PDA

View Full Version : A Kentucky fan at Cameron



KenTankerous
01-14-2008, 08:24 AM
I know that that may grate the nerves of some of you Blue Devil's fans but my ladylove is a HUGE Duke fan and I took the opportunity to get a pair of the general admission tickets for the Cornell game and give her the Christmas present of her dreams.

Let me say that the Duke campus is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen - and I have been to Stanford, Berkeley, MIT, etc. And the Washington Duke is by far the best hotel I have ever had the pleasure of endulging.

This trip dispelled so many myths about Duke, The Cameron Crazies and Coach K. To wit:

The students we met were not arrogant blue bloods too good to greet strangers and lend a hand, even after I told them I was a Kentuky fan. Standing outside the Washington Duke waiting for a cab to dinner, Jon Scheyer pulled up with his family. My girl recognized him, congratulated him for a game well played. He actually blushed when we said we drove all the way from KY to see him played. He laughed when I told him I was a Kentucky fan and I had a great time.

The Crazies, while very exuberant fans, are far from rude to opposing players, coaches and fans - no, quite the contrary is true. During player introductions, the Crazies listen attentively to the players name and then all say "Hello (players name here)!" When the game was locked up and the opposing starters were all pulled, the Crazies gave them a standing ovation for a game well played. There is a palpable sense among the fans that the close proximity to the court is a very unique situation that hinges on the behavior of the fans and the crazies take that responsibility seriously.

Coach K is class act through and through. Make no mistake, this is his HOUSE. There is an awe in the air when he is about to enter the arena. When he enters Cameron, he goes directly to the opposing coaches and players and spends a few minutes talking to them and welcoming them to Cameron. Contrary to everything I have ever heard, he does not overly work the officials. Compared to the way Rick Petino pounds those guys, Kzyzewski only once even talked to them and he didn't seem to raise his voice and certainly wasn't harping like a Bobby Knight.

I'm sure none of this surprises anyone on this board. I just felt compelled to post it, a thank you note of sorts, to the Duke community here.

Am I a Duke fan now? Well, I just couldn't bring myself to buy a Duke basketball shirt at the Bryon Center, but as long as they aren't playing Kentucky, sure, I can cheer for the Blue Devils. Does it twist my Cat Fan conscience. sure, a little, but the experience was so amazing, I'll deal with that.

billybreen
01-14-2008, 08:55 AM
Hey, great post and welcome to the board. Glad to hear you loved Cameron as much as we all do. Thanks for the kind words.

Bluedog
01-14-2008, 09:02 AM
Thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed your experience. The Crazies were not at full force for the Cornell game, however, as students were still on winter break...so, you have to come back to an ACC game! ;)

CameronBlue
01-14-2008, 02:27 PM
Gracious words, Cat fan. By the way, not to hijack this thread but can you comment upon this breaking news item out of Lexington?

Lexington, KY (AP) - A seven-year-old Frankfort , KY boy was at the
center of a Franklin County courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged
a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a
history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded
custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulations
requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree possible. The
boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more
than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the
judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried
out they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate
family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life
among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to
propose who should have custody of him. After two recesses to check
legal references and confer with child welfare officials, the judge
granted temporary custody to the Kentucky Wildcats, whom the boy firmly
believes are not capable of beating anyone.

BlueDevilBaby
01-14-2008, 02:30 PM
Hope you'll ignore CameronBlue and stay in touch, KenTankerous.

CameronBlue
01-14-2008, 02:34 PM
Hope you'll ignore CameronBlue and stay in touch, KenTankerous.

Oh, you don't have to apologize for me. I'm sure KT recognizes levity when he sees it. But thanks for standing up for the maliciously aggreived of the world. I'm sure there's a humantarian award out there for you somewhere.

BlueDevilBaby
01-14-2008, 02:45 PM
I'm not always so magnanimous (e.g., I was rooting for Vandy on Sat.), but when he has the graciousness to post a compliment to Duke and its fans on our boards, well. . . . But, to be sure, I would definitely kick Carolina if it ever gets down again.

