JoPo reads the planet.

SPchief · 03-30-2007, 02:21 AM

Other than random occurances, this is a decent article.

JOE POSNANSKI COMMENTARY
COMMENTARY
OH, WOE, YOU NORTHWESTERN
One of my favorite kinds of sports argument is when you get two fans arguing about which one has suffered more.

I used to regularly have this kind of argument with my friend Robert, a New York Mets fan, back in the days when Cleveland and New York both had terrible baseball. He would mention the Tom Seaver trade; I would mention 10-cent beer night. He would complain about Wayne Twitchell, I would complain about Paul Reuschel. It was a good fight.

Then, the Mets won the 1986 World Series, ruining those arguments forever. In some twisted way, I think Robert was sad that I had won the argument.

It seems clear to me that Kansas City area sports fans can hold their own with anyone in America when it comes to suffering. Let’s go back just 15 years. Zero championships, of course. Zero Super Bowls. Zero baseball playoffs. The Chiefs have three times had home-advantage in the playoffs and lost. The Royals have been awful. Kansas has probably had more great basketball teams than any other school in America over that time, and they have not won the title. Kansas State football lost with the national championship game in sight.

Missouri. Fifth down. Tyus Edney. Nebraska kick.

It seems to me that Kansas City fans as a whole have suffered more than any other collection of fans. Of course, some would argue that point. Cincinnati fans have suffered a lot, too, over those 15 years. Cleveland fans lost a football team. Houston fans lost a football team and Reggie Bush. Minneapolis has been close and lost, which hurts. Washington waited forever and got this baseball team, which can’t feel too good.

The point is that the “most tormented sports city in America” argument is wide open. But one sports argument is closed. As we get ready for the Final Four to begin, there is absolutely no doubt which college has the worst college basketball tradition.

Are you ready for this? Northwestern has never been to the NCAA Tournament.

Now, maybe you already knew this. This seems like something everyone should know. But I have to admit that until last week in San Jose, I had no idea. I was talking to some sportswriters who went to Northwestern — about 83.2 percent of all sportswriters went to Northwestern — and one of them, the estimable San Jose columnist Mark Purdy, just happened to say something like: “Well, no matter what happens to Kansas, at least they have been to the tournament, unlike my alma mater, Northwestern.”

Understand, he said this very much in passing, the way you might say, “Hey, did you know that the director’s cut for ‘The Natural’ is coming out Tuesday?” Later, other sportswriters who attended Northwestern — including the Washington Post’s Mike Wilbon — made similarly carefree comments about Northwestern having never been to the tournament. They said it as if it were just some everyday thing.

Well, it’s no everyday thing. This has to be the single-most amazing streak going in sports today. Northwestern, a major university in a major conference, a respected institution with more than 18,000 students and a long history, a school that gave us Nobel prize winners in chemistry, medicine and literature, the school that gave us Jerry Springer for crying out loud, has never been to the NCAA Tournament.

It’s impossible. But it’s true.

Understand, there have been 297 teams that have made the NCAA Tournament. Northwestern hasn’t made it. There have been 12 teams with “North” in their name, and four more with “Western.” Northwestern hasn’t made it.

There have been four Wildcats to make the tournament — Kansas State, Davidson, Arizona and Kentucky. No Northwestern Wildcats. There have been Jumbos, Zips and Matadors in the tournament; there have been Matadors, Chanticleers and two different Dukes, not to mention the actual school called Duke. No Northwestern.

Toothpaste has made it — Colgate. A coffee cake has made it — Drake. Seven different Saints have made the tournament — from Bonaventure to Peter. There have been hotel chains in the tournament (Fairfield, Hampton) and an eye chart (IUPUI). Holy Cross and Trinity have made it. Three different Loyolas have made it.

And Northwestern has not. For fun, I looked up the Big Ten team that has the second-fewest appearances in the tournament. That would be Penn State. With eight appearances.

Well, I’m amazed. Here was one interesting thing: All the Northwestern sportswriters, without prodding or any apparent communication among them, individually pointed out that Northwestern did play host to the very first Final Four in 1939. They each said this with an odd mix of resignation and pride. It must be tough when you have no one to argue with.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**007** · 03-30-2007, 02:29 AM

INteresting. Interesting indeed.

chagrin · 03-30-2007, 05:36 AM

I don't know, maybe it's because I don't live up there - that was one boring article

Redrum_69 · 03-30-2007, 07:29 AM

Until someone makes a reference to a Redrum_69 your mom post...then no one reads this god-forsaken forum

wilas101 · 03-30-2007, 07:44 AM

I don't get it. Were those phrases coined here or something or was he just trying to make us all feel better?

