Sports fans never seem to amaze me.

Just when you think you've heard the most absurd thing on sports radio talkshows, there's always one to top it.

I'm not a regular listener to sports radio, but I do tune in once in a while to see what the masses are chatting about. And since we are in Alabama, the typical topic of choice is how Alabama will once again rise to the supreme prominence in the college football world, and how much of a pretender Auburn is.

Scattered between those debates this time of year, are a couple of people who seem to have some interest in the college basketball season.

And at this time of year, it's the same old story.

It's like a skipping record, and I'm playing Bill Murray in the movie &#8220Groundhog Day.” The same thing is said over and over again, &#8220that coach Mike (because most people who call in don't even know his real name which is Mark) Gottfried can't coach.”

For the last seven seasons Gottfried has been coaching at Alabama, this guy gets raked over the coals over something during the season. And because of Gottfried's obvious ignorance, the Crimson Tide earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

It just leaves me scratching my head and vehemently arguing with the people who call into these talkshows. Then I just have to stop in amazement because I'm doing just that, arguing with someone who can't hear me. It's like watching a quiz show on TV and you know the answer and you yell at the top of your lungs like that person is somehow going to hear you through the TV.

Tide fans need a real reality check when they are complaining about their basketball coach. I thought the University of Alabama was a football factory. Since when did Tide fans give a crap about basketball?

Oh yea, that's right. It was when Wimp Sanderson and his plaid jacket owned the university campus because Alabama was a cinch to advance at least to the Sweet 16 each year.

Well guess who led Alabama further into the NCAA Tournament than Sanderson, Tide fans?

That's right, Gottfried.

Yet after the Crimson Tide blew an 18-point lead to Arkansas and fell to the Razorbacks, Gottfried has got to go.

I, as well as others who have any sense at all, wonder out loud who could the university get to do a better job than what Gottfried has done.

I'm sure that Rick Patino, Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski are just chomping at the bit to come to the Capstone.

Give me a break!

In the seven years Gottfried has been at Alabama, he has had just one losing record. That's pretty impressive considering some of the coaches and teams Alabama faces within the Southeastern Conference.

Tide fans need to stop their whining, they have a good coach. It would be refreshing to see Alabama fans support their coach instead of driving a knife right through his back.

Kevin Taylor is sports editor of The Greenville Advocate. Call him at (334) 382-3111 ext. 122 or e-mail kevin.taylor@greenvilleadvocate.com.