America needs a Bear
Posted by Jeff Culler at 1/26/2008 1:42 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
A quarter of a century ago today—January 26, 1983—Paul William Bryant became a self-fulfilling prophecy. He exited the world stage as the result of a massive heart attack at Druid City Hospital in Tuscaloosa less than one month after coaching his last football game. Bear predicted he wouldn't live for a week without football but, in typical Bryant style, he downplayed expectations then surpassed them. He mad it 19 days longer than advertised.
Having spent four wonderful years in Tuscaloosa getting my degree, and having lived in—and gone to countless football games in—T-town for many years before and after, I've heard all of the Bryant anecdotes, witticisms, and myths—fact and fiction. (Note to Alabama fans: I'm BORED with all your great "stories" about Coach Bryant. I've heard them all a million times and most of them are embellished for the sake of legend and folklore. They hold little value beyond tailgating and, again, they've all been told by now. I love the man, his legacy, and his contribution to my school immensely. That's why I'm asking you, out of respect for HIM, please stop boring us with all of your (mis)quotes that begin, "Well, you know Bear said...." When I hear something begin with those words, I know Bear likely didn't say it.) OK, off my tangent.
Bryant was a drunk, he was a womanizer, possibly a closet racist, and a hell of a leader. He wasn't hired in 1957 by Oliver Cromwell Carmichael to be the moral compass and spiritual leader of the University of Alabama. He was hired to win football games. Six national titles, 14 SEC championships, 24 consecutive bowl games, an astonishing 3 losses in 25 years when playing in Tuscaloosa, and 232 wins later, I think he fulfilled his contractual obligations.
As Democrats, who is our Bear Bryant? Is it Obama, Clinton, or Edwards? Is is Howard Dean? Is it an up-and-coming Democratic state legislator somewhere in America? Is it one of the eight other strong D women in the Senate? Is it one of the 42 other members of the Congressional Black Caucus? Is it just a plain old Blue Dog Southern Democrat? Or am I wrong for looking in any of these places?
Democrats need to win for America. Democrats need to unify. Democrats need a Coach Bryant.
Having spent four wonderful years in Tuscaloosa getting my degree, and having lived in—and gone to countless football games in—T-town for many years before and after, I've heard all of the Bryant anecdotes, witticisms, and myths—fact and fiction. (Note to Alabama fans: I'm BORED with all your great "stories" about Coach Bryant. I've heard them all a million times and most of them are embellished for the sake of legend and folklore. They hold little value beyond tailgating and, again, they've all been told by now. I love the man, his legacy, and his contribution to my school immensely. That's why I'm asking you, out of respect for HIM, please stop boring us with all of your (mis)quotes that begin, "Well, you know Bear said...." When I hear something begin with those words, I know Bear likely didn't say it.) OK, off my tangent.
Bryant was a drunk, he was a womanizer, possibly a closet racist, and a hell of a leader. He wasn't hired in 1957 by Oliver Cromwell Carmichael to be the moral compass and spiritual leader of the University of Alabama. He was hired to win football games. Six national titles, 14 SEC championships, 24 consecutive bowl games, an astonishing 3 losses in 25 years when playing in Tuscaloosa, and 232 wins later, I think he fulfilled his contractual obligations.
As Democrats, who is our Bear Bryant? Is it Obama, Clinton, or Edwards? Is is Howard Dean? Is it an up-and-coming Democratic state legislator somewhere in America? Is it one of the eight other strong D women in the Senate? Is it one of the 42 other members of the Congressional Black Caucus? Is it just a plain old Blue Dog Southern Democrat? Or am I wrong for looking in any of these places?
Democrats need to win for America. Democrats need to unify. Democrats need a Coach Bryant.
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