February 9, 2010
receive all praises thine
2/9/10
There's no rational reason for me to be going. Flights have been canceled up and down the eastern seaboard, and there's a wind advisory for both CLT and RDU. My brother Sean was going to come with me, but our flights from New York were shitcanned, and now I'm going by myself, straight from California.
I'm mildly depressed, my brain is not settled, our team couldn't be playing worse, and I'm on the downside of an illness brought home by my 4-year-old. Why do I do this?
Because it is what I do, and no matter the circumstances, if I can walk, I can be in North Carolina for the home Dook game. This is my 25th in a row. That is a quarter-century, for those of you who like more flourish, a game I first attended as an acne-bedazzled zork of 18 years old in January 1986 with my future brother-in-law Jon Vaden and my still-wonderful-friend Kendall Crosswell.
You have to have some rituals in life, and when times are the leanest, that's when it's most important. I will keep doing this every year I can, and maybe soon I will be joined by like-minded souls when they get old enough.
Until then, I will be at the exit near the flagpole entrance at halftime, and would love to see any of you there.
Lucy watches Tyler being introduced at last February's dook game
If the game is going badly, just focus on the national championship banners and remember that years like this are the price we pay to witness greatness.
How long will you be in town? My hubby got tickets to the Celebration of a Century and the State game Friday and Saturday. We fly in tomorrow (Thursday).
Did you see that they ran "Why I hate dook" on-line yesterday?
We are also heading up tonight for the game, knowing it could be painful. But, we only have a 2 hour drive. Bright side, is they are retiring Tyler's jersey at halftime.
I famously called in all my chips for a ticket to witness Danny's and Tyler's last home game. It was worth missing tonight's game to be there last Spring for that game. Hate I'll miss it, though. I'll be doing my part down in Cold-lanta at the Hudson Grille. Bring us home a victory, Ian. I think our guys have it in them. They know how to beat dook.
Bring some good karma to the Dean Dome!!!
Your journey makes perfect sense to me. Enjoy, and may the Tar Heels win!
I'm 26 today, and I can think of no better birthday present than a Carolina win tonight. GO HEELS!
Oh and SLS - they're running the sequel, "Why I Still Hate Duke" today. :)
http://www.dailytarheel.com/content/column-why-i-still-hate-duke
I still have my (slightly) tattered paper copies of both columns taped to my fridge.
@GFWD - "famously called in all my chips"?
That's kind of like those throbbing-head-in-the-toilet deals you make with God, "If you just get me through this I promise I will never drink again."
Nobody actually expects this to be true...
I must admit....I probably won't/can't watch. My blood boils when I see Singler pulling jerseys and Plumbob 1 and 2 cherry picking and hacking everyone in sight.
For some reason, my anxiety and hatred of everything Dook gets worse and worse as the years pass. It shouldn't be this way but it is.
My neighbor is a Wal-Mart Dook fan. Everytime he says something snarky, I respond with "did you actually go to Dook?". Of course he didn't but I am forced to endure his brainwashed 7 year old wearing a recycled Reddick jersey spewing Dook bile like it is his birthright.
Screw Dook. I hope Singler breaks his leg and Scheyer breaks his arm while trying to arm bar the nearest defender. I hope Rat bastard's back goes out and the Dook bus plummets over a really high cliff. I hope Cameron burns down with all the dumbass dookies in it.
I know I am a hater but I refuse to seek help. Sorry
You are my hero, Ian!
From last night's Jeopardy:
Alex Trebek: "Coach K knows all about this 2005 Johnny Knoxville movie."
A girl buzzed in with "What is 'Jackass'?"
She didn't get credit for her guess, but I think I'll send her the $400 for the best answer I've seen on Jeopardy in a long time.
Ian, Get the DTH to clean up their typos in Why I Hate Duke. They must have carelessly typed your original column. Great article, but misspellings (collegge, squadering) only give those darn dookies ammunition.
http://www.dailytarheel.com/content/why-i-hate-duke
Kate, that link is classic.
Have fun in Chapel Hill, Ian!
What Schultz said.
And I nominate the Jeopardy girl from Dartmouth to be awarded an honorary D.Litt. in Chapel Hill on Mother's Day!
Here's a better quality version of the Jeopardy question - it is an instant classic.
I'll be there tonight too. Go Heels!
I've heard Hansbrough will be there for his jersey retirement ceremony. Hopefully he's a good luck charm for us and we get the W.
I'll be there via the Tar Heel sports network.
GO HEELS!
oh, and Kate wins again with two great links (also thought your joke was the funniest a couple days back).
Sending good wishes from down the road. Stay warm and don't blow away. Will be snug in bed early on but tomorrow?? I'm free all day!
Sorry that tonight was not our night. We will have another try in Cameron in a few weeks. Was bittersweet to see T Hans there again tonight. Keep the faith.
Terrible news about Ed Davis. I'm starting to think we should take the years after national titles off.