Epilogue 2010, or "Why TigerBartender Is Grumpy Sometimes".

The lows are low.

And when Celebration Dog doesn’t get to celebrate, even Asian Kid is sullen and quiet.

But generally speaking, I think any GOOD fan is a a fan that can look at their team and admit the warts. Iowa had TONS of warts this year, but a lot of shiny spots as well.

Same with Missouri. Any good fan rejoices in the best of times and wails/gnashes teeth in the worst of times. However, it’s all while keeping things in perspective. Missouri (and Iowa for that matter) will probably never be at the level of a Florida/USC/Ohio State. Just not in the cards. All I ask is that Iowa is competitive each year, with a (legit) shot at the Big 10 title every 2 years and go to a bowl game (almost) every year. If you’re competing for a Big 10 (or Big 12…or whatever they’re calling these conferences now) title, chances are, you’ll be in the running for the MNC game as well.

If you worship the ground your team walks on, never questioning it, I don’t think that’s fandom. That’s something else.

I’ve lived in Missouri for the better part of a decade now, more than half of that spent in Columbia on KFRU. I know Tiger Nation. It’s a fantastic fanbase. But, like any other, there are some deluded souls who chug from the kool-aid keg. There are those in Iowa City that do the same, make no mistake. Besides, and let’s really be honest hear, if you knew Missouri (or Iowa in my case) was going to win the title every single year…what fun would there be in following them?

. . . is the setting in which you must deal with non-analytical fans – a bar. In the same sense that 90% of all crimes are committed while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, so are most ridiculous, highly imaginative, yet uninformed – though often quite comical – sports commentaries spewed forth.

This is what has been most impressive to me about RMN. Many contributors are at their best when they are doing the live commentaries; often missing keys and failing to use their best grammar due to imbibing their favorite brew while watching the game and banging away at their keyboards. They are intelligent enough, however, and educated enouth to remain reasonably analytical – and the brew has sharpened their sabres of wit and sarcasm to near-deadly effectiveness.

After 30 years of print journalism, and many hundreds (if not thousands) of challenges from parents, grandparents, neighbors, teachers, etc. regarding my coverage of high school and college athletics, I love the isolation of my remote Ozark farm where I am accountable only to my own soul, and I can quickly glide past the opinions of those tortured souls who find no joy in life and want to steal the joy of life from others by accentuating the negative, and failing to recognize the difference between critique and criticism.

You, however, must deal with such persons in person, and at their worst, and treat them as customers: my Tiger cap is off to you, Brother, I could not do so.

Go Mizzou!

First, it’s amazing how many little details you pick up watching a game live instead of on tv. Gabbert would make some motion to his receivers and I would think, “Oh, I remember that, Pinkel’s about to call time out and set up the screen pass for the td”.

Second, Missouri owned Iowa in the second half. I had this impression watching from the stands, but watching on tv cemented that fact. Yes, the Iowa offense moved the ball pretty well but the D kept them out of the end zone and I don’t think Stanzi had any confidence left until probably the last drive. The Iowa defense was completely gassed in the third quarter and they should send Gabbert a thank you card for giving them one chance to redeem themselves. I’m not saying that to be insulting, it was just clear that they had no answer for Mizzou’s offense. Anyone complaining that Gabbert sucks clearly was not watching the game. Anyone complaining that Yost doesn’t know how to call a game clearly was not watching the game. It was one of those fluke COTG losses that typify Missouri, but that shouldn’t detract from what Mizzou accomplished. They took a very good Big Ten team down to the wire and they didn’t let a few offensive or defensive miscues break them. I’m almost hoping for an NFL lockout just so that Gabbert and Agent Smith and company will come back next year. With that veteran leadership and the 2010 recruiting class getting more playing time, I think next year could be very exciting.