46
2008 KANSAS BASKETBALL
Kristin Hoppa/KANSAN
Fans line up outside Jo Shmo's Monday afternoon on Massachusetts Street waiting to get inside to watch the NCAA championship game. Some fans had been waiting for establishments to open since 7 a.m. to secure their spot to watch Kansas take on Memphis on April 7.
Taylor Miller/KANSAN
As soon as the buzzer sounded, Jayhawk fans gathered on Massachusetts street to celebrate with one another. The Jayhawks became national champions in overtime against the Tigers on April 7.
MASS STREET (CONTINUED FROM 45)
"I'm so happy to be in college right now to experience this;" she said.
Kristi Wiesner, a student from the University of Missouri-Kansas City who was at Quinton's Bar & 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 Quinton's 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 sticker on his shirt.
"I don't even have the words to explain how I feel. I want this feeling to last forever."
"Roy Williams is an absolute class act," he said. "We beat him two days ago, and the
JOE HALL Independence senior
Blue T-shirts littered Massachusetts Street all day long as Jayhawk fans from all over the country flocked to downtown
fact that he sat behind our bench during the national championship makes him a true legend."
Lawrence.
KU alumnus Kevin Peterson said he and his friend drove eight hours from Chicago to watch the Final Four game on April 5.
Peterson said.
"We asked off for Monday and Tuesday in advance in case we beat North Carolina and we did, so here we are,"
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, a bartender at Harbor Lights, 1031 Massachusetts St., said this year's NCAA Tournament brought in an extraordinary amount of business to a lot of downtown bars.
"It's been record-selling for us, and a lot of other places have said the same thing."
well as someone's brother who doesn't normally work here."
"It's been record-selling for us, and a lot of other places have said the same thing," he said. "Our entire staff is working tonight as
Andy Kroeker, owner of Fatso's, 1016 Massachusetts St., said he had to go into work early to do an emergency inventory before his bar opened.
JOHN BERGWELL Bartender
"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."
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN