From the Sideline

It's fun to win. It's even more fun to win with guys you like and respect.

I’d love to tell you how Alabama’s Men’s Basketball team will replace Dazon Ingram.

It's rather fitting that Alabama's Men's Basketball team is headed to Orlando to play a tournament in the shadows of one of the world's most famous amusement parks.

So here we go again. You can talk about the Iron Bowl (and you should - it's the best rivalry in college football). You can talk Alabama/Tennessee (and you should - historically, it's one of college football's best, as well). But the best rivalry for the past nine years is Alabama/LSU...

I admit it. I was physically ill. Not, "I'll be sick if we lose." I wasn't waiting that long. I was already there. When Tennessee's offense cut through the Alabama defense like a hot knife through butter, and the Vols took the lead with just under 6:00 remaining, I felt a knot in my stomach that literally hurt...

As I write this, I'm sitting in traffic in the parking lot at Coleman Coliseum, after a men's basketball event. Haven't moved an inch in more than 10 minutes.

Alabama's 41-23 win over Texas A&M last week was another example of the Tide's growth since the loss to Ole Miss.

I didn't watch the Democratic presidential debate. I knew Twitter would handle the analysis for me - not that I really cared to have any. But these events always remind me of one of the nation's greatest debaters, Ronald Reagan. There is a long list of legendary quotes the former actor-turned politician dropped on his opponents during these forums...

Saturday's game may be the most important of the season for Alabama.

It would be easy to categorize Saturday's win over ULM as a "ho-hum" victory.