ChipperF1
04-01-2004, 02:36 PM
MINNESOTA
They come from the land of Humphrey, and have the smarts too. The egalitarian fiestiness of a Wellstone. A Bunyon playing center, a creative artist wearing #13 who could rival Prince for sheer brilliance. I wave my Homer Hanky in Salute to this basketball team from Hockeyland, who have proven they are talented enough to win on more than talent alone.
1. 14 kids on the team. 11 are from Minnesota, including Lindsay Whalen. Janel McCarville is from Wisconsin, Leslie Hill is from Chicago. Khadidja Andersson is from Sweden, but considering that Minnesota is the North American Branch Office for Scandinavia, Andersson counts as a Minnesotan, sort of.
2. Pam Borton. Former BC assistant, beat her old team. Took over a team the previous coach said couldn't get to the national championship and did it.
3. Dani O'Banion. One of my favorite BC players when one of my peoples played at Boston College. A bulldog defensive player, now coaching a bulldog ballclub.
4. They are from Minnesoooota. Do well, but not too well.
When you think of Minnesota in competition, You think of four Super Bowl losses, the Dallas North Stars, "Let's Contract the Twins", and Ronald Reagan 525, Walter Mondale 13.
I would be nice to see a Minnesota team win, and they are on the winning streak.
5. If Womens Hockey can do it...
They were AWESOME vs. Harvard. Its nice to see good midwestern kids beat up on the effete Eastern Establishment.
6. These kids remind me of the '87 Twins.
Nobody thought they'd make it...And check it out, they made it...A team from the middle of nowhere in a domed stadium, winning the biggest prize.
Hmmm.. Team from Nowhere, playing in a Dome....parallel, eh?
7. "The name on the front of the sweater is always more important than the one on the back."
--Herb Brooks.
One great Minnesota coach who's probably looking down and enjoying this team.
In watching the Gophers the last two seasons, I notice how these kids act in huddle. Act on the sidelines. They are like some small town girls high school team. Everybody's in the game. Bench players cheering. Even the coach gets into it.
Seeing Janel McCarville, once seen as sullen and difficult embracing her teammates and practically carrying her coach out of the gym speaks volumes.
A group of kid who actually like each other on a ball team.
People sometimes forget how important esprit d'corps is.
8. Lindsey Whalen.
She is funnest Minnesota player to watch, and this is coming from somebody who saw a lot of Carol Ann Shudlick. Whalen's a Darda Buggy. Offense. Defense. Rebounds. Steals. Whatever it takes she'll do. You can tell she the team leader, but also she's a part of the team.
9. WIN ONE FOR CAROL ANN SHUDLICK!
Before the last couple of years, that would be my first thought upon hearing "Golden Gophers Womens Basketball".
In the early 90s she carried Minnesota on her back, singlehandly beating team as the prehistoric Whalen. Watching her in college, I'd cringe whenever she got the ball, because you knew your team was in trouble.
She always had that look that said, "If I'm close, I'll find a way to beat you."
Whalen has that same look.
10. What the hell. They ain't Connecticut.
They come from the land of Humphrey, and have the smarts too. The egalitarian fiestiness of a Wellstone. A Bunyon playing center, a creative artist wearing #13 who could rival Prince for sheer brilliance. I wave my Homer Hanky in Salute to this basketball team from Hockeyland, who have proven they are talented enough to win on more than talent alone.
1. 14 kids on the team. 11 are from Minnesota, including Lindsay Whalen. Janel McCarville is from Wisconsin, Leslie Hill is from Chicago. Khadidja Andersson is from Sweden, but considering that Minnesota is the North American Branch Office for Scandinavia, Andersson counts as a Minnesotan, sort of.
2. Pam Borton. Former BC assistant, beat her old team. Took over a team the previous coach said couldn't get to the national championship and did it.
3. Dani O'Banion. One of my favorite BC players when one of my peoples played at Boston College. A bulldog defensive player, now coaching a bulldog ballclub.
4. They are from Minnesoooota. Do well, but not too well.
When you think of Minnesota in competition, You think of four Super Bowl losses, the Dallas North Stars, "Let's Contract the Twins", and Ronald Reagan 525, Walter Mondale 13.
I would be nice to see a Minnesota team win, and they are on the winning streak.
5. If Womens Hockey can do it...
They were AWESOME vs. Harvard. Its nice to see good midwestern kids beat up on the effete Eastern Establishment.
6. These kids remind me of the '87 Twins.
Nobody thought they'd make it...And check it out, they made it...A team from the middle of nowhere in a domed stadium, winning the biggest prize.
Hmmm.. Team from Nowhere, playing in a Dome....parallel, eh?
7. "The name on the front of the sweater is always more important than the one on the back."
--Herb Brooks.
One great Minnesota coach who's probably looking down and enjoying this team.
In watching the Gophers the last two seasons, I notice how these kids act in huddle. Act on the sidelines. They are like some small town girls high school team. Everybody's in the game. Bench players cheering. Even the coach gets into it.
Seeing Janel McCarville, once seen as sullen and difficult embracing her teammates and practically carrying her coach out of the gym speaks volumes.
A group of kid who actually like each other on a ball team.
People sometimes forget how important esprit d'corps is.
8. Lindsey Whalen.
She is funnest Minnesota player to watch, and this is coming from somebody who saw a lot of Carol Ann Shudlick. Whalen's a Darda Buggy. Offense. Defense. Rebounds. Steals. Whatever it takes she'll do. You can tell she the team leader, but also she's a part of the team.
9. WIN ONE FOR CAROL ANN SHUDLICK!
Before the last couple of years, that would be my first thought upon hearing "Golden Gophers Womens Basketball".
In the early 90s she carried Minnesota on her back, singlehandly beating team as the prehistoric Whalen. Watching her in college, I'd cringe whenever she got the ball, because you knew your team was in trouble.
She always had that look that said, "If I'm close, I'll find a way to beat you."
Whalen has that same look.
10. What the hell. They ain't Connecticut.