Advance apologies, another dadgum sport's blog.
Or is it.....
Luigi (I didn't know that) 'Geno' Auriemma is the highly successful (How highly Victor? Ahm, he's won more games than anyone.) UConn coach with 1.288 wins.. and more National Championships (12) than anyone.. He's the UConn coach... they had won like 54 games in a row........... until......
Last night.
Dawn Staley, she's pretty much done it all as well... played professionally eight years, three time Olympic Champ, also coached an Olympic Champion team.. and her South Carolina teams have won three National Championships.
Combined, they've won half of the last ten National Championships, she three, he two. Some call that the "Crème de la crème...caviar... Boardwalk and Park Place of women's basketball.
They played last night in the Final Four, and if you're a basketball nerd like me, it was damn near as big as Caitlin vs Angel, or Angel vs Caitlin National Championship game a few years back. Almost, but not quite.
It was WEIRD. Geno, normally calm, reserved, hands in pocket, wasn't that. Dawn, admittedly pretty intense (I liken her style to a 1960-something high school football coach... can giveya one'a them stares, "Yes ma'am, I'll do WHATEVER YOU WANT." Works. Each. Both.
Except last night. While I'm not a fan of kids, players, having fear as a motivating factor, Mr. Geno ain't perfect either in that he constantly humiliates teams by 30, 40, 50+ points, continuing crazy defensive pressure, not subbing until very late, all legal, just rubs some (including me) the wrong way sometimes.
UConn, could not make any shot beyond a layup, mosta the night. and that had a LOT to do with South Carolina's tenacious defense. Uncharacteristic of UConn. Geno too. He was flustered, beside himself. It's really too bad he wasn't BESIDE HIMSELF to stare, listen to himself as he was interviewed on National TV, between the 3rd and 4th quarters, his team down 43-39. Looked like maybe he hadn't taken his meds. Griped about refs, "called 6 fouls on us, 0 on them, one'a my girls got her jersey ripped open, no call, the way SHE (Dawn) talks to the refs, I'd get tossed." He then dropped an S Bomb.
Frankly, I was embarrassed for him. It got worse, as did the butt whippin' (62-48). Geno approached Dawn with seconds left.. he had to be separated... his kids shook the hands of the South Carolina players...... he didn't, headed for the locker room.
This is where you think an "I've come to my senses" at least partial apology would come out from him....... instead, he doubled down in the post game interview.
His gripes were about her, her players, accused them of 'dirty play', etc.
Who knows, maybe so, BUT... that ain't a gripe with them, that would be a gripe with the refs. Just my opine, but it was a really ugly look for Geno Auriemma.
Who knows if he'll "come around." I am guessing, were the score reversed, he would expect her to shake hands after the game like opposing coaches had the previous 54 games in a row.
Fifty-four times in a row the losing coach did the right thing........... this time (just my opine) the losing coach blew it, in more ways than one.
Besides, I had ten bucks on UConn, dadgumit!
Love, Victurd
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