UK vs WKU

So it has already started, the hateful messages, the rants, the "don't you dare wear blue tomorrow" statuses and posts.  For those who don't live in Kentucky and who don't have a tv I will fill you in on what will be a great day in the Bluegrass State.  Western Kentucky had one of the greatest comebacks in NCAA tourny history that has propelled them to meet the #1 seed Kentucky in Louisville for round 2 tomorrow.  Though I did not watch the game, after seeing highlights and hearing people talk about it I must say I am very proud of the Hilltoppers.  The program has not had one of the best seasons, but boy did they finish the season strong.  For the players I know it is something they will cherish forever, as well as for the fans and the school.  It has been a trying year to say the least for the team, and it is so amazing the resilience they have shown surrounding everything that has happened.  Now, I guess I will join those who have something to say about the game tomorrow.  I debated saying anything at all, because lets face it, people are just plain mean and it seems that if they don't agree with what you are saying they turn bitchy rude, arrogant, disgusting, hateful, and seem to forget that we do have an Amendment that circles around "Freedom of Speech."  I let you have yours, so you let me have mine...Deal :)


For those who know me, I am all about my Kentucky Wildcats.  I was def one of those who was "born blue."  When I think back on my childhood I am flooded with so many memories of UK.  Listening to the announcers on the radio, since we didn't have cable, watching my Dad go CRAZY when the games were close, sharing a basketball passion with my Dad, wearing UK stuff everywhere, and feeling a sense of pride when people ask me who I'm a fan of...and I say "UK"....duh ;)  It was never forced on me to cheer for UK, though I bet my Dad wouldn't have liked it very much hehe, but i CHOOSE to cheer for them.  The tradition was amazing, the overwhelming support they received from fans was astounding, and UK basketball is just something so special.  I will forever be a Wildcat!


This leads me to explain to people who state "Well if you love UK so much why didn't you go to school there?" And here is my response...I was accepted to both WKU and UK.  And was actually accepted to UK first, but after visiting the SCHOOL, not the athletics, I decided that I was better fit for WKU.  The campus was small and intimate, but still big enough that it didn't feel like high school.  It was only an hour and 15 mins from home instead of 3 hours, and I most importantly I wanted to be a student not a number.  It was definitely  hard to not go to a school that held my passion since I was born, but like I said I wasn't going to school to just attend basketball games, I was going to school to earn a degree to propel me into my adult life.  People have so many discussions about athletics and college that they seem to forget that it's an INSTITUTION.  An institution that has given me a great degree, and job I love, amazing college memories, the best friends I could have ever asked for, and led me to meet the man of my dreams.  BUT does that mean that I HAVE to cheer for them in every single sporting event..I think not.  Is it the 1920's where I'm endowed to them..I think not.   I thought we were in the year 2012 and I could cheer for whoever I want.  I love how I see so many statuses bashing people for cheering against WKU and cheering for UK, when I know if it was their favorite team such as Louisville, UNC, Tennessee, or Indiana they would be doing the same thing.  You would think being a UK fan in the state of Kentucky would be easy, but boy is that wrong.  Why can't people just accept that there are people who live in KENTUCKY who love to cheer for KENTUCKY.  I don't bash people for cheering for Louisville or Murray or WKU, so don't bash me for cheering for my team.   


Sooooo, tomorrow I will be wishing the Hilltoppers all the best, but I will be cheering for the boys in Blue.  If you don't like it, fine.  I understand and hopefully you will understand my reasoning.  We must all remember it's just a game, it's just basketball, it's just another day in our lives.  There are def more important things to rant about, not a college basketball game.  Don't let this game take over you, or turn you  into someone you aren't; into a person who slams someone because of a team they root for for 2 hours.  Let us all be excited that basketball in Kentucky is back and better than ever.  Let us cheer for our state and how amazing it truly is.  Let us all try to come together to enjoy a sport that is so special, a sport that makes the month of March "MAD" :)

 Andrew and I at Big Blue Madness 2011-a night that brings all the crazy fans of Big Blue Nation together :)

  Sarah and I cheering on the CATS during the Final Four of 2011