CameronBlue
01-14-2008, 02:59 PM
I'm not always so magnanimous (e.g., I was rooting for Vandy on Sat.), but when he has the graciousness to post a compliment to Duke and its fans on our boards, well. . . . But, to be sure, I would definitely kick Carolina if it ever gets down again.

Kicking Carolina when they're down is merciful and necessary to drive the point home.

....anyway, nicely articulated sentiments KT, please hang around.

Devil in the Blue Dress
01-14-2008, 02:59 PM
I know that that may grate the nerves of some of you Blue Devil's fans but my ladylove is a HUGE Duke fan and I took the opportunity to get a pair of the general admission tickets for the Cornell game and give her the Christmas present of her dreams.

Let me say that the Duke campus is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen - and I have been to Stanford, Berkeley, MIT, etc. And the Washington Duke is by far the best hotel I have ever had the pleasure of endulging.

This trip dispelled so many myths about Duke, The Cameron Crazies and Coach K. To wit:

The students we met were not arrogant blue bloods too good to greet strangers and lend a hand, even after I told them I was a Kentuky fan. Standing outside the Washington Duke waiting for a cab to dinner, Jon Scheyer pulled up with his family. My girl recognized him, congratulated him for a game well played. He actually blushed when we said we drove all the way from KY to see him played. He laughed when I told him I was a Kentucky fan and I had a great time.

The Crazies, while very exuberant fans, are far from rude to opposing players, coaches and fans - no, quite the contrary is true. During player introductions, the Crazies listen attentively to the players name and then all say "Hello (players name here)!" When the game was locked up and the opposing starters were all pulled, the Crazies gave them a standing ovation for a game well played. There is a palpable sense among the fans that the close proximity to the court is a very unique situation that hinges on the behavior of the fans and the crazies take that responsibility seriously.

Coach K is class act through and through. Make no mistake, this is his HOUSE. There is an awe in the air when he is about to enter the arena. When he enters Cameron, he goes directly to the opposing coaches and players and spends a few minutes talking to them and welcoming them to Cameron. Contrary to everything I have ever heard, he does not overly work the officials. Compared to the way Rick Petino pounds those guys, Kzyzewski only once even talked to them and he didn't seem to raise his voice and certainly wasn't harping like a Bobby Knight.

I'm sure none of this surprises anyone on this board. I just felt compelled to post it, a thank you note of sorts, to the Duke community here.

Am I a Duke fan now? Well, I just couldn't bring myself to buy a Duke basketball shirt at the Bryon Center, but as long as they aren't playing Kentucky, sure, I can cheer for the Blue Devils. Does it twist my Cat Fan conscience. sure, a little, but the experience was so amazing, I'll deal with that.

Thank you for what you've said! It's a great reminder to all of us that real people often don't match the stereotypes held by their opponents.

devildeac
01-14-2008, 03:26 PM
Gracious words, Cat fan. By the way, not to hijack this thread but can you comment upon this breaking news item out of Lexington?

Lexington, KY (AP) - A seven-year-old Frankfort , KY boy was at the
center of a Franklin County courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged
a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a
history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded
custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulations
requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree possible. The
boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more
than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the
judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried
out they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate
family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life
among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to
propose who should have custody of him. After two recesses to check
legal references and confer with child welfare officials, the judge
granted temporary custody to the Kentucky Wildcats, whom the boy firmly
believes are not capable of beating anyone.

That joke sounds vaguely familiar. In fact, I think I heard it several times over the last few years about the Duke FB program:( . I also heard it several times in September last year about the ND FB program. My nurse's husband did not appreciate it very much. He is a ND grad who spends almost as much time on the ND nation web site as I spend on DBR:D . I fixed her, however. We had an office party at our house after that and I gave him the DBR site info as he is a huge Duke men's BB fan as he got his MBA from Duke and has been hooked since then. I think he is still gainfully employed even with his twin 'addictions'.

