Confession, I watched the game [Archive]

swok34

04-07-2004, 11:08 AM

Here is the good news. I (hopefully) won't have to watch ESPN gush over Taurasi again, at least on an NCAA game. Oh, you're right, I'm being stupid.

I agree......I love watching Barbara Turner play, but four years of D was plenty for me.

Oh, and the game.....I started watching it and when Connecticut got about a 10 point lead in the first half....I found "Daddy Day Care" and then flipped back and saw that Tennessee had cut the lead, so there I was trying to watch the last 30 minutes of the movie AND the ballgame http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 04-07-2004).]

JohnHenry

04-07-2004, 11:09 AM

Thank God and Greyhound she's gone.

Now maybe the rest of the wcbb world can see a little more sunshine with Taurasi's shadow out of the way. Perhaps ESPN can even start talking about other teams next year....Nah. They'll find another UConn/TN/ Duke player to pimp (ad nauseum) soon enough...Congrats to UConn, but I still can't deny the empty feeling the outcome of this tournament has left me with

I still say she was great, but not the "all-time greatest" that the media has made her out to be. As far as attention and TV time - well, I suppose she's got Lynette and Sheryl etc. beat in that department. Best of luck to her in the WNBA.

That's all i've got to say.

Jennifer

04-07-2004, 11:14 AM

Originally posted by JohnHenry:
Thank God and Greyhound she's gone.

Now maybe the rest of the wcbb world can see a little more sunshine with Taurasi's shadow out of the way. Perhaps ESPN can even start talking about other teams next year....Nah. They'll find another UConn/TN/ Duke player to pimp (ad nauseum) soon enough...Congrats to UConn, but I still can't deny the empty feeling the outcome of this tournament has left me with

I still say she was great, but not the "all-time greatest" that the media has made her out to be. As far as attention and TV time - well, I suppose she's got Lynette and Sheryl etc. beat in that department. Best of luck to her in the WNBA.

That's all i've got to say.

Next year, ESPN will be the Candace Parker show. TN has that great recruiting class, so you know we'll know all about them.
I say wait and see what success DT has in the WNBA before she's labeled the best of all time. She's good, but it's a bit premature for that.

Bob_Ballew

04-07-2004, 11:17 AM

I give credit to Barbara Turner and Jessica Moore for the victory last night. They were tough and TENN was not able to contain them. Too bad TENN did not get on track earlier in the first half, it could have been a different outcome. Geno was a little alarmed when the lead was cut to two. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif The shooting woes for TENN in the first half were absolutely dreadful. It is amazing that a final four team can shoot so poorly. The officiating was not bad. I thought UCon got by with more fouls in the paint on the defensive end than TENN.

Just wait til next year! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

swok34

04-07-2004, 11:42 AM

It's comments like this that turn me against D; for one thing, I think this is a question for the head coach and not a player...
so, that was the reporter. Some of these reporters tried every which way to get Geno to say something akin to what he said last year about Pat.......I think Geno's changed this year, I was very impressed by his words, his demeanor when ESPN interviewed him right after the game. I did watch most of the press conference afterwards with UConn players and Geno...and, just to hear "the way" D made the comment she made had a lot to do with my distaste.

Got the quotes from Mechelle Voepel's article:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/8371530.htm

“Tennessee's been great for so long … but I think we're the top program out there,” Taurasi said. “I don't care what anyone says anymore.”

However, Auriemma had a different view.

“Somebody is going to say, well, who is the best basketball program in America? Like there's only room for one,” he said. “I don't buy that. I don't feel this need to be the program, and everybody else is second.

“This is our run. When they won three in a row, it was their time. It changed for them. And it's going to change for us."

[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 04-07-2004).]

Cyclones Rule

04-07-2004, 12:38 PM

I unforunately caught the last six minutes, and I still couldn't believe all the camera shots of DT'sparents. I think we now whereshegother attitude from. As the game end a UCONN player threw the ball up in the air. I have no problem with that, but I then noticed a player grab the ball and punt it into the crowd. I'm not sure but I think it was DT. They can't even win with class. Thank goodness for the end of DT. I can't wait for the first time one of the wnba veterans gives DT a welcome to the big leagues.

Dale8R

04-07-2004, 01:04 PM

You are right, it was her.

