Kentucky vs. Louisville: Why So Much Hate?

I received a call from my mentor -- the ancient philosopher Kats-Pa -- just the other day, just to see how life was treating me, and to let me know that he would appreciate a visit back to the temple where I trained under him in my youth so many years ago.  Kats-Pa is without a doubt the smartest man on the planet (sorry, Stephen Hawking), and he was instrumental in my training as a young Wildcat fan back in the late 60's and early 70's.  We talked about life in general and how his health was and about my young children, and eventually the conversation got around to the Cats, as it always does with us.

Kats-Pa is someone you would never suspect to be a master of all ways of life.  He is a quiet and unassuming fellow who keeps to himself and usually does not speak unless spoken to.  But in my youth, he was a fountain of information and molded my young mind as to the ways of the Cats, and the life lessons that go along with them.  I can still hear him in the back of my mind saying, "To prey upon the Bird is the Cat's place in the natural order of life.  The Cat must hunt the Bird to be fulfilled."  He was just full of those little tidbits.  The man could use a wooden pole, some duct tape, and nylon string, and make Cardinals jump from their nests and fall at his feet in praise of his amazing gifts. 

He taught me how to have balance in life (both football and basketball), and about how when a boy grows to be a man what his responsibilities are about season tickets, children's apparel, and such ... How to pick out a good wife from among a crowd of 20 women (she will be the one dressed immaculately in blue, and trying to pick a fight with anyone wearing red) ... How to make your children understand the evil tempting ways of the Cardinal fan, and how they try to lure young children into making mindless followers of the Bird out of them. 

Kats-Pa told me once that we need to have compassion for the Bird.  A Bird does not know the folly of its ways.  It cannot help itself when it raises its head in disbelief and rebellion, just before the Wildcat reaches out a clawed hand and crushes the Bird for its next meal.  But now Kats-Pa is old and a bit out of touch with the world; he stays close to the temple these days (thank you DirecTV), and we have finally gotten him to give up his driver's license after he hit that truck full of chickens a few years ago (he said he saw the beaks and something inside him just snapped).  My girls think he is funny because he gives them candy, and tells them stories about how uneducated I was when I came to him for guidance.  He has even become a little tolerant in his old age, because he has stopped demanding that we move from home because the local high school mascot is the Cardinal.  And he tells me how he longs for the days when he can just sit in the sun and count the victories from year to year.  

When I asked his opinion on why the hate was so bad between the Cats and the Cardinals, he spoke clearly and quickly without a hint of hesitation in his voice.  He said, "My Son, God put birds on this earth for Cats to eat, it is that simple.  The Cardinal tries to change the natural order of life and struggles mightily, but to no avail.  It is the Wildcat's destiny to overcome the will of the Bird and eat heartily."  He always helps me keep things in perspective.

Just before we hung up, I asked him what he was working on currently, and he said he was trying to develop a repellent for UK fans to use all year round that keeps anything in red or orange from coming near them.  Did I tell you he taught me everything about UT also?  Oh well, that story is for another time.  Go Cats!