GMTS Newsletter: Lamenting the loss of the Shootout

Friday , June 15, 2012

One fight.

One single, solitary bench clearing brawl is changing the face of the greatest basketball rivalry in our area.

Sure, it was a huge fight. It was ridiculous and embarrassing. It even spawned a fantastic poem . :)

But it was one fight.

And as a fan of both Xavier and UC (yes, it’s possible), I find it frustrating from both sides.

It’s frustrating that these schools made national headlines and the lead story on SportsCenter because of something this stupid.

It’s also frustrating that this is the combined reaction. The Crosstown Shootout is no longer going to be called the Shootout. Too violent, apparently. Crosstown Classic? It’s just not the same. And it seems like it’s pandering.

It’s frustrating that the people in charge think changing the name of this game will somehow change the way these teams feel about each other. It might, though, change the way we, as fans, feel about it.

It’s frustrating that a once-intense rivalry that’s slacked off a bit in recent years will be quelled even further. Home court advantage is everything in a Shootout. It’s like going from real Coke to a generic store brand. It might make sense, but it’s just lacking something. It’s just not the same.

It’s frustrating all the way around.

The people in charge of this are way more intelligent and forward-thinking than I am, but that’s exactly the point. I’m a fan, just like you. And just like the tens of thousands of other Bearcat and Muskie fans out there, I feel like this move makes little to no sense.

I’m sure none of us want to see a repeat of what happened at the end of last year’s game. And I certainly don’t have a solution that I think would work. But shooting the entire process with a neutralizer gun isn’t going to work.

By taking out the intensity of the venue, you take out some of the flavor.

And that’s what makes a rivalry.

We’ll see on Dec. 19, when the Crosstown (insert eye roll here) Classic is played at US Bank Arena.

We're also talking about it on Facebook , if you'd like to chime in. But please, no punches.

From Today’s Show:

-Start Saving: New numbers show that it’ll cost a new parents $235,000 to raise a child born this year through age 17. Nope, that doesn’t include college.

-Why Are Gas Prices So #%%$# High? That’s the question John Matarese asks – and answers.

Today’s Distracting Link:

There’s no way to describe this but odd. (includes flashing images, so if you’re looking for a reason to go home early, this might be the ticket.)

http://www.larrycarlson.com/medijate/