It’s beginning to become pretty difficult to tell a Duke fan from a Duke hater nowadays. Yes, Duke has lost 4 out of their last 5 games and most likely will drop from the top 25, but honestly, in the grand scheme of things, if you think this slide hurts you more than the players, then you clearly have issues. These kids, yes, kids, play hard, they work hard and for anyone to put them down, ask them to transfer, or call them garbage just blows my fucking mind. Mistakes will be made, and mistakes will be made over and over again, it’s how lessons are learned.
It is your right as a fan of college basketball or a Duke fan to spew in any way you want, but honestly the things said say more about you than they do about the team or the struggles they are going through. These kids have feelings, they have families and friends, and if you think they are immune to the vitriol that some of you are vomiting all over the web, then either you are insensitive douchebags or just not very smart. If that last sentence sounds harsh, well, that is indicative of the type of insults leveled at the this team, and not even from opposing fans but from people calling themselves Duke fans. When you are the ones participating in practices, running your ass off, getting in the gym, and giving up what these guys give up, then you can talk. If you haven’t done it, then maybe you should choose your words more carefully and at very least be mindful that you are in a public space.
I know how I would feel if it were my son, my daughter, maybe some of you should think about that, maybe you should think about someone calling your son or daughter trash, or garbage, or that they don’t deserve their scholarship. Obviously we are spoiled by success, we are all a little guilty of that, but it really isn’t an excuse to be jackass. If you can’t support a team when they are down, then what are you aside from fair-weather? At the end of the day you have to ask yourself: are you a fan or are you fleeting?
