I go to Duke and I don’t love basketball

Everyone around us is still reliving the amazing win we’ve had over UNC and enjoying the fact that yes, we still are the better school. Some people cried, some people screamed out of pure joy, and I was just sitting in a couch happy that we won and trying to show my enthusiasm about it.

But the fact is that I am still having trouble understanding the whole surge of excitement around basketball.

Believe it or not, I am a junior and still have never been to a basketball game (unless Countdown to Craziness counts…). When I tell this to people from other schools, the immediate reaction is “Umm, do you even go to Duke?!”

Countdown to Craziness

Don’t get me wrong, I love the spirit and everything around it. I think it’s great to take that much pride in supporting a sport, but basketball is just not my sport.

I remember when I was younger I took basketball lessons for about a year or two and was terrible at it! Honestly, it was embarrassing, so maybe that’s why I’m not the biggest fan?

I also remember one time when I told my parents about the whole tenting experience, and just like me they couldn’t really understand why someone would go through eight weeks (I think I got that right?) of sleeping outside in the freezing cold just to get into Cameron. Honestly, I can only say that I deeply admire their dedication because I probably couldn’t do it…

I keep trying to make excuses for why I have never been to a game:

“It’s midterms so I don’t have time to go wait in line.”

“I just couldn’t wake up this morning and then thought that it would be too late for me to come line up. But next time for sure!”

“Ugh I wish I could come but I planned something weeks ago and I can’t reschedule it..”

The list goes on… And honestly, I don’t know if anyone has ever bought any of these excuses. At least I know I wouldn’t if someone said them to me. So I’ve decided to stop. If I don’t want to go, I just don’t want to go – it’s as simple as that.

Just because we go to a “basketball school” doesn’t mean I should feel bad or ashamed about it.

I have never been to a game and I agree that this is kind of a shame, and so I promised myself that I would go to one this semester.

I completely respect and understand that some people LOVE IT and that’s great! I’m just not one of these people and I know, or at least I hope, that I’m not the only one out there.

Obviously I was happy that we won against UNC (Go to Hell Carolina, Go to Hell, right?) but I am not the girl that you will see crying at a game because we lost.

Despite all of this, going to a game is at the top of my bucket list, so I’ll see you there at some point, and DDMF!