Fan-tastic
The most boorish fans in the ACC (can you tell we're in a holding pattern waiting for the ACC Tournament to tip off, or what?) are ...
This is a tough question to answer.
The first thought that comes to mind is Maryland and the infamous game from a couple of years back involving the graphic reaction to J.J. Redick's appearance at the Comcast Center.
The "F.U. J.J." chants (the kids there didn't skimp on the F.U. part of the chant, either, for those who might have missed out on this one) weren't even the worst part.
(Remember, J.J. has a sister.)
Duke fans are themselves are a close second - the Cameron Crazies, far from being the cute, cuddly supersupporters that Dick Vitale would have us believe them to be, are the rudest, crudest and most obnoxious rooters in the state of North Carolina.
Third, I would say, are the fans at the University of Virginia. And actually, the 'Hoos - more whining than obnoxious - might give the Dukies a run for their money.
Not a game at University Hall was played without the denizens complaining vociferously from the opening tip to the final buzzer about the officiating.
It would have been nice for the finale over the weekend to have been different, but ...
The final group of fans that I'll pick on here are those from North Carolina - and for one reason. I'm not sure if this is where it started or not, but the first time that I ever heard the infernal "Over-rated!" chant was at the tail end of a UNC victory over an unbeaten Virginia team in 1992.
It wasn't totally unwarranted - the UVa. team in question was ranked in the top 10 after a win at Duke early in that season that followed an otherwise unremarkable pre-conference schedule.
Even so, the premise behind the chant is, well, stupid - given that the idea that you're getting across is that the team that your five has just vanquished isn't good, which would seem to devalue what your boys have just accomplished.
Commence to plucking me apart.
- Chris Graham