Grant Hill Has A Theory On Why Everyone Hates Duke
Rooting against Duke is like rooting against Soviets or terrorists: if you’re an American it’s easy, and fun. But why, why do we hate Duke? They win a lot, sure, but so does their rival North Carolina. So does Kansas (who for the record, I hate very much). Granted, those are public schools, while Duke is an elite private institution. Certainly there is an anti-elitist element to the hate, but there isn’t nearly the animosity for the historically great Georgetown basketball, or University of Southern California football. There’s just something about Duke. Duke. Gahhh FUCK Duke. The sound just makes you angry.
Duke University basketball alumnus and all-around intelligent guy Grant Hill has a theory. In an interview with Bleacher Report the former Duke and NBA star shared why he believes the country hates Duke.
I played with Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner, and they were despised when we went on the road,” Hill smiled. “But you look into the crowd and it was nothing but white students at the games, so it was white on white hate. It’s sad.
If you watch the video, it’s clear Hill was actually joking about the whole “white on white hate” thing, but it’s sort of true. Grant Hill is by far the most accomplished player in Duke’s history, but when you think Duke, and more importantly, Duke hate, you think about guys like JJ Reddick and Christian Laettner. Though, to be fair, it’s pretty easy to hate this face:
The white on white Duke hate theory doesn’t hold up though. The college basketball loving public, most of which is white dudes, love the white, scrappy, cornfed teams like Butler, Northern Iowa, Creighton, and Gonzaga. White guys go nuts for those white guys. “They’re so slow, short, and average looking! JUST LIKE ME!”
In reality the reason people hate Duke is because Duke recruits assholes, most of whom happen to be white.
[via Bleacher Report]
But I would rather play for Duke than Kentucky.
11 years ago at 5:21 pmThat’s neat.
11 years ago at 5:24 pmYou’re a fucking loser.
11 years ago at 6:27 pm^Sick name, bro.
11 years ago at 7:28 amKentucky pays better
11 years ago at 7:26 pmEverybody hates Duke because of the ‘asshole’ reputation, that’s fairly accurate to say, but it is not the players who are most responsible for it. The students, especially of the decade between the mid-80’s and the mid-90’s, built a well known persona of whiteness, elitism and overall obnoxiousness with their in-game antics. That surely contributed a lot to the hatred.
11 years ago at 6:27 pmWhiteness, elitism, and obnoxiousness. TFM
11 years ago at 1:44 am^ Spot on.
11 years ago at 1:49 pmSouthern White Conservatives should root for Duke. They have a tradition of white guys playing basketball and succeeding at a high level, and Coach K is a living legend.
11 years ago at 6:31 pmWhy should southern white cons cheer for a school full of foreigners and Jersey transplants? The location is the only thing that is relatable to the south.
11 years ago at 9:08 pmPeople hate guys like Laettner, Redick, etc. because they are not intimidating. We feel like we can beat these guys asses so their success angers us. Hard to find many haters of guys like Patrick Young or Julius Randle.
11 years ago at 7:11 pmEveryone hates Duke because they have the reputation of having good, albeit assholish players, consistently good seasons, and being a elitist school. It’s easy to hate them because they’re good at EVERYTHING.
11 years ago at 7:32 pmJalen Rose called Grant Hill an Uncle Tom. Grant Hill responded in a New York Times editorial. That is why people hate Duke
11 years ago at 8:15 pmWe hate Duke the same reason we hate pikes. Because that’s the way god intended.
11 years ago at 3:37 pmIt’s Dook. Not Duke.
11 years ago at 5:19 pmI have a theory… Dukes a liberal pussy school.
11 years ago at 7:34 pmBelle Knox would agree
11 years ago at 9:17 pmThis “column” was a waste of my time. If I was looking for a mediocre sports column I would have read Bleacher Report, or maybe a Rick Reilly column he seems to be reusing things lately.
11 years ago at 9:30 am