Toomer's Corner Thoughts
By now we've all heard about the poisoning of the trees at Auburn's Toomer's Corner landmark and if you haven't heard the suspect is a Tide fan that has been apprehended. Not much left to be said beyond how disgusting and pathetic the act was. It painted a tremendously ugly portrait of what is one of, if not the, best rivalries in sports all over. Folks have long mocked Alabamans, SEC folks and southerners in general for the passion exuded during college football; this malicious act just served to further their case.
Making a mockery of the act is sad, the fact is this isn't the loss of "just trees" as so many folks have attempted to dismiss it as. None of us are the Lorax out here folks. We're actually talking about some of college football's most hallowed ground. We all are losers here folks and whether you have or have not visited Auburn the loss of the oaks is a tragedy. Not because of the physical loss of the trees that awaits but rather because the game we all love has lost a monument.
This is Auburn's "Touchdown Jesus" folks.
Toomer's Corner is that significant in the Auburn community folks. Perhaps you don't get it about this little ol' school in Auburn, Alabama but this isn't "just trees." They're no more "just trees" than Uga is "just a bulldog" to UGA. No more "just trees" than the Old Well is "just a fountain" to folks from UNC. No more "just trees" than Traveler or Renegade are "just horses" to USC and FSU respectively.
We've seen ugly in college sports before folks and this poisoning of the trees goes on the list among the most appalling acts in sports. I'm saddened, not because the loss of "just trees" but because we're losing a landmark, losing a part of what makes college football great; the individual character associated with each institution. When I get around to visiting Auburn for a game in the next few years it won't be the same, we've all been robbed of something great.
On another note folks we've been nominated for the "Readers' Choice Awards: Best College Football Twitter Account" over at About.com thanks to Tim Hyland. Go forth and vote for us folks. We're up against some good folks but hey, do you really get all your Justified, Archer, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Jersey Shore and drinking info from them the way I do?
Also, doing a favor to the folks over at That's Twins Baseball who are looking for donations to help out a hometown ballpark in Windom, Minnesota. Youth sports are huge folks so any time we get a chance to help let us know and we'll do what we can. Baseball and football didn't necessarily keep me off the streets; living in the suburbs and my parents did that, but they did help teach me a lot about loving the game, social skills and the value of hard work. They also taught me about sportsmanship and being a good loser which high school and college quickly untaught me haha.
