University of Kentucky Basketball: Nirvana For The Big Blue Nation

Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

On Thursday, the University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball Team is set to begin it’s quest for the school’s ninth NCAA title. On top of that, the Wildcats have a chance to make history and become the first undefeated champion since the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers. Head Coach John Calipari is looking to grab his second NCAA title in 4 years and further cement his hall of fame credentials. In short, the next few weeks have the potential to make history for everyone that supports the Big Blue.

The Big Blue Nation is often maligned by opposing fan bases and media types as being too passionate. The thinking goes that Kentucky fans are so pathetic that there’s nothing else to bring joy to their mundane lives besides Wildcat Basketball. We’re hillbillies. We’re rednecks. We’re spoiled, entitled and whiny. And my personal favorite, we’re all racists (white fans) or clueless Uncle Toms (black fans).

Those of us within the BBN know that those are stereotypes that simply aren’t true. We know that being a Kentucky fan is being part of a family. The Cats are the Commonwealth’s Team, giving folks from Pikeville to Paducah and from Louisville to London common things to discuss (who should be playing more, what recruits are visiting). But I think it’s safe to say that the Kentucky fanbase extends far beyond the state’s borders. It’s hard to go anywhere in the world and not run into another Wildcat fan. We truly are a nation.

Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

What makes the Big Blue Nation special isn’t the numbers and records that the program has compiled over the years. Sure, the numbers are certainly impressive but there are moments and memories that get passed down from father to son and grandma to granddaughter. It’s remembering where you were when the Goose got loose. It’s remembering the sound of the shot heard ’round the Bluegrass. It’s about a team of Unforgettables giving the eventual national champions a game for the ages.It’s about Runts. It’s about Macy’s socks, Walker’s goggles and Anthony’s brow. It’s about watching a team that was written off in February redeem itself in March and making sure that the word “Tweak” will always bring a smile to our faces.

So, right now, as the Kentucky Wildcats close in on what seems to be a historic run, the Big Blue Nation has moved from being critical and negative and sensitive to becoming thankful. We’re thankful because we realize how special this team is and how this group of young men epitomize everything that has made UK basketball what it is: selflessness, sacrifice, and pulling together for the common good. We’re excited because this team has a chance to remind everyone else what the Big Blue Nation already knows: There’s nothing in this world like Kentucky Basketball.

Next: Is this UK's path to a Final Four?

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