Kerberos · 03-30-2007, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilas101

I don't get it. Were those phrases coined here or something or was he just trying to make us all feel better?

I agree

I missed the part where it says he reads Chiefsplanet?

Maybe you have to be from KC to get it?

GoHuge · 03-30-2007, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rxrider

I agree

I missed the part where it says he reads Chiefsplanet?

Maybe you have to be from KC to get it?

I have lived here my entire life and that was over my head.

InChiefsHeaven · 03-30-2007, 08:12 AM

Yeah, explain the bolded statements...

ROYC75 · 03-30-2007, 08:33 AM

Oh, I get it, He didn't say which planet....... Patriots Planet ?

Dufuss Planet ?

Asshole Planet ?

Wile_E_Coyote · 03-30-2007, 09:51 AM

everything posted here is an orginal thought

~you can quote me on that

Mr. Laz · 03-30-2007, 09:51 AM

the most tormented sports city was in a thread here yesterday.

don't know about the director's cut thing

Kerberos · 03-30-2007, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

the most tormented sports city was in a thread here yesterday.

don't know about the director's cut thing

So basically the thread starter is ASSuming that everyone here reads every thread and should be able to see his ASSumptions made about JoPo?

Thanks for clearing this up for us LAZ

Mr. Laz · 03-30-2007, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rxrider

So basically the thread starter is ASSuming that everyone here reads every thread and should be able to see his ASSumptions made about JoPo?

Thanks for clearing this up for us LAZ

**Manila-Chief** · 03-30-2007, 11:15 AM

That's why I rarely read JoPo ... all those words and he doesn't have 1 meaningful thought in the article. Lots of folks here don't like Jason Whitlock but he most always has something ... either you agree with or you get mad at him.

stlchiefs · 03-30-2007, 11:36 AM

huh?

03-30-2007, 02:21 AM	Topic Starter
SPchief In Search of a Life Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $-1967095	JoPo reads the planet. Other than random occurances, this is a decent article. JOE POSNANSKI COMMENTARY COMMENTARY OH, WOE, YOU NORTHWESTERN One of my favorite kinds of sports argument is when you get two fans arguing about which one has suffered more. I used to regularly have this kind of argument with my friend Robert, a New York Mets fan, back in the days when Cleveland and New York both had terrible baseball. He would mention the Tom Seaver trade; I would mention 10-cent beer night. He would complain about Wayne Twitchell, I would complain about Paul Reuschel. It was a good fight. Then, the Mets won the 1986 World Series, ruining those arguments forever. In some twisted way, I think Robert was sad that I had won the argument. It seems clear to me that Kansas City area sports fans can hold their own with anyone in America when it comes to suffering. Let’s go back just 15 years. Zero championships, of course. Zero Super Bowls. Zero baseball playoffs. The Chiefs have three times had home-advantage in the playoffs and lost. The Royals have been awful. Kansas has probably had more great basketball teams than any other school in America over that time, and they have not won the title. Kansas State football lost with the national championship game in sight. Missouri. Fifth down. Tyus Edney. Nebraska kick. It seems to me that Kansas City fans as a whole have suffered more than any other collection of fans. Of course, some would argue that point. Cincinnati fans have suffered a lot, too, over those 15 years. Cleveland fans lost a football team. Houston fans lost a football team and Reggie Bush. Minneapolis has been close and lost, which hurts. Washington waited forever and got this baseball team, which can’t feel too good. The point is that the “most tormented sports city in America” argument is wide open. But one sports argument is closed. As we get ready for the Final Four to begin, there is absolutely no doubt which college has the worst college basketball tradition. Are you ready for this? Northwestern has never been to the NCAA Tournament. Now, maybe you already knew this. This seems like something everyone should know. But I have to admit that until last week in San Jose, I had no idea. I was talking to some sportswriters who went to Northwestern — about 83.2 percent of all sportswriters went to Northwestern — and one of them, the estimable San Jose columnist Mark Purdy, just happened to say something like: “Well, no matter what happens to Kansas, at least they have been to the tournament, unlike my alma mater, Northwestern.” Understand, he said this very much in passing, the way you might say, “Hey, did you know that the director’s cut for ‘The Natural’ is coming out Tuesday?” Later, other sportswriters who attended Northwestern — including the Washington Post’s Mike Wilbon — made similarly carefree comments about Northwestern having never been to the tournament. They said it as if it were just some everyday thing. Well, it’s no everyday thing. This has to be the single-most amazing streak going in sports today. Northwestern, a major university in a major conference, a respected institution with more than 18,000 students and a long history, a school that gave us Nobel prize winners in chemistry, medicine and literature, the school that gave us Jerry Springer for crying out loud, has never been to the NCAA Tournament. It’s impossible. But it’s true. Understand, there have been 297 teams that have made the NCAA Tournament. Northwestern hasn’t made it. There have been 12 teams with “North” in their name, and four more with “Western.” Northwestern hasn’t made it. There have been four Wildcats to make the tournament — Kansas State, Davidson, Arizona and Kentucky. No Northwestern Wildcats. There have been Jumbos, Zips and Matadors in the tournament; there have been Matadors, Chanticleers and two different Dukes, not to mention the actual school called Duke. No Northwestern. Toothpaste has made it — Colgate. A coffee cake has made it — Drake. Seven different Saints have made the tournament — from Bonaventure to Peter. There have been hotel chains in the tournament (Fairfield, Hampton) and an eye chart (IUPUI). Holy Cross and Trinity have made it. Three different Loyolas have made it. And Northwestern has not. For fun, I looked up the Big Ten team that has the second-fewest appearances in the tournament. That would be Penn State. With eight appearances. Well, I’m amazed. Here was one interesting thing: All the Northwestern sportswriters, without prodding or any apparent communication among them, individually pointed out that Northwestern did play host to the very first Final Four in 1939. They each said this with an odd mix of resignation and pride. It must be tough when you have no one to argue with. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posts: 36,223

