March Madness: If You Root Against Kansas, You Root Against America

[proud2BlibKansan]

If you follow college basketball, you may well hate the University of Kansas. Jeremy Stahl certainly does. Writing in Slate's annual NCAA tournament "Teams We Hate" feature, Stahl called the Jayhawks "odious" and "contemptible."

No big shock. Kansas—along with North Carolina, Kentucky, and Duke—is one of those teams that fans love to hate, like the Yankees, the Lakers, or Dallas Cowboys. KU is a high-dollar, high-pressure program, perennially in the top 20, usually in the top five, and always a threat to make the Final Four. Of course people root against the Jayhawks. Tonight, for example. Unless, like President Obama, you picked KU to win the National Championship, you will probably cheer against the Jayhawks tonight as they take on 12th-seeded Richmond. That's only natural. As Kansas alum Wilt Chamberlain once famously said, "Nobody roots for Goliath."

In this case though, that's a real shame. It's shame because hating on the Jayhawks means you hate the United States of America. Yes, you read that right.

The Jayhawk, a mythical mix of a blue jay's cunning with the ferocity of a hawk, was born in pre-Civil war era "Bleeding Kansas," when the strange bird was adopted as the mascot of abolitionist forces fighting for Kansas to enter the Union as free state. The Jayhawkers battled with Border Ruffians, many from Missouri, who wanted to bring slavery into the new territory, and who ultimately sparked a horrific, bloody war of secession. Surely, it's more than mere coincidence that the pro-Union Jayhawks must face a team from the old capital of the Confederacy tonight, and could face another on Sunday.

If you root against KU basketball, then, you are actually rooting for slavery. You're supporting the Confederacy over United States, cheering for racism, oppression, and war, and, not for nothing, you want President Obama to fail—all of which are certainly "odious" and "contemptible" by any reasonable definitions.

more . . . http://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2011/03/march-madness-if-you-root-against-kansas-you-root-against-america/72991/

[El Supremo]

1. Oh give me a fucking break!

If you rook for the Jayhawks you'd be rooting for John Brown, the terrorist, too I suppose.

Somebody payed this jerk to write this drivel?

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Well John Brown was anti-slavery

And his mural is prominently featured at the state capital.

I doubt many Kansans would be willing to call him a terrorist.

I find him to be an embarrassing part of our history but I am definitely in the minority.

[Forkboy]

2. I can only hope that it's some kind of satire.

:scared:

[joeybee12]

5. Yeah, because I sure as hell ain't rooting for Kans-ASS! nt

[SpiralHawk]

4. Totally blatantly B-b-b-bomastic Baloney

...and altogether off the point of a freaking, ultimately inconsequential basketball game.

But what the Hell.

[JonLP24]

6. WTF?

"
Really, if you think about it, it's very cruel of Jeremy Stahl to hope that Yao Ming lives in poverty."

I've heard some stretches in my lifetime but this entire article takes the cake.

[madinmaryland]

7. Oh Fer Fuck Sakes! UN-RECCED!! This shit belongs in GD.

:mad:

[JonLP24]

8. GD? I'd love to see this in GD

:rofl:

[madinmaryland]

9. I thought this thread had been moved from GD in here!

:rofl:

[taterguy]

10. Nice post, Brandon Knight

[fishwax]

11. an interesting idea, but poorly executed

promising more in the opening paragraphs than it could ultimately deliver. Sorry, Kansas fans, but I remain unconvinced ;)

[GaYellowDawg]

12. Oh, really?

Root against Kansas and you root for slavery? Hmm. If we go by that kind of logic, then consider this: Kansas is the home of Westboro Baptist Church. Root for Kansas and you root for the Phelps family.

GO VCU!!

[El Supremo]

13. And Sam Brownback!

[era veteran]

14. Why I like & dislike Kansas

Dislike: December 9th 1989 Allen Field House Kansas 150 Kentucky 95 Coached by legendary prick Roy Williams beats up on Rick Pitino, another legendary prick. Dislike some Tarheels because of that too.

Like: Great tradition, the cradle of coaches, Adolph was from Kansas as well as played for Coach Allen. My French side is from Emporia, settling there after they traded off the trading post on the Santa Fe Trail. My Dad rooted for KU & UK.


I am not a fancy Atlantic Monthly writer but that guy wasn't much. Here is why Kentucky is a more representative State in the Union. During the Civil War we stayed in the Union but as soon as the South lost and the war over we joined the South. Our natural empathy was working to bring the two sides together. Some people have confused that with stupid to join the losers. On top of that we got to experience Reconstruction without needing or deserving it. Our Hill Folk enjoy the distinction of being the only demographic left in the country that is ok to slur and denigrate.

When you travel the world and tell people you're a Kentuckian they ALWAYS look at your feet to check for shoes. How could Kansas top that.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. I went to school in Emporia

Boring town but the Flint HIlls nearby are my favorite part of the state.

This piece was reportedly written by a guy from the KC area. I found it bizarre enough to post. Pretty strange theory, but Kansas history is largely unknown and very interesting. As is Kentucky's.

[backwoodsbob]

16. in it's entirety because of this post

I am now a Richmond fan

[bigwillq]

17. GO VCU!!!

:bounce: