Kentucky Basketball: 5 Things That Prove You're a Serious Wildcats Fan

The only thing more impressive than the accomplishments of the Kentucky Wildcats basketball program is the overwhelming devotion of Kentucky fans.  There is not a more passionate group in the world than Big Blue Nation.

And these are real fans, people that know the game and understand its history.  This isn't a bunch of nerds jumping up and down all day and acting like cheerleaders with stupid chants, these are true hoop heads and die-hards. 

Kentucky fans don't set up tent villages just for a select few games that they know will get them on television.  No, Kentucky fans set up a tent village days in advance of the season's first practice.  Kentucky fans don't have to tell you how loyal they are and work with the media to create a fake fan base that doesn't really know the first thing about basketball....they just love their Cats from the moment they are born until they die.

So trust me, all fans are not created equal.  Kentucky fans are just better than the rest.

And within the world of Kentucky basketball fans, some fans are better than others.  You aren't a great fan just because you paint your face while you are in college and get in the student section (I refuse to call it the idiotic name it was given).  If you wear a Spiderman costume, you don't automatically get to be called a great fan. 

No, you must prove you are the best of the best by five things and five things only.  If you have done these, you are a super fan.  If not, you are still among the best fans in the world...but you are a few steps behind.  And if you ever, ever wear something other than school colors with UK on it then you should be a Louisville fan.  They like that kind of thing there.

You Have Jon Scott's Website Bookmarked

If you recognize that picture, then you probably already know all about Jon Scott's Big Blue History website.  If not, then you need to educate yourselves...like, right now.  Leave this article and come back later.  You owe it to yourself as a Kentucky fan.

His site is the place for all information past and present on Kentucky basketball.  And while all of his site is great, the statistics page is amazing.  I have literally spent hours upon hours searching through his archives and I always seem to find some nugget that I had either forgotten or never knew.

If you have never heard of this site then not only is it your loss, but you can't consider yourself a truly great UK fan.

See Rupp Arena and Memorial Coliseum

You can't call yourself a serious Kentucky fan if you have never seen Rupp Arena and Memorial Coliseum.  Yes, both of them.

Rupp Arena is obvious because that is where Kentucky currently plays and is one of the best arenas in the nation.  You have to have seen where Kentucky plays at least once in your life or you aren't even in the ballpark of being a serious fan.

But if you come to Lexington and you don't even try and stop by Memorial Coliseum, where much of Kentucky's great history and the foundation for the program was made, then I don't know what to say to you.  I'm not even sure you are human...but you definitely aren't a serious fan.

Heck, if you don't try and sneak a ball onto the court and shoot a few shots then something is probably wrong with you.

You Proudly Display Kentucky Stuff Wherever You Go

Overseas in the military?  Traveling to New York for the holidays?  Traveling down south and stopping off in other SEC locations?

If you answered yes to any of the above or are just leaving the house to go to Walmart, you better have some UK gear with you.  Thankfully, this usually isn't a problem with Kentucky fans.

I can't remember a single place I've gone on vacation where I didn't see at least one Kentucky fan or have another Kentucky fan yell "Go Cats" at me as I stroll by in my Kentucky hat.  In fact, this past year at the Masters I lost track at how many people either yelled this at me or tried to start a C-A-T-S cheer.

This is the easiest requirement to meet, so if you can't even do this then cheer for Duke.

You Have Watched at Least One Kentucky Road Game

Yep, you have to have traveled somewhere outside of the Commonwealth to have seen Kentucky play.  And yes, I'll give partial credit to the SEC tournament and you will get some props for seeing them in Louisville as long as it was the UofL game.  But if you haven't done any of these then you just don't quite cut it as a serious fan.

There is nothing better than rolling into enemy territory and watching Kentucky smack around some poor team.  And if it's a true SEC road game then it's even better.  Seeing Kentucky fans take over an opposing arena is one of the most impressive things I have ever seen and been a part of.  I'll never forget the time in Athens when Kentucky fans made up at least 80 percent of the fans at the game.

Just so you know I'm not expecting anything from you that I haven't done as well, here is my list of locations.  It's not that impressive really, but it's ok for now.

New York/New Jersey

Athens

Knoxville

St. Louis

Cincinnati

Atlanta

Nashville

You Watch Midnight Madness Every Year

Look, it's not even at midnight anymore and it's on television.  Plus it is the start to another year of nearly every Kentuckians favorite sport.  So really, if you can't even do this, then why do you even pretend that you are a Kentucky fan?

And yes, I know the event is actually pretty boring.

The practice itself stinks and the event drags on too long.  Too many people ignorant of the program (i.e. college girls) get in and try their best to ruin it for everyone with their shrieks and questions abut what basketball is.  It doesn't matter.

Midnight Madness is a must see even every year not because of the dunk contest, the music or the girl's team, but because it is your first chance in the season to meet the new players and see your latest team take the court.  And if you don't take that seriously and watch it every year, why are you even reading this and looking at Kentucky stuff on the Internet?

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