President Kustra's remarks...

I submitted the following letter to the sports editor of the Idaho Statesman yesterday, and thought I would share the love with the online world. I don't want to get too carried away or fired up, but suffice to say I wasn't happy with President Kustra. I think he needs to apologize asap, but hey I'm not a slick politician, I'm just a fanatical sports junkie. Funny isn't it how I'm trying to lay out a well articulated argument while Kustra came off sounding like a local sports talk radio hack? Submitted respectfully for your approval...

"Today I must say that it saddens me to be a die hard Boise State football fan. In President's Kustra's comments to the Idaho Statesman regarding sweeping generalizations of U of I fans as 'inebriated and classless,' he came off sounding like a petulant child. Having been a follower of college football for the better part of my life, I can say this is in no way how the President of an academic institution of higher learning should behave. His business should be to foster an environment of tolerance and cooperation, and not toss around inflammatory sports talk radio fodder. Of course every sports team will have its fair share of outlandish fans, but for President Kustra to try and lord that opinion over Vandal fans is both egotistical and unfair. I can only hope that he has not damaged the hopes of this storied rivalry to continue, and to the many Vandal fans that I know and respect, I can only offer my most sincere apologies on behalf of the President, our University, and football fans who have not developed a false sense of entitlement."

Just trying to be a sports fan without all of the crazy...

Through Soccer Fans’ Eyes

It occurs to me that people don’t see things the way I do. For whatever reason, that truth has become evident through the game of soccer of all things! I should preface this soapbox speech by saying that I am a bonafied soccer nut... I see the game as someone who has devoted over 20 years to playing, watching or coaching. (Don’t worry, I like other sports too. Also if you touch me I don’t fall down in a heap like I was gunned down by sniper fire.)
For 4 years we soccer fans gear up for each World Cup, yearning for the start of the most popular sporting tournament in the world. Let’s just say, however, that being a U.S. soccer fan is an experience in humility and often shame as our national team has a dearth of talent, and a country behind it whose attitude could at best be described as luke-warm apathy. It is for that reason that we soccer fans carry an extra burden when the tourney rolls around…American’s apathy.
You see, it’s not enough for me just to root for us to win. I have to think of my bandwagon brothers who will occasionally glance at their T.V.’s not because they love the game, or are truly invested in the U.S. team, but they yawn and briefly acknowledge the existence of this “rest of the world” sport. It’s not enough for me to scream for Landon Donovan to score you see, I have to root for him to score 7 times to satiate the appetite of faux fans that would otherwise deem soccer dull and disinteresting.
You think it was hard watching the U.S. lose to Ghana?!? Try watching them lose and seeing your hopes and dreams of the game you love becoming a true national pastime..a hope and dream that melted away in the South African night like a Frenchman. Or French team if you like….