Morning Brew: Sorry champs, to the back of the line

Friday, September 26, 2008

Certain perks are supposed to come with returning to Lawrence less than six months after winning a national championship.

At least, Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers thought so. They found out otherwise last Thursday night.

Rush and Chalmers, the two leading scorers from last year’s NCAA Champion Jayhawks, were in town to receive their championship rings.

They wanted something to do the night before the ceremony. Abe & Jake’s Landing, 8 E. Sixth Street, seemed like the place to be. It was hosting the Kansan’s “Sex on the Hill” party that night.

So off went Rush and Chalmers — two millionaires who are undoubtedly still two of the most popular people in Lawrence.

They’d occasionally gathered for a social outing or two at Abe & Jake’s during their college years, never had a problem getting in. Why would they? If anything, Rush and Chalmers figured a national championship and NBA dollars would only make it easier to go anywhere they wanted in Lawrence.

Not at Abe & Jake’s. Rush and Chalmers strolled up the VIP line at the bar but were denied entrance. The employee at the door apologized. Abe & Jake’s was over its capacity.

“We got shut down last night, man,” Rush said Friday night after the ring ceremony.

Rush and Chalmers couldn’t believe it. Could they really not get into the bar along the river that they frequented during their days as Jayhawks?

What happened next confused them even more. A couple of KU students walked up the VIP line and explained they had already been at the “Sex on the Hill” party but had to step outside to help a friend who had gotten sick.

They wanted back in and Abe & Jake’s let them in. Rush and Chalmers were forced to stay out. Chris Whitchurch, Wichita senior, was one of those students.

“It was a pretty awesome feeling,” Whitchurch said.

So Brandon, had you ever been denied access to a bar in Lawrence like this before?

“Never,” Rush said.

After the ring ceremony Friday night, Rush said he planned to hit the town once again with some other former Kansas basketball players. But Rush laughed at the assumption that he could show older players around Lawrence.

“I don’t know anything right now,” Rush said. “I can’t get into places now.”

WANT A CHAMPIONSHIP RING?

The question may have been cruel, but it had to be asked.

After the ring ceremony Friday night, a reporter asked Darnell Jackson who from last year’s team was most likely to sell their championship ring on eBay in 20 years? Jackson laughed, but didn’t hesitate with his answer.

“I’d probably say Rodrick Stewart,” Jackson said.

— — Edited by Brieun Scott

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