Fan behavior reflection of society

By Joe McAdory

Saw a story in this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated regarding the evils of fan behavior at college basketball games. Heckling is one thing, but sometimes the practice becomes downright rude and is a complete embarrassment to the college institution, the fans who are acting normal and the person acting like an ignoramous.

But boorish behaviour certainly is not restricted to college basketball. We’ve seen brawls in football, fans throwing objects on to the track in NASCAR, fights between fans and players at NBA and NHL games and even youth baseball parents jump into the fray from time to time.

Aren’t sports supposed to be recreation, fun? Why are they taken so seriously? What happens on the field has nothing to do with our daily lives, yet many take out their aggressions on people they don’t even know—blasting obscenities in the presence of small children.

This isn’t necessarily a sports fan problem, but a reflection of a society that continues to lose whatever couth their mothers gave them.

Gas prices reaching gloomy status

By Joe McAdory

President Bush was quoted Thursday saying he was unaware of forecasters calling for gas prices to climb to $4 per gallon in the near future. Maybe he hadn’t been watching the news, which obviously is tilted toward one agenda or the other, right? Or maybe he hasn’t filled up the family wagon in a while.

Regardless, don’t rule such forecasts of high gas prices out. It wasn’t too long ago that experts, whoever these people are, predicted prices to climb to $3/gallon. Many said, “no, that’s not conceivable.“ Well, we’ve been living with it for a while now. So why isn’t $4/gallon unconceivable?

High gas prices are really putting a pinch on the economy and our personal checking accounts. We can’t force worldwide oil companies to produce more petroleum and lower their prices, but it would be nice. Hopefully, forecasters are wrong and prices will remain where they are.

Area blessed to have beautiful golf courses

By Joe McAdory

I’m still amazed at the number of magnificent golf courses we have right here in east Alabama. You can play 18 without breaking your budget and you can play 18 one some of the most attractive and challenging holes in Alabama.

Pictured above is a view from the second hole fairway on Grand National’s Links course. It’s especacially pretty this time of year because the fairway grass is alive and green and the rough is dead and brown. I like the contrast.

Golf’s another big reason why people keep flocking to the area. I can’t tell you how many folks I’ve met at Grand National who came here simply to get on the course. Met five guys from Lakeland, Fla., last October who played all three Grand National Courses in two days. Two weeks ago, I bumped into a man from Columbiana, Ohio, who was amazed at our area’s golf empire. He probably enjoyed the weather, too. In case you haven’t been to Columbiana, it’s pretty darn cold this time of year.

I’ve enjoyed our courses here, but also have the desire to take on new challenges and play holes I’ve never seen. That’s why I try to play at as many places as possible without breaking the bank. I don’t care if the course is pristine, or a dirtbag. The object is to put the ball in the hole whether the grass is bermuda or crab grass.

I’m looking forward to next weekend, as I’m traveling across the Georgia border to play Saturday either in Douglasville or Cartersville (haven’t decided), and then Sunday in Waleska at Callahan Golf Links. Callahan’s a new facility that really earned my interest. For years, it was a family farm—even near Civil War battlefields. Now, it’s growing birdies and bogeys. Hopefully, this will be a true links style course with less trees, more open space, and tall grass. One day I’ll play in Scotland. Next week I’ll play in Waleska.

Those interested in Callahan should visit its Web site at http://www.callahangolflinks.com

Hopefully, playing at other venues will help me improve my game so I can actually break 100 on one of the courses here without excessive mulligans.

Interesting letter on car insurance act

By Joe McAdory

Received a letter from Opelika resident Buddy Goolsby the other day. In that letter, Buddy brings up some very interesting points. I thought I’d share them with you in this forum:

This letter is in reference to the Mandatory Liability Insurance Act for Vehicles #2000-554, P1005 S1 and the inequities with the insurance companies, the State of Alabama, and the public.

I have had full coverage auto insurance with Alfa Insurance since 1982 with only one claim, which was for windshield breakage. Recently, I let my insurance lapse for several months due to me not being able to drive because of a medical condition. When I tried to reinstate my insurance for the $296 premium on my last notice, I was informed my premium would now be $476 for the next six months because I had not renewed my policy within the 30 to 60 day grace period; therefore, I would have to be covered with risk insurance!

I obtained a copy of the act and discovered the act only protects the cost of your coverage for thirty days from the date your insurance lapses. In addition, the act does not regulate what the insurance companies can charge other than the reinstatement fee. When I questioned the reinstatement fee, I was told by a representative that this fee goes to the state. The act allows insurance companies unrestricted power concerning the premiums they charge after the 30 to 60 day grace period, thus it fails to protect the cost to the driving public. The insurance companies are allowed to “gouge” the public because the state hasn’t passed any mandates to control the insurance companies.

If a person cannot afford to pay their insurance premium on time, then most assuredly they would not be able to afford to pay the extra premium the state allows the insurance companies to charge. This penalty in premiums follows you for one to three years depending on which insurance company you use. In addition, the insurance companies will not give you a quote unless you provide them with your social security number and your driver’s license number. The insurance companies have no need for your social security number except for a credit rating. They charge a higher premium for a low credit rating but tell me why, since you pay in advance for your insurance coverage.”

The driver’s license number gives the insurance companies the ability to check your driving record, which is needed to determine your risk as a driver and therefore adjust the premium accordingly. Your driver’s license number also allows them to check your insurance coverage record. They then can determine if your insurance has lapsed and for how long it has been lapsed. Any quote you receive for auto insurance coverage from any insurance company will reflect the penalty for lapsed auto insurance. I called several insurance companies and I received approximately the same quote from each of them.

It is time for our Alabama legislature to act to protect the driving public. The legislature has mandated that all drivers have liability insurance but they have failed to protect the public from unreasonable insurance premiums. There must be some compromise between the driver and the insurance company when a driver is unable to drive a vehicle.
Furthermore, if a person is unable to afford the regular premium, then they surely cannot afford the higher premium penalty charged for lapsed insurance. The insurance companies must be held accountable too.

Former Opelika assistant named interim head coach at Prattville

By Joe McAdory

Former Opelika High baseball head coach and football assistant Jamey DuBose was named interim head coach at 6A champion Prattville Thursday after it was announced the Lions’ coach, Bill Clark, was moving to Mobile to accept the role as South Alabama defensive coordinator.

South Alabama, coached by former Alabama receiver and Mountain Brook head coach Joey Jones, is a fledgling college program that will not begin play until 2009.

DuBose worked as an assistant football coach under Spence McCracken in the late 1990s. During that time, he followed Thad Burgess as the school’s head baseball coach.