KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In 2012, if we've learned anything, it's to never say never, unless Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj are involved. We've had a Beach Boys reunion, a Black Sabbath reunion, a Monkees reunion, a Backstreet Boys reunion, a (expletive deleted) Spice Girls reunion. There's more kissing and making up 'round these parts than the last four minutes of a "Love Boat" episode.
David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen made peace, for pity's sake. They even agreed to tour. OK, yeah, it flamed out again, but it actually happened.
Given the pervading spirit of brotherhood and potentially lucrative contracts, SURELY Kansas and Missouri can work something out on the basketball court.
Here, Bill Self. Take this hatchet. Bury that sucker. Go on. Bury it, brother.
"I love the game; it's my favorite game," Self said during the Coaches vs. Cancer Season Tipoff reception in downtown Kansas City Tuesday night. "But this is over my head, too. I've got a chancellor and an athletic director, and I actually feel strongly about it myself -- that we're not a part of their future and they're not a part of ours. So why get hung up on when you're going to play, when you're going to do this?"
But...
"The NCAA (tournament) selection committee has a strange sense of humor, so it wouldn't surprise me if it does happen (in the postseason), because they're going to be really good in basketball and hopefully, we'll continue to be OK," Self said. "But I don't see our stance changing. I don't think Texas is going to play Texas A&M. So if they're not going to play A&M, why should we play Missouri? Or vice versa?"
Because no one in Texas cares about college basketball the way the good folks in Kansas and Missouri do. Because the pro teams in Kansas City are, at the moment, driving the locals completely batty.
Because of a blood feud that dates back to 1906. Because of Tommy Johnson and Ted Hackney in 1910. Because of Clyde Lovellette and Win Wilfong in 1951. Because of Wayne Hightower and Bud Stallworth. Because of Danny Manning and Derrick Chievous. Because of Corey Tate and David Padgett.
Because of Naismith and Norm. Norm Stewart was there Tuesday, too, rubbing shoulders at the College Basketball Experience with Self; Mizzou's Frank Haith; Kansas State's Bruce Weber; and UMKC's Matt Brown, swapping fish stories.
"I think if you talk to anybody that's got some age and that is a traditionalist, they're going to miss it," opined Stewart, the former Mizzou coach and Tigers basketball icon. "They're going to miss it. It's one of the things in life, is change."
But...
"And it will change again," Stewart continued. "It will take some time. But again, the schools that are here -- Kansas and Kansas State -- when we drew the big crowds, the three (local) schools were involved. KU and K-State now will carry on that tradition."
Et tu, Norm?
The Jayhawks and Wildcats still have each other, sure; We've still got Self versus Weber, and the Illini ties that bind them both. Chances are, it'll be great.
But it'll feel different. Disjointed. While Kansas and K-State roll out the balls for Big 12 Media Day in the Power & Light District next week, Haith is heading south, to talk about life in the shadow of Kentucky and Arkansas.
"That was an eerie feeling because we had such great games," Haith said Tuesday when asked about Kansas. "I'm hopeful that, in time, that that (sense of finality) won't be the case. And usually, just all you need is just some time, and I'm hopeful that we'll continue to have some games.
"Bruce (Weber) and I are really good friends, too; with him being at K-State, I would hope we'll continue to have some opportunities to compete against each other."
Mizzou athletic director Mike Alden told FOX Sports Kansas City in July that he wanted to keep a foothold in greater Kansas City by scheduling at least one basketball game in the area per season. Haith says he's on board with that plan, too.
But...
"No one from Missouri has contacted me about playing," Self said. "Not one person. And I would think they would want to, but it's -- they know. They know. It's nothing personal. It's just business. They made business decisions, and certainly, we can make the same business decisions."
Here, Frank. Take this phone. Call your old buddy Bill. Go on. Make the call, man. Make it happen. For the love of Phog.
You can follow Sean Keeler on Twitter @seankeeler or email him at
seanmkeeler@gmail.com
