Shocker Pride

Wichita has gone ga-ga over it's hometown team.

Suddenly, we have something to brag about, something to look forward to, something to talk about with strangers.

We're making plans to pack ourselves into sports bars on Friday night. We're mounting flags on our porches and cars. We're fielding congratulatory calls from friends and family all over the country -- as though we had anything to do with the Shockers' success.

And those among us who two months ago couldn't have named a single member of the basketball team are surprising even ourselves with our excitement.

"I just think it's great to have something to celebrate about our city instead of the BTK thing and everyone arguing about casinos and the downtown arena," said Suzanne Drazil, a football fanatic who's never been remotely interested in basketball.

Until now.

More signs of city unity are showing up every day.

At El Patio, a Mexican restaurant at 424 E. Central, owners posted a hand-scrawled sign on a sheet of yellow construction paper.

"Go Shockers!"

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, council members dressed in WSU T-shirts and listened as spokesman Van Williams opened the meeting.

"Good morning, and go Shockers."

A portable sign outside the Centerworks Pilates Studio at First and Washington reads "Go Shocks Go."

And a giant, shockingly bright billboard above the Starbucks at Central and Rock Road congratulates the team on making the Sweet 16.

Jay Banasiak is noticing the city's collective enthusiasm.

As general manager of Wichita Transit, he decided last week to add the phrase "Go Shockers" to the LED screens mounted on the front of the city's buses.

The excitement Wichita is feeling reminds me of 2003 when the Royals got off to a great start and everyone was suddenly a fan. I could go to the mall and see Royals gear being worn by a majority of people when, normally, you rarely see someone wearing Royals gear.

I hope this becomes an annual tradition.