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ST. LOUIS -- I had no problem with the elimination of Chief Illiniwek.
But this is too much.
There comes a time when every man must take a stand, and for me that time is now. So Kansas State administrators, listen up. I submit that any person who goes through the trouble of finding a live chicken and sneaking it into a basketball arena damn well ought to be allowed to throw it on the court. The only alternative would be to sit there with the chicken the entire game, and chickens rarely sit still. They fidget. So it would be a huge mess, and just disruptive in general.
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| Hey, PETA: Surely, chickens would rather run around the Bramlage Coliseum court than be stuck in a cage. (AP) |
Don't forget that part.
Granted, it's the most baffling tradition I have ever heard of -- throwing live chickens on the court whenever Kansas is in town to mock its Jayhawk mascot. But caving under pressure this week to an animal rights group wasn't necessary. I know PETA sent a letter in which it claimed chickens were being subjected to "deafening noise, bright lights, terror, abusive handling and likely death for the sake of amusement."
But what's the big deal?
Sounds exactly like a trip to Disney World to me.
Anyway, here's the Friday Look Ahead.
Game worth flying to see in person: One team (No. 3 Kansas ) has won seven consecutive games by an average 25 points and might be playing better than anybody in the nation. The other team (No. 15 Texas ) has won six consecutive games by an average of 13.3 points and absolutely has the best player in the nation. That's right, Kevin Durant is visiting Allen Fieldhouse for the first -- and barring a miracle, final -- time Saturday with the Big 12 regular-season title at stake. Sometimes I try to get cute with these things, but there's no need here. Far as final-weekend matchups go, few years offer something this intriguing.
Game worth driving to see in person: Is Florida spiraling or merely following the same pattern it did last season before it ran off 11 straight victories to win the national title? We should have a good idea of the answer Sunday after the No. 5 Gators host Kentucky, but in the meantime it's hard not to wonder what Billy Donovan privately thinks of his team's recent troubles (Note to self: Call Dick Vitale).
Game worth watching on TV: "I can't remember the last time North Carolina and Duke played with both coming off a loss," is what UNC coach Roy Williams said before last month's meeting between the two rivals. Personally, I can't remember the last time North Carolina and Duke played when they both weren't coming off losses, because those rascals (that's the inner Roy coming out in me) have done it again. No. 14 Duke lost to Maryland on Wednesday; No. 8 North Carolina lost to Georgia Tech on Thursday. Consequently, this matchup, scheduled for Sunday at the Dean Smith Center, between a pair of teams trying to avoid losing streaks must have Dean Smith shaking his head.
Some non-BCS love: I'm here at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament this weekend, and there's a great quarterfinal game late Friday. Wichita State, once ranked as high as eighth in the nation, begins its quest to salvage a season gone bad when it meets Missouri State. The Shockers must advance or prepare for the NIT (if they're lucky). Meanwhile, Missouri State must win or start sweating, because though the Bears are projected to make the NCAA Tournament, a loss would seriously damage their chances considering they would then be 21-10 with an RPI in the 40s. That sounds OK, I know, given Missouri State has a victory over Wisconsin. But the Bears didn't make the field last season with a 20-8 record and 21 RPI, so would they really make it this year with worse credentials? Like I said, big game here in St. Louis.