Post by bamajohn1 on Nov 25, 2010 1:20:56 GMT -5
It's Thanksgiving here in the US and truth be told, here in the state of Alabama, the holiday many are looking forward to as much or even more is the Iron Bowl college football game between the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers. This takes place the day after Thanksgiving, Friday. The rivalry has often been cited as the greatest in college football and one of the greatest in all of sport. It is hard to explain the magnitude to those who have not lived here; but if one does ever find themselves residing here; the first thing they will be compelled to do is choose either Alabama or Auburn as 'their team'.
This is always a big game, but with Alabama being the defending national champion and Auburn being in line to play for this year's title if they get by the Tide, it will be the most anticipated college game in all of the country so far this year.
I say this knowing full well the game is taken too seriously by a large segment of fans. Not because of the game itself, but because of the bickering that can go on between the rival fans for 365 days a year. I know that part is not healthy, but the sportsmanship of the game itself is something to behold! The players exhibit great class and do not resort to late hits and such that is common in rivalry games; especially in a rough and tough sport like American style football.
I dug out a poem I wrote after Alabama suffered a disappointing last second loss to Auburn in 1997 in which it had the game apparently wrapped up but made a devastating boneheaded play call that cost them the game. It is a sort of lament and also sort of a celebration of the sportsmanship displayed on the field.
The Iron Bowl Sonnet
Everybody said Auburn was going to win in a rout.
What could've, should've been, will not make Bama fans pout.
I am sitting here pondering what could have been.
Monday Morning Quarterbacking, the 8th Deadly Sin.
Character, integrity, dedication; that is what this game is about.
Qualities this country is slowly growing without.
In sport, taunting, prancing, and dancing seem to be a birthright;
But in 21 years watching the Iron Bowl, I have never seen a fight.
There is one reason this game is the ultimate sports spectacle.
Trash talking is not allowed, it's dumped in a receptacle!
If you want to put this game in further perspective.
It does not take Sherlock Holmes, or even a bad detective.
The reason this game could draw a two million crowd,
Is the way the kids play, makes their mommas proud!
Author:
John
B. the poet laureate of anyone who will claim me
101,000 people will be in the stadium and roughly 3.5 million of the state's 4.5 million people will be enjoying the 2010 edition of the Iron Bowl via tv! Millions more will be watching across the US and even around the world!
PS: Monday Morning Quarterbacking is a term that means reflecting obsessively on Monday about plays in the game the past weekend that could have changed the outcome of the game.
I thought it would be cool if we started a thread based on literary art; similar to the one for painting. I don't have a lot of poems that are not too personal to share, but I hope others do! I know my bro maddog is a published poet and writing has been sort of his life's work/passion, so I'm hoping he'll contribute something as well!
This is always a big game, but with Alabama being the defending national champion and Auburn being in line to play for this year's title if they get by the Tide, it will be the most anticipated college game in all of the country so far this year.
I say this knowing full well the game is taken too seriously by a large segment of fans. Not because of the game itself, but because of the bickering that can go on between the rival fans for 365 days a year. I know that part is not healthy, but the sportsmanship of the game itself is something to behold! The players exhibit great class and do not resort to late hits and such that is common in rivalry games; especially in a rough and tough sport like American style football.
I dug out a poem I wrote after Alabama suffered a disappointing last second loss to Auburn in 1997 in which it had the game apparently wrapped up but made a devastating boneheaded play call that cost them the game. It is a sort of lament and also sort of a celebration of the sportsmanship displayed on the field.
The Iron Bowl Sonnet
Everybody said Auburn was going to win in a rout.
What could've, should've been, will not make Bama fans pout.
I am sitting here pondering what could have been.
Monday Morning Quarterbacking, the 8th Deadly Sin.
Character, integrity, dedication; that is what this game is about.
Qualities this country is slowly growing without.
In sport, taunting, prancing, and dancing seem to be a birthright;
But in 21 years watching the Iron Bowl, I have never seen a fight.
There is one reason this game is the ultimate sports spectacle.
Trash talking is not allowed, it's dumped in a receptacle!
If you want to put this game in further perspective.
It does not take Sherlock Holmes, or even a bad detective.
The reason this game could draw a two million crowd,
Is the way the kids play, makes their mommas proud!
Author:
John
B. the poet laureate of anyone who will claim me
101,000 people will be in the stadium and roughly 3.5 million of the state's 4.5 million people will be enjoying the 2010 edition of the Iron Bowl via tv! Millions more will be watching across the US and even around the world!
PS: Monday Morning Quarterbacking is a term that means reflecting obsessively on Monday about plays in the game the past weekend that could have changed the outcome of the game.
I thought it would be cool if we started a thread based on literary art; similar to the one for painting. I don't have a lot of poems that are not too personal to share, but I hope others do! I know my bro maddog is a published poet and writing has been sort of his life's work/passion, so I'm hoping he'll contribute something as well!