FeFiFoFum

04-07-2004, 01:49 PM

I watched it though I wasn't originally going to..earlier in the evening on ESPN Classic they had the 96 Tenn-UConn match and it reminded me of how dominating these two programs have been..and sort of why I wasn't too thrilled to watch yet another matchup of them. IMO, these were not the two top teams in women's basketball this year but what set them apart is their experience in getting through the tourney (and the lucky breaks they got along the way). They know how to step up in big games because they have coaches who have been there before and can settle the nerves. Pokey and Pam were 1st time coaches to the Final Four and I think didn't have the experience to guide their teams at crucial points in the game. Geno and Pat know what to say to their teams because they know what works and how to manage clock and personnel. This is what distinguishes their teams because no way Tennesee had a better team than some of their opponents in the tourney. Experienced coaching is what allowed Tenn to make it through, same with UCONN, especially last year when the team wasn't as good. I can't wait for the day when those two dynasties give way and parity gives us good and different matchups in the tourney. (aside: All the heart in the world isn't necessarily going to overcome the recruiting edge and that's why with Tenn and UConn, the decks are stacked against other up and coming programs..they have to do with without all the all-americans that Pat and Geno pluck off trees like apples in September). ps. ESPN reports that the Uconn-Minnesota semi was the 4th watched basketball event ever, men's or women's. I'd really like to see how the final turned out and if the semis draw more audience, one could make a better case for the fact that dynasties are not good for the sport and that people are more intersted in watching lesser known (and scrappy) teams go against big time teams vs watching two big time teams yet again.

Anyway, the game itself was at first a wash with Tenn shooting like poo and Uconn going inside without any sort of help defense. The only thing that kept Tenn in the game was Zolman and a few D stops and rebounds. Still, I'll watch just about any women's bball game on TV so I kept it tuned in.

Ok, I'm going to end this now..this post is long enough!

ChipperF1

04-07-2004, 01:50 PM

"They can't even win with class. Thank goodness for the end of DT. I can't wait for the first time one of the wnba veterans gives DT a welcome to the big leagues."

She kicked that ball pretty good. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif But I fail to see the "classlessness" of it. Did she taunt anyone after the game? No.

Sentiments like this one makes me cheer for Diana Taurasi even more.

RaiderPower1

04-07-2004, 01:51 PM

Something funny happened to me while I was watching the postgame celebrationa and commentary. ESPN was going on and on about Diana and suddenly the TV switched channels. I searched for the remote control and found that my dog had stepped on it. Turns out she was just as tired about hearing about DT as I was. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

Cyclones Rule

04-07-2004, 05:04 PM

Originally posted by ChipperF1:
She kicked that ball pretty good. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif But I fail to see the "classlessness" of it. Did she taunt anyone after the game? No.

Sentiments like this one makes me cheer for Diana Taurasi even more.

No she didn't taunt anyone but the ball went into the crowd and could have hurt someone. Throw the ball up in the air, jump up and down but don't do something that could hurt an innocent person.

schooner2

04-07-2004, 05:59 PM

Well, I don't really see what is so classless about kicking a ball. I'm sure everyone in the audience had their eye on the ball anyway as to where it was going. They were all probably thinking souvenier!

I too ended up watching the final 8 or so minutes of the ball game. My wife stumbled by and made some comment to the effect, oh them two again, and she doesn't even follow the women's game. Plus she said, I thought they weren't suppose to be as good this year.

You know, neither was UCONN or Duke for the men. Both had lost some really lousy games in January and February. Yet, there they were again. The programs that have been there (Final Four) before with the same coaches that have been there forever, sure do have an advantage. So even in their "down" years (like a total of 4 whole losses, gasp!), these teams still find a way to get to the national championship game.

At least we had two newcomers to the Final Four. Sure it may have looked like it was just UCONN and Tennessee yet again. But there were two newcomers to the Final Four. That does speak to parity.

I guess I'm not nearly as down on UCONN or Tennessee or the coverage of UCONN and DT. It's still good for the game as TV ratings have shown. They are simply through the roof this year. It's just us "old" women's basketball fans that get a bit sick of it.

And lets face it. UCONN and Tennessee are definitely not going away. Tennessee looks to be dominant for another 4 years. And UCONN's recruiting class ain't too shabby either. I kind of like it. They will continually throw down the gauntlet for other teams to try and match their success. It's not going to be easy. But it will be that much sweeter for those who pop out on top in the end. Of course in the last 10 years, the only two other teams to come out on top in the end beside the two powerhouses are Purdue and Notre Dame.

Jennifer

04-07-2004, 06:15 PM

I channel flipped and saw parts of it, but not the end.

I also don't see anything wrong w/ her kicking the ball (and I'm not a DT fan/supporter). If it was Uconn fans, I'm sure they all were fighting over it. Shoot, TN fans likely would have been as well. That could go for a chunk on ebay. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

Jimi

04-07-2004, 06:39 PM

As an old soccer coach I was impressed with her form on the kick. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif If her basketball gig does not work out I would like to see her take soccer. I think the girl may have a good future. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

As a person who has to deal with people under stress on a regular basis I can tell you that there are a wide variety of ways of expessing emotion or letting off steam. Many of them can be misunderstood by someone who has a different set of experiences. I would bet that kick came from something out of her past and I doubt it was intended to be anything other than release and celebration. No one will ever mistake me for a UConn fan but I found that kick kind of endearing. Amazing how different we see some things.

