The familiar "M-I-Z" chant is spoken like a curse word where I'm from: Kansas. But that doesn't stop me from shouting it with as much spirit as I can muster.
A proud football and basketball season ticket holder, I consider myself the ultimate Tiger fan, stopping just short of painting my body or donning a Truman the Tiger costume. I put on my tiger ears, expertly apply temporary team tattoos, always dress in my fan gear, and attend nearly every home game. Like the shirt says, I "bleed black and gold."
Columbia is the epitome of a college town. There are thousands of people, just like me, wandering about the area. Students and the community thrive off the atmosphere of MU's most popular sports — football and basketball. Faurot Field and Mizzou Arena are both frequently packed beyond capacity. There is no occasion when this is more true than the annual basketball game between our Missouri Tigers and the KU Jayhawks.
Come Border Showdown time, anything Kansas-colored or Kansas-related might as well be considered a sin. The few Jayhawk fans who reside in or venture to Columbia and show their spirit need as much strength and willpower as the team they support. Jayhawk fans will inevitably face taunting and snide remarks at every turn.
It is true that Tiger fans do not make it easy for a Jayhawk fan in Columbia. But how do you think they really feel about a fellow Tiger fan who grew up in enemy territory?
If I kept my hometown of Olathe, Kan., to myself, I would be denying who I really am. Unfortunately, publicizing it tends to be met with ridicule. Tiger fan or not, most Columbians don't meet someone who is merely from Kansas without shooting off at least a quick joke or two. Even still, I am just as proud of where I grew up as I am of where I'm at now. My experiences in Olathe and Columbia both have shaped me into the person I am today.
Being a Kansas-born MU fan is often an internal battle. Once all the "chickenhawk" jokes have been laid to rest, I'm usually quickly forgiven for my birthplace by Missourians. Kansans still see me as a traitor, and seeing as I still consider myself a Kansan, I can see their point.
It is for this reason that I believe the struggles of a Kansas-born, Missouri-residing MU fan outweigh those of a Kansas-born, Missouri-residing KU fan. The KU fan will be greeted with open arms when they go home to family for spring break, while the Missouri fan will meet either scowls if the Tigers have been victorious in the rivalry or sneers if the Tigers have fallen.
As if the jokes from family and friends aren't enough, I'm greeted by a parade of crimson and blue KU garb every time I visit my hometown. Just as there is barely a store you can visit in the Columbia Mall without seeing MU apparel, the same is true for pretty much every shopping venue throughout the state of Kansas. Somebody save me if I should happen to have on a Tiger sweatshirt.
Favorite schools and teams aside, I am a firm believer in wearing your colors with pride. But for the sake of the sanity of those like myself, can't we all just get along? Missouri wins in football and Kansas wins in basketball. Call it a truce?
On second thought… "Hooray! Hurrah! Mizzou! Mizzou!"
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