Illini fans angry at Hoosiers' Gordon cross line

CBS Sportsline ^ | Feb 8, 2008 | Gregg Doyel

[Always Right]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Until the cup of ice water sailed out of the upper deck and landed on Eric Gordon's mother, causing her to shriek in fright, I was going to applaud Illinois fans for handling the return of Gordon with as much restraint as can be expected.

Illinois fans were never exactly classy on Thursday night, including chanting profanity at Gordon and cheering when he appeared to injure his elbow, but this wasn't a situation where the bar is set at classy. That wouldn't have been fair to Illinois' fans, because too much had been said and done. Gordon had committed to Illinois in 2006, giving the Illini their best recruit in decades, and then he had changed his mind in 2007. He had chosen not just another school, but Big Ten rival Indiana. This was bad.

[Always Right]

Great double overtime game last night where Indiana pulled out a tough win. But this was overshadowed by the classless acts by the coach, players and crowd and Illinois. Throwing objects at a players mother, chanting profanities throughout the game, chest bumping into Gorden instead of shaking his hand, a coach who won't shake the opposing coaches hand. One of the most disgusting displays of sportsmanships I have seen at the collegiate level. Just because a 16 year old kid changed his mind on what school he wanted to attended after the coaching situation changed at Indiana where he always wanted to play.

The author got it wrong, none of this was excusable from the beginning. Imagine the parents of a kid needing extra security just to watch their son play.

[cdga5for4]

Illinois was out of line but Weber did shake Sampson’s hand, which is probably more than Sampson deserves. Sampson is a snake.

[Always Right]

I missed it. But here is their 'handshake' at their first meeting. Webber pulls away at first, the shakes.

Hand Shake

[vpintheak]

This kind of behavior is rampant at any sporting event these days. I won’t expose my kids to it. Too bad, because I used to like watching live sports action.

[Publius Valerius]

Some years ago, I was at an Indiana game when the students got upset over a call. As is not uncommon with students, they began to chant “bull___” repeatedly.

Bob Knight, who was still the coach at Indiana at that time, got onto the PA system and said something along the lines of “We don’t do that at Indiana.” Quieted the crowd right down.

[hawkeye101]

Want to get an Illini fan’s goat; mention this name: Bruce Pearl. And also remind them what a great job he is doing at Tennessee.

[Erasmus]

Or this name: Miles Brand.

[Wavrnr10]

It don’t matter....hge will grow up and join the NBA and rape some girl and buy his way out of it just like the rest.

[Wavrnr10]

It don’t matter....he will grow up and join the NBA and rape some girl and buy his way out of it just like the rest.