The Destruction of Toomer's Trees Was An Unnecessary Act With Zero Justification

As an SEC football fan, I know a little something about being passionate about your team. I cheer as loud, if not louder, than any other fan I know on Saturday afternoons. I engage in the good-natured ribbing of my teams' rivals and I don't pause when saying "I hate Orange". However, I also try to be rational where wins and losses are concerned—you have to draw a line—integrity still has to be maintained no matter what.

So, when I read the story about the trees on Toomer's Corner, located in Auburn, Alabama, being destroyed, it bothered me.

In case you haven't heard the story, here it is in a snapshot: "A tree killing herbicide was intentionally applied in lethal amounts to the soil around the 130 year-old live oak trees at Toomer's Corner and there is little chance the trees will survive." (Courtesy of CBS42)

The incident was brought to the attention of Auburn officials after a caller to the Paul Finebaum show stated he had poisoned the trees. Listen to that clip here:


What struck me as most disturbing about the caller was his justification as to why he did what he'd done. He did not appear to be troubled, concerned, or bothered by the enormity of his act as, in his mind, it was an "eye for an eye".

For those of you who would say they're just a bunch of trees, you're missing the point. It's about respecting the pageantry and tradition of another school—no matter your differences—and what this man did, if he truly did it, is criminal and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Rivalries can be a glorious thing, but they can also be dangerous if they are taken too far and this, make no mistake about it, took it too far. The officials at Auburn are now concerned not only about the likelihood of saving Toomer's trees—which as already stated, seems unlikely—but also about the trees and shrubbery contained within the surrounding area as the herbicide used was powerful enough to taint the soil system as well.

So unnecessary.

Hopefully the madness will end here and there won't be any retaliation, but something tells me this won't be the end of this story.

Related articles

• Auburn: Oak trees poisoned at Toomer's Corner (cbssports.com)

It Must Be "Let The Village Idiot Loose" Week in SEC Land

I saw this little bit of foolery from Paul Finebaum:

5. Mark Richt (Georgia): Everyone loves Mark Richt (blah, blah, blah), but can the guy coach? That's a strong question to ask for someone with two SEC titles and a glittering résumé. However, Georgia fans have stuck their heads in the sand recently, giving Richt a blank check while blaming everyone else.

Okay, I get it, Paul Finebaum has set a goal this off-season and it involves setting a huge flame to anything Georgia Bulldog related. Well, to each his own.

After all, I've said it once and I'll say it again, no self-respecting Georgia fan should allow anything Paul Finebaum has to say, ruin his/her happy place.

This man makes his living as a pot-stirrer and whenever he needs to find a way to draw more listeners and readers into his tawdry web, he says the most outrageously stupid thing he can imagine. That's his thing.

That said, I still find that lists (particularly those with rankings) irk me. My philosophy where those types of lists are concerned is if you're going to put yourself out there, do so with intelligence.

Don't be a moron.

Here is an example of me taking a moronic list to task. 

So, while I have no problem with Finebaum's decision to release another list ranking SEC coaches, I do take issue with his decision to place Richt at No. 5—particularly when neither of the two guys he ranks before him have 1) won an SEC Championship this decade, 2) have a winning record against Richt, or 3) have played in a bowl game of any significance—specifically a BCS bowl.

Bobby Petrino is 13-12 in two season's at Arkansas. That's it. His team went 8-5 last year and, barely—and I do mean barely—beat East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl.

As for Steve Spurrier, he might have been the "Ol' Ball Coach" at Florida but he's just an OLD ball coach at South Carolina where Richt has gotten the better of him eight times in nine years.

So, I  am willing to go out on a limb and say that Mark Richt is a better coach than both Bobby Petrino (whose done nothing yet) and Steve Spurrier (whose done nothing yet at South Carolina).

Try again Paul Finebaum.

You know, he''d be funny if he weren't such a prick...just saying. 

My advice to Georgia Bulldog fans where Paul Finebaum is concerned: change the station, there's nothing to see here, folks.

Tuesday Afternoon Tea: Just a Few Links For Your Drink

Now that Clemson's starting quarterback might decide to bolt for an MLB paycheck—people are suddenly interested in what Tajh Boyd will do in his stead. Here's a good guess, in a year or so, people may forget who Kyle Parker was in the first place because, honestly, most of Clemson is already saying "bye, bye" to his services. Boyd is going to be very good for Clemson.

It's funny to me that Notre Dame is still being given this much credit. Here's the thing, people, Notre Dame can get paid big dollars without extending a branch to any other conference—why would they want to save the hides of any one?

Yawn...The Gators are still making the rest of SEC sports play second-fiddle; it'll be nice when that streak ends. 

If the Pac-10 does actually expand, somebody send the State of Texas a memo to remind them that: Baylor Sux...just a suggestion.


Bill King sheds a little light on Georgia's recent run of "bad publicity".

Clemson won't be the only ACC team looking for another quarterback this coming season. N.C. State may be saying "so long" to Russell Wilson as he, potentially, also will join the Colorado Rockies roster.

And, staying with MLB for a touch longer, the Texas Rangers nabbed Georgia Diamond Dawg pitcher, Justin Grimm, in the fifth-round.

Paul Finebaum has turned his venomous attention towards the Cock's and Hogs of South Carolina and Arkansas, respectively.