Let’s go Duke!
I love Kentucky basketball. It is hard to grow up in this state and not love Kentucky basketball. And I hate Duke basketball. It is hard to love Kentucky basketball and not hate Duke basketball. But Duke really is better. Yes, shoot me. But here’s why.
I watched North Carolina beat Duke on Duke’s own court tonight. You know what the Duke fans did at the end of the game? They stayed. They stayed and stood and chanted “Let’s go Duke!” and pumped their arms the exact same way they had done ten minutes earlier when there was still time on the clock and they had a chance.
You know how many seats were empty? None. Yes, Cameron Indoor Stadium is a much smaller venue than Rupp Arena. But that doesn’t matter. When you love the team and you love the game, you will be there. And if you can’t be there, you’ll give your lower arena tickets to someone who can.
You know what the Duke fans did in the final seconds when it was clear that Duke was going to lose? They didn’t stream out of the place to get a jump on traffic. They didn’t mutter about three loses in a row or how the coach needed to be fired or how DeMarcus Nelson was a bonehead and missed two crucial, late free throws. And they for sure didn’t boo any of their own players. No, they didn’t do any of those things. They stayed and they stood and they cheered “Let’s go Duke!”.
Maybe Duke is just a classier school. Maybe smarter people go there and they have manners and upbringing. Maybe most of the people that attend Duke games actually went to Duke, so they have a little more pride in their team. Maybe Duke fans realize that while some of their players will go on to be top rate NBA a$$holes like all the others, they are just 18, 19 and 20 year old kids while they are at Duke. And kids don’t really need to be hearing all that crap that people throw at them. They need someone to stand and chant “Let’s go Duke!” even when they lose.
Let’s go Duke! Indeed.