Dear Geno Auriemma, (running women's thread)

Re: Dear Geno Auriemma,

Hey, she's won seven championships. She must be doing something right.

 

Re: Dear Geno Auriemma,

True. Defense and rebounding don't slump as frequently as perimeter shooting.

 

Re: Dear Geno Auriemma,

Sounds like I could be Pat Summit's demon spawn. I was watching a women's basketball game as a fan a few rows behind the team's bench. The team I was watching was from my community college was destroying the other team to the tune of a 41-point halftime lead.

One of the girls on the team made some stupid play she'd never have tried in a close game and I yelled, "c'mon, keep your head in the game!" One of the assistant coaches looked back at me as if to say "you took the words right out of our mouths."

Even as a fanboi looser, I think as a coach.

 

Re: Dear Geno Auriemma,

The good coaches know offense is prone to come and go. But defense and rebounding are more about effort and sweat equity. I know a couple of high school girls coaches who are like that.

Shoot poorly? It happens. But no effort in rebounding and not moving your feet on defense? Not so much.

 

Re: Dear Geno Auriemma,

Van's at his best when a reporter asks him about feeling pressure before a big game. Over the years I've heard Van give similar answers to the "pressure" question ...

He'll say real pressure is a single mom with three kids and $40 in the bank. Another time it's a single mom with four kids and $30 in the bank. The bigger the game, the pressure situation increases. For a Final Four game, he might say real pressure is a single mom living in a car with three kids and $30 in the bank.

 

Re: Dear Geno Auriemma,

Auriemma is one of the most media-friendly coaches I've ever met. Is his ego out of control? Probably. But he's done a lot of winning in a state that adores him. He always treated me exceedingly well.

 

Re: Dear Geno Auriemma,

I've heard that Geno is a lot like Spurrier, that he's great for sound bites and seems like a hoot but can be a real pain in the ass for every day beat writers.

Admittedly, the times I've dealt with him have generally been entertaining as hell.

 

Re: Dear Geno Auriemma,

I hear she has this winning thing down Pat.

 

Re: Dear Geno Auriemma,

I can't believe LSU is still in this with that foul shooting.

 

Re: Dear Geno Auriemma,

If those aren't peaches, what the hell are they? Tangerines?

 

Re: Dear Geno Auriemma,

The Memphis men, too? Maybe this is the year you can get away with that.

 

Re: Dear Geno Auriemma,

Millions of peaches. Peaches for me. Millions of peaches. Peaches for free.