I find some of her comments to be inappropriate and most definately NOT endearing, but cut her a little slack. She is just a young kid with a world of people around her that keep telling her that she is the greatest thing there ever was and another set of people that say she is not worthy. Its got to bring out some goofyness. Unlike some of the football players you see interviewed at least she can express herself as befits a person with an education.

I am NOT a Taurasi fan but I respect her ability. I feel more empathy for players like Maria Conlon that have been called "slugs" and dissed for years even by their Coach and especially by the UConn fans. I would have liked to see them get more credit from D. and Coach Auriemma. And while I'm on that soapbox, PLEASE, no more poor-mouthing Tennessee as a team with no stars. Get real! Nearly the whole roster is made up of High School All Americans. I expect several of our Big 12 Coaches would be happy to see that "starless" group on their bench. For their next trick I hope our Coaches get more of those HS AA "slugs" in the Big 12 so Coach Summitt and Coach Auriemma don't have to be burdened with them. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

mc6821

04-07-2004, 06:53 PM

Actually Chris the UConn men were preseason #1, and probably would have stayed at #1 or fairly close (top 4) if Okafor had been healthy all year long. Most of Duke's losses were during the ACC season, and the ACC was one of the toughest conferences (in men's hoops) this year. I also believe that the UConn women would have had a year very similar to last year if Taurasi had been 100% healthy for the entire season. The big surprise to me was that the Vols were in the finals this year. I truly believed that they were done after Moore was injured. I ended up watching about 20 minutes of the men's game and about 5 minutes of the women's game because I thought that UConn - GT would be close and that UConn - UT would be a blowout. Turned out that I got them backwards http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

On another note (totally OT) are any Buffs fans going to the USA Basketball game on Friday?

Marlene

04-07-2004, 06:58 PM

Jimi:
I thought your post was "spot on".

schooner2

04-07-2004, 07:59 PM

Well, maybe so mc6821. Maybe it was as easy as just recognizing which teams got their injured stars back just in time for the Big Dance. But, regardless, UCONN men and women, Duke, and Tennessee were still not thought to be quite as dominant as some of their past teams or past NCAA Champions. Many felt, if there was a year for them to falter before the Final Four - this was it. Yet, it wasn't.

TXSNOS

04-07-2004, 09:52 PM

I'm glad Tennessee made a game of it. After their slow start, I was thinking blowout, and I don't like to see anyone get blown out (unless of course they're playing Texas). http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
TXs N Os

[This message has been edited by TXSNOS (edited 04-07-2004).]

Bball Girl

04-07-2004, 11:13 PM

Well I watched the game pretty avidly. I agree that Turner and Moore were terrific. D is pretty amazing even if I hate to admit it. I didn't see the kick as being inappropriate....they showed it a couple of times and it went up in the air and bounced back down on the court...it was a just a kid being excited.

I was ok with D until the end when they interviewed her and she said something about UConn means domination and she repeated "domination"...that bugged me, but that's D.

Mechelle was on NPR this morning talking with Bob Edwards. Bob must have heard me yell last week. When he talked with John Feinstein about the women's game...I yelled get somoone on there who knows something about the women's game...call Mechelle Voepel! This morning, what should I hear but Mechelle's logical, informed and wry commentary on the game.

Mechelle commented that Diana was joining the US National Team TODAY...does that means fellow Lubbockites...we might have D in Lubbock next Monday when the US Team comes for a visit. If so, how much will y'all pay me to get you her autograph? http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

I'm trying to picture this... Ms. D strutting her stuff with Swoopes on the same court in the arena that Swoopes and Sharp built...could be kind of fun.

Seriously...both Tenn and UConn know how to survive and advance and instill that confidence in their kids...Tenn believed they could win that game, you could see it in their eyes until 5 mins or so left. UConn came out with 'we're going to win this game"....can we bottle that?

FeFiFoFum

04-07-2004, 11:16 PM

By the way, last nights telecast was the most watched basketball event ever on ESPN. There goes my theory that the semis were more entertaining.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/ncaatourney04/news/story?id=1777819

The NCAA women's championship game drew the highest rating since ESPN began broadcasting the event in 1996.

Tuesday night's game between Connecticut and Tennessee drew a 4.3 overnight rating, up 23 percent from last year's 3.5.

In addition, the Huskies' 70-61 win was the most-watched basketball game, collegiate or pro, in the network's 25-year history. Nearly 4 million households tuned in as UConn became the first Division I school to win both the men's and women's championships in the same year.