SeattleIrish
01-14-2008, 03:51 PM
Gracious words, Cat fan. By the way, not to hijack this thread but can you comment upon this breaking news item out of Lexington?

Lexington, KY (AP) - A seven-year-old Frankfort , KY boy was at the
center of a Franklin County courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged
a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a
history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded
custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulations
requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree possible. The
boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more
than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the
judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried
out they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate
family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life
among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to
propose who should have custody of him. After two recesses to check
legal references and confer with child welfare officials, the judge
granted temporary custody to the Kentucky Wildcats, whom the boy firmly
believes are not capable of beating anyone.

I actually hadn't heard that one before - even read it all the way to the bottom before figuring out it was a hoax (and laughed at the punchline). Might have been a tad discourteous, but I sure found it funny!

s.i.

p.s. - loved reading your perspective on the visit to Cameron, kenT - thanks for posting! I am curious as to UK fans thoughts on whether Tubby leaving was good or bad for the program; if you post again, I'd love it if you could cover that.

Jumbo
01-14-2008, 04:04 PM
Oh, you don't have to apologize for me. I'm sure KT recognizes levity when he sees it. But thanks for standing up for the maliciously aggreived of the world. I'm sure there's a humantarian award out there for you somewhere.

Be nice. Please.

KenTankerous
01-14-2008, 07:00 PM
Great Joke CameronBlue. In fact, it's been one of my favs for years...

I appreciate the warm welcome, jokes and all. I'm pretty thick skinned, especially when it comes to my Cats. I've been a Cat fan since I was old enough to dribble a ball, which in Kentucky is right after you start smoking and drinking bourbon - 18 to 20 months. I've been through the championship years and the probation era - Eddie Sutton should have every win he tallied with those tainted Kentucky recruiting teams stricken from his record - so going .500 for the season, and being derided mercilessly about it, isn't going to crush me. Believe it or not, I get paid the same and get the same great loving from my Duke girl if Kentucky wins or losses! How great is my life?

To speak on Tubby - I liked Tubby. I think he is a great coach and no one is better at using a season of adversity to prepare for the tournament. His only drawback is recruiting. But that was as much a product of the lack of support he got from the press, fans and AD as it was his own shortcomings in that arena. If Kentucky had loved on Tubby like they did on Petino, he'd have been able to recruit a championship caliber team and then coached them to greatness. And it pains me to say it, but part of the problem my fellow Cat faithful had with man was racial. Plain and simple, it is one of the reasons I'm not always proud to be a Kentucky fan.

But fan-dom is funny that way, isn't it. If you have grown up a fan of a certain team, you can't just switch, can you? I mean I liked the Cincinnati Reds as a kid because of the Big Red Machine and the World Series victory but when I moved to San Francisco, it was easy to become a Giants fan because I wasn't born a Reds fan. No, I think to stop being a Cats fan - which I have been tempted to try because of crap like the Tubby thing - I'd have to stop being a college basketball fan altogether.

And that I won't do.

DukieInKansas
01-14-2008, 08:03 PM
Welcome, KenT!

You are the best kind of fan in my mind - with your team through good and bad, able to see flaws (not that your team would ever have any), and able to take a joke. Kentucky will have better years ahead - and what a game against Vandy.

Lavabe
01-14-2008, 08:09 PM
Wow ... why can't there be more fans like KenT? Imagine ... no DukeHatredTsunami thread!

I wonder what proportion of UK fans would side with your perspective, or would at least respond positively to your anecdote about visiting CIS? What is their reaction when you tell them about your visit to CIS?

Cheers and welcome aboard!
Lavabe

wilson
01-14-2008, 08:30 PM
Thanks a lot from yet another Duke fan...it really does make some of us feel better to hear that we're in fact not arrogant a-holes, that we have a good place, that we know the game, etc.
Now, how about posting your above comments on your favorite UK board and helping us just a little bit more?;)

jimsumner
01-14-2008, 08:32 PM
Be nice. Please. 2.

