I would’ve thought at this point in time that when most people hear the word “Yale” the first thing that comes to mind is moral indignation and censorship of free speech on behalf of marginalized identities. Who can forget the young student last fall during the wave of campus protests shouting that Yale was “not about creating an intellectual space”? If it’s not, then that quarter-of-a-million-dollar education ain’t worth much.
But for most middle-class Americans, the mere mention of a fancy private school continues to irk and roil them as symbols of class superiority. The reaction to Yale and Duke meeting today in the NCAA basketball tournament known as “March Madness” is fascinating. Despite the fact that both teams got where they are entirely on merit — which is to say by winning — news media are asking which lesser of two evils can you possibly root for, and calling it the most insufferable game in history.
This passage is from a piece headlined “Yale Vs. Duke For All The Preppy Glory”:
They will arrive, sweaters casually draped over their shoulders and clutching Kate Spade bags, their sockless feet shoved into loafers and their collars perfectly popped, to root for their team — either the undermanned scrappers from that rough-and-tumble campus of Duke University or the plucky underdogs from the hardscrabble world of Yale University.
And America will pause to light a candle and mourn the temporary death of March Madness, when the light-beer game stepped aside for the Chardonnay crowd.
Duke versus Yale, elite versus upper-crust, Biff versus Bronwyn.
Another headline runs “Yale vs. Duke spawns preppy memes, jokes” and include the memes below. You’ll see that in the minds of the mocking the subjective associations are random, with evocation of the English upper class thrown together with blond movie villains from ’80s cinema:
The game, by the way, airs today at 3 PM Eastern on The Preppy Channel, which is Time-Warner Cable channel number 346 for those on the east coast. And pictured at top, in case you don’t recognize him, is the former Duke player at the center of the docomentary “I Hate Christian Laettner.” — CC
This Wake Forest alum will root for Duke! The “classic” ACC rules! LOL. I am very disappointed with the attitudes coming out of many Ivy League schools. My father, Dartmouth, and my late grandfather, Penn, are and would be discusted. I hope people eventually learn to work hard and strive to be better rather than tearing down those who are successful, while clinging to their participation trophies!
Interestingly, Duke shows 46% non-Hispanic white students, and lest we forget, the faculty, administration, and a lot of the student body were ready to hang the lacrosse team years ago until the “stripper rape” story was shown to be a total falsehood. The English faculty at one time rather prided itself as the leader in “Marxist deconstruction” critical theory. Hardly a “prep” bastion
They do get their share, though. A prepped Dookie alum I knew at UNC Law told me they wanted good colleges where they weren’t freezing their asses off anymore, so they all applied at UVA, UNC, Wake Forest and Duke.
I guess at Ivy schools they don’t stress spelling or proof reading; I believe it is ‘disgusted’ not ‘discusted’. Although they may have discussed being disgusted. That would be most disgusting. Almost as disgusting as the kids wearing multiple polo style shirts.
Ah yes, my fault. Part of the problem with using Siri while on the trainer. I do know the difference and would like to point out that I was not the one that went to the Ivy League school! I am the one that rebelled and went south!
Not to switch (sports) topics, but ever heard of Stanford football? P.S. The smart jocks–quarterbacks (John Brodie, John Elway, Jim Plunkett, Andrew Luck) come from Stanford!
“Discussed being disgusted…..most disgusting,etc.”. Sort of reminds one of “Distracted from distraction by distraction,” T. S. Eliot and The Four Quartets. Oh, well.
Yale, of course, playing without their captain, thrown out of school, three months before graduation on inflated, he said, she said politically correct rape charges. The police found no cause to arrest him. A lawsuit in process.
I would love to see what our dear friend Richard of WASP 101 fame would have to say about the Duke-Yale match. I imagine it would be the verbal equivalent of the “Duke” popped collar fellow.
