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Why We Hate Duke…And You Should Too
By Jay Busbee | February 7, 2007
Look at this picture:
Your immediate reaction will tell you all you need to know about yourself as a sports fan. If you look at that poor little weeping Duke fan and feel a warm fuzzy feeling inside, don’t fret — you don’t lack a soul. No, if you take pleasure in the pain of Duke and the fans who follow them, chances are you are indeed right with the world and your chosen deity.
Duke fans like to think the rest of the world — the rest of the known universe — hates them because their team wins so much. Sure, that’s part of it — we’d all love to have the kind of team that gets coddled by the refs and the national media enjoys consistent success. But no, our hatred of Duke can’t be explained by mere jealousy. There’s something more there, something that makes us loathe Coach K and the Blue Devils with gut-churning disgust.
It’s the crying.
Think about it — just about every major Duke player has either teared up during the big games (see Redick, J.J., at right) or whined (crying’s opening act) about every single freaking call that doesn’t go their way (see pretty much every Blue Devil). And even when Duke does do something worthy of respect — like winning that 1992 Kentucky game, truly one of the best moments in college basketball history — somebody’s got to go ruin the moment. In that case, it was Thomas Hill (see below), crying in disbelief like a high school girl who just found out Fall Out Boy’s going to be playing her prom.
Now, some people could say that the Dukies cry because they’re pampered kids who’ve never known a day of adversity in their lives. Some could say that in their final hours at Duke, they realize that they’re headed to journeyman NBA careers where they’ll forever be trade throw-ins. Some could say they’re just talented wussies. The great thing is, you’d all be right.
See, most of us could stomach Duke beating our teams if they just acted like men, win or lose. Check out that picture of the Yankees at right, taken just after the Diamondbacks ripped their guts out in the 2001 World Series. Now, we have no love for the Yankees whatsoever, and scenes like this warm our hearts. But still — look at those guys. Jeter’s got his head held high, and Bernie Williams looks like he’s trying to decide which of the Diamondbacks he’ll kill in their sleep first. No crying here.
Of course, there is one Blue Devil we can always count on for a smile and good cheer:
(From truthaboutduke.com)
Remember, Dick, they’re not saying “Dick,” they’re saying — well, they’re saying “Dick.”
Topics: ACC, Basketball, Duke |
February 10th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
I couldn’t agree with you more. God I hate those mother f*****s! And to think our GM here in Philly is a freaking Dukie. (Billy King) No wonder the Sixers stink!
February 16th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
I am a Jahawk who moved to Virginia, so my early (long-distance) hatred of Duke has developed quite well now that I actually live in a place where I have to watch them on my TV all the time.
I was able to attend the game where UVA beat Duke in OT and started the 4-game losing streak, and it made me a very happy man.
February 19th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
dukesux.com
February 21st, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Amen to that, from the University of North Carolina. Down here we have a T-shirt with Dickie V and Coach K in bed, and Vitale is saying, “Was it AWESOME baby?!?” I’m just glad Greg Paulus is their point guard now.
February 22nd, 2007 at 2:47 pm
How can you forget about Chris Carrawell?
Well…I know it’s easy to forget about him…but this…this was the worst:
http://www.truthaboutduke.com/photo_real_dis.php?photoid=26
February 26th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Maybe it’s because they think their crap doesn’t stink!! It’s almost impossible to describe how hated Duke is among non-Duke fans! I had the distinct displeasure to be at the NCAA 1st Round action in Greensboro last year with Duke among the field, and it was amazing how many people left (including myself and our group) the arena when they started playing. We waited until the game started and then left enmasse - it was great! Duke SUX!!!
March 5th, 2007 at 12:11 am
As a loyal Maryland sports fan, I am lucky enough to have someone to hate and dispise the whole year round: Yankees in the summer, bluedevils in the winter.
March 15th, 2007 at 1:03 am
I thought I was the only Duke Hater in the world, I have found home here, BTW I am from Missouri, Tyler country.
March 15th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
It’s a good year to be a Tarheel, and an even better year to hate Duke! Go VCU!!!
Could McRoberts (I call him McRandolph) be even more of an overrated, whining sissy than Shav?
November 9th, 2007 at 12:18 am
[…] Sports Gone South actually has a specific reason for hating Duke, they cry Think about it — just about every major Duke player has either teared up during the big games (see Redick, J.J., at right) or whined (crying’s opening act) about every single freaking call that doesn’t go their way (see pretty much every Blue Devil). And even when Duke does do something worthy of respect — like winning that 1992 Kentucky game, truly one of the best moments in college basketball history — somebody’s got to go ruin the moment. In that case, it was Thomas Hill (see below), crying in disbelief like a high school girl who just found out Fall Out Boy’s going to be playing her prom. […]