Tonight was almost the perfect night. I was enjoying myself immensely, sitting alone in a little sports cafe down the street. It is a family friendly kind of sports bar, complete with a children's menu and everything. I've been there to watch several games now. And of course, it is a bar, so I do expect some bar-like language and behavior to take place. But just to set the picture- when I first walked in there was an entire high school girls' lacrosse team eating dinner. This isn't some dark, seedy, gross bar. It's really much more of a neighborhood, family friendly, and sports friendly establishment.
So there I am watching the BYU v Florida game. I'm at the front table in front of the big screen, in total suspense the entire game. I'm even wearing my Cougars sweatshirt. A dark blue sweatshirt with BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY displayed proudly across the front. I cheered, jumped, and squealed for every BYU basket, and groaned audibly each time Florida inched a basket ahead.
If you watched the game, you know what I'm talking about! This was a killer game.
There was a table of Florida fans several tables away. The place was busy, but no one else seemed to be watching the tv sets. The table of 4 younger guys right by me were certainly not invested in the game, but made occasional comments. One of them, we'll call him the Troll, was louder than the rest, and apparently set on getting my attention. After I cheered a little more exuberantly than usual he said, "What are you? The one BYU fan in the place?" I laughed and said, "Looks like it!"
Multiple times throughout the game he attempted to chat me up or flirt. (Thankfully only during c-breaks.) But his language was so foul he had no hope with me. Apparently he only knows two words for all adjectives, nouns, and verbs. Go figure! But wow can he string those two words together to make a colorful, and disgusting, statement.
Now again, I'm in a bar. I don't expect Sunday School language to be used. But his language? Could make a Marine blush. I seriously covered the ear closest to him several times during the game so I could block him out.
So the sad end of the game came, and I was 4 Diet Cokes for the worst. In other words, I was about to explode. I quickly through my cash on the table (not even waiting for the waitress), and rushed out. The Troll called out, "@#$%^ great game, eh?"
I couldn't help myself. I replied, "Sure was! Would have been better if I hadn't had to hear your cussing the whole time!" And, ready to burst into a puddle, continued to rush out.
He yells out, over the whole cafe, "OH YOU ARE A MORMON!!" His voice full of disgust.
Seriously, I just sat there not drinking alcohol for 2 hours watching a BYU game, and this comes as a surprise to him?!
I smiled, turned back around, waved my hands over my head - the whole cafe watching, and said, "YES I AM!" And kept rushing for the door.
He yells out, even louder to make sure I hear him a whole 20 ft away by the door, even though the whole family friendly restaurant was silent at that point, "WELL @#$% YOU!!!"
And I was out the door, no response. But that was a first. Cussed out loudly in front of an entire restaurant just for being a Mormon. Way to stay classy, America.
Am I wrong to be offended? I did nothing to him. I'm sure in a few hours I will be over it. But seriously folks, how rude!! How completely unnecessary and rude!! Why is it still okay to insult people over religion? Particularly my religion?! I didn't ask him to be quiet. I didn't ask him to move. I sat there doing my best to not hear his offensive language all night. Maybe he comes from a world where using the F bomb five times in a sentence to describe just how much he likes his burger is appropriate? I just don't.
It was almost the perfect night. BYU almost won. And I almost didn't have to experience being cussed out in front of an entire restaurant.
PS- Funny Sidenote-
I was live tweeting during the bulk of the game (anything to ignore the Troll). And apparently I got picked up and retweeted by the official March Madness account!
