it had been a Dawg fan.’
It’s embarrassing for every SEC school because of the extent of hate that this guy had. I remember years ago when my folks used to buy season tix for Auburn games and the reason they stopped is because of the Iron Bowl. My mom said that the amount of hatred was enough to stop going. My folks haven’t been back to a game since the early 80s.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
12:20 pm
“White or whole wheat?’
LOL!! Indeed.
AthensDawg
February 18th, 2011
12:20 pm
Duh is to afraid to answer because he knows his team is bad. And Auburn Fan that is actually pretty funny. But I still don’t like Auburn.
green envy
February 18th, 2011
12:22 pm
Flatwoods Dawg: THAT was good. Funniest thing I have read on one of these blogs in a long time.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
12:22 pm
“All I know as a Bama fan that after the “Blackout” game that didnt work so well for the puppies, I was cussed at, spit on, and even had a few beer bottles tossed in my direction.”
LSU is notorious for having fans who do that kind of crap. I will never step foot in Baton Rouge for another LSU game. I’ve had my run-ins with LSU fans in Atlanta who acted as if they’d never been to the big city before. I swear I watched a couple of those clowns act as if they’d just stepped out of the movie Deliverance.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
12:23 pm
“And Auburn Fan that is actually pretty funny. But I still don’t like Auburn.’
What is funny? Oh, and I couldn’t care less if you like Auburn or not.
hahah
February 18th, 2011
12:24 pm
I think as part of this guy’s community service the law should make him clean up toomer’s corner every weekend wearing Auburn Tigers gear while spectators chant War Eagle at him.
AthensDawg
February 18th, 2011
12:28 pm
The mullets will now be known in Auburn Nation as the Updykers.
That was funny but not now. And I hope, Auburn Fan, I hope you know that next year your Auburn War Eagles Tigers whatever your name is yall are going to be sorry.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
12:31 pm
“I hope you know that next year your Auburn War Eagles Tigers whatever your name is yall are going to be sorry.’
Trust me dawg, I am perfectly ok with dawg fan predictions about other teams. Why, because they never come true.
Auburn just signed the third best class in the country behind Bama and FSU. I do think Auburn will lose 3-4 games but then again, I said the same thing last year.
BJohnDawg
February 18th, 2011
12:33 pm
Bill …I thin fandom is part of the issue. Rock throwing at buses in FSU for the gators in the 80s. Water hoses, and tree killing, and street agents and selling jerseys, and paying for players.
And on and on.
College footbal fandom driving all of this craziness. Yeah this guy was the fringe. But not that far on the fringe.
At least from some of the crap I have seen or heard over the years.
And it just seems to be getting worse. Pretty soon you will here of stuff like in S. America where they murder a goalie because he missed the stop on a penalty kick.
Seem far fetched. Telling you…it could happen.
Old Dawg
February 18th, 2011
12:34 pm
This could have happened with a fan from any school. Every school has nut-jobs for fans and no one school is any worse than others. The holier-than-thou attitudes make these things worse than they should be.
AthensDawg
February 18th, 2011
12:35 pm
We did the same thing. Normally true freshmen don’t make a huge impact their first year. I don’t know. We will see next year I guess. Have a great day Auburn fan.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
12:40 pm
“Normally true freshmen don’t make a huge impact their first year.’
True, unless you have great coaching.
“We will see next year I guess. Have a great day Auburn fan.’
Yes we will. You have a great day, too!
James
February 18th, 2011
12:46 pm
South = Morons
dawggirl
February 18th, 2011
12:49 pm
This guy is disgusting. He doesn’t represent an entire fanbase, but he should be held accountable for his actions and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Jail time mandatory. His mandatory community service should be trash pick up and after all Auburn home games dressed in full Auburn paraphernalia.
I was ticked off at the UGA fan who ran down the escalator the wrong way as well. My older brother was delayed to go to a wedding. Why are some people so stupid?
