I’m not sure how any of this is going to work, but hey, it’s the Interwebs. Weirder stuff is being done elsewhere every day.
This, folks, is Forum Friday (trademark pending). I want Fridays to be about you, which is why the heavy lifting today is coming from the readers. Two weeks ago, I asked for submissions of why you should be chosen for this weekly endeavor. I received about 20-25 replies, which was nice. Some were too long (yosh). Others were hysterical yet somehow inappropriate (Simpson Sampson). Some were bribes (thanks, Richard) while others were haikus (icecoldchickenwing). And Pete’s passion was impressive — almost as impressive as the growing list of message boards where he has been banned.
But I settled on three: cireksu, steve dave and Wildcat Legend. The plan is, I want you all to “vote” on which essay makes the most sense or resonates the most with you. You’re all passionate K-State fans, right? Well, this week’s “issue” was what it’s like to be a K-State fan right now. Yes, there is going to be a winner of the group, even though the prize might not seem like much — a guaranteed spot in next week’s Forum Friday. For the rest of you, use the comment fields below to a) vote and b) convince me you can do better than our first three participants, who, by the way, did fine jobs. It’s not easy putting yourself out there, although using a screen name certainly helps.
Here are the essays:
cireksu
Being a KSU fan this year has had great highs and terrible, endless, excruciatingly deep lows.
The football season started great only to implode in a huge fireball of DEATH.
Basketball was great last year with Huggs (we were relevant again) but the iron hand of the NCAA gave the collective KSU fanbase a wet willie (no pun) by leaving us out of the tourney.
This year basketball just seems to not be as fun as it should be for me. There are a lot of people named Rusty that would rip me for saying that but it is just my IMO. That is directly related to expectations. Which have been out of whack for several reasons.
1. With Huggs’ departure, we were out to dry (after the wet willie). We had tasted relevance and craved it. Sooooo…
2. Keep the class! Martin is hired and subsequently crucified. However, we give the media a wet willie after beating KU — which, by the way, was the best I’ve felt watching sports since the dismantling of OU in ‘03. My hands were literally shaking when we went up 12. Expectations go through the roof and why not? On paper, at that point, we were a 13-win team!
3. This can be true in a sense for football — when expectations get raised and then they don’t pan out, it is worse than not being given reason for expectations in the first place.
In the case of football, I don’t think we would have seen the meltdown we did had KU not gone 12-1. I think a lot of Ron’s criticism from KU being 12-1 and I think a lot of KSU fans are overly insecure about their success.
Basketball expectations are high as they should be to an extent but this was never a 13-3 team. We will go as far as our guards ALLOW us to go. Mike Beasley and Bill Walker will take us great places if our guards ALLOW that to happen.
steve dave
Being a K-State fan is like being kicked in the nuts (we’ll call it crotch for all the ladies out there) pretty much constantly. The variation comes when, sometimes, you don’t think you’re going to get kicked in the crotch but instead you are going to get an ice cream — and then you get kicked in the crotch. Here is the timeline for 2007-2008:
Football — MORAL victory… yeah, we’re awesome… oh no… uh oh… OH NO! WE SUCK!
Basketball — We suck… We’re good… KU IS THE SUCK!…. OH NO! WE SUCK AGAIN!… (To be continued)
As I’m sure you’ve already assumed the “getting kicked in the crotch” corresponds with “OH NO.” Another analogy would be… Have you seen Star Wars? K-State is like The Empire. Every time we just get that darned Deathstar built, here come the Rebels (reality) to blow the thing up.
You get the idea.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though, and here are just a few of the bright spots. First, Kansas State has become one of the leaders in coach and administrator retention. You don’t see administrators and coaches bailing out of the sinking ship at the drop of a hat here. Secondly, our merchandise is tier 1 in terms of camo availability. Heck, sometimes it’s hard to find a shirt/hat that’s NOT camo. Finally, there are only so many times the media can claim any school “sold its soul” in staff hirings/firings. Eventually you have to wonder how many souls your school had to begin with. I mean, if a coach that you “sold your soul for” leaves and you hire another coach via another alleged soul transaction, you have to start to get suspicious, right?
To summarize, at least we have the D.O.D. (Decade of Dominance).
This has been Steve Dave reporting from your mom’s house.
