Ice Cream Trucks and Villains

All summer long, something has been following me. At least once a day, I can hear it in the distance as it moves closer.

Usually, I turn the corner and I see it driving by, lurking by me like a stealth assassin with a carnival horn.

I have a stalker on wheels.


It's the ice cream truck. Now, most of you will say, "You do realize there are more than just one ice cream truck, right?" My answer is yes, I realize that. But have you ever had something that seemed to repeatedly stand out to you? Something that continually showed up at random places?

One time, we were playing city league softball way out on the outskirts of town. The game was over and we were heading back to the car when I heard the distant sound of the ice cream truck...you know, that creepy little tune it plays?

That's when I decided the ice cream trucks in Lubbock were following me. Why was it out there? To sell ice cream to kids and parents playing softball? That's ridiculous.


Then it began driving by my house all creeper style - lurking and waiting for me to come out and buy its delicious frozen treats.

But, no. I denied the urge to get a red, white and blue popsicle or an ice cream cookie.

Seriously, every day I see one. It may be turning the corner near my house. It may be strolling at a slow, creeper speed down a neighborhood street. It may be speeding down the interstate to get to its next location just in time to catch some unsuspecting hungry little kids as they play in the park.

They're out there. Everywhere. Waiting.

One another note, ESPN listed Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach as it's No. 18 villain of college football because of his hate for Texas A&M.

18. Mike Leach -- Texas Tech coach, 2000-present

"Hated by: A lot of people, with Texas A&M leading the pack.

Claim to Infamy: Part-time buccaneer and full-time smart aleck whose unconventional attitude is especially irksome at uber-conventional A&M. Has won seven of nine games against the rival Aggies, including four straight. Went out of his way this past offseason to gig Aggies coach Mike Sherman for his use/nonuse of fourth-round NFL draft pick Stephen McGee, a quarterback who spent much of Sherman's first season as coach on the bench. May coach this season with a peg leg."

Arkansas also got a shout out...as haters.

25. Houston Nutt -- Ole Miss coach, 2008-present

Hated by: Arkansas.

Claim to Infamy: Benched adored true freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain in 2006 despite his 8-0 record as Arkansas' starter. Engaged in hissy in-fighting with Mustain's mother, Beck Campbell, provoking statewide dissension between Nutt backers and those championing Mustain and other members of the so-called "Springdale Mafia." (Springdale High School is where Mustain, coach Gus Malzahn and several other players achieved glory before matriculating to misery in Fayetteville.) Text messages to TV anchor scrutinized and program atmosphere poisoned, Nutt jumped out and landed at SEC West rival Ole Miss. Defeated Razorbacks last season on the way to surprising 9-4 record and Cotton Bowl victory, while Arkansas struggled to 5-7 record.