A lot has been written on message boards and said on my show about my feelings towards the Nebraska Basketball program. I have finally come to the point where I think it's time to set the record straight and admit how I truly feel about the 2 basketball teams that I cover. 590's coverage of the Jays has nothing to do with what I'm about to say. I just made up my mind finally.
I like Creighton more than Nebraska when it comes to basketball. Period.
There. I said it. So stop telling me what we all know. Am I a fan of the Bluejays? I don't know yet. But the more press conferences like today that I have to listen to and I'll be getting closer to becoming a real one.
I don't like Nebraska basketball. That I know.
The reason why I'm saying it now is the statement that I quoted above. I heard Doc make that statement today at the press conference and just shook my head at the arrogance. While I don't know Doc personally, I have to wonder who he is trying to convince? You never hear Coach Dana Altman say things like that. He knows that it does nothing for your program in the long run. Winning is all that matters - not who's program the state owns. Sadler has said those things before - but today was really disrespectful. I saw something I really didn't like in Hawaii when Doc got thrown out by saying "F#ck You!" to a ref in front of a microphone. Today was the 2nd time he caused me to dislike his behavior.
Sitting in the lobby of the building that is the home of the Creighton Bluejays, Doc showed what he thinks of CU...which isn't very much. Thus it makes it easy for me to now lead the charge to boycott against this game and the cheers when Creighton plays Nebraska next year in Omaha. It's the arrogance that Nebraska basketball has that really bothers me. It's the humble nature of Altman's staff that makes me really like working with them.
One program has won 20 games for 9 straight years and was ranked 13th for attendance last year. The other hasn't won 20 games this decade. Knock Altman's post season record all you want but at least he's won A GAME in the tourney.
I said today on the air that I was surprised that Steve Pederson didn't call Creighton AD Bruce Rasmussen to tell him about what they were doing with the Qwest Center. Bruce would never expect that type of treatment from anyone. Except that is the exact kind of thing he would do if the roles were reversed. As Rick Majerus said, Bruce is one the best AD's in the Midwest and I have the utmost respect for him and his staff. He is all class and never wants to make waves with anyone. SP couldn't care less what Bruce thinks and that's why he had MECA talk to CU about the situation instead of doing it himself. It would have been very easy for him to make the call. He didn't.
Bottom line - the contrast between the two programs makes it very easy for me to favor one over the other. Creighton is open. Nebraska tells you to F'off. Creighton is about respecting the job you have to do. Nebraska is all about control. Creighton is appreciative. Nebraska is arrogant.
Sure, 590's carrying of the Bluejay games opened doors for me but I believe the relationships you craft once you are inside mean a lot more in the long run. Coach Dana Altman and Brian Fish gave up their time to play in our golf tournament to raise money for a former Husker's charity at my request. While NU does a lot of great things for our state, I would find it hard to believe that NU would do the same if the roles were reversed.
Before you start hammering me for covering football - there is a difference in how I feel about football versus basketball. Nebraska football operates in a different world to me. 5 National championships allow me to do that. The football program recruits the top players in the country to come play in Lincoln. You say Nebraska - and you think football. Football is king in this country - it's our passion. There really is something very special about Memorial Stadium on a Fall afternoon. It's a lot of fun to cover Nebraska football and the passion of their fans. I enjoy covering the games a lot but there is a different level of access that I have with CU. (No you can't use that paragraph to start an arguement about the CU/NU Bi Fan with me. Covering NU is my job)
I have zero problem with Bill Callahan and staff no matter what you think. I think he's done a good job so far and just like me - he had to learn what the Nebraska football tradition was all about. Now, he runs the tradition. Some former players might not love him, but winning cures all ills. I wish them nothing but the best in the upcoming season. Callahan might be arrogant and rude to the media but he has taken a team to the Super Bowl. He plays on a different level then the rest of the coaches at Nebraska.