BTW, that joke is believed to have originated in the Epic of Gilgamesh, 2700 years ago, discussing the Assyrian track and field team during an unusually long period of rebuilding.

CrazyCat
01-14-2008, 09:20 PM
Thank you so much for crossing over to our side to say such wonderful things. I have to tell you, some of my all time favorite games were/are against Kentucky. Please join us again in our discussions. It is always nice to have an outside point of view.

mgtr
01-14-2008, 09:36 PM
When I don't root for Duke, I root for UK. UK has a great record, and is one of my two or three favorite teams (although not my number 1 favorite team). If Duke is beaten in the NCAAs (heaven forfend), I would switch over to UK after one or two adult beverages. As a UK fan once pointed out to me, you cannot spell Duke without UK.

cspan37421
01-14-2008, 10:02 PM
Kentankerous, thanks for the post. It is so refreshing to see that rivalries need not be seething hate fests, but can be pulling hard for your team and dishing out nothing more nasty than good natured ribbing (well, or nearly so).

FWIW I went to HS in Kentucky so I have a bit of an appreciation for UK hoops. I recall once when teaching came to a halt one day as all classes showed the UK-Louisville game. I forget the circumstances but this would have been around 1983-5. Every guy knew who Mr. Basketball was in KY, as well as neighboring states (esp. IN). I totally agree with you about Sutton and Smith. But at bottom, it is a beautiful game and KY is among the top few all-time schools in playing it well.

The win against Vandy was impressive, and the season is not yet lost. Some of the best teams end up 22-11 on occasion, you know.

And by the way, PLEASE post your starting comments to KY fan forums. I guess our job is to find a way to Rupp and report back.

ArkieDukie
01-14-2008, 10:49 PM
Thanks, and welcome, KenTankerous! Glad your Cameron experience was enjoyable.

I have a question for you regarding the current UK coaching situation. There are rumors in this part of the country that Kentucky is thinking of buying out Gillispie after this season and hiring Pelphrey away from Arkansas. Are you hearing anything of that nature, or are these simply the typical rumblings of fair weather fans? Hope it's all smoke and no fire; I'm a big fan of Pelphrey and want him to stick around for a while.

KenTankerous
01-14-2008, 11:08 PM
I don't really frequent any UK boards like this - they are just too rabid. I did post the essence of this thread on my hometown social network's sports forum, here is a linky:

http://www.louisvillemojo.com/newforums/Replies.Cfm?TID=131943&FID=18&StartRow=1&xvar=1#Reply4230881

Just be aware that this site is a local social site and frankly, sports are low on the forum page. Engage at your own risk, and temperature...

OZZIE4DUKE
01-14-2008, 11:13 PM
This trip dispelled so many myths about Duke, The Cameron Crazies and Coach K. To wit:


Great post, KenT. Welcome. Please feel free to contribute often.

I'm very glad you got to know the real character of Cameron and the Cameron Crazies. Outsiders usually won't believe the truth unless/until they experience it for themselves.

Last year I was in Knoxville for a few days, and before I left I paid ($9) for the tour of Rupp Arena. Glad I did.

KenTankerous
01-14-2008, 11:25 PM
Ozzie, you paid $9 for a tour of Rupp in Knoxville? That's $8.50 and three hours south too much.

Arkie - relax, I don't think Gillespie is going anywhere soon. Well, at least not till he gets his license back.

Thanks for the welcome Kansas, Wilson, Lavabe, Crazy and 37421. I'll try to contribute when I can.

devildeac
01-14-2008, 11:28 PM
Last year I was in Knoxville for a few days, and before I left I paid ($9) for the tour of Rupp Arena. Glad I did.

How did you get a tour of Rupp when you were in Knoxville?:D

OZZIE4DUKE
01-14-2008, 11:28 PM
Ozzie, you paid $9 for a tour of Rupp in Knoxville? That's $8.50 and three hours south too much.

Oops, my mistake. I meant Lexington of course. Must remember to engage brain before posting.

