And So It Begins...

Someone told me college football begins this weekend (actually last night). Furthermore a team known as the Louisiana State University Fighting Tigers will be playing the Huskies of Washington this Saturday in Seattle. Before we begin, if it is offensive for an NCAA team to be named after an Indian tribe, why do they let a high profile team mock fat children?
Washington's mascot is poised and ready to do battle with a sports team represented by a ferocious, man-eating tiger.

Let me tell you a story about Seattle and Football. September 2003, due to some well-placed connections and just general dumb luck, I am asked to travel with the New Orleans Saints (on the team plane) to Seattle for the season opener. Of course I accepted, and no it did not suck.

The night before the game, the team takes out all the ridealongs to a nice dinner, gratis. We get to the restaurant, a seafood-chops place on the Sound, 45 strong. All males, with big appetites, affinities for booze, and a Master P style credit card.

Now, lets say you own this restaurant or are the waiters assigned. Are you a) Jazzed b) Wondering if there will be enough food and booze in the place c) Incredibly gracious to God Almighty. The answer, shockingly, was none of the above.

From the moment we walk in, you would have thought we each had two Aaron Brooks heads. Service was slow, food was poorly cooked, and getting a drink was harder than king crab fishing. At some point, someone (might have been Councilman-at-Large Arnie Fielkow) got up, and delivered a speech thanking the city of Seattle for wonderful hospitality and wishing for a great game tomorrow. Hear Ye, Cheers, and Bravo's all around. Had this been in Galatoire's, not an eyelash would have batted.

Unfortunately, we soon realized we were not in Nahlins no more. Within 5 minutes, the bill had been delivered, and the proprietress was ushering out of the place saying, "your behavior is inappropriate, GET OUT NOW BEFORE I CALL THE COPS, Scram, Skidaddle." We left the restaurant, vowing to never return. And I haven't but mostly because I haven't been to Seattle again.

So if you are an LSU fan and in Seattle this weekend, kick their ass, and make a lot of noise. Its called payback, Seattle, and its a bitch. You thought Saints fans were obnoxious, alcoholic show offs? You aint seen nothing yet.