WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[MIdoubleA]

Good Luck, ladies! I'd be there if I could 

[hornetiger]

Again, some of this could simply be a difference in fan culture in the two areas.  Not necessarily defending this, just pointing out where I see the difference in opinions...

Agreed.

[NW Hope Fan]

horne,

Now that you are back on... I wanted to apologize to you about taking the brunt of my frustration. You were just in a line of DePauw posters seemingly defending what happened.

Your post was far from the most grievous, and shouldn't have received my fury as such. Some of your fellow brethren on the other hand were not nearly as kind as your "other" words of encouragement. They should take a cue from you.

Again... sorry.

[foul_language]

Your parents must be very proud

MY parents or the parents of the players? Here's the point: no one was traumatized. My daughter (player) recounted the talk, and we both laughed. It certainly was an attention-getter, it relieved some frustration on the coach's part, and they got on with the game. I can't remember if they won or lost and, in the end, it doesn't matter. They played, they got chewed on, they lived to play again.

I guess the thing that astounds me in this Hope-DePauw conversation is the venom of the participants--on both sides, apparently. I can take a lot more from students than I can from parents. Student fans don't have all their synapses firing yet, so I can excuse more uncivilized behavior from them than I can from parents. We're the role models, so getting into a fight on a board over what happened in the stands in a gymnasium five days ago seems counterproductive.

And now I'm doing it, and I wasn't even there.

How many more karma points do I get to lose on that one? I should take a few from myself just for dragging this out.

Good luck to all the teams left in competition. I hope all the games are well-contested, and I hope players and fans, alike, realize what a great thing it is to get to the final four, win or lose.

[AndersDY]

Anyone else hopping on the bus heading out from Hope tonight? I'll be there ready to head over to Springfield. Since we won't be in Holland, everyone practice your "real world" chants tonight. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Good one Andy!!  We'll see you in Springfield

[Cowboy J]

Traveling made easier for Flying Dutch fans...

Leave your microscopes and your binoculars and your notepads behind. Although small and easy to pack, go without the hearing aids this time, too. Just know going in, as has been the case all year, you are far better than any of the other teams' fans who will be in attendance at this weekend's games in Springfield. 

What do you think, should the judge's robes be left in the chambers, too? I tend to think so. Although there will be plenty of things you can call the other teams' fans on, why not just sit (with perfect posture) and enjoy the games and your team? In cases where the other fans don't act Hope-like, maybe just forgive them, for they may know not what they do. Or, they may not have a well-organized policy in place to curb their behaviors to the extent that your school does. Take this as yet another opportunity to thank God you're a Flying Dutch fan.

With more room in the suitcase, might I suggest a few things: extra packages of lozenges - I can only imagine how constant chants of "Go Hope Go!" and "Good call ref!" might play tricks with the throat; more lotion - Hope fans' hands must get sore and chapped with all of the clapping for their fellow fans, the officials and, oh yeah, their players; muscle relaxants - maybe it's just me, but if I smiled at my team as much as you probably do yours, not to mention all of the frowns at the opponents' fans, I'd need a break at the end of the day. Oh, and if there's room, maybe an extra set of pom pons. Have a Dew Crew coach check to make sure they're legal, though (which I know they'd be on top of). And, for goodness sakes, do not obstruct the view of the Flying Dutch fans behind you.

It goes without saying, be sure to take your perfect cheers with you, too. It's one of the things you're most known for, and all those present will be better for having heard them. While the perfect cheers are great, I tend to think your ability to judge others, and quickly, is your greatest "strength." Not to mention the art of hearing only what you want to hear. Flying Dutch fans ... the talents abound.

[hornetiger]

horne,

Now that you are back on... I wanted to apologize to you about taking the brunt of my frustration. You were just in a line of DePauw posters seemingly defending what happened.

Your post was far from the most grievous, and shouldn't have received my fury as such. Some of your fellow brethren on the other hand were not nearly as kind as your "other" words of encouragement. They should take a cue from you.

