For a while Saturday afternoon I thought the events that had transpired at the Kohl Center brought out nothing but the best this university has to offer. Then I read this on Twitter:
""#Buckeye Nation if you ever decide to rush the court. Don't ever spit on the opponents. Just a lil tip from me to you … To be spit on is just nasty. On top of that in my face. Before and after the game. Smh. I just kept walking. More fuel to the fire.""
These two tweets, coming from Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger, show a serious stain on an otherwise perfect day for the UW community.
First of all, let me put to bed any thought of this being just a spoiled loser hyperbolizing the traumatic experience of a loss accentuated by a throng of students rushing onto the floor. Jared Sullinger isn't your average freshman, nor is he your average college basketball star. This is a kid who has the work ethic of a walk-on with the talent of a five-star recruit.
Sullinger has shown tremendous respect for his program, for his opponents and for the game of basketball throughout the season, and Saturday was no exception. Even after tweeting about his ugly experience, Sullinger had the maturity to later tweet:
""Bo Ryan said some good things today. One hell of a coach. Much respect to him and his team. @DickieV told me to tweet him. So here u go lol.""
Sure he wasn't happy about losing, but to have the maturity to calm down and show his respect for the Wisconsin program, that is not the mark of a spoiled loser.
Now that we've put that thought to bed, let's discuss the spitting in question. To be honest, there isn't a much better way to describe it than simply despicable.
Rushing the court and the opportunity to be able to celebrate such a monumental victory on your court with your team is one of the great opportunities college athletics can provide.
But rushing the court is about celebrating with your team, not heckling the opposition. A great fan base is one that supports its team with unwavering enthusiasm and yet at the same time is able to shy away from going over the top.
Spitting on an opposing player is inexcusable under any circumstance.
Wisconsin fans are, for the most part, overwhelmingly the best college sports fans in the nation. One look at the sea of red that was Santa Monica Pier on the eve of the Rose Bowl and it should be hard for anyone to debate that.
That is why it is a shame when one of those fans decides that they want to go over the line.
Coming onto the court in a cape with 18.2 seconds left puts a blemish on the actions of the majority that came out when the clock flashed zeros.
Spitting on, at, or even in the direction of an Ohio State player when rushing the court tarnishes the actions of everyone who rushed out to lift Jordan Taylor, Jon Leuer and others up off their feet in celebration.
So we once again return to my original point: That stuff is unacceptable.
And for that reason, we as a Badger community cannot afford to simply dismiss these actions as the unfortunate actions of a single reckless student. By shedding it to the side, we send the message that while it might not be indicative of the Badger nation as a whole, it nonetheless remains as a part that is implicitly accepted.
One of the great things about being a Wisconsin basketball fan is the opportunity we have to root for a team that is respected not only for its on-court abilities, but perhaps equally for its integrity on and off the floor.
As a fanbase, we need to follow in their footsteps.
And in remembering Saturday as a great event in the history of UW athletics, this is a step all of us need to take.
Can one student tarnish the entire reputation of the Badger fanbase? E-mail Max at max.sternberg@yahoo.com.
