Monday, March 26, 2012

When Gods Collide

I first heard that phrase in a song by an 80's hard rock band named Thor, and it's the phrase that came to mind when I thought about this Saturday's match-up between Louisville and Kentucky.  You may not consider the UK and U of L basketball teams to be gods, but when you look at the history, rivalry and stage of competition - this is pretty damn epic.  Clark Kellogg said the following:  “When you talk about Louisville and Kentucky playing, that goes to the stratosphere of intensity and history and tradition, ... This is way off the charts.”  And the buzz this week around town coming into the game is probably only going to keep peaking.

So let's talk about it.  As a diverse group of UK and U of L fans, what do we make of it?  What should we make of it?  It's great!  It's scary!  It's unprecedented.  Is it David and Goliath?  Rocky and (opponent x)?  Is it UK's to lose and U of L's to seize?  Should we be full on partisan or politely diplomatic?  

I know that I am experiencing a range of emotions and I'm sure you are too.
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14 comments:

  1. Derek3/26/2012

    Just another day for me.

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  2. Steve Daugherty3/26/2012

    So THIS is the topic that finally generates a response from Derek?!?!

    I'm going to try to refrain from discussing this topic because some people who I like and respect are turning a blind eye to ill-gotten gains from quite possibly the biggest cheater in sports today.

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    1. robdyson3/27/2012

      It's interesting to me that your distaste for either Calipari, or the UK program in general, is so great. Obviously Pitino has had his share of scandals. Neither has done anything in recent history that we're aware of that's worth a negative comment. It's freakin great that BOTH schools are going to be on such a huge stage - especially UofL which most didn't expect. This game is monumental in my opinion - though maybe not in the same way to most of the kids playing in it. Everybody recognizes that Calipari and Pitino are great coaches. Why find negatives? Let your team play it's game and may the best team win. If Louisville loses, you can always wait - hoping another Calipari scandal will surface which will vindicate the Cards loss in your mind. Then you'll get the moral victory while sinking deeper into your love/hate relationship with all things BIG BLUE!

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    2. robdyson3/27/2012

      Got an offer for ya. I'll agree to paint Way To Go Cards on my FB profile pic for 1 week if the Cards win, if you'll paint Way To Go Cats for 1 day if the Cats win. Whataya think?

      Delete
    3. Derek3/30/2012

      It IS pretty funny that I finally comment when I have no comment?!?

      Delete
  3. Micah3/28/2012

    Personally, as an unbiased observer, think this is funny :) Also, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the better game will be the KU vs. OSU game :)

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    1. robdyson3/28/2012

      I think that will be a great game. I hope that it IS better than the UK/UL game. But the UK/UL game is going to be nuts for us around here - particularly in the town of Louisville. There's a pretty even number of fans on both sides within the same town. I wonder if the same could be said for any other rivalry? Maybe Cincinnati/Xavier? Anyhow, anytime those 2 meet, it is big around here. Throw in the final 4 and it's crazy. The cool thing is that one of the teams is Definitely going to the championship game. I just hope it's the Cats.

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    2. robdyson3/28/2012

      Oh, also, Steve isn't actually totally crazy. He's a pretty good guy otherwise :)

      Delete
  4. robdyson3/30/2012

    It's the day before 'the game', and I'm literally feeling a mixture of emotions. I want to write them down today, because tomorrow it's Game On. I'm not going to be fence straddler. I'm a UK fan, from a UK family, born in Lexington KY, but have lived almost my whole life in Louisville and am a UofL graduate. This game is good for Louisville, the city and the school. I cannot help but feel the excitement the city and the Cardinal fans - including several of my good friends - are experiencing. I love this game because it pits my favorite team against their biggest rival on the biggest stage. There's no denying that I will be extremely disappointed if UK loses, but for U of L to win would be phenomenal. Some may say I'm making too much of a basketball game, but sports, as I'm sure you've heard said before, is a metaphor for life. A metaphor for struggle. Whatever happens, it's gonna be a sight to see.

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  5. robdyson3/30/2012

    Sidenote: Do guys make anything of racial undertones to this rivalry? I watched some news footage of UK students celebrating in the streets and it looked exclusively like white students, then they showed UofL fans celebrating and it was almost all black fans. Even the 'dialysis fight' which has even showed up on national news was a black UofL fan and a white UK fan. UK has a history/perception of being racist but the truth is black players were integrated into the basketball team in 69 which was only 7 years after UofL did. Is it simply a population thing?

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  6. Steve Daugherty4/02/2012

    I think the race thing is largely irrelevant as far as this rivalry is concerned. It certainly was relevant in the past, but I don't see it as a factor anymore.

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    1. robdyson4/02/2012

      That's good to hear. I hope it's not. That would just be yet another way to divide.

      Delete
  7. robdyson4/03/2012

    http://artofmanliness.com/2011/08/19/lose-with-dignity-celebrate-with-grace-part-i/

    ReplyDelete

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