The seeds of the BDFL were planted in Gardendale, Tuscaloosa and at Legion Field

Blast From the Past Photograph:

“Look at this photograph. Every time I do, it makes me laugh. How did we look so young? And, who had a camera back in those days? And, what is Jerry doing with his hands in his pockets? This is at Legion Field. I think it’s the 1984 Iron Bowl. We weren’t used to sitting on that side. And this is where we went to games. Most of the time we had a decent team. Overall record says we lost some too. I wonder if it's too late. Can I remember who is in this shot, and why is Barry doing “hook ‘em horns.?” Jack’s got on some serious shades, the Commissioner is grinning big, and for some reason, we wouldn’t let Lyle in. Dog looks like a young Owen Wilson and Bullet looks comfortable in the back.”

Upset Minded Armadillos Top Cheetahs:

It was a tough start to the 2025 season for the Duncanville Armadillos. K.P. & Company got off to an 0-4 start, and they looked like the season was going to be a total loss. Then, Prewitt decided to get busy. He headed for Athens, Ga. And watched the Tide roll. That got his “opossums on the half shell” rolling too. “It’s rolling baby,” said K.P. Next up, the ‘lil o’ team from Texas,’ made a trip to T-Town, and that looks like it has paid dividends too. So, after the bad start the Armadillos are on their way to respectability. In Week Six in the BDFL, Kurt ran into the Southside Cheetahs, and Kurt’s Karma continued as the ‘Dillos earned a vict’ry over the Sin Wagon.  

Double Naut Spies Beat Bandits:

The Jugtown Juggernauts and the Altadena Bandits tried to re-live some old days recently. A.E. and B.S. from the vaulted GHS Class of 1982 got together prior to their Week Six showdown in the BDFL. Allyson and Old Barry toured the new GHS school and (relatively) new Pat Keedy baseball stadium, near where they tore up the old Toke School. They wanted to frequent Bartee’s – but since it’s been closed for 20-30 years – they ended up at Pasquale’s. Everything between the leader of the Juggernauts and the head of the Bandits was going well until kickoff on Sunday afternoon in the Big Daddy Football League. At that point in time, Allyson took control of the situation, and the ‘Nauts acted like Double Naut Spies, and beat up on the Bandits. Barry left town squalling the tires in his black TransAm with a big eagle on the hood, with “rock-n-roll music blasting off the T-Top!”  

Mayors Mystified by Upset-Minded Bullets:

A quartet of teams opened Week Six in the BDFL with records of 4-1 to mark a good start to the 2025 season. However, the results from this past weekend featured varying results for those teams at the top of the win-loss columns in their respective BDFL division. One such team that was knocked off in upset fashion was the Magic City Mayors. The Old Cronies were 2.5-point favorites over the Benton Bullets. But, thanks to the continued success of the “tush push,” or the “Brotherly Shove,” Jalen Hurts is still scoring points for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Bentonites. The former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback staked the Bullets to a 9-0 lead after Thursday Night action in the NFL, and that was enough of a head start to power the Boys from Benton to an upset vict’ry over the Mayors. The loss drops Mayor Arrington’s record to 4-2, and pushes the Bullets to the .500-mark at 3-3 on the season.  

Commish Gigs Gamblers Turning Biloxi into Upset City:

Elsewhere, in the BDFL, the Gulf Coast Gamblers coasted into Week Six with a good 4-1 record. The Mineral Springs Grenadiers were not impressed or intimidated by the “Dixie Mafia,” and cruised into the Red Neck Riveria with the confidence of the “Sharped Dressed Man,” in the old ZZ Top videos. The Bulletin is not sure if the sharped dressed man “got the girl,” in the video or whether the band did. At any rate, it looks like the Grenadiers got the vict’ry in the BDFL, by shocking the Gamblers right there in Upset City, Biloxi, Mississippi, on the Gulf of America. There were no hard feelings after the game been the Commish and the Real Deal, and apparently they hit the Blackjack tables together to try and double their money and double their fun.  

Dogs Bite Sloths:

Another team that started the weekend at 4-1 had no trouble improving to 5-1. The Brookside Dogs rolled to a big win on the road over the Silver Lakes Sloth Monsters. Mark’s Mutts were a narrow favorite over the Sloths, but everything seemed to go smoothly for the Dogs in Week Six in the BDFL. The Former Super Banker (like Milburn Drysdale – Beverly Hillbillies) turned Rubber Maker Tycoon (Charles Goodyear) started slowly, but finished strong with an 80+ yard run by Bijan Robinson in one of the two Monday Night Football games, to “finish strong” and defeat Mukes. Mr. Mark Burr was pleased with the win and believes it will boost his overall sales at Synaflex Rubber. On the opposite sideline, the Three Toed Twee Dwellers are going to try and re-group, get a grip, and get over it. NOTE: The Beverly Hillibillies was a sit-com from the 1960s and 70s, and Charles Goodyear is the inventor of vulcanized rubber.  

Blitz and F’Birds Battle Past Press Time:

The Druid City Blitz took at 4-1 record into their Week Six match-up with the Fultondale Freebirds on the banks of the Black Creek. This one was close throughout. Both teams showed signs of taking control of the game, but each was plagued by bad calls, turnovers, missed assignments, and coaching shenanigans, not to mention whining. One of the coaches was crying and another seemed to be clapping. Upon further review, various plays were upheld and neither side seemed to be too pleased with the situation. “Jammin’ Jaimie Hand” came within an eye-lash of embarrassing himself and Jerry Fritz was worried about calls, and reviews, and interviews effecting his “Gritz Blitz.” At the end of it all, it looks like the Freebirds were awarded the vict’ry by the zebras, but The Bulletin was unable to determine the outcome at press time. Like a classic Two Out Ballclub, the Freebirdd showed some class (and I know you got it) and rallied in the 9th to win by twenty 38-18.

Sleds Trudge Past Bellcows:

The Fieldstown Bellcows and the Fairfield PowerSleds squared off in Old Man Kelsey’s Field on the edge of Mayberry, near Fieldstown. It used to be the Caufield’s Hay Field, but the Interstate and the expanse that changed the landscape of Gardendale, also changed Fieldstown too. Changes aside, in BDFL action, the Sleds and the Bell Heads butted heads for four quarters before this one was decided. The final score ended up PowerSleds 20, Bellcows 15. The Bulletin is hoping the Commissioner can do some editing this week and he did on this one and the one beforehand.

Vulcans and Wilcats Face Off:

In the underwhelming game of the week in the BDFL, the North Birmingham Vulcans entertained the Western Hills Wildcats on the second weekend of October. Game details were sketchy upon reaching the offices of The Bulletin. All The Bulletin can report is that it was a real snoozer and set the league back a few years. However, all BDFL games effect the standings, and all are important in the overall integrity of the league, and this one certainly falls under that category, and the fact that Jerry James of the “James Gang,” appears in this week’s The Bulletin photograph is a harbinger that his team did okay in Week Six.  

Week Six in the JrBDFL – “It’s all about the kids.”

Nothing to report this week, The Bulletin guesses that “the kids are alright.” Who had an album called the Kids Are All Right. They certainly did.  

(BDFL/GHS adds) To Nickelback’s Song – Part 2:

Look at this photograph. Every time I do, it makes me laugh. How did our eyes get so red? And what the hell is on Joey's head? And this is where I grew up (Gardendale). I think the present owner fixed it up. I never knew we'd ever went without. The second floor is hard for sneaking out. And this is where I went to school (GHS). Most of the time had better things to do (go to Pasquale’s, Civic Center). Criminal record says I broke in twice. (Hue Bell) I must have done it half a dozen times. I wonder if it's too late. Should I go back and try to graduate? (Danny Maxwell) Life's better now than it was back then. If I was them, I wouldn't let me in. Every memory of looking out the back door. I had the photo album spread out on my bedroom floor. It's hard to say it, time to say it. Goodbye, goodbye. Every memory of walking out the front door. I found the photo of the friend (just looking for a friend) that I was looking for. It's hard to say it, time to say it. Goodbye, goodbye. Remember the old arcade (Big Al’s). Blew every dollar that we ever made. The cops hated us hangin' out. They say: somebody went and burned it down (from Brookside). We used to listen to the radio (K-99, Kicks 106), and sing along with every song we know (Sweet Home). We said: someday we'd find out how it feels to sing to more than just the steering wheel. Kim's the first girl I kissed (Karla Hannah). I was so nervous that I nearly missed (true story – almost whiffed). She's had a couple of kids since then (no idea). I haven't seen her since God knows when (1981). I miss that town (a little). I miss the faces. You can't erase. You can't replace it. I miss it now. I can't believe it. So hard to stay… too hard to leave it. If I could I relive those days. I know the one thing that would never change. Every memory of looking out the back door. I had the photo album spread out on my bedroom floor. It's hard to say it, time to say it. Goodbye, goodbye. Every memory of walking out the front door. I found the photo of the friend that I was looking for. It's hard to say it, time to say it. Goodbye, goodbye (Good night!)

Photograph by Nickelback (2005)