It's ESPN's Rivalry Week!!! (week 5 blog)

Hello Everyone,
All of you sports fans, basketball fans in particular, would know that this week on ESPN is rivalry week! Some of the best college teams, with the biggest, most epic rivalries are shown on ESPN all week. It's a good time to sit down with your friends and make bets on the games and cheer on your favorite team right from the dorm.

The biggest game so far, in my opinion, was the North Carolina/Duke game. Which North Carolina, unfortunately ended up winning. Bummer. (See image to upper left) Both teams are successful and only several miles apart, causing one of the biggest rivalries in college basketball today. Both teams are equally as cocky, and arrogant. There are chants heard coming from the Duke fans "Go to hell Carolina, go to hell". One former player, Joseph Forte has been quoted as saying "They hate us, just like we hate them." (To See full article click here)

This game like many others is made public on ESPN, and ESPN bases their rivalry week off this big game. The game, is exciting and fun to watch, because it is such a great rivalry. But, in contrast, it could almost be a negative thing to see on television. Kids once again, are watching this game and look up to these college athletes/students. While I agree that games like these promote competition, rivalries, and that little bit of extra drive, could it also be negative? Young kids see these college students in the stands yelling obscenities, being obnoxious, and not treating their opponents with respect. Many kids will see this and see that it is accepted to be rude and obscene at games. When it really is not. Yes, I'm a college athlete and, I, just like every other college student get obnoxious, and rude at times, but it's not really the right behavior to display in public where there can be kids around. But, is that going to stop athletes from being the way they are? Probably not.

All in all rivalry week is a good display of unity of schools at the college level, a great rivalry, and one great experience if you get to go to one of the games. It's kind of like Valley City State Vs. Jamestown! haha epic! But, sometimes we take it a little overboard with our comments, although funny, they are influencing a younger crowd, and to show that on television, it could be harmful to youths attitudes in their own games.

Also other teams involved in rivalry week are:

• Duke vs. North Carolina
• West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh
• Missouri vs. Kansas
• Syracuse vs. Connecticut
• Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
• Villanova vs. Saint Joseph's
• Kentucky vs. Florida

(click for more information)