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December 4, 2006
Zac Hunter chips in his two cents while bloggin' from Boston.There's a flurry of questions surrounding the KU men's basketball team.-Is Bill Self the right coach? -What would happen if Roy Williams was still here? -Why does Brandon Rush disappear in games? It's hard to keep your chin up these days as a KU fan. And while this can all be remedied by a big run in March, I think we need something to raise our spirits now. Thus, I've created a survival guide to get help us through these tough times. 1) Stay away from message boards immediately following a loss. The negativity will just drag you down. There's nothing worse than reading a post from a KU freshman calling for Bill Self's head. This is the same kind of fan that only remembers Final Four runs in '02 and '03 but somehow forgets games like Ball State, Hawaii, Arizona, Rhode Island and UTEP.2) Watch a Kansas State basketball game. That is, of course, if you can find it on television. Although listening on radio can be quite amusing as well. I get some sort of sick pleasure watching that team lose. I think it's my disdain for Bob Huggins or it could be those claw marks on the side of KSU's uniforms. Last week's game against California was especially cathartic. In one game, the Wildcats managed to lose by 30 points, have a player ejected from the game for throwing a punch and inserted a walk-on with an eight-inch, gold Mohawk into the game. That's more comedy than one of Michael Richards' stand-up specials.3) Do not, I repeat do not, watch the Kansas City Chiefs. That will only exacerbate the situation. Who the hell is Derek Anderson? And why can't Greg Wesley tackle him? Someone get Chris Wristen a helmet.4) Watch some other basketball games from around the country and you'll find reasons to be optimistic. Every team will have its losses against teams it shouldn't. The end-all-be-all of college basketball, the Florida Gators, lost to Florida State Sunday night. It happens5) Start cheering for Wichita State. The Shockers are playing good teams on the road and are coming out with wins. Plus, Mark Turgeon is a KU guy and it's nice to see him paving his own way in Wichita. 6) Take a drive by Allen Fieldhouse. It is the absolute best place in the country to watch a basketball game. Or better yet, go online and buy some tickets. There seem to be a lot of seats where the students used to sit. Their loss is your gain.7) Remember the Eric Chenowith years. I was blessed to attend KU during his tenure of dominating post play that resulted in three consecutive second round losses and a loss in the Sweet 16 in '01. He didn't score a point in his final game as a Jayhawk, Cheno always brought it strong.8) Take a life lesson from the 'Hawks. Try using the "we weren't focused" excuse in your everyday life. Apparently it works wonders with the KU basketball team when it comes to explaining head-scratching losses to inferior opponents, so no doubt it will work for you too. Forget to turn the stove off? Just blame it on not being focused. Late for work? Obviously, you're just not focused. Forget to pick up your in-laws from the airport? Tap into that "not focused" excuse once again. It's in unlimited supply. You can use it no matter what the situation, whether it be a loss to Oral Roberts or an unpaid parking ticket. (credit former University Daily Kansan superstar Shawn Hutchinson)9) Finally, have a short memory. Don't worry about Oral Roberts or DePaul. Put on your Rock Chalk Jayhawk T-shirt and get ready for the next game. These guys always play better after a loss
Comments
Q_Snyder (anonymous) says...
Nice blog Hunter, but you forgot about me.
December 5, 2006 at 8:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cwrist (Chris Wristen) says...
KU fans also can take comfort in knowing that at one time Oklahoma's Eduardo Najera feared Lester Earl because Lester said so. Definitely one of the most laughable moments from my time covering KU basketball.
December 5, 2006 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
myhawkisyourhawk (anonymous) says...
Chen didn't need to put points up, he had a back up career in brain wizardry off the court.
December 5, 2006 at 1:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )