Price Check on Waterford Crystal...

So Alabama’s national championship trophy, normally enshrined in the private hallways of athletic departments, is headed to…WalMart.

I love this. First of all, it plays in to every possible stereotype. Everyone’s first reaction, including mine, has been, “Only in Alabama…” It’s white trash and does betray a certain lack of class.

On the other hand, it’s genius. Why not let the fans spend some time with their hard earned reward? Sure, it’s the players that go to practice and actually battle it out on the field. But most of them are there for three or four years and move onto the pros or careers in real estate and insurance. It’s the fan base that has weathered the long term ups and downs. It’s the fan base that provides the financial support (not just through ticket sales, but also merchandising and watching televised games that enable plum contracts). And the fan base also puts in blood, sweat, and tears for every game.

Six presidents were inaugurated behind closed doors, with only the elite invited. But who voted those presidents into office? Andrew Jackson opened the White House to the people. Sure, it was ill advised and a disaster. But it was important to legitimize the power of the people.

Congratulations, Alabama.