If you didn’t believe my testament about the powerful nature of the NCAA Basketball tournament, maybe you will when a political figure gets involved. Not only is basketball pride a way of life, but in North Carolina this week it came above national security, in a sense.
Commenting on North Carolina’s trip to the Sweet 16 (and later the Elite 8), U.S. Representative Brad Miller, a Democrat from North Carolina made extremely controversial comments. He noted basketball’s importance into the lives of North Carolina residents and the extreme rivalry present between North Carolina (UNC) and Duke University.
He showed no remorse or political correctness for his (apparent) hatred for Duke University. “I have said very publicly that if Duke was playing against the Taliban, then I’d have to pull for the Taliban.”
Miller made it clear that if UNC was placed up against the Blue Devils, then Duke would receive no “Congressional neutrality.” In Miller’s world, the Blue Devils sit at the bottom of the totem pole. Even if North Carolina is divided between Tar Heel and Blue Devil nations, Miller added that he would pull for the Taliban instead of Duke.
Sure the comment was probably made as a playful gesture, but bringing up the Taliban in such controversial times with the War on Terror and continuous threats at out freedom, begs the question of whether this Congressman is completely sane.
”The Dagger” Sports Blog mentions that the Congressman’s comments were a good way to have Homeland Security knock on his door. Plus, bringing up the Taliban in any circumstance is controversial, never mind saying that he’d root for them.
It would be conservative to say that patriotic citizens would like to give the Congressman a piece of their minds. Luckily for Miller, he is not seeking re-election. After that kind of comment, something tells me that he would not sit too comfortably with his colleagues in Washington.
In basketball terms, this shows extreme devotion and enlightens even the political world on the scope of college basketball. It enters the homes of millions and streams on the laptops of millions more. To take sides like this, [to many] actually solidifies the politician’s platform.
“I make no pretense that I am at all half-hearted in my support for Carolina. Nobody in North Carolina would trust a politician who claimed to be neutral on a matter as important as college basketball,” he said.
So maybe making this bold statement earns him respect in his home-state, but maybe it even creates a new suspect file at the Homeland Security headquarters. Kidding aside, his basketball allegiance is clear, and shows just what millions will do to defend their squads.
As we exit March and approach the National Championship game, all Carolina teams have been eliminated, but the Tar Heels did make a respectable run to the Elite 8. As Miller and the rest of the Chapel Hill residents would assumedly agree, the sport became not only a way of life during the run but also a facet of life you’d protect at all costs.
Whether it be a Carolina Congressman condemning Duke, or you and your buddies duking it out (no pun intended) over your bracket picks, the environment of March basketball becomes hostile. So hostile, as we’ve seen this week, that a Congressman’s reputation could be forever-tainted.
Miller was not shy on the matter and even added that he’d root for the NC State Wolfpack, as long as they weren’t playing the Tar Heels. Noting his game-time traditions, he said, “the way I deal with it is, I scream my lungs out for Carolina.”
It’d be safe to say Congressman Miller may need police escorts to stray into Duke territory from now on. Because of this fact, we get a further understanding of the depth of this sport. We get divided states, bold Congressmen, millions of bracket-makers, Charles Barkley’s analysis, net-cutting and even coaching that is unparalleled in other sports. Is this enough for you to stay tuned in until the National Championship game? With top-ranked teams in the hunt this year, it spells out a series of excellent games to watch! If you’re not aboard the bracketology-train yet, then maybe we need more powerful figures to step up and make controversial comments to get you there.