03-30-2007, 02:29 AM	#2
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $12130126 VARSITY	INteresting. Interesting indeed. __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,738

03-30-2007, 05:36 AM	#3
chagrin Giggitty! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Missoula, Mt Casino cash: $9804905	I don't know, maybe it's because I don't live up there - that was one boring article __________________ Times have changed, so have I, things are better now.
Posts: 13,414

03-30-2007, 07:29 AM	#4
Redrum_69 Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: your nightmares Casino cash: $10004900	Until someone makes a reference to a Redrum_69 your mom post...then no one reads this god-forsaken forum
Posts: 6,358

03-30-2007, 07:44 AM	#5
wilas101 Starter Join Date: Mar 2005 Casino cash: $6189487	I don't get it. Were those phrases coined here or something or was he just trying to make us all feel better?
Posts: 778

03-30-2007, 08:12 AM	#8
InChiefsHeaven Rockin' yer FACE OFF! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Casino cash: $565437	Yeah, explain the bolded statements... __________________ We have a million reasons for failure, but not one excuse... Die Donks, DIE!! Holy Crap fellas!!! We did it!!! THREE TIMES!!!
Posts: 27,268

03-30-2007, 08:33 AM	#9
ROYC75 Time For Your Wake Up Call !!! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Barn Yard Casino cash: $2110400	Oh, I get it, He didn't say which planet....... Patriots Planet ? Dufuss Planet ? Asshole Planet ? __________________ Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it. John Lennon Last edited by ROYC75; 03-30-2007 at 10:09 AM..
Posts: 37,980

03-30-2007, 09:51 AM	#10
Wile_E_Coyote avatar down for remodel Join Date: Jul 2001 Casino cash: $10004900	everything posted here is an orginal thought ~you can quote me on that
Posts: 6,009

03-30-2007, 09:51 AM	#11
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	the most tormented sports city was in a thread here yesterday. don't know about the director's cut thing __________________
Posts: 95,626

03-30-2007, 11:15 AM	#14
Manila-Chief Supporter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Memphis/Miss Casino cash: $10006883	That's why I rarely read JoPo ... all those words and he doesn't have 1 meaningful thought in the article. Lots of folks here don't like Jason Whitlock but he most always has something ... either you agree with or you get mad at him.
Posts: 2,152

03-30-2007, 11:36 AM	#15
stlchiefs Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St. Loser, MO Casino cash: $10005674	huh?
Posts: 4,160

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