Archive for Friday, June 27, 2008
Fans make case for TitleTown
ESPN's Darren Lyn interviews Jayhawk basketball Coach Bill Self Friday morning at Allen Fieldhouse. ESPN was in Lawrence Friday to tape "TitleTown USA." Lawrence is among 20 cities nominated by the network to be named the nation's top championship city.
June 27, 2008, 10:54 a.m. Updated June 28, 2008, 12:00 a.m.
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Jayhawk pride on display in bid to win TV contest
Lawrence could soon be considered the new TitleTown USA according to ESPN. Enlarge video
Lawrence: City of Champions?
About 2,000 Kansas University fans made the case to name Lawrence ESPN's "TitleTown USA," as the sports network filmed a segment on Friday at Allen Fieldhouse. Earlier this week, ESPN named Lawrence one of 20 cities vying to be named the nation's top championship city.
Buoyed by members of the KU band, fans waved signs, pompoms and giant cardboard cutouts of KU basketball players.
Men's basketball coach Bill Self was the guest of honor during the segment, which will air between July 4 and July 23. The competition, which pits Lawrence against cities such as Boston, Ann Arbor, Mich., and Massillon, Ohio, will be determined by online voting between July 23 and July 26.
While Self was interviewed by ESPN reporter Darren Lyn, fans were asked to silently show their support so that Self and Lyn could record the interview. It made for a surreal atmosphere at the fieldhouse, which veered from eerily silent to rambunctious.
Zak Rosenberg, a lifelong Jayhawk fan from Millersville, Pa., was visiting family in Lawrence. He called the crowd "electric."
"It sounded as loud as it does during games," he said. "That's what the Jayhawks do to you. They make you a better fan, they make you a better person."
Self said he didn't know much about the competition until he arrived at the fieldhouse Friday morning, but was certain Lawrence would make its voice heard.
"Based on the limited knowledge I have, I can't believe that anybody is more excited per capita than we are here in Lawrence, Kansas," he said.
Jayhawk fans came prepared.
Juan Heath, Overland Park, wore a KU hard hat and a Kansas license plate that said "Beak Em" around his neck. He said the city's biggest competition would be Boston, but thought Lawrence had a shot.
"I think we deserve to be there. The great tradition and history of the Kansas basketball program, the fact that the football program really came out of nowhere. ... I definitely think we're legitimate," he said.
And while KU held the spotlight, Heath was sure to give a tip of that hat to the athletic tradition of Lawrence high schools.
"I'm a lifelong Kansas resident, so I understand Lawrence High School had many years of dominance, and Lawrence is a great place, so it definitely deserves to be represented on ESPN," he said.
Lyn said all the elements were there for Lawrence to compete.
"I think all of the different sports elements, from the high school level to the college level to the pro level make a difference in this TitleTown," he said. "I don't think it hurts when you have the most state championships for Lawrence High School, and that the football team has the most undefeated seasons."
"TitleTown USA" will be revealed on July 27.
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27 June 2008
at 12:23 p.m.
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newsreader (Anonymous) says…
Well… I dont know what exactly comes with being named “Title Town” but winning the Orange Bowl and the NCAA Basketball Championship should pretty much seal the deal
27 June 2008
at 1:24 p.m.
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fu7il3 (Anonymous) says…
Unlike Boston who has won a World Series, an NBA Championship, and a NFL conference championship with an undefeated regular season?I don't see how anyone buy Boston will get it.
27 June 2008
at 1:44 p.m.
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nobody1793 (Anonymous) says…
Either way, this is pretty stupid.
27 June 2008
at 1:47 p.m.
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Confrontation (Anonymous) says…
Good thing you're a nobody, or I'd really be worried.
27 June 2008
at 1:51 p.m.
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d_prowess (Anonymous) says…
I agree that Boston probably has the best argument for this, but I think it's based on internet voting, so who knows who might get it.
27 June 2008
at 2:01 p.m.
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fu7il3 (Anonymous) says…
Definately Boston if it is internet voting. The Patriots, and especially the Red Sox, have huge followings in heavily populated areas. Barring a KU Computer Science department hacker spamming the voting, I don't think Lawrence has a realistic chance.But it is nice to be recognized.
27 June 2008
at 2:49 p.m.
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smartmomma (Anonymous) says…
Anyone know when they will announce who they pick?
27 June 2008
at 3:26 p.m.
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JSDAD (Anonymous) says…
whenever they do lou will be sure to remind all of you that it is about the university, not you. remimber its the university of kansas, not the university of lawrence
27 June 2008
at 3:37 p.m.
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kwjayhawk (Anonymous) says…
surprised the athletic department didn't ask for 'contributions' for fans entering this morning.
27 June 2008
at 4:12 p.m.
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srj (Anonymous) says…
Sportscenter can't show baseball highlights all summer, so they make up stuff. I have not watched it since I got the internet.
28 June 2008
at 10:01 a.m.
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trvlronda (Anonymous) says…
Bill Self said it….per capita. Yeah, Boston has 3 big professional sport success stories, but it's diluted by a national sport specific fan base. Not every citizen of Boston is a red sox/patriots/and Celtic fan. However, when the Jayhawks win or the high schools win, regardless of sport, it's a whole community that feels the pride.
28 June 2008
at 5:03 p.m.
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oldvet (Anonymous) says…
Can't believe, though, that directly behind the podium and on national tv they position two older fat chicks… if Obama could get the muslims out of view, we should at least have been able to get some cuties there…