17 MAR 06: TIDE KICKED

It was brought to my attention Thursday that some people believe this blog picks on WRBL too much. OK, they might have a point -- but some days it's simply irresistible. And with Jerry Laquire no longer on TV and radio, the options are reduced a bit.

So how many calls did the WRBL receptionist have to take Thursday afternoon about college basketball? And which group of callers was tougher -- the Alabama fans wondering about the Crimson Tide? Or the usual women, asking for "The Bold and the Beautiful" instead of the tall and the sweaty?

I'd forgotten Alabama's first game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament was Thursday. Perhaps WRBL did as well, because it showed the Florida game against SOUTH Alabama instead. This should prove once and for all Columbus is NOT the "gateway to Alabama" - it's the gateway to Panama City and Pensacola.

You can't blame the decision to show South Alabama instead of Alabama on that terror scare in San Diego. The Crimson Tide's game was delayed more than an hour, after something suspicious was found inside the arena. It's a shame Aubie had to end his season this way....

You can't blame the lack of an Alabama game on CBS Sports, either. It showed every game of the NCAA tournament - well, maybe. It didn't bother showing the final ten minutes of Washington-Utah State after midnight. Maybe CBS realized Darren Stack needed a little sleep between the late news and 6:00 a.m.

So why did WRBL show Florida-South Alabama, instead of Alabama-Marquette? The explanation I'm hearing is that CBS asked stations to submit a list of games they wanted to show -- and the program director reportedly asked for Florida instead. I assume he's losing in the office pool as well....

It turned out Florida routed the University of South Alabama 76-50, while Alabama won a tight game over Marquette 90-85. So if the WRBL bosses had a hunch, it was wrong -- and if they figured "U.S.A." would get more military veterans to watch, I doubt it.

The good news for Alabama fans is that they have alternatives for watching the Tide in the tourney. Sports bars probably show games from several cities at once -- unless half the screens aren't taken by trivia contests, which seems to be the case more and more....

Besides that, the NCAA basketball tournament is being offered live online this year. There's "live streaming video" - and if some workers aren't careful, they could get in trouble by responding with live screaming audio.

But the sad news for Alabama fans is that no Columbus radio station broadcasts Crimson Tide basketball. WEAM-AM "The Zone" hasn't even bothered to broadcast all the Atlanta Hawks games this season - and I've actually seen someone in this city wearing an Al Harrington jersey. That guy is loyal to a fault....

Now let's finish this quickly before I develop a serious case of March madness -- and I'll be nice to WRBL along the way:

+ The President of the Columbus-based "Hopegivers International" was arrested in India. Samuel Thomas's charity is accused of trying to steer residents from Hinduism to Christianity. If Thomas was arrested, imagine what might happen if Pat Robertson showed up.

+ The Census Bureau reported Chattahoochee County had the biggest population drop in Georgia last year, and one of the biggest in the country. County officials say it was because the Third Brigade was in Iraq - and apparently not because gas became so expensive that a 20-minute commute to Columbus wasn't worth it.

+ WRBL went to Hurtsboro, where about 70 people attended a public forum on improving their town. Given what Constable Bob Schweiger has been saying, I'm amazed so many turned out for an evening activity - unless they all belong to that armed gang.

+ The Georgia Senate voted 38-1 to rescind a day-old resolution honoring Jane Fonda. It was offered to pay tribute to her activism to reduce teenage pregnancy - but for veterans, this is one time where "what have you done for me lately" doesn't matter.

(All Columbus area State Senators voted against honoring Jane Fonda, including Democrat Ed Harbison. I guess this IS an election year in Georgia....)

+ Instant Message to Heather Williams of the Lee County American Cancer Society: What do you mean, Alabama voters should NOT be allowed to decide on a smoking ban at the polls? Aren't the nonsmokers in the majority? Don't you remember all that money Don Siegelman spent on a lottery question -- only to see it lose?

SCHEDULED SATURDAY: Meditations on a whammy....

Your PayPal donations can build a better blog, and keep it independent-minded. To make a donation, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 6216 (+ 250, 4.2%)

If you quote from this in public somewhere, please be polite enough to let me know.

© 2003-06 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.