1991 was a glorious year. One year had passed since I received my graduate degree from Duke. I was loving my job. My first child was born. And the Duke basketball team was the darling underdog of the college basketball world. People loved Duke after they stunned the world and beat UNLV for the Nat'l Championship in 1991. UNLV, if you recall, looked like an NBA team in 1990 and 1991. And the Running Rebs were cocky. Until Duke took them out.
Times have changed. Now, people hate Duke. No. They loathe Duke. The hatred for Duke is a unique brand of hate. It runs deep. Not even the Democrats dislike for George W. Bush runs as deep as fan hatred for the team from Durham. Where is the love? I don't get it. How can one detest a clean program that emphasizes team ball and where most players graduate and get their degrees? Why hate a team that has a humble and self-effacing coach who is quick to lavish praise on the opposing team whether in victory or defeat?
Frank Deford came to my aid to help me understand why they hate us in his NPR commentary. This was taped in 2005. It becomes obvious when Deford quotes a poll that has Duke #1 in both men's and women's basketball. Still, his commentary is insightful.
Sorry Mr D, my mind was sealed about Duke last March in Greensboro as I watched Coach K through my binocs (I had nosebleed seats). His snarls at the refs, his complaining about every single, stinkin' call ... just too much!
It doesn't hurt that we like to boo those who have won many games (Yankees come to mind, Miami, FSU, Tiger Woods ... whatever).
As they say in Chapel Hill: TAR ... HEELS!
:)
Later.
Posted by: BWB | January 09, 2007 at 15:06
B,
Your mind was sealed against Duke long before last March, my friend ;).
So you think everyone hates Duke because K snarls?
Naw. Ain't buying it. All coaches complain to the refs. Smith did. Williams does. And both of them had foul mouths. There is more to it than that.
And success? Last time I checked, the Tar Heels have far more victories, championships, records and NBA stars than Duke. So it can't be a successful program that breeds such contempt.
C'mon. Out with it. What is the real reason for your disdain. Is it that Duke grads tend to have enviable golf swings or what? ;)
Posted by: Mr. Dawntreader | January 09, 2007 at 16:04
Duke's "humble and self-effacing" coach is also the master of whining to the refs and, in so doing, getting the officiating skewed heavily in his teams failure. That's one reason. Another is Dick Vitale.
Frankly, one of the biggest reasons people hate Duke is because so often, they're so good. And this points up a problem with college athletics. Unlike the pros, where poor teams have an opportunity to improve by getting early draft picks, in college, the best programs have a natural recruiting advantage, and thus tend to stay the best programs. Conversely, it makes it that much more difficult to turn around a bad program. Sure, the "good" teams may have the occasional off-year, and you get the occasional Cinderella. But by and large, it's always UNC, Duke, UConn, UCLA, Kentucky, etc.
Posted by: tgirsch | January 09, 2007 at 17:37
Correct. I have NEVER been a Duke fan. Perhaps it was the hype when Duke was in the top 10 (pretty much all the time!) and it was how folks like Johnny Dawkins, Bobby Hurley, Cherokee Parks, or the-center-with-the buzzer-beater-whose-name-won't-come-to-me-now would "revolutinize" the NBA!
But really, what do you say to those who hate the Yankees or Tiger Woods? I hated the Pistons in the day, and the Celtics before them! Maybe I just have "I hate the great ones at basketball because I suck at hoops" disease!
Oh wait, I love Carolina!
:)
Later.
Posted by: BWB | January 09, 2007 at 17:53
Hah! "Heavily in his teams failure," I said. Clearly, I meant "Heavily in his teams' favor."
Posted by: tgirsch | January 10, 2007 at 12:33
"Heavily in his teams failure"
It may be have been a typo, but perhaps prophetic. K's team is a failure this year. 0-2, no confidence, no shooting, and unable to take care of the ball.
Looks like this is the year for payback.
Posted by: Mr. Dawntreader | January 12, 2007 at 17:36
I hate Duke for the same reason anyone hates Duke: they are too successful, and I wish my team were so successful. That's the way it works. How else is it that so many people hate my beloved Dallas Cowboys?
I hope Duke makes it to the big dance and plays the Tennessee Volunteers.
Posted by: Rob Ryan | January 12, 2007 at 18:08