Remember when football was violent?

Before we get back to music, a few words about Ultimate Fighting Championships. Have you seen this? It's scary stuff.

We went to a major chain sports restaurant Saturday night to watch some college football and have a bite to eat. There weren't many good, competitive evening games so we didn't think it would be a problem finding a seat in the place. The American League Championship Series game in New York had been rained out, so no baseball either.

Before we could get to the bar we had to find a parking spot outside, which proved nearly impossible. I had never seen so many cars parked outside the restaurant. Finally inside, there was not a single stool at the bar -- and this is the biggest sports sports bar I've ever been in.

While waiting to be seated at a corner table in the jam-packed restaurant we looked around to see what was being shown on the jumbo TV screens. It was frightening. More than half of the 40 or so sets were tuned to UFC. This was fight night, and the rabid crowd had come to drink and cheer for blood and mayhem.

It's this way every Saturday night, we were told by the waitress who finally seated us in a little cubby off the bar. We couldn't ask her to change the set nearest us because a pack of juiced up viewers was watching UFC, cheering as if Tennessee was lining up to attempt a winning field goal try against Alabama. (OK, this isn't SEC country, but since when do you go to a sports bar on Saturday and not expect to see the best football games available?)

I'm not here to debate the value or legitimacy of UFC -- a form of no holds barred, mixed martial arts fighting where competitors basically tee off on each other and blood squirts everywhere. "Human cock fighting'' it has been called by legislators who have attempted to ban it. I just can't help but believe some kids who watch this stuff over drinks don't think they can take care of any problem in the parking lot with a sucker punch. But, hey, I'm no psychologist. Maybe football does the same thing.

I miss walking into a sports bar on Saturday to watch a football game and catch a few highlights. When I ask what's happening to society I already know the answer. Some of us are turning into old farts who stubbornly hold on to traditions and societal values that are sadly slipping away.