One of these days – it’s almost useless to try to predict when – but one of these days, the majority of those in Lawrence who have nothing good to say about former Kansas University basketball coach Roy Williams will either have passed on, left Lawrence or realized how silly, small and foolish they have been.

Roy Williams was and is a great college basketball coach. KU was fortunate to have him as its coach for 15 years. He was generous with his time, his money and his energy. He always behaved in a manner that reflected well on the university, Lawrence and the state of Kansas. His record as a coach during the 1990s was the best of any active coach.

He came here as an untested head coach, and KU gave him the opportunity to display just how good he is at this job. It was only natural that his home school, the University of North Carolina, dreamed of having him as its head coach to maintain the high level of basketball success that school had sustained over the years (1961-1997) under coach Dean Smith, a former Kansan.

When an opening occurred and Williams was asked to take the job, he said “no,” that he wanted to remain at KU and that KU would be his last college basketball coaching position.

But in 2003, three years later, after former KU assistant coach Matt Doherty was kicked out of the job, North Carolina called again. This time, changes at KU had caused Williams to be uncertain as to what the future of KU might be in various areas, and he decided to take the UNC job. It had been his dream job but he always said “no” because he was so happy at KU. The climate changed, and Williams decided to move back to his home state.

That triggered all kinds of hatred, bitterness and vicious attacks from those on and off the KU campus. That was five years ago, and the bitterness and mean-spirited feelings and expressions about Williams still linger.

There are those in Lawrence and elsewhere who refuse to let it go. They’ll probably go to their graves with little, if anything, good to say about the most successful coach in KU’s history and one of the nation’s truly outstanding basketball coaches.

Against this backdrop, Bill Self came to Lawrence and KU.

In his first five years, he has won 140 games, a great record, with four regular-season Big 12 conference championships, three post-season Big 12 tournament championships and five appearances in the NCAA Tournament. His coaching record at Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois was excellent, one of the best in the country.

However, in addition to his skills on the basketball court, he is a great ambassador for the university and the state. He, too, conducts himself in a manner that reflects credit on the university in many, many ways. Lawrence, the university and the state of Kansas are fortunate to have him as the Jayhawk basketball coach.

So here we are.

Kansas and North Carolina will be playing each other this evening in the semifinals for the NCAA national championship. It’s a tribute to both teams and both coaches. It should be a great time for alumni and friends of each school and for genuine college basketball fans throughout the country. They are both No. 1 seeds in the tournament. This is the first all four No. 1 seeds have made it to the NCAA Final Four.

It’s a great event.

However, some in Lawrence and elsewhere are trying to spoil the whole thing by trying to make it a contest between Bill Self and Roy Williams, not a game between Kansas and North Carolina, historically two of the most successful basketball programs in the country.

Why can’t these bitter, small individuals enjoy the game, let bygones be bygones and realize that two good teams coached by two good men are going to put on a great show that should be enjoyed by everyone.

A number of Lawrence people use ugly language, mean thoughts and downright low-class behavior to express their dislike of Williams. There are Lawrence people who talk out of both sides of their mouths, saying Williams betrayed the university and Kansas and calling him names but, when given the opportunity, fall all over themselves trying to let Williams know how much they like and admire him.

This situation brings out the shallowness and phoniness of such individuals, but even more harmful, is that such talk and actions keep putting fuel on the fire to generate greater anger toward Williams.

It is vital for the community of Lawrence and Kansas University that, win or lose, all fans act with class and good sportsmanship. Anything less – anything – would tarnish Lawrence and the Jayhawks with a long-lasting stain. Tonight, yell in victory or cry in defeat, but act with class. Tomorrow, hold your head high and look forward to more great times.

Who knows how people are going to act and react before, during and after tonight’s game. How will they react if KU wins or loses? How will they react if KU makes it into the finals and wins or loses?

Regardless, both Self and Williams are top-flight individuals who deserve the support of their fans. It is believed the two men have positive thoughts about each other, but they are intense competitors; each wants to win. But that’s where the competition should end, between the two central characters, Self and Williams, not spread among all the hangers-on.

It’s time for the ugliness displayed by some in Lawrence and elsewhere to come to an end, no matter who wins tonight’s game. This mean, vicious small-mindedness reflects far more negatively on those who continue spewing this bile against Williams than on anyone else.

It’s time for it to end and for those who hear such talk to tell those who display their small minds to button their lips.