Hey Redbird fans. I wanted to let you know that we really missed going to St Louis for Arch Madness this March. After 18 consecutive years of going, it was tough not being there. In our early days of going, we were in the play-in games quite often and sometimes lost that game. However, we would stay for the entire tournament and attend every game to see some outstanding basketball and enjoy the atmosphere. Quite often, we would sit with Redbird fans and cheer for the Redbirds. Later, we finally became a factor and we were able to watch our Shockers longer.
To be honest, we likely would not have been at Arch Madness this year even if the Shockers were still in the Valley. Since last August, I’ve had 3 Bladder Cancer surgeries, the last one removing my bladder and prostate. Also, a month before the 2017 Arch Madness, my wife had some knee repair surgery and had a tough time maneuvering around Scottrade Center. Since then, both of her knees have gotten worse that it would have been for too much to do all the walking and climbing up and down steps. Finally, two and a half weeks ago she had her left knee replaced and when it is rehabbed, she needs the other replaced as well.
Back to basketball. Along with always going to St Louis, we were also able for a few years manage to take some trips to games around the Valley. Unfortunately, we made only one trip to Normal for a game. Wow, what great time we had. We saw a great game and enjoyed the Redbird fans. We had some enjoyable conversations with fans, as we had always done in St Louis. The only issue was some fans who did not appreciate the Shocker fan’s tradition of “Stand for Defense” where we would stand and clap at the start of each half until the opponent has made a field goal. One gentleman behind us hollered at us to sit down. My wife told him that all it would take is for his team to score a field goal. Oh well, all fans have different traditions I imagine.
For many years, it seemed that Shocker and Redbird fans got along extremely well. I guess this was before the Shockers began to dominate and while Creighton was the villain. It seems that we remained on at least decent terms until the Jackie Carmichael / Tekele Cotton game. Nevertheless, even after the message board fans turned on each other, we still had good times with Redbird fans in St Louis and when we visited Normal. I guess bitter rivalries are part of the game, but I’m not really into that.
We were naturally Shocker fans first, but Valley fans second. We always pulled for Valley teams during the non-conference season as well as in all the post season tournaments. We watched Valley teams as often as possible on television.
Third, we were fans of our other Kansas teams, but would always support a Valley team over KU or Kansas State. Nobody jumped and cheered more than I when UNI’s Ali Farokhmanesh hit his famous 3 pointer to beat KU in the NCAA.
We wish you well and maybe if our health ever comes back, we will be able to make another run to Arch Madness.
To be honest, we likely would not have been at Arch Madness this year even if the Shockers were still in the Valley. Since last August, I’ve had 3 Bladder Cancer surgeries, the last one removing my bladder and prostate. Also, a month before the 2017 Arch Madness, my wife had some knee repair surgery and had a tough time maneuvering around Scottrade Center. Since then, both of her knees have gotten worse that it would have been for too much to do all the walking and climbing up and down steps. Finally, two and a half weeks ago she had her left knee replaced and when it is rehabbed, she needs the other replaced as well.
Back to basketball. Along with always going to St Louis, we were also able for a few years manage to take some trips to games around the Valley. Unfortunately, we made only one trip to Normal for a game. Wow, what great time we had. We saw a great game and enjoyed the Redbird fans. We had some enjoyable conversations with fans, as we had always done in St Louis. The only issue was some fans who did not appreciate the Shocker fan’s tradition of “Stand for Defense” where we would stand and clap at the start of each half until the opponent has made a field goal. One gentleman behind us hollered at us to sit down. My wife told him that all it would take is for his team to score a field goal. Oh well, all fans have different traditions I imagine.
For many years, it seemed that Shocker and Redbird fans got along extremely well. I guess this was before the Shockers began to dominate and while Creighton was the villain. It seems that we remained on at least decent terms until the Jackie Carmichael / Tekele Cotton game. Nevertheless, even after the message board fans turned on each other, we still had good times with Redbird fans in St Louis and when we visited Normal. I guess bitter rivalries are part of the game, but I’m not really into that.
We were naturally Shocker fans first, but Valley fans second. We always pulled for Valley teams during the non-conference season as well as in all the post season tournaments. We watched Valley teams as often as possible on television.
Third, we were fans of our other Kansas teams, but would always support a Valley team over KU or Kansas State. Nobody jumped and cheered more than I when UNI’s Ali Farokhmanesh hit his famous 3 pointer to beat KU in the NCAA.
We wish you well and maybe if our health ever comes back, we will be able to make another run to Arch Madness.