When it was announced that Louisville would be playing its first two rounds at Rupp, I was actually very happy for them. They were looking at a potential second-round matchup with Texas A&M, a strong team that traded blows with the top of the Big 12. Having a nearly home-court advantage would help them continue a fantastic second half of the season.
I’ve always been of the belief that other schools in Kentucky should always be successful in basketball, so that we can all continuously proclaim that our state is the heart of Basketball. And as far as the Cardinals’ season of success is compared to the Wildcats’ season, allow me to direct your attention to the scoreboard.
Plus, I knew Cardinal fans would as giddy as a kid at Christmas to fill Rupp with red and black colors and “C-A-R-D-S CARDS!” chants. I expected the “Lessington” and “coRUPPt Arena” digs from Mike the Chronicler and other Ville fans. I expected the few Big Blue fans who snagged tickets to look around a Cardinals Red Rupp and smile nervously, shaking their head at how unbelievely RED our Big Blue House had turned.
So I entered Rupp today with a smile; today was a Louisville day and I was hoping that our brothers in backcourts would enjoy the experience. Arriving at my seat right before the last 20 minutes of a Cardinals Buzzsaw cutting through the Cardinal Redwood, I was happy. Even when I was told that Pitino’s Birdies rattled off a first half that hearkened to the Big Blue Pitino days of lore, I was happy for the Cardinals fanbase and not jeolous. I wanted Louisville have their moment in the bright lights at Rupp; and enjoy it with them, not as a rival but as a fellow fan of basketball in this great Basketball state.
But then Hefty Lefty, my blogger-in-arms who had witnessed the pre-game and first half activities, told me a terrible truth. “They showed Laettner’s Shot on the screens. You know. Laettner’s Shot. And the Louisville fans gave a standing ovation.”
Little Brother, that’s crossing the line.
Of course, rooting for the struggling Lopez brothers and their teammates was hopeless. So we sat there, stewing in a burgoo peppered with angst. The Cardinals continued to fly high in Pitino’s old den, and as they left the court, I was not relieved.
Cardinals fans, I hope you enjoy your next game in our wonderful arena as the home team. Remember that Rupp Arena and its honored place in basketball history, is not yours, nor will it ever be yours. Also, forgive me for rooting that the Law IV will drop 25 on you to sour your Sweet 16 dreams.
For a great breakdown of the Kentucky & Louisville rivalry, check out BigBlueHistory.net’s article.
March 16th, 2007 at 7:19 am
Does anybody else remember the good ol’ days at rupp….. a “real” basketball coach directs his team to a 30+ point lead, then holds it for nearly 20 game minutes, inserts the scrubs and leaves with a 20 point “W”? Those were the days, too bad we don’t get to experience that……. well……. EVER!
March 16th, 2007 at 8:34 am
wow showing the Lattener shot and having the Looserville fans cheer for it is pretty disrespectful. Maybe one year UK can play at Freedom Hall and they can show the Patrick Sparks shot over and over again or maybe just show the whole game of Illinois Stomping their ass all over the Indianapolis floor in the Final Four
March 16th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Do you all know Louisville has as many championships in the past 3 decades as kentucky, an that is 2. An you call yourselves a powerhouse…
Were painting rupp red suckas
Oh an stephen when was the last time you all reached the final 4..uh huh thought so.
March 16th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Do you know that Louisville has been to the NIT more in the last five years than Kentucky has in the last 30? Congratulations.
March 16th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
TruCard,
When was the last time you reached the NIT. uh huh thought so.
March 16th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
1977-2007 thats 3 decades if I am correct. 1978-1996-1998 thats three. What kind of math do they teach in Loserville?
March 16th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Watch it this may turn into a racial conflict. I noticed your ebonics truCard.
sucka.
louisville kills stanford and now they’re all cocky.
so i see how it is. its just like when they beat UK like once in a decade they think they’re bad. And I dont care how many times you really beat us in a decade, im just saying.
Florida is more of a rival to us than Louisville is anymore. We’re supposed to be having an off year, yet we beat Louisville. Oh, yea, I forgot….tons of unjuries. Thats not part of the game or anything.
March 16th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Florida is more of a rival than Louisville? Haven’t you all lost like six straight to us? Give me a break. The O-fers are the bitches of the ’04s.
March 16th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
tru cards fan I belwive that we reached the championship game 3 years in a row and only lost ot Arizona b/c we didn’t have Anderson. And I beleive that in doing so that is more championship games then the looserville has wver reached in their history. So before you comment again I think that you need to take your 1st round win against Stanford and shut the Fu– up.
March 16th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
oh and by the way if reaching the NIT is acceptable in Pitino’s Looserville fans eyes then you can keep our leftovers
March 19th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Can’t we all just get along??? Lets just agree that Tubby needs to leave and Rick will than throw his name in the hat for Tubby’s job.
Maybe if he agrees to crawl to Lexington from Louisville, UK MAY take him back???
March 19th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Thats funny you still want Louisville’s coach back? After he left his team for the rivals? What a dumb ass Kentucky fan. I was at Rupp, but i don’t remember seeing the Laettner shot on the screens and everyone cheering. I think you made thaup, just to have an article or somthing to bitch at louisville fans about. but i would have cheered if i did. Uk fans should look around Rupp next time they are there, i left some red all over that building. And when i went to the bathroom i made sure i missed, just for you guys. Don’t envy our success because yours was when you were little, and now you can’t remember. I remember the last final four i went to, and not by pictures, but from memory you trailer park UK fags.
March 21st, 2007 at 10:38 am
Some clarifications. UL went to the final four in 2005 in St. Louis not Indy. UK got their buts beat my Michigan State that year.
UL will finish this season ranked higher than UK and start next season ranked higher than UK. Same thing will occur in football.
GO CARDS!
November 12th, 2008 at 9:38 am
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