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From the sidelines

The KU basketball fan and the K-State football fan: More alike then they would ever admit. Everyone who falls into those two categories knows who they are.

They choose to root only for the sport their team excels in, and some even claim to be a fan of both Wildcat football and Jayhawk basketball. Pure Sunflower state blasphemy.

They come up with all the excuses.

"When I was eight and first got into basketball I watched Larry Brown and Danny Manning take the Jayhawks all the way and I've stuck with them ever since."

Wow, you've "stuck" with a team that has gone 442-110 since then, with four final four appearances and nine conference championships. Tough gig.

And then there is this excuse. "I was a K-State football fan even before Bill Snyder turned them around."

Sure you were, you just didn't have the K-State football flag, screen saver, license plate, foam finger, checks, paper weight, comforter, window decal, and tattoo.

With KU's football team showing minor progress over the past two years some fans have come out of the woodwork. With the team's loss Oct. 30 at Iowa State however, those fans ripped off their cleats and laced up their Chuck Taylors quicker than Roy Williams left for North Carolina. (OK it took him three years but I'm still bitter.)

The point is no matter how many people complain about loyalty to all sports, it's easier to root for a winner. And yes, despite the earlier criticism, I am one of those fans. In fact we are all one of those fans. The reason: nature.

People don't want to root for a loser. There are KU fans who like the football team more than the basketball team, but only because they don't like basketball. No one who likes both sports is more of a football fan than basketball, and vice versa at K-State.

Of course I want to see the football team do well. But why should I have wasted time cheering for the football team while I was at KU? It got old buying a ticket, and having nothing to cheer about after the eight-minute mark of the first quarter.

Why should K-State fans care about the basketball team? The most exciting thing to happen at a Wildcat basketball game last year was watching a dog catch frisbees in his mouth during a half time show.

Again, it comes down to the fact people don't want to root for a loser.

So, I'll admit it. After the Iowa State loss I ran and checked the Jayhawk's basketball schedule. November 19. The day I can start counting on a winner.

I still call myself a KU sports fan no matter what. I was excited for the women's volleyball team but started to lose interest after its unexpected bad start. It's not like that is unusual. Just ask Missouri Tiger football fans.

Everyone likes a winner. We all want our entire school to do well, it's just easier to wear the winners on our sleeves.

CONTACT: If you have a news tip, question, or comment, call Sportswriter Mike Norris, 382-2165, or e-mail sports@marionrecord.com

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