The Third Saturday in June

If you read my column last week, you know that I have spent the last couple of weeks in Alaska. And while on that cruise, a lot of college and professional sports fans were on one ship in the ocean — and nowhere to go.

There were Louisiana State University fans celebrating the Tigers’ College World Series victory over the Texas Longhorns.

There were Southern California football fans still moaning and groaning over the Trojans being left out of this past season’s BCS title game.

Then you have the University of Tennessee football fans who make you realize why they are Tennessee Vols fans.

When one meets a fan of another team, friendly banter is something that just happens.

While boarding the ship in Juneau after a day in Alaska’s state capital, some Vol fans came up behind us as we entered the ship.

I turned to the man who was wearing his bright orange “T” hat and I asked, “Did you really mean to put that cap on this morning?”

He laughed.

And then he said, “Well, what cap would you have put on this morning if you had one?”

I told him, “The University of Alabama.”

We both laughed.

As he got into the line, we started talking about the great players both schools have produced and that he became an Oakland Raiders fan just because of Kenny Stabler.

Then a lady in his group — she had to be pushing her mid to late 70s — said, “May I ask you a question?”

“Sure,” I told her.

“Have you,” she asked, “ever been punched in the mouth for being disrespectful to other people’s alliances?”

I could do nothing but laugh. “No ma’am, can’t say that I have.”

The gentleman I was speaking with had his smile turned into a look of amazement and he just shook his head.

As we walked away, I heard her say, “I don’t like Alabama fans. They are mean.”

Later that evening, I ran into the gentleman again and we again engaged in conversation about Bear Bryant, Johnny Majors, Bill Battle and the problems ’Bama was having with the NCAA and new Vols head coach Lane Kiffin was having with recruiting rules.

Then “she” appeared again and asked him why he was so fascinated with talking with me?

If you had cut that ladies’ veins, I believe she would have bled orange.

As luck would have it, the Vol fans were also at the airport the day we left Anchorage. The gentleman and I said hello, but continued our walk to our respective flights.

But then it happened, my Crimson blood got the best of me and I had to let out one Roll Tide!

As I turned to look, the gentleman couldn’t help but laugh. The lady in his group yelled out, “We’ll see about that in October!”

I love college sports.

Different opinions

While on the cruise, Manny Ramirez was a topic of conversation with many.

Some were glad to see him back, others were wondering why he could play in the minor leagues while his 50-game suspension was still ongoing.

There were also different opinions on the BCS title game.

Of course, Florida fans said they loved the present setup: The NCAA has to decide the ‘national champion.’

Let the Gators go 12-0 and have two other teams do the same and end up as the odd team out of the national title game, then let’s see how they feel about the BCS.

They will cry more than USC Trojan fans.

LSU fans questioned Nick Saban’s move from LSU to the Miami Dolphins to the Alabama — which is understandable.

Many wished Saban well in Tuscaloosa, while others hope he jumps ship on Tide fans so they can feel what they felt a few years ago when he left the Tigers for the Dolphins.

Professional sports fans were pretty quiet on the ship. I guess the college fans drowned them out.

There were cheers and chants from Ohio State fans — don’t know why, but there were.

After all, they are in the Big Ten, which I have stated time after time is one of the most boring college football conferences in the country.

Texas fans have high hopes this year with Colt McCoy returning as quarterback and LSU fans warned of what is to come in two years.

Rutgers fans have high hopes for the coming year, as do Kansas and Kansas State fans.

Two tables in the late dining room were filled with Jayhawk and Cyclone fans from the state of Kansas.

Big 12 and Southeastern Conference fans were in alliance about one thing: that the two conferences were the best in college sports. However, neither side agreed as to which conference was the best.

It’s no secret, the vote here goes to the SEC.

Jeff Christian is a freelance columnist. He appears in the News & Messenger each Sunday. He can be reached at .