Rick Minerd - Life Is A Jukebox

I have been a fan of the  Michigan Wolverine's football program since the mid 1970's. I was born in Columbus, and I've lived here my entire life, so I don't get invited to many tailgate parties during the fall. I am considered by many here in the Capital City to be less than a reasonable facsimile of human life because of my loyalty to our brothers from Ann Arbor.

It's been suggested many times that I am worse than the average MICHIGAN fan because  I am from here and not there. But I don't care.  I love OSU basketball, I always have. And I used to loathe MICHIGAN FOOTBALL  before the Bucks became more important than world news here in Columbus.

I guess I just got sick of the sea of red. Headlines across the front pages of newspapers about the Buckeyes while stories of murder, war and hurricanes were footnotes on page two.

The world stops in Columbus when OSU gears up for spring practice. And about twenty six weeks before opening day OSU football becomes about 40%  of local news coverage.

And here's a news flash, I hear this from almost everyone I meet who comes from somewhere else on the planet besides Columbus, Ohio.  So I am a MICHIGAN fan.  And I also like a baseball team besides the Indians and the Reds, and an NFL team besides the Browns and the Bengals.

It isn't easy. I have actually  lost friends, had fist fights with my brother, and have had colleagues disown me because of my absent loyalties to their "team."

Especially when my guys win.

And let me refer to the Bucks colors as red and silver, which is what they are, and the red-neck in every Bucks fan comes to the forefront.

 Red shirts, and silver pants and helmets.  I can watch Bucks fans start to hyper ventilate when I point this out to them.

For some strange reasons they see scarlet and gray.

For what it's worth, I see college football as entertainment. It's just a game. I know there are droves of people in Columbus that upon reading this analogy would like to catch me when I'm not looking and attempt bodily harm, but being a Columbus native I have to stay on guard. Sorry.

I will admit that OSU has the superior coach,  probably the best in the country. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be opposed to a trade. Lloyd Carr and an  8 x 10 glossy of Bo Schembechler for Jim Tressel.  'Ol Lloyd would look good in red. 

But I do like the chant, "Go Bucs."  It s the official battle-cry of the Pittsburgh Pirates. So there it is. I can't wait to read the e-mails on this entry.  And before anyone writes hate mail suggesting that I move to that wonderful state up North,  it's already been suggested.

Besides, it's easier to taunt you from here.  Go Blue.       Rick

|  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this