Wildcat Legend
Since it is roundball season, I’d like to focus on Martin and the men’s program. I think he is the right guy for the job right now; despite the roller-coaster season, he is meeting my expectations. He has the passion, recruiting in-roads, and is savvy enough to keep the ‘Cats in the top four of the league on a perennial basis. His high-energy style seems to work well. I am a bit concerned, though, about his overplay-style man defense, his preferential treatment to the two best players on the team, and his penchant for saying, “ya know,” during interviews. I think K-State will be above average next year with great upside in two years with some more big-time recruits. The program is showing more promise than a Lon Kruger uni-brow or a Larry Reid crossover. Also, with the new facility improvements down the pipe, the future is as bright as Steve Henson’s pasty skin. Oh, and the new unis are simple and sweet.
Being a K-State fan means many things. It means talking K-State sports on company time, getting goosebumps during the Wabash Cannonball, and feeling sweet freedom after any victory. It means educating my two-year-old son that when he chooses to color with red and blue markers, the colors should only be mixed and not used independently. It means guiltily smiling when Missouri stumbles upon a Ricky Clemons debacle or when KU gets put on probation. My family ties run deep, like Alex P. Keaton deep. All of the fibers in my body are wound for the Wildcats. I will cheer them loudly during the times of success and still wear my Powercat with pride in public when they flirt with failure. And after this Saturday, being a K-State fan will mean I get to boast about two victories while celebrating zero losses versus the birds down the road.
61 Comments
My vote goes to Wildcat Legend.
Wildcat Legend
Wildcat Legend
steve dave is good. he should get his own blog.
Legend, looking back mine was more of a commentary. sorry
Too long? Gimme a break.
I vote for Yosh.
Steve Dave
Wildcat Legend.
steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave steve dave
Wildcat Legend. Is it true he hasn’t signed his contract?
I like steve dave’s humor, but Wildcat Legend left with with some hope… which I am sure will be followed by Steve Dave’s kick to the crotch.
But as a K-Stater, I cling to hope, so I vote for Legend.
It should be noted that mine was heavily edited after submission so some of the vilest words ever uttered were not included and my intentional misspellings and grammatical freestyle was changed to old-mannish font/style severely handicapping it. Media biased imHo.
Steve Dave
Wildcat Legend.
Steve Dave.
Being a K-State fan is a giant kick to the crotch most of the time.
Steve Dave — although it really could’ve used the most vile words one can say…
Legend, for sure
Steve Dave was funny, but so was Legend and he reminded me of standing in the student section and the chills I would get when I would hear the wildcat roar, just before kickoff
My vote goes to cireksu.
I did like the kicked in the nuts anaolgy by steve dave!!!
Some one needs to give Steve Dave a “pat on the back,” he has earned it.
Not it.
Wildcat Legend
Got to go with steve dave, loved the star wars analogy. Also really enjoyed the soul market analysis. It seems we’re buying as well as selling, KSU still has some soul!
Wildcat Legend!
steve dave
Sincerely,
Askia Jones, Paco May, John Rettiger, Fred McCoy, Josh Kimm, Kenny McEntyre, Manny Dies, Mark Young, Dick Knostman, Pero Vasiljevic, Gerald Eaker, and Tyree Evans.
I actually got goose bumps while reading Wildcat Legend. He hit the nail on the head.
True Wildcat fans wear their purple especially when we lose. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Besides, what other choice is there? Being a Jayhawk? For me, the decision to become a Wildcat in lieu of what apparently is some sort of magical parrot in shoes was simple.
I digress.
Wildcat Legend gets my vote.
I gotta go wtih Wildcat Legend. He makes me want to swing my power towel around while listening to a crappy 80s hairband.
Wildcat Legend
Steve Dave
“KU IS THE SUCK!” = Classic
I think the winner is anyone who called in sick on a gorgeous Friday to go shopping with their dad while others take over their responsibilities. Show of hands?… Ah, we have a winner! Way to go Champ!
Wildcat Legend
Great thoughts.
“Pat on the back?” Come on, at least try and honor the spirit of the original post.
Steve Dave is one funny Mo Fo. He surely must have sold his soul.
Legend? eh…. sounds like oldfella on the wabash station.
cire was just to accurate with no digs at the evil media.
I gotta go with the man who makes me laugh & the subtle digs against the media accusing us of selling our soul everytime we turn around is good stuff. Steve Dave
I’d also like to mention, when you’re voting for Steve Dave are you really voting for him, or for the editing that J Mart did. If he can’t even write a postable blog, then should he even be in this contest?