Wishing the best for the Toomer’s Corner trees. My mom has had vandalism done to her own landscaping, but has not been able to gather enough evidence to do anything. I guess the one good thing was this idiot outed himself.
woebegong
February 18th, 2011
12:51 pm
Folks,
You can’t buy these kind of comments from a speech writer in most cases. Admittably, some of the personal attacks stretch my patience a bit, but the majority of these blogs on here, no matter what school’s fan writes them, are darn funny. Page 1 of these blogs usually never ends on a postivie note due to some blogger from another school, with no reason to be even commenting on it, has interjected his sick attempt at humor, or nastiness. From page two on, usually resembles a school yard fight on an elementary school playground.
I am going to try and archive most of these comments, write a book, and title it, “How adults settle arguements and the meaningful comments they make”
Don’t know where I got the idea that this blog was about pointing out the fact, that this guy did not represent a true fan of any school. According to a lot of you on here, he represents the entire SEC. LOL.
GOOOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSS
1eyedJack
February 18th, 2011
12:55 pm
In olden times these kinds of idiots would have been picked off by predators or Indians or their own neighbors and kinfolk long before they had a chance to mature and procreate.
Sometimes I find myself longing for the good ol’ days.
AltamahaDawg
February 18th, 2011
12:56 pm
I’ve always been puzzled by the idea of covering your own favotite tree in toilet paper as a celebration. I’ll just accept that it’s a good thing over there. It certainly sounds fun, just an odd show of respect or pride. Who actually cleans that up or do they?
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
12:57 pm
“South = Morons”
North = Bankrupt
UGAgirlFAN
February 18th, 2011
12:57 pm
WOW! I just called the ticket office and to get tickets to the UGA vs UF game a min.donation is $5,000, plus the ticket price of either $40 or $70 depending on where you sit!!!!! PLUS the min. donation does not start out at $100, it is $250.00 per person- DANG IT! The only game I cared about was the UGA/UF game because I live in Florida- GOOOOOOO DAWGS!
Athens= God's Country
February 18th, 2011
12:57 pm
This guy was a Fan of Crazy, plain and simple.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
12:58 pm
“I’ve always been puzzled by the idea of covering your own favotite tree in toilet paper as a celebration.”
Oh, I can tell you about some weirder traditions from schools up north.
GRIM TREEPER
February 18th, 2011
1:00 pm
Alabama people are freaks and losers. Why do you think auburn has to pay Georgia kids to play for them. Nothing and I mean nothing is worth two chits in that state. The SEC should ban both of those lying, cheating programs from the conference. They are a blackeye, and everyone knows it.
Jablonski is an idiot
February 18th, 2011
1:04 pm
Well it does look like most reasonable people know and understand you can’t define a whole school by the actions of one idiot- especially an idiot that never went to UA or was even a season ticket holder.
Then there are people like Jablonski who emphatically prove that every school does indeed have its own idiots. It seems he’s having trouble finding his way back to his village.
Jablonski is an idiot
February 18th, 2011
1:05 pm
Grim Treeper,
Case in point. I guess we can just add you to Georgia’s collection of ignorant idiots.
Mobile Dawg
February 18th, 2011
1:07 pm
They shoot the paper out ot the trees with a high pressure stream of water. Don’t know whether it’s the city or the university?
Heard a thoughtful comment on the radio this morning as it was discussed here in Mobile, the University of Alabama as a good gesture should pledge to pay half the costs for clean up, restoration, etc. as a gesture of good will.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
1:08 pm
“Alabama people are freaks and losers.”
So what does that say about people in GA?
“Why do you think auburn has to pay Georgia kids to play for them.”
Where’s the proof, ma’am?
“Nothing and I mean nothing is worth two chits in that state.”
?
“The SEC should ban both of those lying, cheating programs from the conference. ‘
They’d have to ban UGA as well since they have been on NCAA probation 6 times.
“They are a blackeye, and everyone knows it.’
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn.
BAMA K9
February 18th, 2011
1:08 pm
Auburn Fan
Is that toilet payer new or used. Used toilet paper would probably be better for the environment. Plus, the manure left on the paper would provide nutritional benefits. Whew, but it would stink.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
1:09 pm
“University of Alabama as a good gesture should pledge to pay half the costs for clean up, restoration, etc. as a gesture of good will.”