But yes, I paid the $9 fee to take the "official" tour.

KenTankerous
01-14-2008, 11:35 PM
Geez Oz, you could have scored floor seats for the Vandy game for $12 last Saturday afternoon.

devildeac
01-14-2008, 11:40 PM
Ozzie, you paid $9 for a tour of Rupp in Knoxville? That's $8.50 and three hours south too much.

Arkie - relax, I don't think Gillespie is going anywhere soon. Well, at least not till he gets his license back.


Funny stuff-welcome to DBR. Keep up those kind of posts and you will fit right in and be legendary around here;)

dukestheheat
01-14-2008, 11:48 PM
Kentankerous,

Thank you for your kind words and assessment of our Hallowed Hall; you have a Hallowed Hall as well.

Hey, a bit of trivia about that hotel where you stayed, the Washington Duke. I was a student at Duke when they were building it, and me a guy on my intramural basketball team used to go over and hit golf balls on the driving range that's right next to the hotel; well........occasionally.....we'd turn the other way and hit some balls into the superstructure of the hotel! So, within some of the walls of that hotel are a few golf balls deposited there by dukestheheat!

welcome to the boards,

dth.

KenTankerous
01-15-2008, 02:12 PM
Here is a link to a good history of the Kentucky/Duke series:

http://bigbluehistory.net/bb/rivalDuke.html

Also, follow the link I posted earlier to the Louisville Mojo thread I started and check out the post from Dukeparent. Her daughter is a student/athlete at Duke and she gives a very insightful look into being an S/A at Duke.

Cheers!

Karl Beem
01-15-2008, 02:38 PM
BG hasn't signed his contract. I doubt that they would have to buy him out.

Jarhead
01-15-2008, 04:02 PM
Very interesting reading, KenT. Thanks for the link. Also thanks for the heads up for the Duke Parent post on the Louisville Mojo forum. It was nice to be reminded of the relationship that Duke has with the parents. Welcome to the DBR. Come visit us often. A word of warning -- at times you will notice a thread entitled "Duke versus Kentucky." It comes up a couple of times a year, more or less. It is never about basketball. It is always about barbecue (bbq). We have lots of experts on bbq here.

SeattleIrish
01-15-2008, 10:22 PM
For those of you, like myself, who did not attend Duke, or have family who attended Duke, the link Ken posted has a wonderful post by the mother of a Duke student athlete...really great post and I encourage you to read it:

http://www.louisvillemojo.com/newfor...Re ply4230881

s.i.

thanks for the link, ken!:)

OZZIE4DUKE
01-15-2008, 10:52 PM
For those of you, like myself, who did not attend Duke, or have family who attended Duke, the link Ken posted has a wonderful post by the mother of a Duke student athlete...really great post and I encourage you to read it:

http://www.louisvillemojo.com/newfor...Re ply4230881

s.i.

thanks for the link, ken!:)

The link has an error in it. I even tried "reuniting" the Re ply into reply42... and that didn't work either. Please fix! Thanks.

BTW, DukeParent is a friend of mine. He sat with me at the Pittsburgh game in NYC. For those old timers, don't doubt that he is a Duke fan, just not blindly loyal like most of us are, nor as, um, optimistic as I am.:D

KenTankerous
01-16-2008, 07:34 AM
My original link at the top of this page works. Or go to Louisvillemojo.com, click on the forums, scroll down to Sports. The thread is a Cat fan in Cameron. DukeParent's comment is on the second page but read all the comments to get a perspective on how this was received in KatKountry.

365Duke
01-16-2008, 08:37 AM
The link has an error in it. I even tried "reuniting" the Re ply into reply42... and that didn't work either. Please fix! Thanks.

BTW, DukeParent is a friend of mine. He sat with me at the Pittsburgh game in NYC. For those old timers, don't doubt that he is a Duke fan, just not blindly loyal like most of us are, nor as, um, optimistic as I am.:D


http://www.louisvillemojo.com/newforums/Replies.Cfm?TID=131943&FID=18