Could I possibly rattle the tip-jar hard enough to get to Pasadena?

I doubt it. As much as I'd like to go cover Alabama vs. Texas in the BCS game, I simply don't think our readers would hit the tip jar to fund such a trip.

However, Dan Collins at POWIP has faith in you guys. He thinks you can do it, but as I told Dan and Jimmie Bise, this is an idea so crazy even I don't think it will work.

Why, I'd probably have to collect $2,000 between now and Jan. 7 in order to pay my overdue bills and go to Pasadena. Is that even possible? I don't think so. But . . .

Wait a minute. What did I say before Saturday's game?

Even I, a fan so faithful that I have been known to break down in tears at the sound of the Alabama fight song, have little hope that the Tide can win today.
A 'Bama win would be a miracle, a sign from God, the college football equivalent of In Hoc Signo Vinces.

Could it be? Was this truly a revelation of Divine Will? Could it be that the Almighty wants me to go to Pasadena? Is there some transcendental cosmic purpose at work here?

Or am I just scamming a free trip to the Rose Bowl?

Never mind. Suppose there were 1,000 Alabama fans who each hit tip jar for $2, or 400 'Bama fans for $5? If only there were 100 Crimson Tide true believers who were good for $20 each . . .

Who am I to doubt? Indeed, anything is within the scope of theoretical possibility, when it involves the undefeated SEC champion Alabama Crimson Tide. After all, who suspected before yesterday's game that we'd see Florida QB Tim Tebow in tears?

Here's the deal then: We'll raise $2,000 between now and New Year's Day, thus affording me a week to book my flight, scam somebody out of a press pass, etc. That means I must raise $80 a day, ever day, for the next 25 days.

So whether that's four people hitting me for $20 or eight people hitting me for $10, as long as I can maintain that pace until New Year's Day, then a month from now, I'll be in sunny Pasadena, attending press conferences, interviewing Crimson Tide football players and having my photo taken with beautiful Alabama cheerleaders.

The Other McCain Sports Department:
It's Not Just a Scam, It's an Adventure!

Now hit the tip jar!

P.S.: If anyone has any suggestions for fund-raising incentives, just put them in the comments.
UPDATE: Robert G. from St. Augustine, Fla., was the first reader to hit the tip jar for the Pasadena trip. And he did it even while Mrs. Other McCain was giving me the depressing rundown on our household budget.

My wife was saying, "Electric bill blah blah blah water bill blah blah blah cell-phone bill blah blah blah . . ." And then I logged into PayPal and shouted: "Roll, Tide!"

Uh, I haven't told her about the Pasadena trip yet. Going to take a few more tip-jar hits before she's ready to hear that news. She reads the blog, but not every day.

UPDATE II: Dan Collins links with this encouragement:

If you’re looking for a little gonzo on the subject of the Rose Bowl, if you’d like to feel that you were there in a slightly off-kilter way, you won’t do better than sending Stacy. Consider it an investment in voyeurism. You know that he’ll deliver.

Speaking of slightly off-kilter, Los Angeles resident Little Miss Attila plans to meet me in Pasadena to collect some of the martinis I still owe her from last year's CPAC. Better hit that tip jar at little harder. Attila can really put away the gin.