Coach K a Real Devil?

The Indianapolis Star issued an apology to Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and Duke University for its poor judgement regarding an ill-advised attempt at both humor and truth.

In an article entitled "Despising Duke", the picture was part of a story on how Duke is the college hoops team that people love to hate. Problem is the story was on the front page of Friday's sports section. According to Jim Lefko, the senior sports editor for the Star, less than 30,000 copies of this pic were circulated. Lefko also states that a graphic designer made the decision on the pic.

The designer had the story, and thought it was a clever way to illustrate it,’’ he said. “But it was a concept that didn’t meet our standards … and we wish it didn’t make the papers [that it did].”

Coach K's take? You can guess.

"The first thing I thought [was], 'That can't be,' " Krzyzewski said. "How could a newspaper do that?

"It was kind of juvenile. Not kind of, it was just juvenile. You know, my seven grandkids didn't enjoy looking at it. 'That's not Poppy.' You know, it is what it is. It's very juvenile."

The comments that I've read are pretty much down the middle which actually proves the piece's point, you either love Duke or you hate them. A few comments have stated that Coach K needs a sense of humor and a few have said that the picture's publishing is totally classless even with the apology in tow.

I have stated my love of Duke basketball in a prior post and I make no apologies for such.

This does kind of tickle me, though. Even though it's not viewed as a form of flattery, it really is. Why else would one graphic designer go to such lengths? When the mere mention of your team invokes such feelings, you know you've accomplished some great things.

Sure, some take jabs at the Blue Devils for flopping and Coach K for whining, but I'm used to constantly hearing the hatred for Duke from my brother (a North Carolina fan), my oldest son (a Kentucky fan) and others who are mostly either Tar Heel supporters or UK fanatics as well. It doesn't bother me, but I know of other Duke fans who truly morph into rabid dogs when such insults exist.

And they will continue as long as Duke is deemed relevant in college basketball.

Still, I find it amazing what one graphic designer can do with too much time on his hands...and a felt tip marker.

Such talent.

Tempering my enthusiasm

I should be calling my brother today. I should be gloating. I'm not.

Rivalries run deep in all sports. You see, my brother is a North Carolina fan. I'm for Duke. We all know Duke took down the Tar Heels last night, 64-54. North Carolina stayed with the Blue Devils for the majority of the game, but in the end, Duke prevailed.

While I should be elated with the victory, that elation is a bit tempered. It should be. This season's version of North Carolina we're witnessing is not even close to last year's National Champs. This '09-'10 team is barely a shadow compared to last season's team.

The Tar Heels are the defending champs and they are wearing that dreaded target for more reasons that that. They are, after all, North Carolina. It's cliche' to say they'll get every team's best shot, but they do.

I'll admit, I was taken aback when the preseason rankings came out and North Carolina was deemed a top 10 team, top 5 in a few polls. But we all need to be realistic. All you have to do is look at this year's roster and compare it to last year's. Sure, all college teams undergo a roster flip due to varying reasons, but UNC's roster was devastated. The current "free fall" of the Tar Heels is so easily understandable.

Gone is the heart and soul of the Tar Heels for the past four years, Tyler Hansbrough. He was undoubtedly the team leader. That void is extremely tough to fill, and UNC head coach Roy Williams does not have any player currently playing that can halfway fill that void. Hansbrough was there last night at the Dean Dome as his #50 was retired.