The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Roll Tide: The Universal Greeting

Like aloha or shalom, “Roll Tide” is a phrase of tremendous cultural nuance. Thursday night, after the ‘Bama Championship Show, my Burbank host JSF and I took a stroll through the streets of downtown Pasadena, crowded with fans celebrating the Crimson Tide’s glorious victory. Everyone was wearing crimson, while many of the ladies were stylishly accessorized in black-and-white houndstooth (if […]

Live: The Triumph of the Tide!

12:41 a.m. I’d like to extend gracious condolences to Texas fans. I’d like to, but . . . ROLL TIDE! And don’t forget to hit the tip jar! 12:06 a.m.: Alabama intercepts again. That’s your game, folks! The crowd in Pasadena goes wild! ROLL TIDE! 12:02 a.m.: Trent Richardson TD. Extra point misses. Alabama 37, […]

The Right-Wing Blogosphere’s Official BCS Pre-Game Show

We’ll be live-blogging as soon as the ‘Bama Championship Show (BCS) begins (8 p.m. ET, ABC), but first we bring you this pre-game show, recorded yesterday at the BCS media headquarters in Newport Beach: Hanging out with the Crimson Tide trainers: Matt Price, Vernon, Ala.; Bryant Swindle, Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Jonta Pritchett, Jackson, Ala.; and Clay […]

What Do Smart Girls Say?

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Jenny Erickson of Smart Girl Politics came out to the Crowne Plaza here last night for a pre-game gathering: Be smart like Jenny: ROLL TIDE!

‘They Stood for Everything Good and True and Right in the American Spirit . . .’

They came together on a hot afternoon in Los Angeles, howling and clawing at each other like wild beasts in heat. Under a brown California sky, the fierceness of their struggle brought tears to the eyes of 90,000 God-fearing fans. They were 22 men who were somehow more than men. They were giants, idols, titans. […]

Fear and Loathing in Orange County

TUSTIN, Calif. Chris Cassone was wearing a Ronald Reagan T-shirt when I spotted him at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank. United Express Flight 6396 touched down Tuesday shortly before 2 p.m., Pacific Time. Sunny skies, palm trees, 75 degrees — yeah, the working conditions here are grueling. A veteran musician who performed at the 9/12 […]

Just Printed My Boarding Pass; Ready
for Fear and Loathing in Pasadena?

Less than 12 hours from now, I’ll be flying the friendly skies of United — economy class with a two–hour layover in San Francisco — to sunny California to cover the BCS Championship game. The “friendly skies” are billing me $15 for checked baggage. Maybe one of our tip-jar hitters can fork over for that. I thought […]

Join Coach McCain’s Winning Team

If you’ve already hit the tip-jar for the Pasadena trip, thank you. If not, you certainly should, because here’s the plan

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