To the editor:

I wanted to commend the men of the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team for their outstanding show of class and respect during their game against the Kansas State Wildcats. I have been a Jayhawk fan all my life, so I must acknowledge that bias, but I was impressed by the behavior of our Kansas Jayhawks that night.

Coach Bill Self is to be commended for teaching these young men to exhibit good sportsmanship even to a rival team. That reflects the character of Coach Self and his players.

Likewise, Coach Frank Martin and his team showed great class and good sportsmanship. Even though I am a Jayhawk fan through and through, I was glad to see both teams treating each other with respect on the court.

All during the game, both ball clubs and their coaches treated each other with respect and genuinely congratulated each other at the end of the game. It was a pleasure to watch.

I am reminded of a phrase spoken at every hometown basketball game when I was growing up, “while winning is for a day, good sportsmanship is for a lifetime.” Thank you, Jayhawks and Coach Bill Self, and Wildcats and Coach Frank Martin, for making me proud to be a Kansan!

Alyssa Dees,

Lawrence