Again... sorry.

No problems...everybody gets caught up in the heat of the moment, especially after a big stakes game like that. Heck, I feel like an @$$ looking back at my original post.

[Cowboy J]

Don't be afraid to stick up for yourself, hornetiger. The only reason you got the belated apology from NW Hope Fan is that you have been completely agreeable in your recent posts. Even when you shouldn't be, in my opinion. As far as your initial post goes, you couldn't have been much nicer. Just look at NW Hope Fan's track record. You say a little nothing, and you're told you should be "embarrassed." A recent poster said something against NWHF's way of thinking, and that person was told to "Go home, dude."

What none of these people seem to want to hear is that we are not defending some of the things that were said last weekend. We are, however, defending ourselves from the barrage of judgments that have followed. While it is against the NCAA's code of conduct, if you will, to swear and to single out people with negative comments, what these certain Hope fans have done to blacken DePauw's name is no better. And quite possibly worse.

Some have called for this issue to die, especially after counterpoints have been offered to show the other side. It will be a long time before I can let this one go. As much as the Hope fans might feel wronged for what they heard at last weekend's game(s), DePauw people have a distinct right to feel wronged, too. We're much, much, much, much better than how they have portrayed us. I guess the important thing is for us, and the neutral readers of these posts, to realize this. After all, it's become quite obvious there's no way to get through to them.

We, the people of DePauw, have never claimed to be perfect. Now that some of these Hope fans have spoken for their group, however, they should realize they are the torch bearers for proper conduct at athletic contests. So, cheer for your teams ... nothing more, nothing less. The eyes of the Division III world will be upon you.

Just so we all know, you can't say things against the other team, their fans or the refs, right? Only pro-Flying Dutch things.

[realist]

fl:  Sorry didn't realize you were a proud parent by your name.  In that case your daughter must be very embarassed!
Cowboy J:  Your village just called, and they would like for you to come back home.

[NW Hope Fan]

fl:  Sorry didn't realize you were a proud parent by your name.  In that case your daughter must bee very embarassed!
Cowboy J:  Your village just called, and they would like for you to come back home.

Ibid

A recent poster said something against NWHF's way of thinking, and that person was told to "Go home, dude."

And it was... "Go AWAY dude."

[foul_language]

fl:  Sorry didn't realize you were a proud parent by your name.  In that case your daughter must bee very embarassed!

Actually, no. She has a sense of humor. She's fully aware that people say things that shouldn't be taken literally; that people say things in the heat of the moment that they wouldn't say under ordinary circumstances. She knows that the dynamics of a fierce competition sometimes brings on a frenzy and, on those occasions, things are sometimes said or done that shouldn't be (or bee, if you prefer).

She's smart enough to know that the person or people probably don't behave like that all the time. She's wise beyond her years in knowing that face value is too shallow to take as permanent impression. She also knows that the best way to defuse a bad situation is not to make it worse and not to let it evoke a bigger than necessary reaction. (Here I am, Pot, call me black)

So, all in all, she's pretty level-headed, and I suspect she has a great future. I hope she gets the opportunity to play in a final four sometime, and that I get the opportunity to face DePauw fans, Hope fans, all kinds of quality fans, and that in the heat of competition, I don't miss what's happening on the floor while I get caught up in what's happening in the stands.

[NW Hope Fan]

in the heat of competition, I don't miss what's happening on the floor while I get caught up in what's happening in the stands.

Point taken, but I don't think anyone missed Hope beating DePauw by 16. 

[foul_language]

...I don't think anyone missed Hope beating DePauw by 16

Have a great couple of games this weekend! Talk to you on the flip side

[Flying Dutch Fan]

fl:  Sorry didn't realize you were a proud parent by your name.  In that case your daughter must bee very embarassed!
Cowboy J:  Your village just called, and they would like for you to come back home.

Consider yourself high fived - from FDF and CM - who are about to leave their hotel in Springfield and head over to the games.

Will post our thoughts on the games later tonight.

GO HOPE