April 08, 2004

An American Legend

Saint Paul at fraterslibertas.com went off on women's college basketball in particular and women's college athletics in general. On one point, he's correct: women athletes shouldn't act as barbarian-like as men. But he disparraged the women's b-ball game too harshly. I rarely watch women's basketball, but I watched this year's Final Four with much enjoyment. These players were really good. The movement away from the ball was as good as the men's college game and far better than the NBA. The cuts to the basket were precise and effective even if they weren't as fast for Saint Paul's ("it actually appears as if they’re all playing under water") taste. Tennessee, LSU, UConn, and Minnesota hustled for the ball with so much passion. Big plays were made by real stars. Minnesota's Janel McCarville displayed soft hands and good footwork. Her teammate, Lindey Whalen was fearless going to the basket.

Then there was the uber-player; the woman among girls; the greatest women's college basketball player I've ever seen: Diana Taurasi. It's nearly an understatement to say she can do it all, because she did so much to make her team win. She handled the ball as well as any point guard even though she's a guard/forward. She drove to the basket and always had options available. If the defense caved in on her, she'd find the open woman under the basket for a easy score. If the passing lanes were filled she either kick it out to a three-point shooter or dribble it out herself. If Minnesota was dumb enough to put only one player on her, she'd make an amazing spin move and drain the fade-away.

Taurasi is the definition of clutch. If her team needed a basket to squelch the opponent's momentum, she'd dribble down the court and make a three-pointer with a hand in her face. On defense, she was also always in the right place at the right time to steal the ball or block a shot.

Then there's Taurasi's will to win. I can only compare that belief that losing isn't an option to Michael Jordan. A three-peat wasn't to be denied her. Diana was UConn coach Gene Auriemma's assistant coach on the court. At every opportunity, she encouraged her teammates and told them what they needed to do. Taurasi deserved to win those three national titles like few other athletes in American history. To not appreciate the amazing talent Diana Taurasi is unfortunate. But who am I to talk? I can't figure out the infatuation with Kurt Cobain.

"Girls Gone Wild" [via Cold Spring Shops]

[Added to OTB's Beltway Jam.]