As a sports writer, I’m taught to always be objective and fair. I’m not allowed to be a fan, and I should leave my opinion out of my writing (except for columns like this one).

Usually, I have no problems with this. I try my best not to spin anything positively or negatively. Even during the basketball team’s magical run to the NCAA Tournament last year, I remained level, despite the fan in me wanting to jump up and down in celebration.

But this Saturday will be a different dynamic. I’ll be traveling to Columbus to watch the Bobcats play Ohio State U., a team I esteem about as highly as I do that other in-state school whose main color is red.

Despite the fact that coach Jim Tressel graduated from my Alma mater, Berea High School, I hate the Buckeyes.

I hate that they’re ranked about seven spots too high in the preseason polls every year. The sound of “Hang On Sloopy” makes me angry. I fill up with rage every time I hear somebody refer to the team’s color as “scarlet.” But for my most prevalent dislike of the Buckeyes, I hardly have to leave my apartment.

Walking around Athens on any Saturday, I am surrounded by a sea of red jerseys. Any uptown establishment is filled with eager Buckeye fans screaming that obnoxious “O-H,” every time a player gains a first down.

For a minute, I think I’m in Columbus among the 65,000 students that attend the university. Nope, still in Athens.

And I’m sure a large number of the kids that go to Ohio U. will not only cheer for the Buckeyes Saturday, but would be angry if the Bobcats won.

So why do so many people here root for the Buckeyes? I just don’t get it. And it enrages me.

I’m not trying to tell people which team to like, because as I said, I’m not allowed to like any team. But besides the people of Columbus, I can’t comprehend the mass obsession with That Team From the North.

Maybe it’s state unity. People like Ohio State because it’s the largest and most prestigious school in Ohio.

Maybe people just want to cheer for a winner, because Ohio lacks good pro sports teams. (I’m from Cleveland. I know that more than most. But that’s for another week.)

Whatever the reason, I don’t care. I just wish I could walk down the street and not be bombarded by people trying to tell me Terrelle Pryor is going to be an NFL Hall of Famer. He’s not. Let’s get serious.

But despite my feelings for the Buckeyes, I will approach Saturday with the same neutral attitude I always do. If the Bobcats pull off the upset, however, I might walk into an empty room and crack a subtle smile. Just for a second.