March 3, 2011 - 4:28pm
Around Campus: Buckeyes or Taliban?
BY JEREMY LEVY
Nothing I’ve written at the Daily has ever received more angry comments than a column from the summer of 2009 decrying the behavior of fans in sports rivalries — not even my articles about Israel. A year and a half later, following two more humiliating losses against Ohio State University and with the most intensive speculation to date that Rich Rodriguez is getting canned, I think it’s appropriate to revisit the subject.
Since I didn’t grow up in Michigan, I’ve accepted, to a degree, that I will never understand that hatred that Michigan and Ohio State fans feel for each other. And I’ve always recognized that sports rivalries are much more violent in Europe than they are in the U.S.
But take a look at this post from MGOBLOG prior to the Wisconsin game this year. If you scroll down to the comment, “Are you a Michigan fan?” you’ll see a response that says, “I would rather beat the Buckeyes than the Taliban.”
Is this hyperbole? Probably. Is it feasible that this individual’s life will actually be affected more directly by a historical rivalry win than a military breakthrough? Yes. Regardless, I will never cease to be frustrated by such an attitude. It’s a luxury thata any fan can afford to view sports as the pinnacle of life.
By all means, entrench yourself in the incredible mania of sports and have a great time doing so. But don’t act like the Michigan and Ohio State rivalry is the most important thing on the planet.