Back to basketball and the Huskers vs. Oregon game for a moment. Jays fans should NOT go to this game. Nebraska fans - go and have fun. Yet, the fact that Nebraska is shipping in a $10,000 court should tell you that Pederson understands that they are doing something shady. When other basketball events happen at the Qwest, they don't bring in their own floor. But then again, those events aren't involving the arch rival of CU. Nebraska knows that.
I am not happy with Bluejay fans for simply ignoring this story. If you love CU, you should very upset about this. You can't do anything about it as the Qwest Center isn't yours to control but you can keep away from the event.
If you love the Jays, keep your money in your pocket. It's the only way that it won't happen again. It has to be a flop or at least a semi-flop. Even if someone offers you free tickets - you should not go. Nebraska fans need to show that they can fill the Qwest...and I'm not sure they can without the bi- fan buying tickets. Time to pick a side my friends for real. Where does your heart lie?
If you need an image to help illustrate what I'm talking about...well, here you go: Would you let someone sleep with your wife if it just happened once? Of course not. Your building is your wife. Your building is your castle.
When you look up at the big screen at the Qwest and the Under Armor man asks "Who will protect this house?" Do you answer "I will, I will"? If you do, put your action where your mouth is and boycott the event. Protect your house - even if you don't own it.
12 comments:
Of course you do. You are a Creighton employee and a Creighton Bitch. What a fool.
Matt
UNL is the flagship University of the state. Doc is saying that, the UNL program is the program of the state. It is totally obvious that you have a bone against most, if not all, UNL sports. You are the one who flames the fire more than anyone, and you are creightons bitch! A homer in so many ways.
When creighton decides to get their own gym, they can complain. Did you bitch when volleyball came to town? Do you think the Jays can say much of anything to anyone when they are tennents just like any convention in town?
You are a joke, your spew makes a guy wanna run for the toilet, but hey Matt, we know you like yourself and that is all that matters
Matt,
I don't know if you read these comments but here it goes. First off I'm a Husker fan so full disclosure.
I listened to your show yesterday after I got an email from UNL because I knew you would be over reacting. I thought your anology of your wife/girlfriend was way off though. What you need to do is change it to prostitute/booty call. If someone gets mad for sleeping with their booty call/prostitute they are an idiot and should expect it. Not calling you an idoit but that's how most people see CU and the Qwest. It is a client/business owner relationship. If CU owned the building then I can see the wife/girlfriend anaolgy because there are expectations. The Qwest goes to the highest bidder. So I see the booty call/prostitute analogy working much better.
Later.
Hehe, Matt you're taking it a little worse than normal here. Much like our Hawkeye brethren to the east, I'm starting to sense a bit of an inferiority complex from Bluejay land. CU is what it is, a mid-major school. Sorry you can't run with the big boys.
I am one of the people who drive to Lincoln for basketball games. The atmosphere is 10 times better in lincoln than the quest center. NU is the STATE university and is the flagship university of the state and you should realize that by now. There is no reason NU playing in the quest center should bother any Creighton fans. It's a lot easier to win 20 games in the Valley than the Big 12.
Matt.
You are an idiot. Why should CU fans be mad? The Qwest center is not theirs, get over it. When NU comes to play a baseball or soccer game against someone besides CU, then you may have a point (if CU even owns the baseball and soccer fields).
Why are you so upset that NU is bring in a floor? The other teams you are referring to NOT bringing in a floor: High school teams for the shootout, NBA exhibition games?? Why is this any different than a concert bringing their own stage, or the WWE bringing a wrestling ring, or the rodeo bringing in dirt?
Will you be saying the same thing when the NCAA takes over your new baseball stadium that the city is going to provide for CU? BOYCOTT THE CWS, BECAUSE THEY ARE TAKING OVER OUR FIELD AND TAKING DOWN OUT CREIGHTON BILLBOARD.
