A Open Letter to Some Bearcat Basketball Fans

Posted By: Jon Breiner
March 4, 2006
Ok, some of you Bearcat fans had your way.  Eric Hicks asked Bob Huggins to walk out with him.  A senior who has given us 4 years of heart.  A student-athlete who has been a great student and athlete.  He's represented the university well, and he asked his father figure to be part of his final moment playing in front of the home crowd.  The guy that sold Eric on UC, and eventually Eric completely bought into him.  Eric sees Huggins as one man who not only made a difference in his basketball life, but in his life.
 
Well, you did not want him to have it.  You had to turn it around and make it all about Bob Huggins.  Let me be blunt.  You are an idiot.  Huggins has always gone with his heart.  If you really followed him and UC basketball you would know that.  When Hicks asked Huggins to join him for senior day there is zero doubt in my mind that Hicks asked with his heart and Huggins answered yes with his heart.   If Huggins was so calculating as some of you would have us believe, why did he get in so much trouble for following his heart for 16 years?
 
Some of have cried that if Huggins walks out with Hicks, Kennedy will no longer be considered for the job.  It was this logic that made me realize how stupid this is.  Huggins follows his heart, Zimpher follows her head.  She knows that Huggins is there for his kids, not to thumb his nose at her.  If she knows that, why don't you?  You said you are a Bearcat fan.  When did you stop paying attention?  The word is that the athletic department had given their blessing.  It is sad that you could not find it in your heart to give your blessing to a great Bearcat in his final days.  No, it is still about you, not them.  I suppose it has always been that way.  If Kennedy is to be considered this will have absolutely no effect.  You can try to justify your reasoning, but its faultiness continues to paint the true picture.
 
Some have said, Huggins is grandstanding again.  Always trying to get on TV.  Again you are showing either bias or ignorance, I'll let you decide which.  When Huggins was interviewed during the XU game earlier in the year, he declined the interview request.  He did not want it to be about him, but then the ESPN crew showed up with a camera in his box.  Are you suggesting he should have turned his back and ignored them?  That is not Huggins, he was polite, and since you heard the interview you know how great it was.  It was not about him, but about how great AK and the kids were.  You see this is not about him.  It is more about you and your inability to resolve your own feelings of conflict.  He realizes that.  Why can't you?  You say he needs to move on.  He has.  Pay attention.  You need to move on.  Do you think Huggins waited around for weeks hoping someone would ask him to do this?  Huggins is a very smart man and if he wanted to, he could have easily arranged this, but he did not want to arrange this, he wanted to be there for his kid who asked him to be part of a special day.  One last time, show how much he loves and supports Eric.  But you decided Eric was not worthy of his special day, you had to try to dictate how he gets to spend it.  I think we have seen the difference between love and hate very clearly the past few days.
 
Now today, I will be sad, sad for Eric because a senior did not get what he wanted, but a few loud, and ignorant fans did.  You tell me who deserves it?  I think Eric did, but you won.  I hope you enjoy your trophy.