“why do memphis fans so hate tennessee fans?”
Sunday, March 16th, 2008, 6:57 pm, by mg.
That was the question asked me at a bar watching some round-ball Friday night. He was a TN fan, and I, Memphis. I would say he qualified as a good TN fan—ball cap, beer drinking, southern drawl, good ole boy (true, but just having fun here)—and he seemed like a nice guy.
During the course of our conversation, this guy had to point out he was wearing a shirt pre-printed for a victory against TN, but we ended up with our ONE loss for the regular season. Somehow these were still sold, and what does a good TN fan do? He buys this shirt and wears it to a bar in Memphis so as to rub it in our faces. And then asks why we have issues with TN fans.
At first I thought the question was in jest, but after explaining my take on the subject, he said he understood, and I think this was really a mystery to him.
We return to watching the SEC tourney and that’s when the tornado passed over the Georgia Dome causing damage and endangering lives. I watched as the teams were escorted out, and the fans started to leave as well.
My new friend had not been paying attention and asked me what the delay was, and when I responded there was building damage and they took everyone of the floor for safety his response was irritation and he said (and I quote) “that’s just like niggers…”
I was as speechless as you probably are right now. But I overcame and rose above it, and I firmly told him that I couldn’t believe he just said that, leaving the Dome had nothing to do with race, and that there was no place for that word in our society. He made a weak attempt at back-pedaling and quickly removed himself from conversing with me—I left.
When you stop and think about it, the team he’s pulling for is majority African-American. I wonder how they would feel if they knew some of their fans thought like this guy. I would be embarrassed if this guy represented my fan group
I hope this TN fan learned something last night. I did. I learned I don’t dislike TN fans, I dislike TN fans that are obnoxious, prejudice bigots that show no respect for others.
That goes for Memphis fans, too.