When you said something about Doc and his vision for the future of the program, wut was Dana Altman trying to do for the future of Creighton basketball when he left for Arkansas and decided to come back.
Matt, do you feel stupid yet? Bluejay fans, Nebraska fans and those that are fans of neither team are telling you that you are stupid. What Doc said yesterday had nothing to do with being arrogant. Go back and listen to the quote. He is saying that he works for the "state school", which he does. Creighton can never and will never be the state school. Yes at this point Creighton basketball may have more fans in the city of Omaha, but they don't have anywhere close to as many fans as Nebraska has statewide.
You mock NU fans because they won't drive to Lincoln to watch the game, but yet do you really believe there are Creighton fans outside of Omaha that drive to the Qwest Center to watch the Bluejays? Omaha is the biggest city in Nebraska and there is alcohol served at the Qwest Center. If Creighton played in Lincoln in the Devaney Center where there was no alcohol, their attendance would suck too.
If you are that shallow that you hate Doc for swearing at a ref and a comment he made at a NEBRASKA press conference, then you have serious problems. Do you not think that Altman has ever sworn at a ref? Would you be upset if Altman called Creighton, Omaha's team? Just stop and think about how stupid and childish you sound.
What are you going to do next year and the year after and the year after that when Nebraska is beating Creighton and Creighton's program is struggling and the Qwest is emptying and the Devaney is filling up?
You really need to try and get back to being objective and not letting your emotions about Creighton or Nebraska get the best of you. Your show actually used to be somewhat informative and entertaining and now it is just your constant whining and complaining about Nebraska and what they do or don't do.
Do you really believe the words coming out of your mouth? CU rents the Qwest center. they have no more claim on it than anyone else that rents it. Go back and look at how much money CU contributed to the construction of the arena. I bet you won't any. To say that CU has a claim to the place is insane. Should UNO hockey be upset that CU plays basketball games in their home facility? Grow up and get over yourself
First off, thanks for clarifying how you feel.
I have but one issue with your statements and I would love a response because you have left me scratching my head. You conceded that the Qwest is not Creighton's to control and then you relate the NU game at the Qwest to allowing someone to sleep with your wife. Now I understand that you shouldn't control your wife, but if she's sleeping with others anyway, why deny the Huskers a turn?
Does one pay a wife for services rendered? Didn't think so. I would think of the Qwest as more of a prostitute and Creighton as her most frequented client. You might think you are special because you get more 'quality' time with her and you might get jealous at the sight of some other guy working the grounds, but she will never be your girl.
Of course, prostitute or not, I probably wouldn't watch somebody else entertain my best girl. That is, unless you think you might enjoy it.
LOL at the alcohol comments. Are you serious? I know I have better things to do with my money than to drive 20 minutes to the Qwest Center, pay $6 for parking, and pay $5+ dollars for a tiny beer. That is the biggest fallacy Husker fans have ever come up with. There are 16,000+ a night for Creighton games because a) they win b) they put a quality product on the floor c) they win. I don't know why Nebraska fans think this is so unusual and surreal. That is the world of sports...If you win, people come. If you don't, they won't. Creighton is not exclusive in the bandwagon fan department, it happens everywhere.
As for the game, who cares? It's a public facility being used as a NEUTRAL site. When did Nebraska ever declare this a HOME game? Even if they did, it still doesn't change the fact that it's the same lousy, boring Nebraska team playing.
This is a non issue.
The only reason some Creighton fans (including me) may be upset is because we do think of the Qwest (not Quest) as our place - the "House That Dana Built" and all that. The building is a big recruiting advantage over other schools in the Midwest. Dana can say 'We're the only team around that plays in a building this nice.' If UNL starts playing an annual game there, he can't say that. I understand it's a publicly owned facility, thus much of what Matt says is nonsense. Nonetheless, the Creighton fans who pack the Qwest feel a sense of ownership of the place. To have another school and its fans use it feels uncomfortable.
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