Why It's So Easy to Hate Duke

Next: Mike Krzyzewski. He's a Chicago guy who played his college ball at Army under Bobby Knight and writes inspirational books about the philosophy of his coaching. He is a poster boy.

Just like everyone else who is the best at what they do, no one else can stand it.  He's a good looking guy, a family man, an excellent recruiter, and a role model.

America cannot stand that crap.

Why? 

Because we need Kobe Bryant in court in Colorado and Mark McGwire lying to congress and Ray Lewis being an all-out criminal. We feast on that.

Duke of old didn't claim to be the "UCLA of the East", as Lefty Driesell at Maryland tried to do (you can determine that accuracy of that statement for yourself). They constantly recruit hard-working, smart, players that almost always graduate. They don't cheat.

Where is the fun in that?

It's funny how Duke, who seems to try as hard as possible to win games and be the best, is constantly America's antagonist. The Blue Devils are easy to hate, like the Yankees in the 1990s, or the Patriots right now.

I remember a few years back when, during NCAA games, Coach K had a 30-second commercial talking about how great a school Duke is, and how he teaches students to be thinkers, leaders, and champions.

Everyone I ever watched a game with would say, "What a bogus commercial! I can't believe CBS would give him a recruiting advantage like that!"

This is a statement I fully agree with. It sickens me still. 

But here's the catch: He's right.

We all seek perfection, as is human nature. In running a basketball program, Krzyzewski has come very close to finding it.

And it drives the rest of us crazy. 

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