Friday, on the way home from work, some Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan had called in to one of the sports radio shows, complaining about the fact that Publix supermarkets were selling Philadelphia Eagles balloons. Apparently, Bucs fans had also been incensed that the week previously, they'd sold cakes decorated with the 49ers logo. The show's host appeared to be in agreement with the caller's indignation, but I couldn't tell if it was genuine or if he was just egging the guy on.

Anyway, to hear this guy rant, Publix was committing a horrendous offense against the sensibilities of the community. He was calling for a boycott of Publix until they issued an apology for daring to sell merchandise pertaining to other football teams. The few bucks they might make on such items, he raged, wouldn't even begin to make up for the badwill generated by such a decision.

Wow. And I thought people in the SCA got too worked up over a mere game. It's not like Publix was selling Nazi flags, or KKKakes. Sheesh.

But even that wasn't as bad as a Tampa restaurateur (and Bucs fan) whose storefront was defaced with anti-Eagles graffiti as retribution for his heinous crime of selling Philly cheese steak sandwiches.

And a brief comment on the game: Warren Sapp ought to change his Web site's name from QBKilla.com to QBSlappa.com — because the one time he actually managed to reach Donovan McNabb, all he did was slap him on the hip. Sapp's old 'n' busted now. Simeon Rice has over twice as many sacks as he does this year; Sapp isn't even in the top five. In fact, Rice outsacked Sapp by nearly two to one last year, too; I don't see why people (especially NFL cameramen) continue to make such a fuss over Sapp.

Addendum: Today's Rockwood Comic is especially pertinent and amusing.