No they shouldn’t. Especially since the retard didn’t even go to school there.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
1:10 pm
BAMA K9
How does it feel to no longer be referred to as a mullet, but an Updyker?
ROLL UPDYKERS ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
1:13 pm
BAMA K9
Bernie Madoff is no longer Alabama’s most famous convict. That role now goes to Updyke.
ROLL CONS ROLL!!!!!!
Fleischman in Chattanooga
February 18th, 2011
1:18 pm
Georgia Fans, living off a 1980 National Championship from now until the end of time.
Mobile Dawg
February 18th, 2011
1:19 pm
Not my comment Fan, just adding to the discussion.
driverate
February 18th, 2011
1:20 pm
Bill:
This is exactly the kind of response you would get from someone who is an overt fan themselves. This guy killed an 130-year landmark, a venerable old tree, because his team lost a stupid football game. I think everyone needs to understand that, while sports are enjoyable and give us all a release, and while I follow them as much as anyone, the most important thing about sports is that they’re not important at all. People need to chill, it’s just a game, it’s not like what’s happening in Egypt.
BAMA K9
February 18th, 2011
1:22 pm
Auburn Fan
How does it feel to support a second rate cow college?
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
1:22 pm
“Not my comment Fan, just adding to the discussion.”
Never said it was, just adding to the discussion.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
1:24 pm
“How does it feel to support a second rate cow college?”
You mean one that just won the biggest Iron Bowl ever, in Tuscasloser, set an all-time scoring record in the SEC Championship and won the National Title?
Hey, you may want to head over to Walmart to the clearance aisle. They have all 2009 Bama apparel on sale 28-27% off.
BAMA K9
February 18th, 2011
1:24 pm
driverate
What in the hell is happening in Egypt? Have they got some hot liebacker prospects over there? Can’t find anything about on ESPN.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
1:25 pm
“How does it feel to support a second rate cow college?”
Much better than it does to support a school who graduates people like Bernie Madoff. Much better than it does to support a school who’s fans poison trees and are dumb enough to call in to a radio station to admit it.
WAR EAGLE, chump!
how2fish
February 18th, 2011
1:26 pm
Mobile Dawg I think your on to something but I’d amend that to include removal of the old trees, planting of new ones .And covering the cost of using the wood of the murdered Oaks to build a scaffold to hang the moron from. And have Nick Saban spring the trap door.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
1:26 pm
“What in the hell is happening in Egypt?’
You must not get cable in your double-wide.
“Have they got some hot liebacker prospects over there?”
What’s a liebacker, Gump?
BAMA K9
February 18th, 2011
1:30 pm
Auburn Fan
I don’t agree with what Updyke did. But, you AWbarn fruitcakes talk about overzealous and fanatical fans, when yall have your sleazy coaches and supporters paying off players.
Mobile Dawg
February 18th, 2011
1:30 pm
Looks like the internet troll’s getting cranked up today, over and out….
Fire Mark Richt
February 18th, 2011
1:31 pm
While I don’t blame fandom (just one crazy fan), I’ll have to admit that taking a job out west and attending a few WAC and Big XII games really opened my eyes about the Deep South and SEC football. We really are crazy compared to the rest of the country, which tends to treat college football as entertainment, only.
RxDawg
February 18th, 2011
1:32 pm
Man, I over ate at lunch.
RxDawg
February 18th, 2011
1:32 pm
Man, I over ate at lunch.
RxDawg
February 18th, 2011
1:32 pm
Ha! Twice apparently =D
WIN WITH RICHT
February 18th, 2011
1:33 pm
Auburn Fan
Al least, Updyke admitted what he did. Now why doesn’t Awbarn come clean and admit what they did? They say confession is good for the soul.
RxDawg
February 18th, 2011
1:34 pm
Oh, and I ain’t gonna lie. When this first hit the major news circuit I was scared to death it was some idiot UGA fan. I was prepared to be ashamed. I was also prepared to know said idiot also… I don’t live too far from Auburn.