I need to define my frame of reference for this review. My favorite authors are (in no particular order) Elmore Leonard, James Lee Burke, and David Halberstam. So, it is safe to say I like humor, great character development, good prose and effective blending of historical facts into story lines. "To Hate Like This" is a funny, very well written account of one of the greatest rivalries in sports. Sure, Boston fans hate the New York Yankees with a passion, but are they eight miles apart and sharing the same barber shop? The Duke/Carolina rivalry is like no other.
I also need to state my bias: I grew up in Chapel Hill, ran track in high school with the author and graduated from UNC. But, I was not always a Duke hater. As Will explains so well in the book, Carolina's main rival was David Thompson and NC State when we were coming up. Duke was more of an annoyance than a program to be hated. It was not until the arrival of Coach K that the hating truly started. I even pulled for Duke in out-of-conference games until the early 1990's. My casual dislike evolved into quasi-hatred about the time that Danny Ferry became known as the dirtiest player in the ACC. Then came Christian Laettner and his very un-Christian like stomping of an opposing player as he lay helpless on the floor. Not to mention Coach K's foul mouth and constant carping at the officials. But mostly it is their spoiled brat obnoxious fans whose behavior is encouraged by such luminaries as Dook Vitale. Okay, enough venting.
Will Blythe's book is not just another sports book that chronicles big games and big plays. Perhaps it was fate that he started the book as UNC was on the verge of one of its best seasons ever and another national championship. His chronicles of the careers of the non-stars of that team, Melvin Scott and Jawad Williams, reminds us all of the fleeting nature of sports fame. But the 2005 season is just a convenient backdrop for the bigger story: why is there so much hate?
Native North Carolinians, like Will's father to whom the book is dedicated, dearly love our state. It has beauty, charm and tradition. To many of us, Duke University is just a collection of 20th century buildings made to look old for the elite to send their children who could not get into an Ivy league school. Less than twenty percent of the student body hails from North Carolina. Many of our neighbors view it as simply a place for Yankee interlopers to get their tickets punched before they go back to whence they came and enlarge their fortunes. We don't need them. They are not one of us. Duke's other athletic programs, except for women's basketball, are lame at best. Football is a joke. Their baseball program was terrible until the coach started pushing the players to take steroids. And don't even get me started about the lacrosse team, the grand jury has yet to convene. So, it all comes down to basketball and Coach K for Duke to have national prominence in college athletics.
It is interesting to note the players at the respective schools deeply respect each other and many are friends off the court. It is the fans that create the hate. Will goes into great anecdotal detail about why the animosity is so deep rooted by interviewing fans on both sides. The stories are poignant and occasionally pitiful when you consider how limited some people's lives are if college basketball has become their reason for being.
Where does hate start? My wife and I have done our best to bring our children up to be tolerant, open-minded, respectful and generous to all people. They have worked in food banks, served the homeless and helped build churches in impoverished countries. We hope this has lead to a greater appreciation for what they have and to respect all people. We have, however, clearly failed in one regard as our children cannot stand Duke basketball. Our oldest son heads off to Carolina next year and never had one thought of applying to Duke. A full scholarship would not have persuaded him to go there. He and his younger brother sit in front of the television yelling at JJ Redick as if the TV could somehow transmit their feelings up to the satellite and back down to JJ, imploring him to clank another twenty-six footer. To be even handed, I mentioned once that if I were trying to teach a child how to shoot a basketball properly I would use JJ Redick as a model, his form is so pure. Their response: "dad, why would you teach a kid to shoot forty times a game, it's a team sport."
Perhaps the hatred, like most prejudice, starts at home. Maybe it was a not-so-subtle comment on my part, a rec room filled with Carolina memorabilia, a less than kind word about Coach K, or a constant stream of praise about Carolina tradition and values. Even my wife who grew up in Ohio, a deacon in church, recoils at the sight of Coach K. Like the little boy Will describes who was told whom to root for by his big brother, our own family tradition continues. Reading Will's book helped me understand my own prejudices and that my feet are indeed made of clay. His portrayal of Coach K and Redick also allows me to like them just a little bit. If JJ's favorite album is Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska," he can't be all bad. It also reminded me of the importance of family and loyalty. Will's father would be very proud of this book.
Buy this book, you won't be disappointed.
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