Like you, I am no sports fan. Just a "man of letters" who expends my nerd energy in more classically nerdy directions--comic books, sci-fi, pop culture, punk rock, etc. But this was such an engaging piece, and I was completely caught off-guard by the left turn into dendrocide. What a piece of shit that guy was. I vocally cheered his death. Looking forward to the next chapter.
I spent a lot of time in Tuscaloosa between 1972 and 1981 - my grandfather was the dean of U of A's School of Social Work, and I met Bear Bryant on several occasions as he lived two doors down from my grandparents. Even so, I was as thoroughly confused/bemused by the Bama-Auburn football rivalry as you are, and can offer no additional insights. And yeah, what the fuck was up with the elephant as the Crimson Tide mascot? I asked many times, but no one could ever tell me.
Ha! Wow. When I was there, I also toured the Bear Bryant museum, on campus. Didn't put it in the story, but it was supremely baffling. A recreated diorama of his office, with his desk, and raincoat hanging on a hook. A diamond-studded version of his fedora, inside a glass cube. And several versions of the elephant strangling the tiger. Alabama football is a self-contained micro nation, for sure!
“like a sarcastic moth” 😆🏆
Yes, that was what I was going to say! 😆
Like you, I am no sports fan. Just a "man of letters" who expends my nerd energy in more classically nerdy directions--comic books, sci-fi, pop culture, punk rock, etc. But this was such an engaging piece, and I was completely caught off-guard by the left turn into dendrocide. What a piece of shit that guy was. I vocally cheered his death. Looking forward to the next chapter.
I honestly can’t wait for more. Can i just Venmo you for the whole thing? 💸
Haha! Well, you could always become a paid subscriber! There's more excerpts en route.
i thought i was paid! i’ll fix that asap. loving CompuDoc at this moment. i moved to San Francisco in 1995, and admired your writing.
fixed it. though it wasn’t easy or intuitive. you can’t change your subscriber status in the app, for starters …
I spent a lot of time in Tuscaloosa between 1972 and 1981 - my grandfather was the dean of U of A's School of Social Work, and I met Bear Bryant on several occasions as he lived two doors down from my grandparents. Even so, I was as thoroughly confused/bemused by the Bama-Auburn football rivalry as you are, and can offer no additional insights. And yeah, what the fuck was up with the elephant as the Crimson Tide mascot? I asked many times, but no one could ever tell me.
Ha! Wow. When I was there, I also toured the Bear Bryant museum, on campus. Didn't put it in the story, but it was supremely baffling. A recreated diorama of his office, with his desk, and raincoat hanging on a hook. A diamond-studded version of his fedora, inside a glass cube. And several versions of the elephant strangling the tiger. Alabama football is a self-contained micro nation, for sure!
Whoa - a diamond-studded fedora?!? I’d think that would have the Bear spinning in his grave like a rotisserie chicken…