On Faith and Fanship: A Treatise
On the cusp of the titanic showdown in Rupp between the struggling Wildcats and the untested Cardinals, I thought it noteworthy to discuss faith as it applies to fanship, and not merely as it applies to religion or dogma. For the fan is by definition "fanatic," a term more often applied in its fullest form to the blinded follower of religion or precept. And it is apt, as the UK fan base again seems on the verge of splitting a la Team Turmoil 2001, that we remember what it is that brings us to follow with such fervor the basketball team we love.
From the noted basketball philosopher Bob Dylan:
For those who would abandon Tubby Smith, the question starts and ends with 'why'? Is it merely the temporal frustrations of a season's rough beginnings or something grander, a slow erosion of your trust and faith? Those who have yet to jump ship tend to ask of you, "Did you ever have faith to begin with?" Whether through defensiveness or incredulousness, the answer seems to come in fits and starts, through lashing out or bland overgeneralizations of "truth" and "fact."
It seems to those who have stayed with the current coach that what is required in times of utmost frustration is not change, criticism and admonishment but rather the hallmark of those longtime followers: faith. But it is a lot to ask, and perhaps the term has more to do with one's alignment with the man than with the team.
From 2 Corinthians v. 7.:
Far be it from me to begin to attribute Kentucky basketball with religious belief. It's not in my own interests, nor in anyone else's, to begin such a thing. But the quote is moving, and telling, and it gets at the heart of many folks' wonderment at the hand-wringing and doubting by a vocal few. What is it you see that distresses you most, and are you able to see that it is passing (and shooting) or is it that you see it building? Do you lose faith in the current makeup because you dislike what you see or because you never liked it to begin with? And how to rectify these inconsistencies?
I don't have the answers to such questions, merely the ability to pose them. And in the end, faith will not keep Cardinals or Commodores or anyone else off the glass. But faith will keep your heart pure, and your blood pressure down. The man, Tubby Smith, has the ability and the experience, but lacks a killer instinct at times. Despite what many contend, I believe he has the myriad talents and weapons to build a winner with this group, something dangerous on both ends of the floor.
But the weight of expectations at UK can be a yoke too heavy for some. It buried Joe Hall, made him a miserable mess, and it could end up scaring off a fine man and great coach in Smith if we're not careful. One wonders what a little blind faith might engender. Some fear complacence, but that implies that the man himself, and his team, would allow such a thing. Some fear obsolescence, but that implies that the fans and the administration would allow such a thing.
To my mind, a little faith means trusting that the institution of Kentucky basketball is greater than any man, or player, or coach, and that what is produced longterm is worthy of the greatness set upon it. My best guess is that a win or a loss today is immaterial to the end result insomuch as the team had to get better. The fanbase demands it, and the coach -- despite the doubts and lost faith of the few -- would have nothing less.
Of faith, I have plenty. Will you join me?
From the noted basketball philosopher Bob Dylan:
You say you lost your faith
But that's not where it's at
You had no faith to lose
And you know it
I know the reason
That you talk behind my back
I used to be among the crowd
You're in with
For those who would abandon Tubby Smith, the question starts and ends with 'why'? Is it merely the temporal frustrations of a season's rough beginnings or something grander, a slow erosion of your trust and faith? Those who have yet to jump ship tend to ask of you, "Did you ever have faith to begin with?" Whether through defensiveness or incredulousness, the answer seems to come in fits and starts, through lashing out or bland overgeneralizations of "truth" and "fact."
It seems to those who have stayed with the current coach that what is required in times of utmost frustration is not change, criticism and admonishment but rather the hallmark of those longtime followers: faith. But it is a lot to ask, and perhaps the term has more to do with one's alignment with the man than with the team.
From 2 Corinthians v. 7.:
We walk by faith, not by sight.
Far be it from me to begin to attribute Kentucky basketball with religious belief. It's not in my own interests, nor in anyone else's, to begin such a thing. But the quote is moving, and telling, and it gets at the heart of many folks' wonderment at the hand-wringing and doubting by a vocal few. What is it you see that distresses you most, and are you able to see that it is passing (and shooting) or is it that you see it building? Do you lose faith in the current makeup because you dislike what you see or because you never liked it to begin with? And how to rectify these inconsistencies?
I don't have the answers to such questions, merely the ability to pose them. And in the end, faith will not keep Cardinals or Commodores or anyone else off the glass. But faith will keep your heart pure, and your blood pressure down. The man, Tubby Smith, has the ability and the experience, but lacks a killer instinct at times. Despite what many contend, I believe he has the myriad talents and weapons to build a winner with this group, something dangerous on both ends of the floor.
But the weight of expectations at UK can be a yoke too heavy for some. It buried Joe Hall, made him a miserable mess, and it could end up scaring off a fine man and great coach in Smith if we're not careful. One wonders what a little blind faith might engender. Some fear complacence, but that implies that the man himself, and his team, would allow such a thing. Some fear obsolescence, but that implies that the fans and the administration would allow such a thing.
To my mind, a little faith means trusting that the institution of Kentucky basketball is greater than any man, or player, or coach, and that what is produced longterm is worthy of the greatness set upon it. My best guess is that a win or a loss today is immaterial to the end result insomuch as the team had to get better. The fanbase demands it, and the coach -- despite the doubts and lost faith of the few -- would have nothing less.
Of faith, I have plenty. Will you join me?
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