Every December in the Bluegrass State the Red State-Blue State paradigm takes on a whole 'nother meaning. For one whole week the state gets hyped up over the University of Kentucky-University of Louisville basketball game. Whether it's played in Lexington or Louisville doesn't matter. The rabid basketball fans in the state choose sides and the trash talk begins.
The Cat and Card fans go at each other on the sports talk shows, radio and television airwaves. Family members choose Wildcat blue or Cardinal red to wear and fans spend large amounts of money purchasing the appropriate color game day attire. Newspapers print special game day sections covering every aspect of the game. Talk about the UK-U of L game is front and center on the minds of the blue and red clad legions of fans at water coolers and the sports bars. The coaches of both squads, their strategies and the players are dissected, sliced, diced and subjected to laser-like scrutiny by the fans of both teams.
The feelings are especially intense in Louisville and Lexington. They hate each other. It's basically the rivalry between the two cities playing itself out on the basketball court. If UK and UL were playing tiddlywinks they'd have a sold-out Rupp Arena or Freedom Hall to watch it.
This isn't just a basketball game. This is about what some people call here the other state religion. Like their counterparts on the other side of the Ohio River in Indiana, they take their basketball seriously in Kentucky. Having basketball bragging rights on the line only heightens the excitement and hype for the game.
It's always fun for me to watch the activity leading up to The Game because not being born here I can say with a straight face that I'm neutral and root for both teams. I do understand the intensity of the rivalry. I got to watch the Texas-Texas A&M hatefest every year. That still doesn't stop denizens of Cat Nation and Cards Nation from exerting an almost missionary zeal in trying to convert me into a partisan fan for their side.
This year's game didn't go so well for Cards fans. UK spanked them in Freedom Hall 61-49. The UK fans have already started gloating about their victory. U of L fans will retreat to their fallback position of having the superior football team and reminding Cat fans that they are going to a BCS bowl in a few weeks.
Cheer up U of L fans. Only ten more months until the 2007 football season kicks off and a chance for revenge at Commonwealth Stadium.