Legend all the way
Wildcat Legend wins.
Wildcat Legend gave me chills, Steve Dave made me laugh, need both to be a KSU fan, but my vote is to Legend
Wildcat Legend gets my vote. SteveDave is second.
steve dave wins this round.
It is a little late, but my joke was:
“this is steve dave reporting from Bill Snyder’s chimney.”
I think that would’ve put it over the top for most people.
imhO. iMho.
Wildcat Legend gets my vote.
steve dave…
I already copyrighted the ‘ksu fan = kick to the nuts’ in my meltdowns during chat for each game.
you suck. I’m calling my lawyer.
Steve-o. The paragraph about using souls as currency sealed the deal.
Wildcat Legend all the way!!!
Great essay Wildcat Legend…you get my vote. The red and blue markers was a nice touch.
wildcat legend gets my vote!
This is tough, If my man Kenny Mac is saying Steve Dave I’m not inclined to go against him…but sorry Kenny…I’m leaning Wildcat Legend.
Wildcat Legend….no contest.
It’s a no brainer…Wildcat Legend
Wildcat Legend
Wildcat Legend gets my vote.
I’m a KSU graduate and enjoyed Wildcat Legends essay. Well written…my vote goes to the Legend.
Why not post Pete’s or the others’? Bandwidth is cheaper than a Tijuana whore.
I LOVE STEVE DAVE
I LOVE LEGEND
I’d say Wildcat Legend probably had the strongest column compared to the other two. Yet, his second half was much better than his first half where his overuse of attempted parallel structure felt more like repetitious annoyances of allusions/similes that were all reaching for a reaction rather than causing a reaction like he managed in the second half.
I would like to say I could do better than the first three participants, but it would probably depend on the topic. I certainly know I wouldn’t use a tired alliterative cliche like “wet willie” three times or use the word “suck” in a short series of blabbering (yet somewhat weakly emotive) fragments. And still I would definitely commend those that wrote these columns as I realize the chutzpah it takes to allow yourself to be a target. (Especially when the blog creator encourages writers to fire their best at them in hopes of a future opportunity to become the vict–star.) Strangely, I still hope I get that chance.
Sorry Brad, I fell asleep halfway through your incompetence.
I know I said I wouldnt mutter these words, but I gotta go with Bob Lutz.
Wildcat Ledgend, mostly becaue I won’t let my 4 year old use blue and red unless he mix’s them either.
And Steve Dave Watching KSU is less like a kick in the crotch and more like getting food poisoning. The food tasts good (beating Texas in Football) But then you get the runs and can’t get out of bed (losing to KU). And in basketball beating KU was the best stake I have ever had then I spent the next day depositing it in the toilet from both ends (MU loss). You get my point.
Jeff, I would like to face KSUBrad in the forum. “Tired alliterative cliche” is my middle name, and I’ll use ‘em like they’re going out of style (see?). My blabbering fragments are strongly emotive, and I often refer to myself in the plural, just because we can. Be warned Jeff, you may want to change the name of this forum to “the Octagon of Serious Hell” for one night only when KSUBrad and I square off, because I fight dirty (Do you really think I won’t follow a linking verb with a subordinate clause, KSUBrad? DO YOU?!?!). KSUBrad, you haven’t even seen repetitious annoyances. KSUBrad, you haven’t even seen repetitious annoyances.
Sorry Steve Dave, I’ll speak in your language:
Oh NO!! YOU SUCK STEVE DAVE!!! OH WAIT… I SUCK… uh oh… NO… YOU SUCK AGAIN!!
Maybe you could’ve stayed awake through that one.
And for Mr. Hump Day, bring it on.
My vote goes to Steve Dave! I’m not sure if KSUBrad understands what a blog is–anything you want it to be, but for sure the fewer complete sentances the better…I’m not here to read a book. A good laugh and the feel good feeling that there’s a lot of people out there bleeding purple!
wildcat legend wins. no contest.
now, give me the chance. let me orchestrate a literary beast that will toy with emotions and put women to bed. i will strike the keys on my keyboard with such fierce force that my homekeys, “J” and “F”, will weep with anguish. i want a piece of the legend, the winner. i want a shot at the best. the purple shall rise at the jousting of my fingertips. here the unmistakeable clatter of me typing…typing with purpose. this is the craig show…
that just happened.
I vote for Steve Dave. He knows the true feelings of wildcat fans everywhere.
steve dave