It might be fair to say that no one sacrificed more in Louisville's 2013 title win over Michigan than Kevin Ware, who suffered an absolutely horrific leg injury that makes viewers queasy to this day. With that in mind, Ware isn't happy with the NCAA's decision to uphold sanctions against Louisville that vacated its 2013 National Championship. Ware is so unhappy, in fact, that he went to Twitter to be Not Mad Online and tell everyone you can take away the school's plaque, but you can't take away the achievement.
Ware's knee-jerk reaction was a simple one. A retweet of someone sharing proof that Louisville did, in fact, win a title.
— Tim Henderson (@T_Henny15) February 20, 2018
After that came Ware being totally cool with it, thank you very much. Life happens, right?
🤷🏾♂️< ———- literally me. Lol
— Kevin Ware (@AirWare5) February 20, 2018
However, upon further review, a shrug didn't accurately convey Ware's disdain. He still has a ring. And you'll pry it from his cold, dead finger.
Still got this fat ass ring which means my guys definitely won a chip, if I’m not mistaken of course.
— Kevin Ware (@AirWare5) February 20, 2018
Ware also wants to tell his story though! Mere minutes later, he told ESPN that he's down for the inevitable documentary about the first stripped title NCAA college hoops history.
FOR REAL THO!! @espn need to sit down with me.
— Kevin Ware (@AirWare5) February 20, 2018
And it's not a discussion about sanctions without mentioning the hypocrisy of the NCAA.
— Kevin Ware (@AirWare5) February 20, 2018
BUT. Of course. You've always got to get after the one fan that opens their mouth a bit too wide.
U still fake alive Jerry? Lol
— Kevin Ware (@AirWare5) February 20, 2018
Who are u really https://t.co/AU1xmWEA1s
So yeah. It looks like Ware started at acceptance in the grieving process and worked his way backwards, but what can you expect? Ware became a household name after that run, and not in a good way. To suffer that injury on that stage, of course you want to feel achievement for it. And the NCAA can't take away his sense of achievement. It's a dark side of vacating titles and the like. Institutions don't have to consider the players themselves and the work they put in. But it doesn't look like Ware is going to let something like "official sanctions" get in the way of his accomplishments.