2.14.2007

At Least Somebody Will Be Wearing Red

Tonight, it's a night for lovers. And truly there is no love like that between the Purdue and Indiana basketball teams. It's not quite Keady vs. Knight, but this game still matters, but mostly just inside the state. There are, however, some important implications for both. First, for me personally, I have decided that Kelvin Sampson is a douche and should be given a beatdown every time possible. Way to go with those recruiting violations, K-man. Nice to see the four top 100 recruits from Indiana going to play for Matt Painter next year, isn't it? Second, and probably more importantly, the Boilers really need a few more wins if they want to have a shot at an NCAA appearance. With five games left on the schedule they need to win four to get to the magic 20 win mark before the Big Ten tourney. Every game after this one is winnable, but this team plays road games like they're all on vicodin so I'm not going to count on anything.

The truth of the matter is I really want to hate IU. They should be Purdue's biggest rival, but I can't say a bad thing about anybody I know who went there or Bloomington which is generally a really cool town. I can't even hate them for wearing red due to my baseball and EPL allegiances. I do hate the bookstore for selling warm-up pants for $145. Yeah, that's a thought. Screw them! Maybe tonight we can tell the whole Purdue team that the IU players slept with all their girlfriends. Drama! And on Valentines Day no less. This may be a day of love, but come on, let's build up some real animosity in this rivalry. It deserves it. Screw you opposing large in-state rival!

(Update: well, I started this post before I found out the game had been moved to tomorrow. Oh well, fuck it. I'm posting anyway)

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think as long as Sampson is coaching IU their biggest rival is going to be Illinois. Sampson stole their top recruit this year after he verbally committed to U of I. And all the Illinois fans here in Chicago (which there are tons) absolutely hate Sampson for it.

The local papers have been accusing him for months of paying players and other recruiting violations. Its all sour grapes I say! But its even funnier b/c their football coach, Zook, has been accused of this recently too and the Chicago papers seem content in ignoring it when its their team.

But anyways, bring up Sampson to the next Illinois fan you run into. Hes loved dearly. I kind of enjoy Sampson now for this reason. Because Illini fans for some reason remind me of Cubs fans. So yeah, Im with you in struggling to hate IU this year. Knight made it so much easier.

Silly Cymberlin said...

haha... I enjoyed reading this...

I must point out that as Bob mentioned, Sampson landed Eric Gordon (and I think he wanted to pick IU... but didn't want to go because he was afraid Mike Davis would be gone after one season... but Mike was gone sooner than expected)... and he is one of the top 5 recruits in all of the country... and he attends Indianapolis' North Central HS... so I don't think Painter landed the better recruits... but uhhh.. whatever.. I hate getting into all that... and I could be wrong...

oh man... I hope its a really fun game tomorrow night.... and I hope the rivalry can get back to the same intensity it had when I was young and Chad Austin was nailing last second 3pointers to steal games for the Boilers...

I hope Purdue makes a nice run and can emerge as a possible tournament team.... and then David Teague can show what true senior leadership is...

all of that being said...

IU 65 Purdue 57

HOOOOOOOOOOOOsiers

Ross McLochness said...

It's great to watch IU fans try to figure out if it's OK to love or hate Sampson. It's like the first time you heard "Since You Been Gone" and loved it then faked hating it when you found out it was Kelly Clarkson.

Some IU fans still think a 3-chucking messiah will lope out of Morgan County and resurrect the legend of Branch McCracken. Until then they'll hate Sampson every time they lose and tout him with each win.

The true test will come with the 2010 US Census. Will Kelvin unseat Peyton as the name du jour?

Silly Cymberlin said...

well... not all IU fans are the same obviously...

I've always hated Bobby Knight.

I loved Mike Davis.

I didn't really care for Sampson at OK but I'm enjoying how he has run this team so far...

and fuck yeah IU fans are judging him by whether he wins or loses...

Gage said...

You know Bob, I never in my life met an U of I fan until I got west of kentucky. I barely even knew the school existed. Just off the radar here I guess.
Man, I wish the game were on tv here tonight.

Anonymous said...

Ooh the game's not on in Kentucky eh? Do I smell a gamecast diary? Yes!

Gage said...

Your enthusiasm is appreciated, but sadly I've designated tonight as the night to begin my journey to get a life. Either that or I don't feel like it.

Anonymous said...

I see your laziness has not diminished since college. I still rememeber the half-assed high fives from recliner to coach after a zinger was made about Brian's mom.

BTW, clean your god damn dishes!!!

Silly Cymberlin said...

I tip my hat to Carl and David...

and the boilers...

I think a lot of the young guys on Purdue look really improved... I've only seen them playh about 5 times this year... but... if the recruiting class is as good as they say... I'm excited for Purdue's future...

fucking hoosiers let me down...

I hate Coach Sampson... ha..

anyway... tip o thee hat to thee