(I realize that the following is not a representation of all lsu fans)

As I mentioned earlier this week I called in to local ESPN radio this week and was lucky enough to participate in a contest and win (tie) which granted me (and 7 others) the right to go to a new sports bar in town and hopefully win a trip to Vegas. Well, I went. And I didn't win the trip. But that's not relevant to the story.

So, this is a new place, trying to get some pub. I arrived about 20 mins to 5 and aside from the remote broadcast crew there was maybe 5 other people there. So I had a seat at the bar and waited for my buddy. There were 2 guys to my right and another guy to my left, several stools between us all. We get to talking and the guy to my far right mentions that he went to lsu. The guy on my left then mentions he was born and raised in Baton Rouge but went to Texas State, he added that his friends and family are all tiger fans. Since I wasn't wearing a Gator shirt today I felt I HAD to let them know. So I said, -- without looking at either party -- "Well, guys....I'm a Gator". And I swear to you that my mouth and vocal cords were still processing the "errrr" in Gator when the douche to my far right says, and I QUOTE......

"So do you get a stiffy every time you see Tebow on TV?"

Now, for those who've never seen me (which I think is everyone), I am not a small man. And when provoked I can be very intimidating. But, for now, I kept my cool despite the fact that this little douche CLEARLY wanted confrontation. It was as if he'd made a list of comments to make should he ever meet a real Gator face to face. If anyone was getting a stiffy...it was him. His buddy, by the way, is looking straight ahead and is sinking into his seat. You know, kind of like house cats act...with that whole...if I don't move you can't see me mentality.

Anway...I slowly turn my head, and with little or no delay respond, "No, actually, I don't. And it's funny really, that you guys talk about him more than I do". I face front and drink about half of my beer in a single gulp.

Now, I thought that was enough to send a message to the lil #badword#, but I should have known better.

He quips back..."Yeah, because I want to Tea Bag him".

To which I responded, "Classy. REAL Classy"

He mumbles something under his breath (probably about how he forgot his lines and #badword#ed up that joke big time) and so I attempt to have him repeat it...

"Excuse me, it's loud in here (it wasn't)...what did you say?"

<CRICKETS>

His buddy is now frantically texting as if he was saying his last goodbyes....and I've not even stood up yet.

I add, what I think is going to be a parting shot..."Nice way to represent your alma mater...PUNK".

Now the guy is red faced. And not red faced like “I'm gonna kick your ass”, but red faced like “I’m gonna get my ass kicked”.

But beer make little dumb man strong. Little dumb man have last word. You see. Little dumb man make friend laugh. Watch.

So, he's clearly angry and clearly embarrassed but he just can't stop himself. So he starts going off on Tim's "God Bless" at the end of every interview. Now, for the most part he's not addressing me - he's looking straight ahead. But not me. I'm engaged. And I am positive he can feel stare upon him.

He finally caves and turns my direction and tries to qualify his displeasure with Tim saying God Bless by stating that he is not anti religion (his words) but "why can't Tim say "Thank You" or something like that"

I said, "Listen, maybe if you were Tim, you'd say Thank you instead of God Bless. And that would be good enough for you. And who knows, perhaps some jackass in a bar would crucify you because you "only" said Thank You and didn't say God Bless. But "what if" doesn't matter because you're not Tim. You're an average Joe like me. Well, not exactly like me, you have no class and can, apparently, hate someone simply because they played football for school other than your own.

He turns away and is silent for a few minutes before trying to make nice by telling me how he would PROBABLY like Tebow if he had attended lsu. He adds that Tebow took lsu out of the running because Perrilioux had committed before Tim's visit.

I LOLed (and YED I mean I LOLed) and asked.....

"What's Perrilioux say at the end of each interview?"

<CRICKETS>

"Don't know? How bout JaMarcus Russell....what's he say?"

I didn't hear from him the rest of the night....but I did overhear his buddy expressing his displeasure with irritating me. I don't think he was pleased AT ALL.

<sigh>

GO GATORS!