For 19 years, Sylvia and I lived just a few minutes drive from Storrs, home of the University of Connecticut. During that time the sports department hired Geno Auriemma as head coach of women’s basketball. And a legend began.
In 1995, we were aware that the UConn women were in the NCAA final four. Sylvia and I walked into a small restaurant about 20 miles from our home. We were looking for a good place to eat, and this was a scouting trip. Oh yes it was.
We were seated opposite each other in a booth. At one end of the room someone had setup a TV set. The championship game was just starting. Soon Sylvia and I were seated on the same side of the booth so we could both watch the action.
When we left that restaurant, UConn women had won their first national championship. Sylvia and I were UConn fans. It wasn’t hard to follow the Huskies the next season. Every game was televised, either nationally or state-wide on Public TV.
Last night UConn finished a perfect (40-0) season and the women lifted the university’s ninth national championship in women’s basketball trophy. Wow!
Photo courtesy of ESPN
And so it came about that I watched my first basketball game of the season, which was also the last game of the season. It also reminded me of why I had been such an avid fan when we lived in Connecticut.
Photo courtesy Hartford Courant
Yesterday was a great day. Yes, UConn won, but the best part of yesterday is that our younger son, Scott, celebrated another birthday.
The sun is shining and the weather is good. Ah yes, life is good!
Happy Birthday to your son, and congrats to the ladies. 🙂
My husband has a family member on MSUs men’s basketball team, and he’s always loved State anyway (that’s where he went in his youth), so he was glued to the games. Well he always is, but having someone you know and love on the team makes it even gluier (yep, that must be a word). :frolic:
We have 3 generations of Spartans in our family. However, when you live in Connecticut, you soon learn that UConn women’s basketball is as close to the state religion as you’ll find in these united states. (It’s phenomenal)
One former UConn team leader, Shae Ralph, is a niece of a former pastor of ours. (Not exactly family) She was the 2000 Sports Illustrated woman athlete of the year. Today, she is an assistant coach on the UConn staff.
:up:
Happy Birthday to Scott!
Don’t know about the b-ball. But sometimes it’s fun to jump in and watch a game that is exciting…no matter what the sport or the team.
Good point, Lin. 🙂
Better late to the party than not at all. Huskies win! Yea, you.
Happy birthday to Scott.
Sometimes, it’s just better to go late to the party. :rolleyes:
Best to Scott, and those gals sure do good work on the floor!
Thanks from Scott. For 19 years, Auriemma has had the same assistant head coach, Chris Dailey. She has turned down multiple 7-figure salary offers to take on head coaching duties elsewhere. To me one of the greatest measures of the man and the program is the supreme loyalty of the number 2 on the coaching staff.
Happy birthday, Scott! Man, you are old! Always, always, always, you will be older than me. Hugs!
LOL. Love ya Sandi.
Scott