[by Jim Morris] Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer

[BamaNation]

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer - TideFans Interview w/ Warren St. John

INTERVIEW:
WARREN ST. JOHN -AUTHOR OF
"RAMMER JAMMER YELLOW HAMMER"
August 16, 2003
by Jim Morris and Brett Young
TideFans.com

The following is the first of a three part series that takes a look at a crimson wearing, Coach Bryant worshipping New York Times writer and his newly published book, "Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer," which details the passion and extent of fanaticism of the average and sometimes above- average follower of the Crimson Tide.

We have all tried to explain our passion for the team that dons the Crimson jersey. But no matter how we express it, wear it, or bear witness to it, we often times fall short of convincing fans of other schools why Tide fans are so loyal, crazy, and many times out right looney.

In his new book, "Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer" Warren St. John not only expresses the fanaticism of Alabama football followers but gives the reader an in-depth look at who, what, where, and why The University of Alabama football program unites a multitude of followers unlike any other in the country. The details of St. John's travels across the southeast in a beaten-up RV, his escapades to get "inside" the world of Bama Tailgaters, the people he meets on the way, and his description of the roller coaster SEC championship season of 1999, make this book not only a must read for TideFans but a book for any person who believes in the lessons of tradition, triumph over tragedy, and sacrifice.

READ MORE HERE!


Click book to order online:

 

[Selma-Bama-Fan]

Love it

I'm reading it now and love it. My gf and I have always stated that we will own an RV before we die. I think this book doesnt help matters much along those lines.

The oddest thing I've witnessed about RVing was when my friends and I went to B'ham games to tailgate as students. We never got to tailgate in T-Town because we would just throw house parties.

Well we were out in a field near Legion field, watching the UT-FL game on some guy's TV, when something odd happened. We started talking about our ambitions of becoming RV buddies when we get older and have the time. Imagine that, college students who instead of aspiring to become famous or successful; aspire to tailgate in an RV at Bama games.

Every outsider is always in awe at all the RV's Bama brings in for home games (and away games for that matter). Our conversation made me realise something, especially after I started reading this book. Imagine how many RV's Bama would bring in if every Bama fan that wanted an RV could infact have one, if every Bama fan that wanted the time to RV had the time. I dont think the entire city of Tuscaloosa could hold them all. I say this now, and I bet every person on this board will say the same thing:

If I had the time and the money to quit my job and settle down in a sort of retirement; you can bet your 'butt' I'd be in Tuscaloosa every Weds. or Thurs. in a RV.

I think the thing that might surprise St. John the most is the number of fans that are envious, and sometimes even jealous, of our RV crew. I've heard people say many a time, "It must be nice to have a job where you can just take off on a Thursday to drive to the game and not be back til Monday".

Oh well, enough about this... I gotta get back to the book :biggrin:

 

[Selma-Bama-Fan]

Just make it....

sticky!

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: Meet the Author

Warren St. John describes Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer as "Funny, insightful, honest, accurate and moving."

Warren St. John's Book Tour

Warren St. John

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, WARREN ST. JOHN is currently a reporter for the New York Times. He has also written extensively for the New York Observer, The New Yorker, and Wired. He went to Columbia University and lives in New York.

A Journey into the Heart of Fan Mania

"Fresh and funny… St. John has crafter a winner.” —Tony Horwitz, author of Confederates in the Attic

 

[owenfieldreams]

There was a piece about the book in the Houston Chronicle recently. I had wanted to mention it over here & see how you all felt about it.

All I know is that the week leading up to the Alabama vs OU game in Norman, the Lloyd Noble Center parking lot was inundated with RV's from Alabama like no other game in Sooner history. They started arriving as early as the Tuesday before the game.

This is a book I've got to read.

 

[BamaFan in Germantown]

I started the book last nite, great reading, I especially like the parts where he puts down Finebaum, page 26,3rd paragraph. These comments are from a fellow reporter,I quote," He's(Finebaum) an antifan,a tireless s--- stirrer and controversy monoger whose specialty is not X's or O's----you'll never himdebating the finer points of a blocking scheme or talking about the pros or cons of man-to-man coverage---but instead: firings,scandles,NCAA investigations,the impact of a bad season onthe job security of university officials,the personality flaws of various coaches."
ROLL TIDE ROLL
:biga2:

 

[BamaNation]

[by Jim Morris] Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer - Part II

INTERVIEW PART II:
WARREN ST. JOHN -AUTHOR OF
"RAMMER JAMMER YELLOW HAMMER"
August 18, 2003
by Jim Morris and Brett Young
TideFans.com

Jim Morris and Brett Young of TideFans.com sat down and picked the mind of New York Times writer and author of "Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer," Warren St. John. The following is part 2 of a 3 part series focusing on the book that is gaining national attention.

TF: What are some of your most memorable moments while writing the book?

WSJ: "There are lots of experiences that I left out of the book. I cut the book by about 1/3 to make it a faster paced book. During the week I drove to visit with people, went to quarterback clubs, tailgate parties, chased down leads, etc. I didn't know what I was going to actually use in the book, so I just captured as much as possible in my notebook. At the end, I stepped back and asked myself, "Okay, what happened?"

READ PART II HERE!

 

[TideHead]

Has anyone read the story yet about the rich developer from Mobile who is obssesed with getting home to Mobile within an hour after the game? He sits in the Ivory Club and with 2:00 to go, he gets up and starts walking to a portal. The instant the clock hits 0:00, he is out the door and into a chaufferured van. This allows the van to get to the Tuscaloosa airport ahead of the traffic where a jet with the engines running is waiting. The plane takes off and gets him home less than forty-five minutes later barring bad weather. The developer will blacklist anyone who slows him down enough to get the van caught in traffic.

St. John was with him during the 1999 LSU game where Marvin Constant got hurt on the last play of the game, and there was confusion as to whether LSU would get one more play because of an injury timeout. The developer ran outside the stadium to his van before it was decided whether LSU would get another play, and St. John instinctively followed while yelling, "The game's not over." The developer and the people with him took off in the van, and St. John was trapped outside the stadium panicking trying to figure out what happened.

After reading that story, there is a part of me that would like to find that developer at the next game and get in his way as he's trying to get out!

 

[smokewagon212]

Very good book. I laughed from beginning to end. I have a new pride about my obsession, and I was sad when I finished the book cause I wanted more!! :biga2:

 

[BamaNation]

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