There is no place in sports for sportsmanship

Last week, the University of Chief Illiniwek basketball team hosted the hated rival Indiana Hoosiers. The underlying story line was that there was a kid for Indiana, Eric Gordon, that, in the minds of Illiniwek fans, reneged on his commitment to play for the Illiniweks and ran off to Hoosierville. Thus, at this meeting in Champaign, a portion of the crowd shouted obscenities at young Master Gordon, and his coach Kelvin Sampson, laced with F-bombs.

Classy, folks. Real classy.

I can appreciate that Illiniwek fans could feel “betrayed” by this kid changing his mind, and “sabotaged” by Sampson who supposedly “stole” the hottest prospect the Illiniweks have seen in years right out from under them. I can somehow appreciate that, even though it has absolutely NO effect on said fans’ lives whatsoever. But good gravy, people–get over it. So the kid went to play for the arch-rival Hoosiers. So what? Is it THAT big a deal that you need to embarrass yourselves, the school you supposedly support, and the entire state of Illinois by screaming “Fuck You Gordon” every time the kid touched the ball? Whether it was right or wrong for him to renege on the commitment, whether it was right or wrong for Coach Sampson to “steal” him away, or whether either actually happened the way you choose to believe it did (or at all) is no longer the issue. The issue is now what a bunch of freakin’ derelicts the country views Illiniwek fans- and Illinois residents in general- to be, by your shouting obscenities at a 20-year-old kid because you can’t let go of something that has nothing to do with you in the first place.

Here’s an idea: instead of being pissed off at Gordon for changing his mind (and Sampson for “stealing” him), why not be pissed off at the Illiniwek basketball team (and your do-no-wrong hero, Coach Weber) for wallowing in mediocrity this season, and being unable to hit water by falling out of a boat, let alone their field goals or free throws? Or better yet, how about simply growing a little bit of maturity, decency, common sense, and sportsmanship, and just watch the game?

Support your team all you want. Scream until your larynx bleeds. Paint your balls orange and blue. Dress up like the Chief and try not to get escorted out of the Assembly Hall for three hours. Just don’t make me, as a resident of Illinois, look like a heathen because you’re an idiot with no toe hold on reality.

Dumb asses.