As the famous song-writer wrote, "Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste." OK, well maybe not wealth and taste, but I'm an orange-blooded Longhorn through and through. Being an alum I have the right to diss and dismiss my 'Horns as I like. I also don't mind taking criticism from fans of teams that are better than UT is at any particular moment, and fans who can make an intelligent argument. So USC fans like lisa4usc are allowed to pick me apart, while A&M and OU can keep their expected and typical comments and jealousies to themselves.

Now, to the story as titled...

I think after today's report that yet another UT football player had been busted for possession, that Austin can now be labeled as "America's Weed-Wagon". Just like the brethren up the road from Austin, in Dallas, earned the label of "America's Crack-Wagon" years ago during the infamous Michael Irvin drug days, UT and Austin have earned their horns as the newest butt of sports jokes.

It's really a shame to see Mack Brown have to go through these trying times as a coach. I think most people in Austin and across the country would think Mack is a decent man, if not decent coach. However, at a time when he should be worrying about his game plan for the OU game, he's instead having to constantly worry and handle discipline issues with his team for off the field issues. I wouldn't be surprised to see a serious smack-down by OU this year. I'm sure every head coach has to mess with knuck-heads all the time, but Mack is now in the middle of a national spotlight that will likely earn him a few jokes on Letterman and Leno soon. So I really feel for Mack and the general student population at UT that are having to wear the horns of shame now because of a handful of thugs.

This phenomena of crime amongst athletes seems to be on an alarming climb this year. However, I think its mostly perception. Off-the-field troubles are as old as sports itself. Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb were notorious off-the-field troublemakers, and caused their teams and team-owners much grief. UT and A&M athletes were frequent visitors of the infamous Chicken Ranch brothel back in the 40s and 50s (made famous by The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas). The problem in UT's case is that we're dealing with amateur athletes in a scholastic environment that expects higher degrees of behavior from its participants. In the old days, scandal and misbehavior would be swept under the rug with appropriate payouts and promises to local police chiefs and former alums in public offices. However, with the blossoming of the Internet and mass-media, every corner of society is under a microscope, and is given intense scrutiny to public opinion. As humans we have a habit of easily pointing the finger and criticizing others in order to divert any attention to our own wrongdoings. So its easy to complain and criticize about student-athletes in trouble at ever increasing rates because we learn about them more than we use to. How many visitors and commentators to this site have smoked weed or gotten a DUI in their time? Probably on-par with the same percentages of athletes who get in trouble. So, is the criticism fair? Absolutely, though it can be overblown at times. I don't think bonafide thugs should be granted scholarships because of their athletic ability that gets the university on national tv. I believe universities should be more scrutinizing in their evaluation of future scholarship hopefuls. As much so as the NFL is for future multi-million dollar draft choices. True, a few kids who have no records and shown no issues in the past will slip through the net, but I know many of these kids are known future felons who should be avoided like the plague, no matter what their premier athletic ability shows. Scholastic institutions should be that first and foremost. There should be no bending of ideals, morals, ethics, or practices to accomodate a student who gives the university a higher national profile. This is a long argument and debate that I could go on and on about; scholastics vs athletics. However, I want to conclude about America's Weed-Wagon.

Many people may not even remember the moniker of America's Crack-Wagon for Dallas, since that popped up more than 10 years ago (Americans have a short attention span, and are quick to forgive and forget). I can't even remember a reference recently concerning Miami's shameful brawl last season that brought back memories of Miami's "good ole days". So with our short attention spans and the likelyhood of another school getting into heaps of trouble (USC and the Bush fall-out?), Texas will soon slide by a few weed problems. Its unfortunate this year that as soon as a month passes, another UT player is getting in trouble again, thus keeping the story and problem alive month after month. So, in light of the plague of issues for UT this year, they rightfully earn the name of America's Weed-Wagon. I am so proud of them. There's no such thing as bad publicity. UT's name is out there again, if not for the right reasons.

UT alums, look at the bright side of things, at least we can't claim OJ, Michael Vick, or The Rock. When our drug problems are long and forgotten, USC, VT, and Miami will have to continue to live with (alleged) beheading, dog fighting, and bad movies.

Hook'em or Smoke'Em if you got'em!