Hey, I thought it was just a little more apt than "delicatessen".

I cannot stand Duke for one simple reason (well, really two, but if we ignore my officials ire with how Coach K acts...):

They are very successful, and their fans feel that makes them special, so it is fun to not like them.

That is all there is to it - being a sports fan (or anti-fan in this case) is about having fun, and having someone to not like is fun. It isn't very fun to pain Southwest Boise State School of Agriculture as the Evil Empire though - you need someone prominent and successful for that, and Duke fits the bill perfectly.

The fact that in addition to being very successful they have this sanctinmonious, "aren't we special, isn't Coach K SUCH A GREAT MAN" cult thing going just makes it that much more fun to despise them.

They are very much the Yankees. I used to enjoy "hating" the Yankees as well, but my 10 year old decided two years ago he was a Yankees fan, so of course I had to switch from hating them to cheering for them, which if also fun. Nice ballpark they have.

I am an Arizona fan by circumstance (that is where I went to school) so I hate ASU, and I despise Duke for getting all the attention, vastly more than they deserve, of course, and for their braindead fans that think their precious Coach K walks on water. He doesn't - but Lute Olson did.

Lets just hope Jake doesn't get it into his head to start rooting for the Blue Devils...

I have a real conflict when it comes to Duke. As a lot of you have said, it's hard not to have animosity toward Coach Howevertheheckyoupronouncehisname because of the way he treats officials, but I have to root for one of his players, Kyle Singler. He's a great kid, a really good (and clean) player and he's from here in Oregon.

I know he's a clean player because his dad stated he makes Kyle take at least 5 showers every day.

Ah, don't hurt yourself jumping those conclusions. It's not success per se that's the issue, it's how it's handled, and that follows closely with your ideal that it's the individuals involved. Growing up a Cub fan in the Chicago area, the major rivalry was Cubs/White Sox. However, my best friend was a White Sox fan, and his family took me to my first baseball game ever at Comiskey Park. That, along with knowing other Sox fans who don't really rub it in, I've come to "not dislike" the Sox. In fact, I was kind of rooting for them in the '05 Series. Cardinal fans, however, are a different story. They have a tendancy to be a little more difficult to deal with (kind of like LaRussa - one of your favorites), so I've learned to dislike the Cardinals a lot more. Same with Yankee fans - they have a tendancy to be a little grumpier... :p

On the other side, I don't mind watching the UConn women. Even with the supposed lack of widespread talent in women's basketball, it is still an amazing feat to see their current run. While I can certainly understand some people rooting for their winning streak to finally end, I'm not one of them.

I just hope I live long enough for people to start hating the Cubs because they're too successful.

LOL....

C ompletely
U seless
B y
S eptember

Brings A Smile To My Face Every Time ...
 

One of my favorite words. I love it when the judge, at my sentencing hearings, starts off with the phrase, "Due to mitigating circumstances...".

+1


I knew his name was bound to come up here.

Sounds like yet again another golf book by Reilly.

1 Down & 161 to go !!!
 

LOL!!! Luv them Redbirds!!

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/d1/fu...7a5-getty-.jpg
...

Irrelevant. When it comes to us officials, nothing has changed. He's still a whiny, no-class hemorrhoid.

Feel free to disappear again now until next March when we launch our annual "Coach K is a jerk" thread. See you then.:)

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20100406/i/r431562455.jpgK

OFD

Right, because winning trumps sportsmanship and class - thus is the message of Coach K and Duke. And, apparently, OFD.

Just win, baby!

Is there a point here? Anything tied to officiating?

Congrats to Duke and Coach K for winning the Championship.

But K was still outclassed by a guy who was born about the same time K was hired at Duke. The Butler coach did his job - he coached. Saw him TALKING to the officials several times, but never saw him jump up and scream at them. Saw K do that several times last night.

Class.