Chicago Sportswriters, Hoosier Basketball & Hicks

Mike Nadel, a Chicago-based sportswriter, was speculating on the future of IU hoops while in Indy for the big ten tournament. While Mike was pontificating on the IU coaching situation, he failed to notice that IU Athletic Director Rick Greenspan sitting immediately behind him. Apparently he upset Mr. Greenspan -- especially his comment about Hoosiers being hicks. Or more precisely all but approximately three dozen Hoosier's are hicks.

So I decided to drop him a note, and much to my suprise, he wrote back immediately. My original note and his reply are shown below. The thread will make more sense if you read his article first.

My note to Mike:

I am one of the "three dozen" Hoosier non-hicks you apologized to in your column. I have an experiment I'd like you to try, and no it doesn't involve advanced flexibility or any of your orifices.

The experiment is simple: drive southwest out of Chicago for three hours. You'll find yourself in the middle of the same cornfields and farms that you see here in Indiana. In fact, central Illinois is even more backward than central Indiana. If not for Chicago, your entire state would be hicks.

The difference? Our hicks are smarter than your hicks. Illinois ranks 32nd among states in terms of educational achievement, while Indiana ranks 26th. That makes you guys just a bit smarter than the folks in Utah, and a bit dumber than those in Ohio. Ohio dude. You lost to Ohio. Other than Northwestern, your colleges are known more for the amount of beer consumed and the number of public nudity arrests than they are for academics -- or sporting success for that matter.

Lets talk sports. The Colts are better than the Bears. The Pacers can take the Bulls. Our minor league baseball franchise the Indians can probably take the Cubs 3 out of 5. No one cares about the White Sox or Blackhawks (hockey?). You have no motorsports to speak of, while we have the Indy 500, the Brickyard 400 and the Formula One race here.

All this said, you're welcome to visit any time. I'll buy you a drink or two and listen to you talk about IU basketball. I'll even point out any supermodel sports reporters sitting two seats away from us....

Mike's Reply:

Of all the angry notes I got from Hoosiers, Brad, yours was by far my favorite. You use a lot of good humor and make many good points. It was just me poking fun -- and anyone who read the piece saw that I poked more fun at myself than anything.

Yes, I do get away from Chicago -- and I've poked fun of "downstaters" and the "interesting" smells that come from the farms. Again, anyone who takes this stuff too personally has some problems.

I'd love to use your email in a future letters column. Please provide your hometown.

Thanks again for writing.

I look forward to seeing his forthcoming articles...