Go Gators!

So the Gators are advancing rapidly in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. I can only imagine the amount of Gator spirit, enthusiasm and fanatical screaming, gator chomping and gator bait chanting there must be going on in Gainesville. We knocked George Mason right back where they belonged and brought a tear to the nation's eye when their beloved "Cinderella story" was crushed unremorsefully by your's truly- the relentless Florida Gators!

Pre-London I was a Gator enthusiast of sorts. I went to UF and took pride in the Orange and Blue. Could I say I bled Orange and Blue? No, not entirely. Post-London I think it's safe to say that my admiration and love for the Orange and Blue that once lacked is very much present. I didn't realize how incredible our school is in comparison so some of the universities around the U.S. where students are jipped out of a true college experience with lower division sports teams, zero school spirit, no pride in their school's name and their paying nearly 4 times I am per semester for less than spectacular amenities that I would otherwise take for granted. Like SouthWest, Racquetball and the Swamp.

I got a chance to catch the game against George Mason at American Sports Cafe. The experience was unique in that everyone, aside from the 14 people (give or take a few) that came with us to cheer on the Gators (even kids from Southern New Hampshire University wore Gator paraphenilia), EVERYONE in the bar was cheering on George Mason. They'd taunt us with the Seminole chant and throw it in our face with every shot at the net that went in. However, need not fear, because in my obnoxious, drunken, absurd state I was the quintessential American dick/prick/asshole that threw it in their face when we made each 3 point shot, took out the keys and jingled them in their face when the game was clearly over and never failed to give them the gator chomp. Let's just say that many a people disliked me in the bar and I but nearly escaped getting my friends into arguments. I played it safe-- sort of. We even sang "The Boys of Old Florida" at the end of the 1st half and met an alumni who happened to be traveling through London and stumbled upon a place that was showing the game. Hell I even ran into the notorious Nick Norden for the first time in 3 months.

Nearly 4 pitchers deep I pretty much let it be known that the Gator spirit would not lack while on this side of the Atlantic. While the pride and sheer insanity may never rival that which swarms Gainesville today (Monday April 3). I assure you my American counterparts that I (and my fellow Gator mates) are screaming just as loudly for that championship.

Go Gators!