A lack of sportsmanship.

GaReb770 · Feb 17, 2011

Someone, claiming to be an Alabama fan, has poisoned oak trees at Auburn University. And they apparently knew what they were doing and did a good job of it. The trees probably cannot be saved. This is where the game is taken way too far by supposed fans.
 
If they can find the person responsible perhaps the punishment should be death by hanging from one of the Oak trees before their final demise. (okay I'm being a little bit facetious with the death penalty part).
 
 
 <a href="http://www.ajc.com/sports/radio-show-caller-said-841586.html" target="_blank">http://www.ajc.com/sports/radio-show-caller-said-841586.html</a>

kerfwango · Feb 17, 2011

I've never understood the fascination people have with sports and the energy they put into their fandom. It is an undertaking that is 100% inconsequential. Yet we spend billions. I'll never get it.

GaReb770 · Feb 17, 2011

Yes we do spend a lot of money. I'm getting ready to renew both my Georgia State and Georgia Tech season football tickets. But I'm not going to deface an opposing team's property. I even stand up for their alma mater when we are the visiting team. When we play Clemson at Clemson I see a lot of Tech fans sit down when the Clemson band plays their alma mater. I've always thought that was rather rude.
 
I've never been to Sanford so I haven't had to deal with UGA's alma mater. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;">

kerfwango · Feb 17, 2011

I've seen guys throw tantrums and have their entire days RUINED because their team lost. Absolutely pathetic. I understand being happy for a win or disappointed in a loss but how does someone form such a huge emotional attachment to something so trivial? It boggles.
 
I'm sure UGA has its share of obnoxious fans. No word on whether they approach Florida levels, though.

coachie · Feb 17, 2011

I believe it's good to be part of something. To believe in something, so stand up and support something, even if it doesn't directly affect you. It's nice to be a small part of something bigger.
 
However, pranks pulled by fans on rivals... is just studid and crossing the line.
 
I hope they can catch whoever is responsible and make a very public spectacle of the whole thing.

GaReb770 · Feb 17, 2011

Your wish has been granted.
 
<a href="http://www.ajc.com/sports/suspect-arrested-in-auburn-841586.html" target="_blank">http://www.ajc.com/sports/suspect-arrested-in-auburn-841586.html</a> 

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by coachie <a href="/forum/thread/72653/a-lack-of-sportsmanship#post_1984331"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a> I hope they can catch whoever is responsible and make a very public spectacle of the whole thing.
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RaisingArizonainNH · Feb 17, 2011

Horrid...
 
 
 ( Now if it was something to do with the Yankees.. then I nmight understand... )
 
 
 
ONLY KIDDING HERE FOLKS! There will always be people with extreme reactions to EVERYTHING.. unfortunately. It is sad but I bet they'll figure a way to grow some more trees at least.

kerfwango · Feb 17, 2011

Interesting:
 
He said he poisoned the oaks because Auburn students rolled the trees to celebrate the death of Alabama coaching legend Paul “Bear” Bryant in 1983.

rlemert · Feb 17, 2011

There is some reason for hope for the trees - although it appears their prognosis is not good.
 
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_Oak_(Austin,_Texas" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_Oak_(Austin,_Texas</a>)

yar · Feb 17, 2011

I figured it to be some stupid kid - maybe even a stupid kid who never even got into Alabama. And now they say the clown who they think did this is 62 freaking years old. He must have spent most of those years turning into an idiot.
 
yar

jcumming · Feb 20, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by RaisingArizonainNH <a href="/forum/thread/72653/a-lack-of-sportsmanship#post_1984362"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a>
 
 
 ( Now if it was something to do with the Yankees.. then I nmight understand... )
 
 
 
ONLY KIDDING HERE FOLKS! There will always be people with extreme reactions to EVERYTHING.. unfortunately. It is sad but I bet they'll figure a way to grow some more trees at least.
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I have mentioned the story before about how I used to love Red Sox fans...back in the days when on a warm summer afternoon I could hear transistor radios on beaches at the Cape giving us the play-by-play of the ballgame. I could walk up to the box office at Fenway with a couple of bucks and go sit in the bleachers in the sun with the faithful who hoped that the Sox might go .500 this week.
 
Contrast that to a few years ago sitting outside at The Cask and Flagon behind left field an hour before a Red Sox game and have some guys...faces red, veins bulging screaming "Yankess Suck" over and over and over. They were truly angry.
 
The Red Sox were playing the Rays.
 
It's just a game boys.

Stitcher · Feb 22, 2011

They've put big tents around the trees, and are in the process of trying to correct the problem.
They'll suck out the contaminated dirt, then put activated charcoal in the group (yup, the "pump your stomach" stuff) then somehow get clean dirt in there.
There's a concern that the poison will travel under the sidewalk and pavement to the entire lawn down the road.
It's really quite a big deal.
I'm just glad that we have an Agriculture, horticulture, and other appropriate schools here. Our faculty are getting a workout these days, that's for sure!
 
There's also a Facebook page created by Alabama fans to raise money for the preservation of the trees. I have to see that except for this one person, everyone I've come in contact with, or read about,...who affiliates with Alabama is contemptuous of this man's actions.

4boysmom · Feb 22, 2011

Heck, I have no connection with Alabama, couldn't care less about the traditions, etc. Yet, I can't believe what this idiot did. I mean, the trees are 140yrs old. They will die eventually, which will suck, because of all the tradition surrounding them. But for ONE JERK to poison them?! I hope he gets socked with the bill for treating them.

Stitcher · Feb 24, 2011

In the advance online copy of the campus student paper......
 
<a href="http://www.theplainsman.com/view/full_story/11565369/article-Rivals-announce-joint-initiative-?instance=home_news_1st_right" target="_blank">http://www.theplainsman.com/view/full_story/11565369/article-Rivals-announce-joint-initiative-?instance=home_news_1st_right</a>
 
Sportsmanship is not dead.
 
It appears as if this initiative was put together by the SGA members @ each school.
The full edition of the paper comes out on Thursdays, so please feel free to visit the site to see the full story when it comes out.
 
Today, they took the tents down from around the trees. It looks like there is fresh dirt around them. I think they sucked out or dug out the contaminated dirt, treated the hole that was left with activated charcoal, and filled it back in with clean dirt. (clean dirt.....quite the oxymoron, huh?).
 
The trees affected can be seen on the city's live webcam:
<a href="http://www.auburnalabama.org/cams/Toomers/Default.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.auburnalabama.org/cams/Toomers/Default.aspx</a>

GaReb770 · Feb 24, 2011

That's a really great web cam shot of the trees.

A lack of sportsmanship.

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