Question for Alaska (Anchorage, College: high school, university, living in)

[H'ton]

I've seen many shows, and commercials for shows, lately that really paint the picture that Alaska is for people who want to be isolationists.

Is this anti-social attitude really relevant in Alaska?

With the NCAA tournament going on I thought how anti-social Alaska really is with the rest of the United States in multiple ways. The tournament features teams from many states and sports is a huge bonding element for many states and cities within the U.S. I'm an avid sports fan and of course there are no pro teams in Alaska but I can't even think of one major college team that participates with the rest of the country.

Before you say it's a distance thing...remember that he University of Hawaii is active and they participate in a Western Conference. if they got invited, I'm sure they would have played in the NCAA tournament. They even host a College Bowl Game and what.....Hawaii is a 1/3 of the way to Australia.

Also the argument of travel expense is a weak one because, even if you don't fund a football program, a basketball team could be funded by a major University in Alaska. Many small schools fund basketball teams all the time because the teams are relatively small...look at this year's tournament.

[hogfamily]

We are not isolationists!

Now go mind your own lower 48 business!

[warptman]

HOCKEY - News - GoSeawolves.com - Official Athletics Website of the University of Alaska Anchorage

GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT - News - GoSeawolves.com - Official Athletics Website of the University of Alaska Anchorage

Alaska Nanooks

alaskaaces.com

[stiffnecked]

Who cares about the "brackets"??? Or rackets or whatever you want to call them. I enjoy watching high school basketball cause I usually know the students playing or their parents or someone involved.

[H'ton]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

Who cares about the "brackets"??? Or rackets or whatever you want to call them. I enjoy watching high school basketball cause I usually know the students playing or their parents or someone involved.

The question I have is .....why doesn't Alaska participate in collegiate sports with the rest of the country. They might but I've just never seen it or heard of them ever. Can someone clarify?

[hogfamily]

Because all the lower 48 teams have heard that Alaska is in the process of seceding from the lower 48 and combining with the Yukon, Northwest, and Nunavut Territories, Canada, (and possibly northern British Columbia), to form our new country Alaskanada.


They, the lower 48 teams, are afraid that they may get trapped here during our secession and know that they are not capable of hanging with such tough and independent people.

[akpls]

D1 hockey in the WCHA, D2 basketball in the GNAC, a UAF rifle team that's won the national championship more times than I can remember. UAF swimmers and cross-country runners and skiers did quite well in their respective national competitions too. You're right...you just haven't heard about it.

[RedJacket]

Originally Posted by H'ton

I've seen many shows, and commercials for shows, lately that really paint the picture that Alaska is for people who want to be isolationists.

Is this anti-social attitude really relevant in Alaska?

A recent study concluded that 96.45% of people currently living in Alaska are on the lam from somewhere in the lower 48. So I don't think folks living there are isolationists, they're just in hiding up there in the Final Chance Frontier.

[HannahTravels]

I definitely wouldn't say "anti-social." I've lived in big cities in the lower 48 and find that people in a city like Chicago are much more anti-social than those in Alaska (in terms of interactions/helpfulness). With the exception of a couple of cities, the state is made up of small towns/villages. It's hard to be anti-social when you know everyone in town!

[Irish4evr]

Originally Posted by H'ton

I've seen many shows, and commercials for shows, lately that really paint the picture that Alaska is for people who want to be isolationists.

Is this anti-social attitude really relevant in Alaska?

With the NCAA tournament going on I thought how anti-social Alaska really is with the rest of the United States in multiple ways. The tournament features teams from many states and sports is a huge bonding element for many states and cities within the U.S. I'm an avid sports fan and of course there are no pro teams in Alaska but I can't even think of one major college team that participates with the rest of the country.

Before you say it's a distance thing...remember that he University of Hawaii is active and they participate in a Western Conference. if they got invited, I'm sure they would have played in the NCAA tournament. They even host a College Bowl Game and what.....Hawaii is a 1/3 of the way to Australia.

Also the argument of travel expense is a weak one because, even if you don't fund a football program, a basketball team could be funded by a major University in Alaska. Many small schools fund basketball teams all the time because the teams are relatively small...look at this year's tournament.

That anti-social assessment is far from accurate. I sense you are referring to the current "rash" of reality shows....ask any true Alaskan about the "reality" of the "reality".

What I have learned from personal experience is that the majority of folks enjoy thier independence, are actually very socIal, but might not trip over themselves to make you feel happy.....yes there are some small communities in the interior that might not have an active chamber of commerce.

Alaskans tend to be a rugged bunch, very proud of thier independence, and most share a "can do" attitude...that is not anti-social by any means.

A visitor recently asked one of my long time native friends innocently enough..."where do you find people that can do so well..in such an isolated area"....without a beat he said..."we bred em"...😝 Don't judge the people by some phony "reality" show....or lack of a basketball team !