12 MAR 07: TAGGED, THEY'RE IT

"1440 FOLK SLOB NATION KILLA." Those words greeted me Sunday afternoon, when I stepped onto a Columbus racquetball court. No, they weren't spoken - in someone's local equivalent to "Kenneth, what is the frequency."

Those words were spray-painted on the left wall at Benning Park's west racquetball court. Someone apparently stopped by in the last two weeks and decided to leave his or her mark on the walls. At least when an animal left its own (ahem) mark on one side of the court, I was able to clean that up.

Black spray-painted words were on all three walls of the west court -- and even on the court itself. "King David" was written on the floor. There must be a better way to promote Bible reading than this....

The right wall of the racquetball court had a few more words, along with a spray-painted "star of David." I'm sorry, but I really don't think radical Jewish gangs are operating in South Columbus.

I'm assuming the marks which were left on the racquetball court were put there by some kind of gang. Police call this sort of conduct "tagging," to mark out a gang's turf. I'd rather young people stuck to leaving tags dangling from their new hats.

Let's try to figure out that message I encountered on the left wall of the racquetball court. It's located at 1441 Benning Drive - so the Baker Village Apartments would be across the street. Is this some kind of statement against the planned bulldozing of the complex for new housing? Or is it a statement that we should show more appreciation for slobs?

This is not the only unusual place where I've spotted tagging lately. Walk around the backside of the Trade Center parking garage along the Chattahoochee Promenade, and you'll see graffiti as well. I know Columbus State Riverpark students want reserved parking spaces, but this is the wrong way to do it.

I couldn't figure out what the graffiti outside the Trade Center parking garage says. But does this mean the Historic District is considered "turf" for gangs, like other parts of Columbus? You'd think the attorneys with offices around the neighborhood could settle this with paper and pens....

Despite the bad case of tagging, there's a little optimism for racquetball or handball players like me. The EAST court at Benning Park was left unmarked. And both courts probably will get a new coat of green paint on the walls in the weeks to come -- because the old coat is starting to peel badly.

E-MAIL UPDATE: You can read about Columbus here, then talk about it somewhere else....

Richard,

W enjoy your blog everyday and miss it when you do not get to post--but everyone deserves a day off. I just keep thinking there must be a way you can make money with it. You are extremely talented and your blog is being read all over the world now. You are very funny and you should be writing tv comedy.

There is a new yahoo group for Columbus, everyone can join anonymously. Member list is not revealed. It is a great way to discuss, archive docs, plan activism, follow a discussion/thread, or local political action/reaction.

I'm in a busy time of year, so I can't check on this group at the moment. But if some construction company goes there and announces plans for a coup at the city landfill, please let me know.

Oh yes - it WOULD be nice if I could make money off this blog. PayPal donations are always welcome. So if you see that Dalton truck driver who won Mega Millions, please tell him about us....

BLOG UPDATE: No, we haven't forgotten the fact that this is Hurtsboro Monday. But we don't have much new to report this week. Maybe this small Russell County town actually is acting small again.

Russell County records show the "contempt of court" trial of Constable R.J. Schweiger is now scheduled for next Monday. This is for giving legal advice to a suspect, without being an attorney. Do you realize if he's convicted, anyone who tells his neighbor, "You ought to sue him" could get put in jail?

Now let's wrap up other notes from a very springlike weekend:

+ I turned on my nine-month-old computer for the first time since the time change, and everything was correct. If you're in Columbus and your computer didn't adjust, why not pretend you're in Alabama and work on central time for three weeks?

+ Phenix City police arrested a suspect in a Wednesday robbery. Authorities say Cordero Smith held up Tyler's Grocery on Opelika Road while he was out on bond, while awaiting sentencing for another robbery. This is taking the phrase, "Get while the getting's good" to a whole new level.

+ The Muscogee County Sheriff's Office ended a three-day fund-raising drive for the Georgia Special Olympics. It was held at the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop on Veterans Parkway - and I say everyone assigned to this event should face a mandatory weigh-in.

+ The Ledger-Enquirer reported Muscogee County Superintendent John Phillips wants to name eight new principals, including last week's shakeup at Baker Middle School. One place in line for a new principal is Jordan High School. So much for winning a state basketball title....

+ A regional "fantasy convention" ended in Columbus. I think one of the conventioneers passed me downtown the other night. He held a glowing thing in his hand, turned toward me and said something I didn't understand. Was he imitating something in "Star Trek" - or is that how Blackberry devices work?

+ Oxbow Meadows held its annual Reptile Fest - and this year for the first time, there was a reptile "beauty pageant." Why do I have the funny feeling that this will never become a part of "Miss Georgia" week?

+ Auburn won another NCAA swimming and diving championship. Yet they're building a new practice pool on campus which will NOT be open to the public. Maybe the natatorium supporters should go before Columbus and Phenix City Council, and have part of the Chattahoochee River roped off for swimming and not kayaking.

+ Georgia Tech was the only team from this area selected to the NCAA men's basketball tournament. When Nevada has two teams in the running and Alabama has none, it's time for Charles Barkley to get off the golf course and hold some summer camps.

+ Instant Message to the NCAA selection committee: Thank you. Two years ago, my beloved Kansas lost in the first round to Bucknell. Last year, the Jayhawks lost to Bradley. So thank you for a first-round matchup against either Florida A&M or Niagara - not another "killer B" like Belmont.

This blog has thousands of visitors each month, from people in Columbus and around the world. To advertise to them, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 3527 (- 165, 4.5%)

If you mention this blog in public, please be polite enough to let me know.

© 2003-07 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.