I’ve observed (to my Duke alum friends) that when Duke/UNC played at Chapel Hill, the stands were filled with pretty young girls, and handsome young guys; when they played at Cameron Indoor, the stands were filled with nerds and Asian kids.
In the stands cheering for Yale at the Duke game was Yale’s ejected-rapist-teammate.
Had to wade into the fray here. The greatest irony of them all is that those promoting the memes, which reek of sour grapes, are likely to change their minds should their kids be granted the opportunity to attend these prestigious, highly selective universities. Just speaking the truth…
Funny, but true. Not to be divisive, but if Duke loses, I’ll shave my eyebrows.
This Wake Forest alum will root for Duke! The “classic” ACC rules! LOL. I am very disappointed with the attitudes coming out of many Ivy League schools. My father, Dartmouth, and my late grandfather, Penn, are and would be discusted. I hope people eventually learn to work hard and strive to be better rather than tearing down those who are successful, while clinging to their participation trophies!
Interestingly, Duke shows 46% non-Hispanic white students, and lest we forget, the faculty, administration, and a lot of the student body were ready to hang the lacrosse team years ago until the “stripper rape” story was shown to be a total falsehood. The English faculty at one time rather prided itself as the leader in “Marxist deconstruction” critical theory. Hardly a “prep” bastion
They do get their share, though. A prepped Dookie alum I knew at UNC Law told me they wanted good colleges where they weren’t freezing their asses off anymore, so they all applied at UVA, UNC, Wake Forest and Duke.
I guess at Ivy schools they don’t stress spelling or proof reading; I believe it is ‘disgusted’ not ‘discusted’. Although they may have discussed being disgusted. That would be most disgusting. Almost as disgusting as the kids wearing multiple polo style shirts.
Ah yes, my fault. Part of the problem with using Siri while on the trainer. I do know the difference and would like to point out that I was not the one that went to the Ivy League school! I am the one that rebelled and went south!
Mr. Bracken, did you get a participation award for spelling?
No and if you tried to give me a participation award I would tell you where to stick it! I was a math major!
Not to switch (sports) topics, but ever heard of Stanford football? P.S. The smart jocks–quarterbacks (John Brodie, John Elway, Jim Plunkett, Andrew Luck) come from Stanford!
“Discussed being disgusted…..most disgusting,etc.”. Sort of reminds one of “Distracted from distraction by distraction,” T. S. Eliot and The Four Quartets. Oh, well.
Yale, of course, playing without their captain, thrown out of school, three months before graduation on inflated, he said, she said politically correct rape charges. The police found no cause to arrest him. A lawsuit in process.
Whichever team loses this game, their participant trophies will come from Tiffany & Co.
No doubt a comparison to Mr. Eliot. Or in the words of C.K.Dexter Haven “Doubtless; without a doubt”
For those who follow this blog because they’re interested in Ivy style, here’s a very handsome tie from the Brothers Brooks:
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Large-BB%2310-Stripe-Tie/MA01989,default,pd.html
I meant the navy version, certainly not the gold one!
And for those interested in some truly special ties and pocket handkerchiefs, I commend the following:
http://www.augustushare.com
I would love to see what our dear friend Richard of WASP 101 fame would have to say about the Duke-Yale match. I imagine it would be the verbal equivalent of the “Duke” popped collar fellow.
Airing on “channel 346”. Heh.
I’ve observed (to my Duke alum friends) that when Duke/UNC played at Chapel Hill, the stands were filled with pretty young girls, and handsome young guys; when they played at Cameron Indoor, the stands were filled with nerds and Asian kids.
In the stands cheering for Yale at the Duke game was Yale’s ejected-rapist-teammate.
As a Virginia Alumnus of a certain vintage, when this prep monster roamed Tobacco Road, I can confirm, “I Hate Christian Laettner.”
Had to wade into the fray here. The greatest irony of them all is that those promoting the memes, which reek of sour grapes, are likely to change their minds should their kids be granted the opportunity to attend these prestigious, highly selective universities. Just speaking the truth…