>>(Subtopic -- U.S. college basketball, NCAA tournament. I realize not everyone is interested in this.)
>>
>>Another day, another win for the Butler Bulldogs, the Cinderella of so many Cinderellas in this year's tournament. Yesterday's victim was Michigan State, a perennial power. Butler didn't win pretty -- their shooting percentage was in the low 30s and they went nine minutes without scoring a basket in the second half -- but they did just enough to hang on, 52-50. Their entire sports budget would probably be a line item at places like Michigan State, Florida, USC, et al. And yet they are one of two teams left standing. What a great, great story.
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>>Their opponent in the final will be the Duke Blue Devils. The contrast could not be starker. They are the ultimate traditional power, playing in the most prestigious conference, among the championship contenders year after year. They annually reload with a fresh batch of McDonald's All-American high school players. Like many great people or institutions, Duke basketball is both admired and reviled. (Just ask Tracy, LOL). They played very well yesterday, getting hot from behind the 3 point line and waxing West Virginia by 20. So here they are again in the championship game. Anyone in his right mind would pick them to win one more and cut down the nets.
>>
>>Then again, maybe that glass slipper really will fit a bulldog's foot tomorrow night. That's not supposed to happen, not in big time college sports. (Do you remember the year Appalachian State won the BCS Bowl? Me neither). That stuff only happens in fairy tales. Right?
>
>Nicely written. :o) I enjoyed it. Don't know about you, but I'm rootin for the underdog... :o)
>
>Here's a Fox story you might actually read:
>http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/Kriegel-Why-Duke-is-the-most-hated-team-040210
>and a local one:
>http://fayobserver.com/Articles/2010/03/29/986994.aspx
>
>:o)

I just got around to reading the Fox piece. You know it takes a lot to get me to ;-) The guy makes a lot of good points. Too elitist and too corporate probably comes pretty close to why people hate Duke.

Wait, I think I've got it. It's not the players, it's the students, the self-described "Cameron crazies." They are about as crazy as a T bill. 95% of them are privileged kids who compound that accidental circumstance by basking in their basketball team's reflected glory. (Duke football sucks, which surely gives many of us enjoyment, LOL). They know their slots are waiting as doctors, lawyers, corporate titans. At fundraisers some day they will be able to say, "Yeah, I went to Duke. It was pretty crazy back then." As if.

The players themselves are fine, the kind of student-athletes we all claim to admire. OK, so Christian Laettner was whiny. I could name hordes more who don't fit that pattern.

J.J. Redick, who is mentioned in the article along with Laettner at the top of the most hated Dukie list, is one IMO. He did come across as cocky as a collegian. Maybe that was because he was good and they won. Two things changed my mind. One was that he was best pals with Adam Morrison, his rival for player of the year and as opposite the Duke image as you could hope to find -- long haired, a free spirit, noncorporate in the extreme. They reportedly texted each other frequently. The only thing they had in common was being deadeyed sharpshooters who could fill the basket up fast.

The other is how he has adjusted to the pro game. He is not the big star any more, comes off the bench. He is slow by NBA standards and doesn't have three guys setting picks to set up his shot. What I admire is that he doesn't complain. He seems grateful, rightfully so, to be playing in the NBA and to have a role on a contending team. He is still a great pure shooter and there will always be a place for a guy like that. J.J. Redick, content role player. I like that.