It was well before we lived in Memphis, home of the Tigers. Before our 1994-96 time in Tulsa when Tubby Smith used to wander through the KJRH newsroom on his way to lengthy interview segments with Al Jerkins. Before we lived in Miami, home of the Miami Hurricanes (1990-94). Even before the Nevada Wolfpack, back when Sonny Allen's miraculous journey to the NCAA tournaments in 1984 and 1985.
(Round one of the '84 game was played at Washington State and I convinced my then-News Director Ed Pearce to let me take a camera on the team plane for highlights. Incredibly, for that appearance, I took Carly, then aged 2, and we stayed with my grandparents in Pullman. There's more to this story and I will collaborate with my friend Patricia Clemm-McCrae to make sure my memories are...clear. Fodder for another blog...)
Now I live in Kansas City. A basketball-crazy town. An area divided by its love for the (Missouri) Tigers, the K-State Wildcats but especially, most especially "Rock chalk... Jay-Hawk... KU!"
My loyalty to the Memphis Tigers has been strained. First by my move to Syracuse where THERE'S NOTHING ELSE BUT TONS OF SNOW AND COLLEGE BASKETBALL. John and I saw a handful of games at the Carrier Dome (which should be air conditioned, by the way, but it's not). We were in The 'Cuse when Memphis lost to Kansas in the championship game. That's still painful because Chalmers never should have been allowed to shoot that shot.
When we moved to Baltimore, we tried to become Maryland fans but it just didn't happen.
Then last spring, the debacle of Calipari, Memphis and Kentucky. It was a week of Ugly. I hated seeing my former hometown folks grovel. (shudder)
And then the allegations of who took what test and where and when and the games vacated and it all boiled down to shame. I'm far away from Memphis now and don't know who knew what and when but dammit, the city didn't need that black eye. And yes, I think RC should go. Whatever.
I now live in nirvana for a college basketball fan. Kansas City MO!
So far here in KC, I've met Frank Martin and Mike Anderson. They both came by the station, submitting to the great Jack Harry. Bill Self still eludes me but it will happen.
I love this town!
