Before rooting for the Underdog, how much do we actually know?

[taterguy]

I don't know much about Butler. Here are some things I know about Duke.

* Terry Sanford was President there. He's a great progressive and one of the major reasons that there wasn't more blood shed in North Carolina during the 1960s. He was also the first Southerner to support JFK.

* Former Duke Poli Sci Prof David Price has represented the Fourth District since 1988. He's been a reliable progressive voice in an otherwise very Republican District.

* The Sierra Club named Duke as one of the nation's Greenest Universities.

So, does Butler had comparable credentials?

Or should I just pull for them because it feels good.

Please enlighten me.

(And please only post about the politics of the respective schools so the Mods don't move this to the Sports Dungeon)

[rpannier]

1. Duke's Basketball coach is active in Republican Politics

For me, I want Butler to win because they're new

[taterguy]

4. What's the political affiliation of Butler's coach?

[rpannier]

8. No idea

I only know he's a Republican and Dean Smith (former coach of UNC) is a Dem

[taterguy]

12. Dean Smith campaigned for David Price

How many people associated with Butler did he campaign for?

Don't answer "no idea", that's the whole point of this thread.

[rpannier]

16. Couple of things

You asked for information... I gave you info on the Duke Head Basketball Coach
If you don't like the info... Oh, well.

As to Brad Stevens... He's apparently apolitical (as far as money and time goes). There are no political donations listed for him, nor are there any for his wife.

He is involved in Coaches vs Cancer

His wife is an attorney at Bingham MCHale which represents a large range of clients from energy companies to cities to Universities, they even represent the Indiana Horse Racing Commission

It's distinctly possible he is not a politically active person.

[taterguy]

17. CBS said his wife was no longer an attorney

I asked for information about Butler U, since I don't know much about it.

Some things I know about Duke are posted in my OP.

[rpannier]

18. She still has a listing at Linkedin

She must have left

[taterguy]

20. How authoritative

Why is actual information so difficult to come by these days?

[BeatleBoot]

2. Now basketball is political?

Give me a break.

[taterguy]

6. Republicans buy shoes too

If Michael Jordan hadn't had that attitude, Helms would have lost to Harvey Gantt in 1990.

Damn right it's political.

[Taverner]

3. I want Butler to win because someday I hope to have a butler

:P

[panader0]

5. Duke's a great school

It's just won too many times. (This from a frustrated U of Az fan. Our 24 year streak in the tournament ended this year. I think N. Carolina has the current streak at 22.) Wait til next year.

[taterguy]

14. If N. Carolina had the current streak wouldn't they have gotten into this year's tourney?

If you don't know what the hell you're talking about, keep your mouth shut.

Aunt Bea said that. She's a great North Carolinian.

[Brickbat]

7. Why go for the underdog? Why not hope the best team wins?

I've never understood that in sports.

[rpannier]

9. Because it's nice to see other teams win

The focus and the money goes to a very small number of schools

Boise State and Utah have done great things for College Football by winning big bowl games

Gonzaga did the same for basketball by becoming a perennial powerhouse

Teams like Butler winning, give smaller schools a bigger spotlight and a chance at more money and exposure

[Brickbat]

11. I'm not just talking NCAA stuff.

If we should root for underdogs in the NCAA because it gives them "more money and exposure," then yes, the NCAA is as broken as people say it is.

[rpannier]

13. It is a broken system

It's better than it was 30 years ago

30 years ago schools like Butler, Boise State, etc would never be part of the discussion

However, there is still a bias toward the more glamorous schools and teams

But that's not just the NCAA, watch ESPN and (if you can stomach it) listen to that knob Dick Vitale.
Vitale is all about the big schools and focusing on one player

Schools like Georgetown, Notre Dame, UCLA, Oklahoma, etc are spoken of with great reverence.
Schools from smaller conferences are relegated to footnotes
If they win, then they do one of two things:
1. What a major surprise! (Then move on)
2. It's a fluke

The people at ESPN and Fox Sports (as well as the big 3) can never understand why a coach would want to stay at a mid-level or non-major Division I school, when USC, Oklahoma or Michigan comes calling

[taterguy]

15. Please keep all comments political

I hate it when people post before actually reading an OP.

:eyes:

[Captain Hilts]

10. Nixon went to law school at Duke. They're both private schools. nt

[lumberjack_jeff]

19. Please let me know what the accepted DU doctrine is so I can cheer accordingly.

On second thought, cheer for whoever you want. Not everything is a political litmus test.

[taterguy]

21. It's not about doctrine, it's about a pursuit of information

And so far, no one knows anything progressive about Butler.

And yet, millions will be cheering for them just because it seems like the thing to do.

[lumberjack_jeff]

24. Fuck information. It's basketball. n/t

[taterguy]

25. Fuck information

What an enlightened view of living.

[lumberjack_jeff]

26. No, it's a rational view of sports.

Pick your team by whatever criteria you wish, but leave the rest of us out.

[taterguy]

27. So making preferences is based on my world views is irrational?

Whatever.

[lumberjack_jeff]

28. No, but creating a thread on who WE are going to support using your criteria is. n/t

[AnnieBW]

22. Duke is the Evil Empire

Like Obama says, there's politics, and then there's hoops. I'm from Maryland, so Duke is the Empire and Coach K is Darth Vader.

Besides, my husband is from Indy and his dad was a Butler Alumnus. Guess who we're rooting for? :D

[taterguy]

23. So what's one progressive thing about Butler?

If you're a fan that question shouldn't be difficult to answer.

[Lady President]

29. Apples to Oranges

Butler is a small liberal arts college with around 3000 students, so there is not going to be as much press or the money for accolades that Duke has. Remember Duke should probably be renamed Phillip Morris University-- those are some deep pockets.

As for the coach's wife, she is a SAHM right now. They have a couple young kids and he's on the road a lot. If they are financial able, this seems like a good plan. You could always check Martindale Hubble to see if she is still listed and her license status, if it matters.

Butler alumni include Kurt Vonnegut and Jim Jones. Again, schools like this are known for small class sizes, not famous alumni.

OR, you could just google "Butler University".