DUKE BASKETBALL

sigh)

OK, the Blue Devils are 14-0! What's not to like, right?

But......

I am amazed at the number of people who can't abide Duke as a basketball team, and I just have the hardest time understanding that. It seems that with Duke you either love'em or hate'em -- there doesn't seem to be any middle ground. My guess is that Duke is so good, so accomplished, so consistent that it takes the fun out of watching your team play them.....you pretty much know what the outcome will be. You're sick to death of Duke WINNING.

But here's the thing. This is a school which advocates discipline, sportsmanship and team effort in its players on the court; education, diligence and hard work in the classroom; and honesty, integrity and restraint in their personal lives. You hardly ever hear of a Duke player in trouble for rape, drug use, or DUI (unlike Keith Jenifer of Virginia a while back or football player Marcus Vick of Virginia Tech recently and in the past). This is a school whose coach is legend not just for his won-lost record but for his leadership and guidance of his players over the years. You don't hear of Duke being in trouble for recruitment violations or other questionable tactics used by colleges all over the country to enhance their programs.

Duke is a school whose reputation as one of the best universities in the country is well deserved, and its basketball program is top-notch. We should ALL be supporting a school and sports program of this caliber.

Besides, how many teams do you know that produce the likes of Christian Laettner, Mike Dunleavy and J. J. Redick?

(sigh, sigh, and sigh -- LOL)