If it looks like this picture is drawn on a napkin, that's because it is. I drew it in a taco place around here, in between bites of a really satisfying night-time burrito. The TV in the restaurant was tuned to an international equestrian event, with horses jumping over fences and puddles and stuff. It struck me that there's a whole world of interesting sports out there beyond the ones I normally hear about. As I chewed my burrito, curling popped into my head to represent all the sports that strike me as unusual and amusing. To that end, I bring you this duck sliding a rock with a handle across an icy pond. On a napkin.
In honor of tonight's big UNC-Duke game (go, Heels!), I offer this tribute to the game that so many recognize as a religion unto itself. I grew up in one of the world's pockets of truly ardent basketball fandom, but I have to be honest here: mine is a family that did not give a flip about the sport, and for many years I had no particular allegiance to one team over another. For various reasons, I now count myself a UNC fan, and while I will never follow the Tar Heels' ups and downs with the limitless fervor of some of my peers, I recognize and enjoy the passion of the rivalry between Duke and UNC. In the world of soccer, former Liverpool FC coach Bill Shankly is widely reputed to have said, "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that." Ask most anybody around here about basketball at this time of year, and I think they'd agree. Enjoy the game!
