Rocky Top- and other beautiful noises

The man I most admire in sports this week is FIFA president Sepp Blatter. 

For nearly a week now, viewers of the World Cup have complained about the constant drone of vuvuzelas heard at matches from Johannesburg to Cape Town.

On Monday, Blatter stood by South African fans.

"I have always said that Africa has a different rhythm, a different sound," Blatter said in a Twitter.com post. "I don't see banning the music tradition of fans in their own country. Would you want to see a ban on fan traditions in your country?"

British television said they may come-up with a way to filter the noise from their broadcasts. Actually, the Brits might be better to filter the boos they hear after their tenders give up soft goals, but I digress.

Celebrating the World Cup means celebrating the world, and with that comes differences.

You won't see (or hear) vuvuzelas at NFL games, fans are too busy holding $10 bottles of beer and making obscene artificial noise with their vocal cords. Talk about annoying.

The Southeastern Conference isn't sympathetic. The SEC banned artificial noise makers in 1974, and that has always rankled Mississippi State fans-- who love to ring cowbells at games. They still do. 

Tennessee fans should identify with the sound of vuvuzuelas.

What's the most common complaint by Florida and Alabama fans when attending Tennessee games? 

The sound of Rocky Top over and over and over again.

"But that's different," some will say.

Precisely.

One man's drone is another man's anthem.