OT: I Hate Christian Laettner

Submitted by BursleyHall82 on

A trailer for ESPN's "I Hate Christian Laettner" 30-for-30 is out. The film premieres on March 15. Jimmy King and Jalen Rose are featured in the trailer, so it looks like there's going to be a lot of Fab Five in this thing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw4isFCQJ-c

I'm very much looking forward to seeing it, if only to remind myself of how much I hated him.

Nitro

March 3rd, 2015 at 7:48 AM ^

Laettner did a decent amount of dirty work with the Pistons. He was a solid player - I learned to appreciate him.

Singler was just a bitch, more of a typical dookie than Laettner.

mGrowOld

March 2nd, 2015 at 10:33 PM ^

Duke V Kentucky in basketball for me is like watching OSU V Michigan State in football.  I cannot stand either team so there's no possible outcome that will make me happy.

I hate Christian Laettner too.  But the team his imortal shot beat, Kentucky, is no box of chocolates either.

Mac Attack

March 2nd, 2015 at 10:43 PM ^

The same reason why people outside of the Midwest want to see UM and OSU struggle. It takes away from the Game and belittles the rivalry.

Say what you want about Duke (no, I have not read the Duke player thread, yet) but they have found to win the right way in modern basketball for close to thirty years without tarnishing the school.

BursleyHall82

March 2nd, 2015 at 10:48 PM ^

I don't hate Christian Laettner in the same way I hate Hitler, but I hate him all the same.

Sports hate is a totally different - and totally acceptable - kind of hate. I hate Christian Laettner, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Urban Meyer and more than I can name right now. And I accept that people in Columbus hate us and people in East Lansing hate Mike Hart.

So yes, I hate Christian Laettner.

Mac Attack

March 2nd, 2015 at 10:56 PM ^

Different points in history that were unacceptable to humankind.

However, I don't hate athletes who play a certain style for their respective sport. Maybe that's the former hockey player in me and now referee. I accept a way a player plays, even if it may not be the style I prefer. The old saying goes, "I hate that player but would love to have him on my team".

jmblue

March 3rd, 2015 at 11:58 AM ^

There's actually been a fair amount of smoke over the years about Duke's recruiting methods not necessarily being on the up-and-up.  

Do not assume that no NCAA sanctions equals a clean program.  Remember, the NCAA has no power to compel witnesses to testify, so in a typical investigation, everyone just clams up. We'd have gotten off for the Ed Martin scandal if the FBI (which does have that power) hadn't also been on the case.

 

Rochester Blue

March 2nd, 2015 at 10:51 PM ^

I was in Lexington with friends for that game.  We went to see the Regionals at Rupp Arena and watched our Fab 5ers beat UNC and OSU.

We went to a bar and watched that game.  Of course we were rooting for UK with all of the locals and we hated Duke (and especially Laettner and Hurley).  OMG the place went from hysterically loud to perfectly silent in 0.1 seconds flat.  Although I didn't like the outcome, it was definitely an experience not everyone has had.

And did I mention we saw our team beat UNC and OSU!!!  Go Blue!

lilpenny1316

March 2nd, 2015 at 11:44 PM ^

I was in the hotel watching with my parents.  We were about to put on our jackets and drive downtown in hopes of seeing people celebrating in the streets.  

For clarification, we beats Oklahoma State and then Ohio State.  OSU beat UNC in the first game on Friday night and we beat Okie State in the nightcap.  

alum96

March 2nd, 2015 at 11:16 PM ^

I imagine Laettner is a lot like Laimbeer or Chelios.  A guy hated across the league ... unless he is on your team.

Still the best sporting event I went to (that was a loss) was the Dec 91 UM v Duke game during finals week.  I actually had trouble finding people to go with me because... finals. (NERDS!!!!)  We were down big to the Duke machine (nearly 20), made an incredible comeback, before eventually falling in OT.  This was when the Fab 5 just really began capturing mind share their freshman year. 

But the energy in that building in the 2nd half was one of those once in a lifetime things.

Jack Hammer

March 3rd, 2015 at 5:36 AM ^

I was on campus during that game and was so poor I couldn't find a way to the game. watched on my 19 inch rca analog. several of my buddies in west quad gathered and claimed our dying allegiance to those fab 5 who lifted and broke our hearts over and over for the next couple years.