I was taking a look at Tony Bleill’s list of remaining teams in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, and the order in which he is rooting for them since Illinois is done (this is a fun read, click here to check it out).  This also includes the number of how he rooted for them when there were still 65 teams.  When I finished reading, it made me question my Illini fanhood a bit (hard to believe, I know).

I can understand not rooting for LSU.  They’re in the SEC, and I am sick of this conference when it’s football season.  I can understand not rooting for Michigan, for obvious reasons.  I can understand not rooting for Duke.  Not only are they in the ACC, but also that’s Dick Vitale’s team, and he’s insanely annoying baby!  I can understand not caring much for North Carolina, for pretty much the same reason (being in the ACC), and for beating Illinois in that National Championship game where they paid the refs to call all of those fouls against James Augustine (no, they didn’t really do that...or did they?).  I can also understand not rooting for Kansas, because that’s where Bill Self ran off to. 

But what about Missouri?

This is Tony’s #65 team to root for.  This was the one team that he, as an Illini fan, has the hardest time rooting for.  For me, I actually find it hard to root against Mizzou.  If anything, outside of Michigan State, Missouri is the team I am rooting for the most. 

I know we have the Braggin’ Rights games in football and basketball against them, and it’s always nice to beat them in those games, but after that I hope they play well.  I’ll admit I’m kind of a Missouri Tiger fan.  I don’t see why they should be a hated team, or at least one that is hated more than Michigan, Duke, or North Carolina.

Does this small part of me that likes Missouri make me any less of an Illini fan?  If so, why?  The Braggin’ Rights games to me seem more like a friendly rivalry than a hated one.  Am I wrong here?  Granted, I’ve never attended an Illinois-Missouri basketball or football game, so I haven’t been able to experience the atmosphere up close and personal, but I just don’t sense this being like a Red Sox-Yankees rivalry.  Is it bitterer than I think?

Maybe it’s because they aren’t in the ACC, Big East, or SEC.  Maybe it’s because they aren’t overly exposed in the national media. Or, maybe it’s because I got them in the national championship game in my bracket (yeah, that makes it really hard to root against them).  Whatever the reason, there’s still a small part of me that says “Go Tigers!”

Can you guys still accept me?  I-L-L?