Big 12 Tournament Stories - KC

[SaraV]

Thought I should start a thread of stories from KC that don't necessarily revolve around the game itself.

Rode in the hotel elevator with a couple that are Arizona fans. They're very happy to be in the Big 12...might be a bit early for opinions on the actual KC tournament.

We're staying in the same hotel as Colorado. We were leaving to get dinner as the team arrived back from upsetting WVU. Saw Danny Manning get on the elevator across from us as we got off our elevator. There was also a small contigent of CU fans singing their fight song as the team walked through the lobby. I'd love to see them upset UH tomorrow.

 

[JP4CY]

Had beers with former Husker/Chief Will Shields at Gordon Biersch.
Incredibly nice guy. Talked for hours.

Years ago.

 

[AltoonaFish]

I rode an elevator with John Higgins once.
Embarrassed myself drunk with Brady Heslip one year. How that guy didn’t punch me I’ll never know.

 

[VeloClone]

We closed down the bars Saturday night before the Final in 2000. We were in the same hotel as the OU team. We came in drunk and were very loud in the lobby and corridors trying to wake up the team including serenading some of the players: "Naaaaa-jeeeraaa, Naaaaa-jeeeraaa, Naaaaa-jeeeraaa, Eduardo!"

Just about got kicked out of our hotel, but it obviously worked.

 

[intrepid27]

We closed down the bars Saturday night before the Final in 2000. We were in the same hotel as the OU team. We came in drunk and were very loud in the lobby and corridors trying to wake up the team including serenading some of the players: "Naaaaa-jeeeraaa, Naaaaa-jeeeraaa, Naaaaa-jeeeraaa, Eduardo!"

Just about got kicked out of our hotel, but it obviously worked.

Eduardo Nájera is may favorite non-Cyclone player of all time. They don't come any tougher. I can't remember the opponent but once watched him play most of the second half with a freshly busted nose.

 

[Chitowncy]

Eduardo Nájera is may favorite non-Cyclone player of all time. They don't come any tougher. I can't remember the opponent but once watched him play most of the second half with a freshly busted nose.

Najera was a Kelvin Sampson-type player. He was physical and tough. I remember some of his battles with Fizer.

 

[Cyientist]

I rode an elevator with John Higgins once.
Embarrassed myself drunk with Brady Heslip one year. How that guy didn’t punch me I’ll never know.

Go on...

 

[VeloClone]

Najera was a Kelvin Sampson-type player. He was physical and tough. I remember some of his battles with Fizer.

The all tournament team that year was Mihm, Najera and three Cyclones: Johnson, Tinsley and Fizer(MOP).

 

[CYdTracked]

Guessing the OP meant stories from KC this week but since we are bringing up the past always felt the atmosphere in KC was at its best when KU KSU ISU and Mizzou all were still playing as those also had the biggest fan bases. Last time I went McDermott with still the coach so we usually were 1 or 2 and done those years. Those years when ISU lost early those other 3 fan bases would pay you good money for remaining sessions if you were looking to sell. We'd usually get all-session passes and hotel reservations for the whole tournament with the intent that if ISU lost we'd still stay and watch the rest of the tournament. But if the ticket market got crazy high prices we'd sell a session or more to recoup what we spent on them and just go watch games at one of the bars.

One year we lost and KU was playing KSU in the semi-final and tickets were going for really good money. We asked one of the scalpers what they were selling tickets for then priced ours a bit under that. One KU fan was trying to convince us we were way too high with our price and says "you guys lost so you have no reason to hold onto your tickets." We were already prepared for that line and said if we don't get what we think is a fair price we'll just go in and watch the games because it's still good basketball regardless if ISU is playing or not. The guy kept coming back every 5-10 minutes or so with a crappy smile on his face "you guys ready to come down on your price yet?" One time I said "nope and since you keep asking you must not have found a better price from someone else since you keep checking in with us." Eventually sold our tickets for pretty close to what we were asking to start with and saw him walking around just after we sold them. Waved to him and said "sorry pal, we just sold our overpriced tickets!"

 

[AltoonaFish]

Go on...

I basically told him I hated him in the most respectful drunk way and that in reality he sucked.

I was trying to tell him he was good and I hated him for that, but I really came across as a drunken fool and didn’t use those words so well. I believe it was 2014 after we beat them, and they were able to go out that night.

 

[Erik4Cy]

There was also a small contigent of CU fans singing their fight song as the team walked through the lobby. I'd love to see them upset UH tomorrow.

I was so on board with this until now. Because I don't want BYU anywhere near the title game. HOU should beat them. Asking CU to beat HOU and also BYU is asking a lot.

 

[farm85]

Walked out of T-Mobile among a bunch of KU fans last night. A group of AZ fans walked by chanting "U of A" loudly. One guy with a KU shirt looked at me (wearing Cyclone gear) & said, "I hate that cheer". I didn't respond & he said, "I hate Iowa State too". I still ignored him & then he said, "I am a Hawkeye". I then replied, "I can tell" & walked away smiling...

 

[Spanky]

 

[VeloClone]

View attachment 145275

How awesome would it be to be that guy? You are famous for one of the worst half seconds of your life.

 

[MTCyclone43]

How awesome would it be to be that guy? You are famous for one of the worst half seconds of your life.

No doubt. Man he received a real short term return on that investment. He did not even get to process it and urinate it out.

 

[Die4Cy]

Illinois fans were not enjoyable to be around last night. Borderline obnoxious as a group. We attended all games yesterday and interacted with all the fans from all over. I expected that behavior more from Kentucky fans but they were all great.

 

[SolarGarlic]

Walking out of T Mobile after the championship and had some drunk college kid with a Cedar Falls shirt on yell "Hawks!" at me for no apparent reason other than I had an ISU shirt on. It was harmless, drunk kid whatever, but they just can't help themselves in any situation where the Hawkeyes aren't the center of attention. The insecurity is at an all time high in that fanbase. I can't imagine being at the Big 10 tournament and doing the same.

 

[iacyguy]

We sat by some BYU fans that liked to complain how close Iowa state was to the tournament. They came from Topeka KS…

 

[4cy16]

We sat by some BYU fans that liked to complain how close Iowa state was to the tournament. They came from Topeka KS…

I didn't know that Topeka was the Mormon center for central Kansas.

 

[iacyguy]

I didn't know that Topeka was the Mormon center for central Kansas.

Might not be a hub but another family we talked to said there is large church population in the KC area.