"Our presentation was unmatched in the history of NCAA tournaments," said Len DeLuca, ESPN senior vice president for programming strategy. "The NCAA gave us great theater and we are so pleased our fans responded so positively."

The tournament's overall 1.5 rating was a 36 percent increase from a year ago.

The rating is the percentage of all homes with TVs, whether or not they are in use. Overnight ratings measure the 55 largest TV markets in the United States, covering nearly 70 percent of the country.

YCN

04-08-2004, 09:21 PM

I'll bet that those vastly improved ratings for ESPN will translate into more sensible start times next year. Somehow I have a hard time believing that ESPN can get more money from monster truck pulling and strong man contests than women's NCAA basketball now.

Of course, they will charge their advertisers accordingly. Whoever advertised this year got a real bargain in TV advertising terms, although time and again it's been shown that you get far more bang for your buck on radio than on TV. It's just that you can reach a much wider audience on the tube.

Bevo

04-09-2004, 02:21 PM

Originally posted by Bball Girl:
Mechelle commented that Diana was joining the US National Team TODAY...

OK, I know that I am incredibly naive, but isn't there an ongoing semester of college to finish?

swok34

04-09-2004, 02:31 PM

She's there.....I think it's for tryouts, as they have to select three additional players for the roster. I'll be interested to see how she endures the rest of the year if selected....that's quite a span, a collegiate season, WNBA and a trip in the middle to the Olympics.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040408/capt.dxz10404082222.usa_womens_basketball_dxz104.j pg

Guns Up!

04-09-2004, 05:24 PM

She should be in school finishing her degree! Bet she rides the pine for awhile! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/eek.gif

Row6Seat10

04-09-2004, 10:37 PM

You know if you happened to miss this game ESPN Classic is replaying it right now.

Gator

04-10-2004, 12:45 AM

We got back from the Final Four late yesterday. It was the best of times and the worst of times. Random thoughts:

I might have to revise - slightly - my Geno phobia after his rational comments about cycles - BUT the real me thinks that the is just trying to low ball expectations so he isn't lynched when they loose 6 games next year and don't make it to the championship game.

It was theoretically nice to watch good basketball without the emotional commitment to MY team and players. But, it also takes a lot of the pure joy out of it. Yes, I wanted Tennessee to win but they way they played in Norman and in the semi’s, my hopes weren’t high. I like the Orange Nation - and LOVED Smokey this year - except for the bow over the ear, that get up looked a lot like a pimp's suit! that baggy white suited dog didn't stand a chance - the mascots shoulda played!

Unlike San Antonio, we didn’t run into many “ugly” UConn fans.

We did see the greatest tee shirts: The Evil Empire Strikes Back! Got to talk to some of the gals wearing these - they were from NEBRASKA!

We enjoyed New Orleans but found that once every 20 or 30 years was just about right so, given my current age, don’t plan on going back ;-)

Catfan

04-10-2004, 10:27 AM

Many of the athletes that go to the WNBA do not finish their degrees until after the WNBA season. There are a few that finish in May/June if they can complete their work with the help of understanding profs. Some players graduate in the spring if they are on quarter systems. Unlike the men, most women do graduate rather quickly after they finish their collegiate playing careers.

Catfan

04-10-2004, 10:34 AM

DT will make the Olympic team and will be a great addition IMHO. Her line from last night:

5/12 FG;3/6 3pt.;4 assists;0 TOs; 2 blocks;4 boards;13 points

BearLady

04-10-2004, 04:26 PM

Thanks for the report, Gator. I thought about you and trusted that you were having a good time for all of us.

I watched the championship game, but didn't stick around too much afterwards to hear the interviews. Also missed Taurasi's drop kick! But from what I did hear leading up to and throughout the game, I surmised that Geno must have hired a pr firm this year. Seemed that he was uncharacteristically thoughtful, especially with regard to comments about Coach Summitt and Tennessee.

Well, no 'good' basketball this week-end. But I may have to pull up a couple of games that I still have on my TIVO and watch.

Jimi

04-12-2004, 09:48 PM

Originally posted by swok34:

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040408/capt.dxz10404082222.usa_womens_basketball_dxz104.j pg

What a picture. This is not a shot at Dianna Taurasi but at her get-up. As an old guy who has seen lots of fashions come and go I promise you a time will come when she will say "We looked like THAT? and or her kids will ask that question. I would have said she'd say "We looked like nerds, or dorks, or some other word but the words will change by then too.

Still with a disclaimer that I need the "fashion police" (my daughters) to tell me what style is, I gotta say the outfits basketball players are wearing right now look nerdy, dorky or just plain silly to me.

[This message has been edited by Jimi (edited 04-12-2004).]