A Rising Tide Raises All Ships
I’m a card-carrying Mizzou alum and loyal Tigers fan.
That much said, I’m damn proud of the University of Kansas Jayhawks basketball team for delivering a national championship to Lawrence and the region. This year’s championship series has earned its place in the record books as being one of the best, and “the final game had to be the absolute best in recent history, perhaps of all time."
It comes as no surprise to see KU as a contender in college basketball. That is part of its tradition. To survive the playoffs and win the whole shebang, however, has been part of no one’s tradition since John Wooden stepped down from UCLA a generation ago.
I’d personally like to congratulate Bill Self and his well-disciplined and talented team and to thank Mario Chalmers for sinking what is inarguably the most important clutch shot in KU basketball history. Congratulations as well to KU Athletic Director Lew Perkins, Chancellor Bob Hemenway, and the fanatic family of avid Kansas fans found on both sides of the state line and well beyond.
No doubt, a year as successful as the Jayhawks’ athletic program has enjoyed, particularly the men’s football and basketball teams, will benefit the school in any number of ways.
This success can be traced to the leadership displayed by KU’s athletic department and its longstanding tradition. I cannot imagine the classy Bill Self leaving Kansas, regardless of the seductions Oklahoma State or others throw his way. As to class, too, in the heat of the Big 12 championship last fall, Mark Mangino took the time to write me a letter expressing his appreciation on several fronts. The correspondence was appreciated and showed a great deal of character from a guy obviously heavily consumed at the time in his career.
KU’s is not the only athletic success story in the region. Missouri completed perhaps the best football season in its history, losing to only one team, the University of Oklahoma, if, regrettably, twice.
Few will argue that the bowl game ‘thumpin’ MU laid on Arkansas was one for the record books. As a result of the Tigers’ success last season, expect to see full seats on game day and plentiful endowment dollars flowing into Jesse Hall for years to come.
Kansas State had two significant milestones this year as well. For one, the Wildcats earned a spot in the NCAA tournament for the first time in a dozen years. For another, they beat Kansas in men’s basketball for the first time in Manhattan since, I believe, statehood or at least 1983.
To see KSU President Jon Wefald congratulating the dazzling Michael Beasley after the team’s win against Kansas and again for an opening round win in Omaha in the NCAA Championship tournament was heartening. Wefald and colleagues clearly appreciate the infusion of energy a successful sports season breathes back into the university.
On a final and un-expected note, the Royals are even off to a surprisingly good start. We’re all hoping their first place standing—as of this precious moment that I write—lays the groundwork that a whole young generation has missed, namely a winning tradition.
The Royals’ first two series of the season against the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees have been tremendous and a word of congratulations to a great start goes to new skipper Trey Hillman and the Glass family.
Success in sports is the one activity
that bridges all class, ethnic and ideological
divides. Okay, there is a little bit
of bread and circuses about it all. But
if we are going to have circuses in any
case, they might as well be fun ones. 
Joe Sweeney
Editor-In-Chief & Publisher
Sweeney@IngramsOnLine.com