Muleskinner

Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Drew Woolery: Muleskinner Commentary: Winston Robinson.

I have found that the hardest things to write about are the things that you are most passionate about. Therefore, I would like to use this space to talk about something I absolutely care nothing about: the Mizzou/KU rivalry.

First off, a Jayhawk is not a real bird and the whole "Rock Chalk" thing is just plain stupid. As for the Tigers, your team hasn't won a national championship in any sport since its 1965 Indoor Track & Field team took home the title.

Still, everyday I walk through the UCM campus I see a ton of Mizzou and/or KU T-shirts, but for some reason there was an overabundance of Mizzou shirts Tuesday. Then I realized Mizzou and KU played its basketball game and it was a big deal for those who actually cared, with Mizzou winning 62-60 on a last-second shot.

I also remember walking through campus and seeing a bunch of people wearing KU shirts after the Jayhawks beat Mizzou in a meaningless football game last season.

I think they played for some silly drum, though.

All of that is fine and dandy, but seriously, nobody outside the states of Missouri and Kansas care about the Border War. Oh, sure, there was a big fuss two years ago when the two football teams faced off to see who would get their teeth kicked in by Oklahoma in the Big XII Championship game, but can you remember another time when America gave a hoot about this rivalry?

I sure can't.

I do remember many years of the North Carolina/Duke rivalry, where every year, minus the Matt Daugherty era at North Carolina, you were guaranteed at least two great basketball games.

I also remember the annual struggles between Texas and Oklahoma, where you get a great football game, and sometimes a great basketball game, too.

I can't say that about the Mizzou/KU rivalry.

What I can say about the rivalry is that it has jumped into the national spotlight lately due to the football teams' success. I can also say with much confidence that the rivalry will never be made nationally popular until Mizzou can truly compete with KU in basketball. However, fans of the teams and the rivalry should savor these days of glory, because they will be short-lived.

Mizzou has lost stud receiver Jeremy Maclin to the NFL draft and quarterback Chase Daniel is out of eligibility. With only one highly-touted recruit coming, the Tigers will be rebuilding next season.

And you can't have only one good team to have a successful rivalry.

So, for those of you who are die-hard fans, you can deal with being called a 44-year-old loser and being accused of believing in fairytale birds, just keep wearing those KU T-shirts.

Keep showing your pride for your team. Keep believing that this is a big deal.

Just never tell anyone outside of this area who your favorite team and rivalry is.

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