Mass St. turns into ground zero for fans after game
Downtown businesses handle the flow of fans following the Jayhawks' victory in the championship men's basketball game.
Tuesday, April 8th, 2008
Massachusetts Street was once again a sea of blue Monday night as an army of Jayhawk fans poured out of downtown bars and nearby neighborhoods. They sang the Rock Chalk Chant and ripped their shirts off after Kansas came back and beat Memphis in overtime to become the 2008 NCAA Champions.
Andy Kroeker, owner of Fatso’s, said he had to go into work early to do an emergency inventory before his bar opened.
It’s Brothers Bar and Grill, 1105 Massachusetts St., erupted into mass hysteria as Mario Chalmers sank the three-pointer that brought the Jayhawks into overtime before winning their third NCAA Tournament championship in the University’s history.
Joe Hall, Independence senior, said it was the most amazing moment he’d ever felt in his entire life.
“I don’t even have the words to explain how I feel,” he said through tear-filled eyes, minutes after the game ended. “I want this feeling to last forever.”
Ricki Baker, Aimes, Iowa, junior, called it a once in a lifetime experience.
“I’m so happy to be in college right now to experience this,” she said.
Kristi Wiesner, a Missouri fan from UMKC at Quinton’s Bar and Deli, 615 Massachusetts St., even tipped her hat to the Jayhawks during the game.
“I want to root for them tonight because I love the Big 12,” she said.
The only quiet point throughout the night at Quintons was during Bill Self’s pregame speech, which ended with an eruption of cheers as the Jayhawks ran onto the court.
Kevin Kunde, Chicago senior, praised former Kansas coach Roy Williams for standing behind the KU bench, sporting a Jayhawk on his shirt.
“Roy Williams is an absolute class act,” he said. “We beat him two days ago, and the fact that he sat behind our bench during the National Championship makes him a true legend.”
Blue T-shirts littered Massachusetts Street all day long as Jayhawk fans from all over the country flocked to downtown Lawrence.
KU alumnus Kevin Peterson said he and his friend drove eight hours from Chicago to watch the Final Four game on Saturday.
“We asked off for Monday and Tuesday in advance in case we beat North Carolina and we did, so here we are,” Peterson said.
KU alumnus Tyler Brook even styled his hair into a red and blue Mohawk Monday morning before coming to Lawrence to watch the game at Fatso’s, 1016 Massachusetts St.
Some fans arrived at their favorite bars extra early with hopes of finding the best seat in the house.
Darcy Stefanik, Chicago junior, and three of her friends had been saving the first spot in line at Quinton’s since 7 a.m. before it opened its doors at 4 p.m.
“We wanted an awesome table at a bar on Massachusetts Street because the game against North Carolina was absolutely phenomenal,” Stefanik said.
As the day progressed, a steady stream of fans trickled into bars along Massachusetts Street until they filled to capacity.
John Bergwell, bartender at Harbor Lights, 1031 Massachusetts St., said this year’s NCAA Tournament brought in a extraordinary amount of business to a lot of downtown bars.
“It’s been a record selling for us and a lot of other places have said the same thing,” he said. “Our entire staff is working tonight as well as someone’s brother who doesn’t normally work here.”
Andy Kroeker, manager of Fatso’s, said he had to go into work early to do an emergency inventory before his bar opened.
“We sold out of everything on Saturday as well as last Sunday,” he said.
Joe Aussem, a bouncer at Louise’s Downtown, 1009 Massachusetts St., said the bar had been selling 32-ounce beers in droves.
After the game, Matt Riehemann, KU alumnus, said he never planned on going to bed again.
“I am the happiest person in the world right now,” he shouted after the game. “I am not going to work tomorrow and this celebration does not end until I say it does.”
— Edited by Mandy Earles
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