Support Your Team, Chicago!
Hello? Chicago?
Do you realize that the number one team in college basketball is playing right outside your precious Chicagoland borders? It sure doesn’t seem like it.
Oh sure, the Sun Times will run a back page spread on the Illini opening conference play. And the Chicago Tribune has run an article about Vegas’ odds on the Illini staying undefeated. But it feels more like lip service than genuine excitement. Instead of “Holy crap this team is great!!” exuberance, we’ve got “Well, they’re number 1 so…” apathy.
I’ve heard nothing from anyone outside of the Illinois alumni base, who, of course, won’t shut up about it. Well, I take that back, my wife’s brother-n-law did one of those “Hey, Illini look good” off-handed Holiday comments. You know the one I’m talking about – where two dudes are together and you have to talk about something so inevitably its sports. Even that conversation turned towards the Bears, which it seems all of Chicago was talking about for Illinois’ first 16 victories. Yep, that’s right, the 5-11 Bears. Since the NFC was doing its best NBA Eastern Conference impersonation, the Bears were mathematically alive for the playoffs about 12 weeks longer than they deserved. (Insert your best Jim Mora “PLAYOFFS!!” here) Now that the Bears are officially done, Chicago has begun talking about baseball’s hot stove season, the resurgent Bulls (again, insert your best Jim Mora “PLAYOFFS!!” here) and the Bears upcoming draft pick.
I know, I know, Chicago is a pro sports town. For some reason, there is something inherently emasculating to Chicago folks about endearing themselves to college sports. It’s like the sports equivalent of your buddy ordering salad for dinner – you have to give him that “did you just pass up meat?” raised-eyebrow look.
Well, pick up your European handbags and slip on your man-capris, I’m declaring that it’s cool to like the Illini. Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t like them. I graduated from a rival Big Ten school; I’m entitled to hate them. But you other Chicago people, who have no such excuse, must embrace this team. It doesn’t happen like this very often in college hoops. Trust me.
Not only does Illinois have the number one team in the nation, it has a likeable team made up of primarily home-grown talent. It starts with Coach Bruce Weber, whose only fault is that he’s a Packers fan. Other than that, the scratchy-voiced leader of this team is never pompous despite his team’s dominance, yet never sells his team short. He’s an honest, hard-working guy that is reaping the rewards of many years on the job. On the court, Illinois starts four kids from within the state – Dee Brown, James Augustine, Luther Head and Roger Powell, Jr. Aside from Head, who had some off-the-court problems last year, each of them is a likeable kid. Brown lights up the court with his speed, acrobatics, and gigantic smile. He’s simply having fun out there. Augustine is like an oversized kid on Ritalin, bouncing off bodies like a super ball in a small room. Powell just sneaks up on you out of nowhere, kind of like his hometown of Joliet, Ill. The out-of-state starter, Deron Williams, is simply a pleasure to watch. He’s the consummate collegiate star who’s improved each year.
This isn’t a group of ipod-having, Escalade-dreaming, “gimme the damn ball” group of kids. In fact, I have a hard time envisioning any of these guys having lengthy successful NBA careers, aside from Williams. And I don’t think Williams will be Lebron-good on the next level, but solid. Nope, this is the kind of group that makes you think they call mom every Sunday. This is the kind of group that’s just damn happy to be playing college ball.
And man, can they play. Currently, the undefeated Illini are vanquishing opponents by an average margin of just under 19 points per game. This talk of an undefeated season isn’t a joke. It’s not like last season when St. Joe’s was undefeated and you could almost hear the broadcaster snicker when discussing the possibility of an undefeated season. With the Big Ten offering little in the way of competition (sorry Wisconsin and Michigan State fans), it is quite possible that the Illini run the table. And we all know the last team to do that was Bobby Knight’s 1976 Hoosier squad. Now there’s a bad memory. Wouldn’t it be nice to erase Knight from the conversation and insert this year’s Illini team?
Get behind this team Chicago. For unlike your bickering Chicago Cubs, you’re middling White Sox, your baby Bulls and your punch-less Bears – this is a team you’ll end up liking win or lose.
